Business Diary: October 18

comedian Jon Culshaw has been the master of ceremonies at the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards for the last three years.

But last week’s performance was the best of the lot, with well-timed gags and brilliant impressions of leading figures from the worlds of showbiz and politics, even if we had heard some of them before. The biggest laugh though came for his comment about Labour leader Ed Miliband resembling ‘the fifth Inbetweener’, a character from the Channel 4 comedy series about awkward teenagers trying to act like grown-ups.

In the Premier league of betting stakes

While many of the contenders for the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business awards were nervously awaiting to hear their fate, the laid back folks at Premier Farnell were having a bit of fun.

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Despite having to wait until the penultimate award to hear if they were successful, Premier decided to lighten the mood by taking some bets.

Both David Gaskin, European finance director, and Rob Rospdzihowski, commercial sales director Farnell Europe, donated £20 each and everyone on the table had to guess who would win the ten awards.

Both David and Rob got two right each – including Premier’s win for best company with a turnover above £50m.

But Philippa Varley, Premier’s organisational development business partner, beat them hands down with an impressive nine out of ten winners, giving her the £40.

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Ms Varley donated the £40 to Candlelighters, a charity looking after children with terminal cancer.

Business backing for Mystery Plays

WHEN the York Mystery Plays were first performed the Black Death, rather than the credit crunch, loomed large in the audience’s mind. The medieval plays have been performed in York for hundreds of years and are deeply embedded in the city’s cultural heritage.

Diary was please to hear that the 21st century business community is doing its bit to keep the tradition alive.

Thousands of pounds of sponsorship has already been committed to support the York Mystery Plays 2012, which are set to become the biggest outdoor theatre production the city has ever seen.

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It is hoped that more than 30,000 people will see the plays, which tell the story of the eternal battle between good and evil.

The Feoffees of Spurriergate – a charity which helps restore churches in York – has pledged £15,000 to support the community work of the plays, which aims to involve 1,000 volunteers.

The Shepherd Group has also put forward substantial sponsorship towards the spectacle, which is due to take place in the Museum Gardens in York next August.

York Data Services has also set up an online system designed to improve communication between the three partner organisations, York Museums Trust, York Theatre Royal and Riding Lights Theatre Company.

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Patrick Shepherd, deputy chairman of the Shepherd Group, said: “This production is set to be one of the highlights of 2012, for York and for many visitors to the city.”

York Mystery Plays are still looking for sponsors.

For more information contact Sarah Barnard [email protected] or (01904) 715450.

Menu selection gives food for thought

Tax consultant Stephen Burwood had more taxing matters on his plate last week.

The chairman of North Yorkshire Institute of Directors (IoD) was in the hot seat to select the menu for VIP guests at a black tie dinner during York Business Week being held in November.

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Mr Burwood said he was determined to set before guests a Yorkshire menu created by young people using local produce during the event at York Mansion House on November 15.

Catering students from York College cooked up a choice of recipes for Mr Burwood and fellow committee members, Denise Kaye, Karen Butler and Jacky Fitt, to tuck into under the watchful eyes of restaurant manager, Arnaud Rustan.

The final menu remains a closely guarded secret.

Suffice to say, a good thyme was had by all.