Enterprise events at soccer club

Sean Jarvis, commercial director, said the Enterprise Academy will be a free focal point for businesses to exchange ideas and meet new contacts.

He said: "It represents a hub where businesses can get to know each other and have football as a common denominator and ice-breaker."

At each event a different panel of business personalities will take questions from an audience of 100 about issues such as finance, marketing, human resources and leadership.

Mr Jarvis said: "We relaunched ourselves as Yorkshire's club a couple of years ago. It raised a few eyebrows. We are not the biggest or most successful club in Yorkshire but we believe in Yorkshire values such as trust, integrity and honesty.

"Businesses from Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and Halifax seemed to latch onto that. They believe what we are doing is right. The Enterprise Academy is an extension of that."

Mr Jarvis said club turnover nearly doubled last year in a reflection of increased partnerships and sponsorships. Its chairman is Dean Hoyle, who sold his Card Factory retail business earlier this year for 300m.

The first of five events takes place on October 12 and features Ian Marwood of accountancy firm Grant Thornton, Ian Farquhar of engineers David Brown and a representative from Kirklees College.

Details will soon be available www.htafccommercial.com