WIREDGOV

Members of the public have been invited to attend Yorkshire Forward’s ‘Great Debate’ at the Regional Development Agency’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the 3^rd October at the Royal York Hotel, York .

The debate is designed to give people an opportunity to question leaders of Yorkshire Forward about the growth of Yorkshire and Humber ’s economy and how they are investing £357 million of taxpayer’s money.

The ‘Question Time’ panel will include Yorkshire Forward’s Chief Executive Tom Riordan; Regional Minister for Yorkshire and Humber, Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP; Chairman of Savvy, Ajaz Ahmed; Founder of i-to-i.com, Deidre Bounds; Leader from Wakefield Metropolitan Borough, Cllr Peter Box; and Conservative Leader of Yorkshire and the Humber , Timothy Kirkhope MEP.

Before the Great Debate begins, Yorkshire Forward’s Chair Terry Hodgkinson will present the main findings of Yorkshire Forward’s Annual Report. Terry comments;

“Yorkshire Forward’s ‘Great Debate’ is an opportunity for people to find out about what we do, how we are investing money and how it is affecting the region. Yet again Yorkshire Forward has exceeded its core delivery targets and I look forward to sharing these findings at our AGM”.

Some of the figure’s Terry will be sharing at the AGM include; Over the past 12 months Yorkshire Forward has created and safeguarded 25,456 jobs in the region and has helped create 1,231 new businesses and supported 29,065 businesses in improving their performance which was culminated with the launch of the new Business Link Yorkshire in April 2008.

Investment for regeneration developments across the region totalled £271.6m against a target of £210.5m and in working with partners across public and private sectors, Yorkshire Forward has regenerated 88 hectares of brownfield land, beating targets by 8%.

Yorkshire Forward has this past year, already helped 35,165 people improve their skills and assisted 11,217 people in Yorkshire and Humber to gain employment an improvement of 188% on a target of 3,895.

If you are interested in attending Yorkshire Forward’s AGM which starts at 10am, and contributing to the Great Debate please email events@yorkshire-forward.com or call 0113 3949711/12.

Notes to editors:

Yorkshire Forward

         ·   Yorkshire Forward is the Regional Development Agency behind the economic regeneration of Yorkshire and Humber . It aims to make a positive difference by investing in jobs, improving towns and cities, and in supporting businesses throughout the region.

• Over the past year, Yorkshire Forward has created and safeguarded more than 25,456 jobs, assisted 35,165 people in skills, created 1,231 businesses and attracted over £1 billion in investment. 

• Yorkshire Forward’s investment across the region is maximised by attracting European Regional Development Funding from the Objectives One and Two programmes and the 2007-2013 Regional Competitiveness and Employment Programmes.

• For further information, images or to arrange an interview, please contact Laura Scholey , Press Executive on 0113 3949540 or email laura.scholey@yorkshire-forward.com