As champions of Yorkshire and passionate about profiling the region’s vibrant business community, we’re launching a series of blogs which ‘celebrate all things Yorkshire’. 

The first one focuses on the dynamic developments in the pipeline in the city of Sheffield which boasts a rich and colourful history – and which has been boosted by a £1 million government funding programme.

Sheffield’s optimism shone through in the Star Business Survey 2012 supported by Lambert Smith Hampton.It was great to hear James Newman, chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, (one of the first LEPs to be approved by the Government), outline being very upbeat and outlining how future growth will be determined by the way in which we create and shape opportunities now.

There is strong evidence to support the forecast that the major growth industries in the South Yorkshire area will include manufacturing and precision engineering and technology and digital. Local manufacturers including Anchor Magnets which boasts the prestigious Made in Sheffield mark – and whose groundbreaking innovations include Warmroom – a magnetic energy saving product that reduces heat loss and energy bills – are blazing a trail and boasting strong order books and growth.

The spotlight will likewise remain on South Yorkshire’s Advanced Manufacturing Park whose  aspirations include having the world’s biggest and best manufacturing research centre according to Professor Keith Ridgway.    

Another storming milestone ahead will see the Sheffield Enterprise Zone expecting to create around 250 new business tenants and 12,600 new jobs over the next three years.

Sheffield’s business talent also spans professional services such as the newly merged hlw keeble hawson, boutique dealmakers Strategic Corporate Finance headed by Andrew Coates, and accountancy firms Barber Harrison and Platt and Hawsons Chartered Accountants.

Also boosting Sheffield’s profile is its vibrant creative and digital sector which employs 50,000 people – and more great things expected of the Digital Region initiative which has enabled 84 per cent of South Yorkshire to have broadband.

And last – but certainly not least – Sheffield and Yorkshire has a fantastic media including the Sheffield Star and its award-winning digital editor, the Yorkshire Business Insider TheBusinessDesk, The Yorkshire Post, Sheffield Telegraph, BBC Radio Sheffield, The Legal and First for Business – to report the ongoing wealth of wonderful stories.

What do you want Sheffield to achieve this year?

Be Sociable, Share!

•