VANBAR Associates joins the Herd

Leeds digital recruitment platform Herd has appointed communications agency VANBAR Associates to provide PR support and boost its business profile.   

Amy De-Balsi, founder of Herd

Herd was founded last year by entrepreneur Amy De-Balsi to act as a link between technology firms in the Leeds City Region and help candidates access the growing number of vacancies in the local digital sector. 

The firm also organises regular networking events and offers members access to industry intelligence and contacts in Yorkshire.

Recent sign-ups include Epiphany, Sky Bet and Leeds City Council.

Mrs De-Balsi said it was an ideal time for Herd to further capitalise on the opportunities the burgeoning Leeds digital community presented, with many London companies now relocating their software engineering functions to the city.

In April 2015 the Government launched the Tech North initiative to help digital firms in Leeds and neighbouring cities work more closely together and promote the North as a prime location for global technology businesses to invest. 

And in his Budget a few weeks ago, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced plans to create new three new Tech Hubs in the North including £3.7million for a six-floor technology business incubator in the centre of Leeds.

“The Leeds digital sector is on the march, as evidenced by the ever-growing number of jobs being created by Herd members and made available on our website and via social media,” Amy said.  

“In our short history, Herd has established a strong record of achievement in filling these roles.  And through our other activities such as providing networking opportunities, we’ve enabled many local tech firms to collaborate. 

“Herd’s partnership with VANBAR Associates will raise our brand profile, increase industry awareness of what we do and attract many more members to our ranks.”  

VANBAR Associates is an integrated communications firm established in 2014, also based in Leeds.

Barry White, a partner at the agency, said: “I’ve worked with Amy in the past and been immensely impressed by the professionalism, knowledge and skill she brings to the table.

“Under her leadership, Herd has rapidly become a vital resource for digital and tech firms across Leeds City Region.

“VANBAR Associates looks forward to playing our part in assisting Herd to expand its role and membership in the months ahead.”

Sir Gary Verity for Mayor?

Terrific - although not entirely unexpected - news over the weekend when Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity was knighted in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Sir Gary Verity

Bringing last year's Tour de France Grand Depart to Yorkshire was his brainchild, as was the also hugely successful Tour de Yorkshire which will now become an annual event. 

If West Yorkshire's political leaders get their act together and agree a devolution deal with ministers in Whitehall, surely Leeds-born Sir Gary would be a very popular choice to stand for election as the region's first Metro Mayor. 

Just a thought. 

Sunny news for Yorkshire's top businesses

Some very positive news for Yorkshire’s economy today with the publication of a study which highlights the growing post-recession strength of the region’s leading businesses.

The report produced by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP reveals that the revenues generated by Yorkshire’s top 250 companies now exceed £100 billion.  These firms have also created almost 30,000 new jobs over the past 12 months.  

And it’s been the 200 so-called ‘mid-market’ businesses (with less than £300 million in turnover) rather than the largest 50 that have had the most notable relative impact.

According to BDO, these firms have outshone their larger rivals in all of the key performance indicators. These include turnover which has grown by 13.2% for the mid-market companies compared to 5.2% for the largest 50 firms, job creation with employment levels up 11.6% against 4.9%, and overseas sales which have risen 19.3% in mid-market businesses as opposed to 3.6% in the top 50.

But the central message is loud and clear: Yorkshire’s economy continues to prosper and the outlook for future significant and sustainable private sector growth here remains very bright.

News that all of us want to hear on a day the sun is beaming down in God’s Own County. 

PMQs: New class war breaks out in Commons

After last week's understandably subdued exchanges following the sad death of Charles Kennedy, today's Prime Minister's Questions had a much more familiar, shouty feel about it.  And thank goodness for that.   

But whilst Labour's Harriet Harman at least tried to give the impression that she was going about her acting leader duties with the utmost seriousness, David Cameron wasn't all that bothered. 

He led his Conservative colleagues to a majority election victory, you see - the Holy Grail for any party leader.  And he intends to toast his personal triumph for as long as he can possibly get away with it.   

Annoyingly for him, displays of unabated joy from political opponents don't go down well with Ms Harman.

"He doesn’t need to do ranting and sneering and gloating," she spat as Mr Cameron decided against answering her latest question. "Frankly, he should show a bit more class.” 

But, after a brief pause, Mr Cameron chose to continue with his celebrations.

His excitement levels reached new heights a few moments later when Andrea Jenkyns, who snatched the Morley and Outwood seat from the Prime Minister's former bogeyman Ed Balls last month, rose nervously to ask a question.  

"Her election result was one I was dreaming of!" he boomed to cheers from the blue team, as Labour MPs sunk further into their seats.

Barring unforeseen disaster for Mr Cameron, their nightmare seems set to continue until a new Opposition leader is elected in the autumn.  Think summer of discontent. 

PMQs: False start as MPs return to battle

As part of a brand new offering to avid readers of our blog - tinged with a dash of self-indulgence - we at VANBAR associates will provide a brief (and when possible humorous) round-up of Prime Minister's Questions each Wednesday between now and the summer recess in late July.  If it works, we'll keep it going from September.  Here's what happened today.

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Starved of PMQs for more than two months, today was supposed to be the day when a cast of newly-elected MPs burst into our living rooms to wow us with their wit, wisdom and contempt for Parliamentary procedure.  But sadly it wasn't really to be.

Following the death of Charles Kennedy earlier in the week, the House - to its credit - wasn't really in the mood.  A special session to enable MPs to pay personal tribute to the former Liberal Democrat Leader had been arranged for later in the afternoon, and most minds seemed to be on that than the normal cut and thrust which will surely return next week.  

Despite the sombre air in the Chamber, Prime Minister David Cameron did demonstrate continued evidence of a returned Mojo (it's funny what an election victory can do for a man).  He still didn't answer any questions, of course.  But he just looked more confident in not doing so.          

As for stand-in Labour Leader Harriet Harman, she - like the vast majority of her backbenchers - just looked miserable.  And her questions were little different than poor Ed Miliband used to trot out in the weeks leading up to the General Election.  It's going to a long road back for Her Majesty's Official Opposition, and one suspects Ms Harman is rather relieved that she'll be taking a back seat when the journey starts with a new front man or woman come the autumn.

SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson is someone whose face you'll get used to seeing more of in the months and years ahead.  Following his party's resounding success last month - taking all but three seats north of the border - the former BBC journalist is now entitled to ask Mr Cameron two questions at every PMQs.  And today, the word "Scotland" never left his lips, instead concentrating his efforts on the fate of refugees trying to cross the Mediterranean.   His bald SNP colleague Patrick Grady filled the void later in the session, standing up in his tartan tie to shout the name of his native land lots of times at a bemused Prime Minister.  Expect Mr Robertson to be similarly less statesmanlike on Wednesdays to come.

New MPs are not entitled to ask oral questions on the floor of the House until they have delivered their maiden speech, and some will wait weeks for the opportunity.  As a result, the number of unfamiliar Members on their feet today was limited.  But, aside from Mr Grady, there were two of note.  Cat Smith (Labour,  Lancaster & Fleetwood) looked very much like a Sunday school teacher.  And Flick Drummond (Conservative, Portsmouth South) bore all the hallmarks of a church organist.  Perhaps they go to the same church.  

Balls to Blatter

And so the preening peacock that is Sepp Blatter could hold on no longer.

After weeks of immensely damaging publicity for FIFA which included the arrests of seven leading executives and a similar number of indictments against others with links to world football's governing body, President Blatter chose to fall on his sword.

It is noteworthy that, since the news broke yesterday, FIFA's principal sponsors have been queuing up to trumpet their joy at Blatter's impending departure (which could take up to nine months).    

These are the self-same financial backers who were somewhat more reserved in their public words of condemnation last week when they clearly mattered more. 

So why did he finally chose to "do the decent thing?"

Because he "does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world," as he claimed himself?

Was he suddenly dazzled by the glare of the self-awareness and the personal public relations disaster he had become?

Was more pressure being applied behind the scenes by FIFA's sponsors than the watching world was aware of?

Or was it the fact that - according to informed reports in the United States - no-nonsense investigators at the FBI are now closing in on Blatter himself?

Time will undoubtedly tell, and most likely sooner rather than later.

In the meantime,  VANBAR associates stands ready to assist FIFA in rebuilding its shredded global reputation.   (You never know who reads this).  

A touch of class from Charles Kennedy

On this dark morning when news broke of the sad passing of Charles Kennedy, a letter has emerged which confirms why so many political watchers and others will remember him fondly.

He was principled, he was generous in his manner and - as people who knew him well have said - he was immensely entertaining.

Which brings me to the note.   Unbeknown to many begrudging voters, politicians' postbags - real and virtual - are forever bulging with requests for odd and often surreal information.  Some MPs will choose not to respond to these, but others will.  

So, in case you can't read the content of  Mr Kennedy's reply to Mr Lucas of Berkshire above, here it is:

Dear Mr Lucas

Thank you for your letter of support and question regarding The Muppets.  I am very sorry about the delay in replying.

In response to your question I would like to say that my favourite Muppet is Gonzo.  Even though he is blue he is a nice guy.  

Thank once again for your letter and best wishes.

Yours sincerely

Rt. Hon Charles Kennedy MP

He will be greatly missed. 

Power to the people

The United Kingdom is going to the polls today with turnout already appearing likely to be significantly higher than the 2010 General Election when only 65% of voters exercised their democratic right.

Of course, the outcome is seemingly less predictable than any British election in modern times.

The final clutch of opinion polls indicate that the Conservatives are likely to emerge as the party with most seats, but well short of the 326 required for an overall Commons majority.  

And with the Scottish National Party - set for a landslide north of the border - having made clear that they won't do business with the Tories, there is now a very real chance that Labour Leader Ed Miliband will become Prime Minister as head of a minority government.

Whatever lies ahead in the coming days will certainly be dramatic.  But, for now, there are still lots of votes to chase and no shortage of political careers on the line.  

There can be only 650 winners once the final declaration is made at some point tomorrow, leaving 3,321 candidates with shattered dreams.  

In an era where the reputation of politics and its practitioners is "less than positive," one might wonder why anyone would choose to put themselves in the firing line in the first place.

Some undoubtedly do it because of the perceived glamour or opportunity to enhance their personal status.  But, in my experience, the vast majority choose to stand because they believe they can truly make a difference and want to test their ability to effect change for the better. And for that they should surely be commended, not denigrated. 

Churchill famously said: "Democ­racy is the worst form of gov­ern­ment, except for all the oth­ers."  And as with most of his other pronouncements, he was right.

But my favourite election-related  quote comes from US politician Dick Tuck following his defeat in the 1966 California State Senate election.

"The people have spoken...the bastards!" he announced from the stage after his result was formally declared.

I would have every sympathy should any shunned candidate here express similar sentiments in the coming hours. 

Leeds set for place in General Election spotlight

With just a week to go until we traipse off to our local polling stations, all politically-inclined eyes will be on Leeds Town Hall tonight as David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg face questions from David Dimbleby and an audience of voters.      

Yes friends, it's the BBC Question Time Election Special and it's taking place right here in t'Yorkshire.

It's a heck of a coup for Leeds, which has rapidly become the UK city of choice for major events outside the capital including BBC Sports Personality of the Year and the Tour de France Grand Depart.

If you're not from the city or aren't familiar with the Town Hall - opened by Queen Victoria in 1858 - then tune in to BBC1  at 8pm to see the iconic building in all its splendour.     

And if you are, then switch on anyway for a televisual spectacular which could have a significant impact on the General Election outcome.

Just remember that it'll all be over soon.  Honestly.

Back to the past, if you please

Something of a personal highlight on the General Election campaign trail this morning when - shock, horror - someone gave a very straight answer.

Jovial Sky News Political Editor Faisal Islam was in Edinburgh chewing the fat with a selection of Scottish political players and observers, including esteemed historian Sir Tom Divine.

Sir Tom Divine

With just two weeks to go until polling day, minds are beginning to turn to just how many seats the Scottish National Party will take from the Labour Party north of the border. So, understandably, our Faisal wanted to pick Uncle Tom's big brain.

"You're a historian," the Sky man reminded viewers, before asking Sir Tom, "what's your forecast for the future?"

With a hint of rudeness, the great man responded  blandly: "The future is not my period."

Wonderful.  The future seems like a scary place in any case. 

Liar, liar, campaign's on fire

As a father of two young kids, I am forever making clear that telling fibs is not acceptable.  And, to be fair, it is advice they generally heed.

But with the General Election campaign now moving into overdrive, it seems that some politicians had more flexible parents.

When in vote-winning mode, it is prudent politics to emphasise the positives, go easy on the negatives and seek to avoid talking about issues that you don't understand. 

And never tell downright lies.   

Sadly, whoever is advising the Conservative candidate for Argyle and Bute failed to mention the latter to his or her charge in advance of a debate with the other candidates on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning.

Our Tory friend was arguing with his UKIP opponent who ended up losing her cool - and went for the jugular.

UKIP candidate: "Why did you phone the UKIP office and beg us not to put a candidate up against you?"

Conservative candidate: "No I did not."

UKIP candidate: "Yes you did.  I answered the phone."

There you go kids.  Don't tell lies.     

Seven go to Salford

The eyes of the communications and political worlds (together with a few million others) will be focussed on Salford this evening and the hotly-anticipated ITV Leaders' Debate.

It will be the only time in this General Election campaign when Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour Leader Ed Miliband go toe to toe.  But they will not be alone.  

Because what makes the event so novel is the presence and participation of Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg, the SNP's Nicola Surgeon, Nigel Farage of UKIP, Leanne Wood from Plaid Cymru and Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett.     

And anyone who says they know what's going to happen is lying.  In truth, no one has any idea - which is what makes the whole thing potentially so watchable.

But that will not stop the never-ending queue of talking heads lining up to offer predictions, and mandatory handy hints for participants.

The best advice I've heard thus far comes from the man (missed his name, sorry) who coached Clegg to victory in his famous "I agree with Nick" encounter with Cameron and Gordon Brown five years ago:

"Look confident, don't throw up and claim victory afterwards."

Simples.

The fun starts on ITV at 8pm this evening.  

And they're off

It might come as a shock to learn that the 2015 General Election campaign is only today officially under way. 

Parliament was dissolved shortly after midnight and we no longer have any MPs (although Government ministers do remain in post).  

The parties and their candidates now have less than six weeks to convince you to put your trust in them at the ballot box on Thursday 7 May.  And few people still around can recall a pre-election scenario quite like this.  

Will either the Conservatives or Labour win the 326 seats required for an overall majority or, as most experts predict, fall short?

Will the Liberal Democrats defy their woeful national poll ratings and cling onto enough seats to stay in contention for another term of coalition government?

Will UKIP or the Greens win more seats or simply act as a collective thorn in the side of the 'big three' parties, helping to influence a plethora of left field results across the country?

Or will the SNP's Alec Salmond lord it across Scotland and put himself into the position of king maker, effectively dictating what the next United Kingdom government will look like for the next five years?

But there is another scenario.   

Should both the Conservatives and Labour not win a majority and, for a range of possible reasons, not form a coalition with one or more other parties, the party with the largest number of seats could seek to govern alone.  If they fail, the other would then be given the opportunity to have a go themselves.

But should that government also collapse, only one other option would remain: a second General Election.  

Do not rule this out and, as such, try to not to get too carried away with the all the 'excitement' of the first one. 

Car crash for Clarkson

So now we know; Jeremy Clarkson is gone.

In case you haven't heard, the BBC has this afternoon confirmed that the Top Gear presenter's contract will not be renewed after a physical and verbal assault on his producer.  (The eagle-eyed will have spotted that he hasn't therefore been sacked, rather not re-employed). 

In organisational terms, the BBC seemed to have little choice (other than to actually sack him).  Had an employee struck a colleague in any other large corporation, the expectation would surely be instant dismissal.  

But, in PR terms, the fact that the BBC is publicly funded and the story got "out," well, what else could Director General Tony Hall be expected to do (other than wait 17 days to act)?

Commenting shortly after the news was announced, Clarkson's Top Gear co-presenter James May was asked who he thought might replace Jezza.

He replied that whilst he quite liked working with Clarkson, "I think he's a nob."

Quite.

Budget boxers

This was the traditional photo of Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne as he left 11 Downing Street yesterday to deliver the Budget.

The red box he is holding is not the original version made for William Ewart Gladstone in 1860.  It was retired in 2010 due to its fragility.  Instead, sInce 2011, a new Budget box - commissioned by the National Archives - has been used by Mr Osborne.   

But, like Gladstone's, it belongs to the nation and is very much red.

Fast forward to this morning when, after delivering a farcical Liberal Democrat "Budget" statement to the House of Commons, Danny Alexander turned up on the steps of the Treasury holding his own yellow "Budget" box.

In case you missed it, the Liberal Democrat is Chief Secretary to the Treasury and, in effect, George Osborne's deputy.    But, as a member of Her Majesty's Coalition Government, Mr Alexander is also fully signed up to every jot and tittle of yesterday's Budget.

His attempt to deliver an alternative financial statement to MPs - pushing the boundaries of Parliamentary convention to breaking point - was bizarre enough.  

But the sight of him holding up his toy box - which members of the media later took turns at holding with a smile - tell us only one thing.

Yes, with a mere seven weeks to go until polling day, the election campaign is about to get fully under way.

And we suspect you ain't seen nothing yet.         

Easy, Lionel

10 out of 10 for the PR team at the First Direct Arena in Leeds who have clearly been having fun promoting tonight's Lionel Richie concert on social media.

Earlier today they posted this pic on their official Twitter feed.

Boom!

However, our favourite tweet is this one which appeared yesterday.

You've got to love that.

We could now make a cheap gag about the prospect of tonight's lucky ticket holders "dancing on the ceiling."  But have you seen how high it is? 

Enjoy the gig if you're going.

Falling Madonna

Madonna's undignified downstairs tumble at the BRIT Awards has made global headlines.

But did she mean to fall?

It may seem like an odd question to ask, but it has been posed by some including Chris Evans on his Radio 2 Breakfast Show.

And there is a logic to the argument.  

Remarkable as it may seem, Madonna is now 56 years old and - understandably - her profile and record sales aren't what they once were.  

So might the bruises associated with a bit of prime time stage-diving be a price worth paying to remind you that she's still around.

Apparently not, according to Madge.

In an interview to be broadcast on The Jonathan Ross Show tomorrow evening, the one-time Material Girl described her fall as a "nightmare" which left her with whiplash (and she wasn't even sitting in a parked car).

"I had a man standing over me with a flashlight until about 3am to make sure I was compos mentis," she explained.

She instead blamed what happened on a "wardrobe malfunction" owing to her cape being tied too tightly.  (It happened to Dracula many times).

"Everyone was worried my cape would slide off, so they tied it really tight around my neck," she said.

"I got to the top of the stairs and I pulled the silky string, and it wouldn't come undone.

"I had two choices: I could either be strangled or fall, and I chose to fall."

So she did.        

Expect tickets for her forthcoming world tour to be in even greater demand as a result. 

Twitter twaddle

Twitter can be an invaluable source of information and comment, as well as a very useful promotional tool for any business or organisation wishing to get its message out.  

But it can also be a cesspit of abuse, misinformation and bullying.

This was underlined over the past couple of days when the former Republic of Ireland footballer, Kevin Kilbane, was targeted by trolls upset that he dared speak up against obscene chanting from a small band of West Ham fans.        

Although he didn't attend Sunday's game at Tottenham Hotspur, he heard about the chanting - mocking people with Down's Syndrome - from a friend who was there.  

Kilbane's 10-year-old daughter Elsie has the condition.  And being in the privileged position to do something positive about these things, he rang the Football Association to make his views known.

Top man, top dad - good for him.

The result?  Vile abuse and hideous slurs from a sad procession of dark souls on Twitter. 

But Kilbane was not for having it and yesterday spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live.  You can hear what he said by clicking HERE.  It's worth a listen.

We heard it at VANBAR Towers and offered our support on Twitter.

And a few minutes later, our Tweet was read out live on air.

Suddenly Twitter felt like a mildly better place.  But still a medium where you must tread carefully.  

Preparation, preparation, preparation

It should not be beyond the realms of human understanding to appreciate that proper preparation is a key element for success in any media interview.

It is all the more so if the interview is due to go out live and seasoned LBC interrogator Nick Ferrari is facing you across the desk.

Natalie Bennett

However, someone forgot to mention these basic rules to Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett who had been invited on to talk about her party's General Election manifesto.   

Cue a series of initially harmless questions from Mr Ferrari about affordable housing, a central plank of the Greens' plans to build 500,000 new social homes.    

I'm afraid my words cannot do justice to what happened next.  

I therefore invite you to click onto this LINK - before climbing under your desk.