In brief: New LBIA flight launched; Coutts keeps it in family; Variety Club boost from Oakgate

EASTERN Airways is introducing a new mid-afternoon year-round flight from Leeds Bradford International Airport to Southampton.

The independent UK regional airline will start the 2.20pm Leeds Bradford departure from February 16, arriving in Southampton at 3.30pm.

The new weekday timing will be offered along with existing 6.50am and 5.40pm weekday departures to Southampton from Leeds Bradford and replaces the current 10.15am service.

Flights to Leeds Bradford take off from Southampton at 8.35am, 4pm and 7.15pm.    

High frequency services from Leeds Bradford to Southampton have been provided by Humberside based Eastern Airways since 2003 with three daily flights in each direction on weekdays.

Chris Holliday, Eastern Airways’ chief operating officer, said; “Adjusting the timing gives our passengers greater flexibility in the afternoon.  Customer feedback is very important to us and as a result we are making this adjustment to our schedules to meet the needs of our business travellers.”

Passengers can check-in just 30 minutes before the departure time and fast track security channels are provided for all Eastern Airways customers in security search at both Leeds Bradford and Southampton airports.

Eastern Airways also flies to Aberdeen from the Yorkshire airport and last month started a new daily weekday connection to Oslo from Leeds Bradford via Aberdeen.

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YORKSHIRE family businesses are being invited to a forum to discuss succession issues being hosted by Coutts & Co bank.

The forum which is from 11.30am to 2.30pm on March 31 at Rudding Park, near Harrogate, is the first in a series to be held throughout the country, ensuring that family businesses are given the opportunity to discuss and explore the challenges facing them.

Speaking at the event will be Christopher Oughtred, shareholder and former chairman of William Jackson & Son a family food business established in 1851.

Barbara Jackson, senior banker for Coutts in Leeds commented: “Coutts first opened its Leeds office in December 1992, some 16 years ago with just three employees. Today, we have a team of 24, including nine private bankers which is testament to the growing number of wealthy individuals in the region, which in the main, are self-made millionaires. In fact, today, we can count around 90% of our local client base as either entrepreneurs or business owners, many of which are family-owned .So with the current economic strain, we hope that this forum will be a couple of hours very well spent.”

The forum is free to attend and is open to family business owners and employees of a business, with an annual turnover greater than £1m.

Contact Rob Jacob on 0207 649 4046 or email robert.jacob@coutts.com for more information.

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THE lives of youngsters at Ireland Wood Primary School Leeds have been transformed thanks to a Variety Club Children’s Charity Sunshine Coach, which was presented to the school by Wetherby-based property and investment company, the Oakgate Group.

Ireland Wood Primary School has 214 pupils between the ages of 4 -11 and is the only primary school in Leeds to have a resource provision for complex, physically disabled children.

Jane Price, the school’s special education needs co-ordinator, said: “This is the first time we have had a specially adapted coach with a tail-lift and it will make a huge difference to our pupils who will now be able to travel with their friends when we go on outings.”

She added: “We are absolutely thrilled with the coach and would like to say a very big thank you to both the Oakgate Group and the Variety Club.”
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Speaking on behalf of Oakgate, whose primary objective is to develop and refurbish retail and leisure opportunities in the north of England, the Midlands and Scotland,  John Grantham, who is an ex pupil of the school, said: “We firmly believe in supporting our local communities and the Variety Club which does a fantastic job of making a difference to the lives of such special children.”
     
To find out more about the work of the Variety Club visit www.varietyclub.org.uk/yorkshire