Business Diary: September 13

Beneath the familiar masthead is the club logo, with white letters on gold background.

The gold is significant because, as Diary readers will know, it’s the last safe haven. A fitting metaphor perhaps for this club of entrepreneurial, executive and advisory talent.

Meeting of minds in the coalition

THE last question of the morning to the Minister for Business and Enterprise may have had a flippant edge, but it masked a more serious inquiry.

Mark Prisk was asked to share some insights into what it’s like having a Liberal Democrat as a line manager. His boss is Vince Cable, the York-born Business Secretary.

The Conservative MP laughed and said: “I didn’t know Vince very well before we both discovered ourselves in this unusual situation.

“The funny thing is, you will find this on any board with business people, that when you have people who come from a different background sometimes it flushes out a much more useful discussion, a much more powerful debate.”

But what shape is the coalition in?

“Our board of directors is stronger for having a bit of variety. There will be time when Vince uses fruity language on banks that I might not, but so what?”

When the talking comes to an end...

WILL there be fewer plain speakers in Yorkshire with the demise of Yorkshire Forward?

Diary discovered the following item on page 35 of the regional development agency’s annual report.

It seems that in the past, Yorkshire Forward, which is being axed by the coalition Government, held in-house Plain English Training courses for staff.

Presumably, the courses helped staff to cut through jargon and embrace the great Yorkshire virtue of straight-talking.

These courses are now a thing of the past, it seems. The report states: “Due to budget constraints, no in-house training courses were held (last year).

“However, as part of YF’s life-long membership, 50 online training courses were available to staff. Colleagues who have completed either course are encouraged to become ‘ambassadors’ of Plain English, and offer guidance to colleagues.”

What will become of these “Plain English Ambassadors” when the doors close on the Yorkshire Forward offices forever next year, Diary wonders.

A show of Mussel in the region

Yorkshire has always had powerful links with the North East.

Last week, Diary attended the launch of the Mussel Club at the Biltmore bar and grill in York. The Mussel Club, which has its roots in North East towns like Sunderland, was set up to bridge the gap between traditional networking groups and social media platforms.

Hosted by Emma Atkins of Denison Till Solicitors and supported by Brewin Dolphin, the launch event attracted more than 130 members of the local business community.

It was the first time the Mussel club had ventured beyond its north east heartland.

Mussel Club co-founder Geoff Bowman told Diary: “The launch of the Mussel Club in York was our first event outside of the North East and to say it was a success is an understatement.

“The reception we received from the York business community was amazing and we firmly believe that our decision to launch into Yorkshire was a good one.”

Dinosaurs go by the book

What do business and dinosaurs have in common?

A lot if you speak to furniture retailer Adam Black.

Not only is the managing director of Feather and Black preparing to launch children’s pyjamas featuring a dinosaur print next year, but he has also written a children’s book, called David the Dinosaur, to accompany the range.

His recital of the story to Diary was strictly off the record but it appears he – and the publishers – are delighted with the results.

“I’ve found out at the age of 43 that I can actually write,” he said.