Member Article

A Yorkshire view on the 'North South Divide'

Born and brought up in Gods own county, with my head office in Wakefield, my children all educated here and my friends firmly committed to the North, I am as Yorkshire as you can get!

But hang, on I married a southerner, I have a London office, two of my four children have moved there and oh yes in case I forget 60% of my business is carried out down there. Although my team in Wakefield are working hard to change that!

The pull of the smoke had not been so much of a choice as a no brainier. There is simply more of everything going off down south.

It’s easier and quicker to do business in the City and there are simply more business opportunities about, people are quicker to make decisions and less risk adverse, there is better access to funding and more opportunities for change. Overall there is definitely a more optimistic atmosphere.

Also, people generally dress better and have more confidence about change.

Do you know what, I can’t actually believe I am writing this as a loyal and committed Yorkshire girl. No one can love Yorkshire more than me, but I at least am finding these points are fact.

So have I crossed the divide?

Well physically I have one foot in both camps. I can be in my city office in just over two hours, I do more meetings in a day in London than I can ever hope to in Yorkshire (partly because it’s easier and more usual to have meetings much later in the day) before going home to my London apartment (admittedly a tiny one at just 600sq.ft). Incidentally my London apartment is now worth nearly as much as my Yorkshire six bedroom ex-mill owners house with all its oak panelling!

The restaurants in London are heaving every night, filled with business people and tourists and you can smell optimism in the air. This just isn’t the case in Yorkshire not even in the naggers cities.

The market is bigger and, even if it’s only perceived, that is better for business.

So back to my beloved Yorkshire. How can we close the divide and is that even possible? We are a different breed up here and proud to be so.

Salt of the earth doesn’t even begin to describe it. Loyal, stoic, friendly (when we know you), fun and very hard working, but we do take our time to embrace change and, although not indecisive, we take our time getting there. We are of course careful with our money and luxuries are just that, luxuries. Being family orientated means we are less likely to stay out doing business late at night, and this is confounded with the poor public transport and blocked up roads.

So multiple generalisations, and some I suspect very controversial indeed, but also if we are honest some home truths.

My mother used to say “we are what we want to be and we create our own destiny”. The north south divide has always existed and will for ever be thus. My advice, celebrate the situation make the most of what we have and who we are. Vive la différence.

fds Director Services are hosting the well known business commentator Justin Urquhart Stewart at a breakfast event looking at the North South Divide. This event takes place on the 20th March. Full details can be found here

By Jo Haigh, CEO of fds Director Services Limited NED Director of the Year and First Woman in Business Services

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by stephanie osman .