Business Diary: May 14

The question was put to a panel at the Building Societies Association last week by a member of the audience who questioned the value of the Bank of England’s quantitative easing programme.

Author David Aaronovitch said he would fix the long-term things that don’t get done in Britain to change the prospects for the next generation, but was wary of the power of nimbyism.

“We always end up talking about the Chinese and the fact that not being a democracy – being able to shoot people – makes it very much easier to do big things and we lament that we can’t do the same.”

He said he would split the difference and buy off the opposition to big infrastructure schemes.

Nigel Wilson, group chief executive of Legal & General, said British students are not being educated enough in development skills. He would subsidise efforts to help young people into the workplace.

He added: “We would be tending towards massive over-investment in infrastructure to create real jobs in the UK, like they did in the post-war economy. In a sense, what happened in the 2007-08 event was a bit like what happened in the war and what came out of the war in 1948 and beyond was some great social programmes and great employment programmes, which moved the economy on dramatically.

“We are not seeing a replication of that.”

Laura Kuenssberg, business editor at ITV, said she target money into engineering and IT skills and increase the number of girls studying computer science.

She would also build a new airport somewhere, install free fast wireless everywhere and create “an absolutely tip-top crack team” of UK Trade & Investment specialists to support British exporters into fast-growing overseas markets.

Diary would give the rest to Yorkshire’s professional football clubs to build sustainable Premier League sides.

Convention likes to be beside seaside

Diary always likes to hear about Yorkshire’s business community showing solidarity.

In Bridlington, locals have really taken the Yorkshire International Business Convention to their hearts.

The Yorkshire International Business Convention 2013, which boasts speakers including Sir Terry Leahy, David Miliband and scientist Brian Cox is a sell-out.

More than 700 tickets have been sold for the event, which for the first year is being held at the Bridlington Spa as the premier host venue.

And all sponsorship packages have been taken ahead of the event on Friday June 7, according to YIBC organiser Mike Firth.

The “traditional” home for the YIBC had been Harrogate and Leeds, but Mr Firth decided it was time to focus on the Yorkshire coast, which has a close-knit business community.

It’s possible that South Yorkshire could hold its own version next year.

Details are still to be finalised but Diary understands that Mr Firth, the founder of the YIBC, is keen to hold an event in Rotherham in early 2014.

Mr Firth is a big fan of South Yorkshire and its “bedrock manufacturing” firms.

We understand that plans are well advanced for the South Yorkshire event, which could mean that some of the biggest names in global business and politics will be heading to Yorkshire’s industrial heartland in the near future.

Sportsman gives up the business raquet

BRIAN Wright is to retire from Doncaster-based Schenck Process after a long and industrious career, beginning with Macawber Engineering in 1978.

But there will be not shortage of things to keep him busy and active in retirement as he is a keen badminton player with plenty of accolades to his name.

Mr Wright has represented England on several occasions in the ‘Masters’ division and is the current World Mixed Doubles Gold Medal winner as well as the Men’s Doubles Silver Medal winner in his age group.

Mr Wright stayed with Macawber Engineering through various changes of name, culminating with Clyde Materials Handling becoming part of the Schenck Process Group in 2011.

The company is a provider of solutions in measuring and process technologies.

During his 35 years, Mr Wright has had many different and varied roles including being project director, manufacturing director, joint managing director and latterly as aftermarket sales director.

“Every year has been different and this has kept up my enthusiasm to develop and grow the business” he said.