Verity guest of honour at Yorkshire Bank's new flagship branch

Around 150 customers and staff attended the event featuring the Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive, who was knighted last year after bringing the Tour de France to the region.

Guests enjoyed a networking session before Sir Gary paid tribute to Yorkshire Bank for sponsoring the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race and performed the official opening of the centre. Later in the evening guests were treated to a performance by the 20-strong RSM Leeds Office choir.

Tour de Yorkshire was introduced last year to build on the legacy of the Tour de France’s Le Grand Depart in 2014. Yorkshire Bank sponsors the coveted sprinter’s jersey as part of a wider community partnership with Welcome to Yorkshire.

Other cycling initiatives supported by the lender include the Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries. The scheme, which is run in association with Cycle Yorkshire, invites people to donate their old unused cycles for others to borrow.

Sir Gary said: “I am delighted to be able to help celebrate the opening of Yorkshire Bank’s new offices.

“Yorkshire Bank has been instrumental in bringing about the most exciting new cycle race in Europe, the Tour de Yorkshire, as well as the truly inspiring legacy project, the Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries. Together our aim is to inspire the children of our county to cycle and make it possible for them to have access to a bike, and Yorkshire Bank’s commitment to this project has been outstanding.”