Yorkshire Mafia supplement: Meet the cream of the business community

I’m not talking about dapper, dark-suited dons holding clandestine meetings in the shadow of the Cow and Calf Rocks, on Ilkley Moor.

We’re talking about our own “tongue-in-cheek” version of the mafia, who would rather spend time devising dazzling sales strategies instead of chopping off horses’ heads.

In essence, the Yorkshire Mafia are the cream of our county’s business community – they reflect its energy, drive and refusal to be beaten by adversity. Most are born and bred in Yorkshire, but some have moved to the county to find their fortune.

The Yorkshire Mafia is an exclusive club which has been set up to enable some of the county’s biggest corporate names to learn from each other and find common ground. It includes people from all walks of business life – they are owner managers of local businesses, middle-managers who are on the way up and leading lights at large FTSE organisations.

Anybody accepted to join the Yorkshire Mafia will find themselves rubbing shoulders with serial entrepreneurs, executives and academics who have strong ties with the business world.

Egos are “parked” at the door before any of the group’s events begins. This absence of posturing means that members can relax and be themselves.

Members will meet people who are looking to forge mutually beneficial relationships. The Yorkshire Mafia aims to encourage a long-term approach to building business relationships and it attracts members via LinkedIN.com, who have a strong regional business interest.

Discussions and meetings are then organised online and face to face. There is a lively discussion board where people look for suppliers or ask for advice and expertise. In short, the Yorkshire Mafia members help to solve each other’s problems.

Apart from drinks evenings, there are round-table forums – intimate events where members can make their views known – which are held every two months.

The Yorkshire Mafia’s inaugural conference, on March 15 at the Royal Armouries, in Leeds, will act as a showcase for the skills and success of Yorkshire business.

The conference will include the Billion Pound Panel, which has a stellar cast of speakers, a full day of seminars and the chance to peruse 78 exhibitors’ stands.

It is expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates from Yorkshire and beyond.

A visit from this mafia could dramatically improve your company’s performance.