Business Diary: April 24

The Ziffs, one of the foremost business families in Yorkshire, raised the money as a token of their appreciation for the care 14-year old Jacob Ziff received to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, for which he is now in remission.

Medical student Oliver, Edward Ziff’s son who runs regularly for Yorkshire cross country, finished in the top 500 with a time of 2:47.

His brother Ben, who works with Edward at Town Centre Securities, came in at 4.09 in his first major athletic event.

Cousins Henry, Sam and Alex Ziff all managed times of under five hours, but perhaps the most impressive performance came from Michael Ziff, aged 58, of Barratts Priceless.

Michael, who has been the driving force behind the fundraising efforts which have smashed the original £10,000 fundraising target, completed the course with a very respectable finish time of 5.38.

A very grateful Edward said: “On May 20 last year, our 14-year old son Jacob was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. It was one of those life-stopping moments needless to say, but through the skill of the haematology and oncology team at the Clarendon Wing of Leeds General Infirmary, and the will of the Almighty, he is now in remission.

“Through the Teenage Cancer Trust and the National Health Service, he has received the most wonderful care we could ever have hoped for and as a token of our appreciation, his two brothers, Ben and Oliver, his uncle (my brother) Michael, cousins Sam, Henry and Alexander, decided to run in the London Marathon.”

Good to be a Geek

Technology is the future of our economy, but there are not enough young women choosing to pursue a career in the sector, according to the organiser of a networking event to promote the industry in Yorkshire. Linda Broughton, one of the organisers of the Leeds Girl Geek Dinner, which is aimed at female creatives and technologists, said parents should encourage their children to “engage with technology”.

The head of Leeds Metropolitan University’s Northern Technology Institute, who is a chartered software engineer, told Diary: “Technology is really great. Please everybody think about choosing it as a career, because we want the most talented people to choose technology. It’s the future of our economy and it’s great, and we just don’t get enough young people choosing it, and even fewer women, girls, choosing it.”

She warned that the jobs in the sector are going abroad as there is a shortage of programmers and developers.

The inaugural Leeds Girl Geek dinner was held in 2008, and last week’s one, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, in Leeds, was the eleventh. It attracted around 40 people.

Ms Broughton said: “The thing about Girl Geeks is that we have a couple of principles which mean women can’t be outnumbered by men, so men can come as a guest of a woman, so we never get worse than a 50:50 split.”

Dr Sue Black, a senior research associate from the Department of Computer Science at University College London, and a senior consultant with Cornerstone Global Associates, will be speaking at an upcoming Leeds Girl Geek event.

The Dean and I

FEW solicitors would willingly get in the firing line when one of their clients is going for goal.

Chris Allen, the managing partner of Leeds-based Blacks Solicitors, found that a showdown with a football legend can be a bitter sweet experience.

As Mr Allen helped to form a defensive wall during an amateur football match, he recoiled when he saw one of his most famous clients, former Hull City legend Dean Windass, stride forward to unleash a thunderbolt free kick. Sure enough, the ball thundered against Mr Allen and bounced harmlessly away.

Mr Allen’s painful intervention was not in vain. His bravery ensured that his team held on for a 4-4 draw, despite facing the might of Windass. The game was played at Nethermoor, the home of Guiseley FC, who are co-sponsored by Blacks.

Afterwards, Mr Allen was magnanimous as he nursed his bruises: “The game was between John Adams, the coach supplies firm who sponsor Guiseley, and their customer Martin Williams, the commercial vehicles bodybuilder,’’ he told Diary.

“The latter are from Hull, so Dean kindly agreed to play for them. He is injured at the moment with a calf strain, so it was good of him to come.”

Windass is still a force to be reckoned with it seems, even with a niggling injury.