Famous astronaut and author, Tim Peake has been announced as the key-note speaker for the 2022 Yorkshires Business Awards.
The shortlist has recently been announced for The Yorkshires. Business Awards 2022.
The first of the annual event will be held by Yorkshire Children's Charity to celebrate the best of the region's start-ups, entrepreneurs, legendary leaders and giants of industry.
The awards will be held on Friday 9 December 2022 at the Queens Hotel in Leeds.
The charity have revealed that legendary astronaut and author, Tim Peake, will be making a celebrity appearance as key-note speaker for the event.
We’ve had to be tight lipped about this one, but we are DELIGHTED to announce that the one and only Tim Peake will be speaking at The Yorkshires. Business Awards on Friday 9th December! 🚀
Not only will he be reflecting on his incredible career, he will also be delivering a workshop to pupils from St Peter's CofE Primary School in Leeds city centre ahead of the highly anticipated awards.
Composed of four main categories, The Yorkshires. Business Awards will award; Large Corporate of the Year, Mid-Market Corporate of the Year, Business Leader of the Year and Board of the Year.
Shortlisted Yorkshire companies in the running include Betty’s, BJSS, Team 17, MKM, Big Change, Astonish Cleaning Products and Air Logic.
As well as this, the winner of the Yorkshires. Young Entrepreneur Challenge will be announced, which has seen school pupils from some of the most economically challenged areas in Leeds, work in teams to present a business idea and turn £500 seed money into as much profit as possible.
The money raised from this challenge will be used to purchase specialist equipment for young people living with disabilities.
Start your Christmas celebrations early by celebrating the best in Yorkshire business at The Yorkshires. Business Awards 2022! 🎄
Charlotte Farrington, CEO at Yorkshire Children’s Charity said: “We are delighted to be holding the first of our annual The Yorkshires. Business Awards and are especially looking forward to hearing the key-note speech from Tim Peake, which I am sure will be an incredibly inspiring listen.
“This event will allow us to celebrate the success of both the region’s leading business minds, alongside the school children who have worked so hard to raise funds for children with disabilities across Yorkshire. Raising money to support these children is always at the forefront of any event we plan, and we never lose sight of the responsibility we are entrusted with - to raise significant funds for the children and young people who depend on us.”
Leeds City Council is asking people for their views about transport options and public space in the city centre.
Got some thoughts and feelings about how you'd like Leeds city centre to operate? Well now's your time to speak up.
Because people are being invited to give their feedback on current issues and improvements they would like to see around St. Peter’s Street, York Street, Eastgate, Duke Street, Kirkgate, Crown Point Road, Marsh Lane and East Street.
This area of Leeds is vital for those travelling in and out of the city, with many integral and busy bus routes passing through here.
The area is also home to leisure, cultural and educational facilities, as well as Leeds bus station, and has a large and growing residential population, making it a key area for people using the bus, walking, cycling, and travelling by car.
Between 2014 and 2024, there were 260 road related casualties in the area, including 32 serious casualties and three fatalities.
The council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority will use feedback to develop plans for safer ways of travelling for everyone and more welcoming public spaces.
Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and planning, said: “This is an important step towards a transport system that prioritises efficient public transport and supports all forms of travelling, making it easier and safer for people to get around the city.
“Public spaces are there to be used and enjoyed by everyone, and it's important that we make these spaces welcoming, accessible and well connected.
"We urge everyone that travels through this area — whether you walk, cycle, drive, or take the bus - to take part in the consultation and share your views. By sharing your experience of travelling in the area, we’ll be able to make the right improvements to make it a safer, more welcoming space for everyone.”
Have your say before Tuesday 17 November by filling in a short survey, or attending a drop-in event. You can view the drop-in events here.
Leeds City Council confirms plans to repair historic Lower Kirkgate with work set to begin this month
Clementine Hall
Leeds City Council has confirmed that work to stabilise buildings on Lower Kirkgate is set to begin later this month, with repairs expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.
Back in 2024, Lower Kirkgate in Leeds city centre was closed following the partial collapse of a building, leaving one of the city's oldest streets inaccessible.
Since then, the street has remained closed while plans were developed to address the structural issues affecting the buildings.
Now, almost two years after the initial incident, the council has confirmed that a contractor has been appointed to carry out the work.
The buildings are privately owned, but Leeds City Council says it will step in to carry out the stabilisation work to prevent further deterioration and protect the historic properties.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “We are pleased that, following months of careful planning and preparation, we are now in a position to begin stabilising these privately owned buildings.
“A contract has been awarded for the work, which is scheduled to get under way later this month and is expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.
“It should be stressed that the situation on Lower Kirkgate is not of the council's making, with the owners of the buildings allowing their condition to deteriorate over many years and then failing to take the necessary steps to address the resultant structural issues.
“By stepping in and carrying out this work itself, the council will be able to arrest the deterioration of important heritage assets on one of Leeds’s oldest streets. As always, we thank the local community for their continued patience and support.”
Further details about the work, including when the street may be able to reopen, have not yet been confirmed.
Clementine Hall -
29th November 2022 
