Podcasts With Graham Mann

It’s an absolute pleasure to have Mike on my Podcast With Graham Mann.

His team have given our new business venture Switchwatersupplier.com a huge amount of valuable professional support over the months leading up to the official launch that never was! in Wakefield City centre due to Covid-19.

Mikes team are still working with us on the Switchwatersupplier.com project which is now trading and fully operational so businesses check us out if you want to reduce your water bills and Switch Water Supplier!

In the light of the support we have received and continue to receive I wanted to give something back and what better way than to introduce Mike and give him and his team support in getting messages out there to the business community right here in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

About Mike Denby

Mike is currently leading the economic growth and inward investment team for skills and business at Wakefield Council.

Joining in April 2013 as Business and Skills Service Manager, Mike is responsible for engaging the Wakefield business community to encourage inward investment, business start-ups, economic growth, jobs and careers and the upskilling of Wakefield’s workforce.

Previously, Mike was employed as the Head of Employer Engagement at British Land’s CSR project The Source. After joining The Source in 2003, Mike was responsible for leading the employer engagement strategy, supporting businesses to up-skill and retain their workforce, making them an ‘Employer of Choice’.

With a detailed understanding of the skills and employment landscape, both locally and nationally, Mike has experience of securing national training and Apprenticeship contracts for household names such as Debenhams, Republic, Jaeger, City Electrical Factors and Cafe Nero.

During his career Mike has built strong working relationships with organisations including the Skills Funding Agency, Department for Work and Pensions, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation for Small Business and the National Skills Academy.

From 2010 – 2012, Mike project managed Opportunity Sheffield, a £1.5m contract funded by Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund. Opportunity Sheffield provided SME’s with business support, encouraging businesses to up-skill their workforce and recruit in an inactive job market. The role involved leading the employer engagement strategy to engage over 1800 Sheffield businesses across the Retail and Business and Finance sectors. The project came to an end in April 2012 and was regarded a huge success by its funders for exceeding contract projections.

In October 2012 Mike was recognised for his support and contribution towards the business community when he was named Young Businesses Person of The Year at the Sheffield Star Business Awards.

It’s an absolute pleasure to have Mike on my Podcast With Graham Mann and look forward to the show!