Yorkshire Christmas catch-up: Yorkshire Payments’ James Howard

As Christmas is less than a week away, and the businesspeople of Yorkshire preparing to hang up their stockings for the holiday, Bdaily is continuing its December interview series with James Howard, managing director of Yorkshire Payments.

As you already know, we at Bdaily love to bring our readers closer to the stories we write. So this month, we’re asking the questions we don’t usually get a chance to ask - giving you the opportunity to learn more about the people behind the businesses you often read about.

Based in Brighouse, Yorkshire Payments is the region’s only independent card payments provider.

Your Business

What were the highlights for Yorkshire Payments in 2015?

The business has doubled in size in 2015. Our turnover has grown by nearly 100% and we have won 500 new contracts across the region and beyond.

The company has also enjoyed a number of award wins which has been great.

Two of our apprentices both won the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ category at the Brighouse Echo Business Awards, and the business as a whole scooped the ‘Small to Medium Sized Business’ category at the same awards.

To put the icing on the cake, I myself won the New Generation category at the BiY awards run by business support network, Business in Yorkshire. The award recognises the most dynamic business owners under the age of 35, and to win was a huge boost!

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently this year?

Yes we’d have got better, quicker! It’s always brilliant to grow and improve so rapidly but when you get there you always wish you’d done it before.

What’s in store for your company in 2016?

We’re aiming to double in size again, win more customers, and establish further great link-ups with great Yorkshire businesses. We’re also planning a really cool, innovative marketing campaign that everyone will want to copy, but can’t!

However, there will still be a strong focus on maintaining the great levels of personal customer care that we’re renowned for.

Your favourites

Have any other Yorkshire companies caught your eye this year? if so - why?

We love Lottie Shaw’s, a great story and even better food!

When business life gets on top of you, what do you do to destress?

I have two dogs called Luna and Max who we allow to visit the office – you can never be too serious when they’re around!

The what ifs

If you could do any job in the world what would it be?

Originally coming from Birmingham, I’d like to manage the Wolves. It would be great fun but I guess we might not win very often!

If you could go back in time, which piece of advice would you give your younger self?

Probably the advice that I give myself every day and never take – I won’t tell you what it is!

What would be the perfect Christmas gift for you?

It would have to be a cruise on a ship in a hot place with a sports bar and someone to walk Max and Luna around the deck.

Thanks for your time James, Merry Christmas from the Bdaily team!

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