How to conduct your business
Yorkshire Post, June 12, 2004
Posted: 2004-06-14 10:21:26
Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, who was one of the keynote speakers at the Yorkshire International Business Convention, held at the Yorkshire Event Centre at Harrogate, gave a rousing, if unconventional, finale to the ninth annual convention.
However, the Duke of York, who convention founder Mike Firth promised would officially close the event with a speech, failed to take the stage, instead spending just a few minutes with representatives of event sponsor UK Trade & Investment before his motorcade sped off. Organisers blamed "time constraints".
It follows criticism of Prince Andrew earlier in the week for choosing to attend a golf event rather than the official 60th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
Former United Nations chief weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix gave a strong speech which was openly critical of Tony Blair and George Bush's decision to use their own intelligence on weapons of mass destruction to justify war in Iraq rather than rely on research by him and his team.
Dr Blix said: "Armed actions are very costly, not only in lives but also in financial terms. Policies should be based on facts, not fiction."
While Dr Blix brought a political dimension to the YIBC, it was dominated by inspirational business speakers and even former Tory leader and Yorkshire MP William Hague steered clear of current politics to deliver a knockabout speech full of self-deprecating one-liners.
For the first time, the YIBC used satellite technology to link the event in Harrogate with an audience of 300 people at Hull's Kingston Communications Stadium.
One of the acknowledged successes of the event was Tim Sanders, the chief solutions officer of US internet giant Yahoo.
He urged Yorkshire's business chiefs to become "knowledge-sharing leaders".
"Through faith, employers create a virtuous circle. There's nothing more destructive than the vicious cycle of not trusting employees.
"The vicious cycle can destroy your business," said Mr Sanders, who went on to give a string of real-life examples of how some of the biggest and best corporate executives used a management system based on "compassion, network and knowledge".
He urged bosses to call people "brother and sister" not employees. "Empathy is one of the greatest management skills you can build. If you lived your life right then later you can look back on it and enjoy it a second time."
Other speakers included comedian Rory Bremner, who made a number of jokes at the expense of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and England soccer star David Beckham.
On the satellite link with Hull, Bremner said: "It's a cultural experiment.If it works, they will extend it to Cleckheaton, if it doesn't they'll extend it to Rotherham.
"I feel I must apologise to Hull for the quality of John Prescott."
Other speakers included American marketing guru Agnieszka Winkler, the author of Warp Speed Branding: the Impact of Technology on Marketing.
Sir Stephen Brown, of principal sponsor UK Trade & Investment, urged regional businesses to use the Government-funded organisation to build up their overseas trade with its help.
Julia Cleverdon, chief executive of Business in the Community, also appealed to companies to get more involved in supporting local communities.
The Yorkshire Post was among a range of companies sponsoring the event which was also supported by major sponsors UK Trade & Investment and the Royal Bank Of Scotland.
business.post@ypn.co.uk
History of a convention
THIS was the ninth annual Yorkshire International Business Convention, the first was held in the grounds of Harewood House in 1995.
This year's event was the fourth to be held at its new home at the Yorkshire Event Centre at the 250-acre Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.
Previous speakers have included Bill Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev, former New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani, Dr Henry Kissenger, Lech Walesa, Neil Armstrong and F W De Klerk.
The event was a sell-out with 1,500 delegates paying more than £250 a ticket.
The catering for the event included 12,000 pieces of cutlery, 17,000 pieces of crockery, 5,000 cups of coffee, 1,000 pints of milk, 750lb of prime beef fillet and 500lb of potatoes.
Next year's event will be held on Friday, June 10 at the same venue.
- David Parkin Business Editor and Greg Wright Deputy Business Editor
Boston Philharmonic Orchestra leader hits the right notes for bosses at a successful ninth YIBC
MORE than 1,500 Yorkshire business leaders sang German opera during the biggest networking event in the region's corporate business calendar.
