Business Diary: November 12

Mr Barrett, from Thixendale in North Yorkshire, said: “My wife, Bonita, has only ever known me with a beard and our 10-month-old son was very confused by my new look and cried for about half an hour following the shave.

“The most touching of all was when my eight-year-old stepson wanted me to have all his coins (£1.79) because he was so proud of what I’m doing – I was quite blinky eyed!”

Mr Barrett is participating in the annual ‘Movember’ initiative that encourages people to grow imaginative moustaches and to raise money for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health charities.

Mr Barrett said: “Movember is a global movement that raised £92m last year and I wanted to play my part in supporting these vital areas of research.”

Part of the fun of ‘Movember’ is the different shaped moustaches that are cultivated and Mr Barrett is aiming for the ‘full Dave Grohl drop-down handlebars look’.

Donations can be made via www.mobro.co/thechillijamman

About last night...

DIARY bumped into a leading Yorkshire public relations director and companion at a Leeds pub while awaiting the last train home on Friday night.

The individual, who shall remain nameless, was in a fairly advanced state of merriment.

An email arrived in the inbox first thing on Monday morning.

“You probably noticed by that point in the evening **** and I were quite inebriated and normally when in drink, I like to think I am suave, witty and erudite.

“Most people disagree with these sentiments however and tend to use adjectives such as bullish, arrogant, annoying bordering on offensive and ultimately a total a***.

“Hence this short missive – I hope I didn’t cause any offence at all, but if I did I apologise unreservedly!”

No offence caused... and thanks for the story.

The heat is on

EVEN though he left Parliament in 2010, Alan Milburn has retained some sharp political instincts.

Hence his slightly cautious response when asked how Prime Minister David Cameron responded to his hard-hitting report on social mobility and child poverty.

“Erm... time will tell. I used to be in politics you know. And you’re a journalist,” he said, playing for time.

Mr Milburn added: “It is unusual in my experience for a Government to invite more scrutiny, but that’s what they have done.

“Nick Clegg said to me when I was appointed to this role that he wanted me to hold the Government’s feet to the fire.

“I said how hot do you want it? Everything that we recommended is really challenging.”

Controversial recommendations include the removal of certain benefits from the wealthiest pensioners.

Mr Milburn said: “I have never yet had a conversation with a politician in private who does not acknowledge that what I am saying is right.

“The question is whether what they are saying in private is matched by what is said in public.

“If we continued to give pensioners who really needed it the fuel allowance, the free bus pass and all of those things, but we didn’t give it to every one else it would save £1.4bn a year.”

Mr Milburn made the comments at the second Yorkshire Social Mobility Summit, hosted by the Leeds and Bradford law firm Gordons.

Welcome on board

YORKSHIRE businesswoman Jo Haigh is behind a new book which aims to equip the ambitious with an insight into reaching the boardroom.

Endorsed by serial entrepreneur James Caan, The Keys to the Boardroom, How to Get There and How to Stay There, is the fifth book authored by Ms Haigh – a partner of Wakefield fds Corporate Finance and the fds Knowledge, a specialist training and development business.

Ms Haigh said: “Many people aspire to reach the boardroom but only a few achieve this goal.

“The Keys to the Boardroom provides a wealth of real life examples which will be invaluable to managers embarking on this journey.”

A launch event at The Hepworth Wakefield takes place on November 28 from 6pm-11pm.

For more information visit https://johaighyorkshirebooklaunch.eventbrite.com