Media clippings (Nov 1999 - Feb 2000)Media clippings (Nov 1999 - Feb 2000)Probe into grant continues (Keighley News, 11 Feb, 2000)
Inquiry into forum collapse (Keighley News, 28/1/2000)
Cost of forum demise 'negligible' to ratepayers (Keighley News, 17/12/99)
'Unfair to blame us for forum failure' (Keighley News, 10/12/99)
Talks on setting up a new forum (T&A, 4/12/99)
A new business forum must rise like the Phoenix (Editorial, Keighley News, 26/11/99)
High hopes, much achievement, and a sad demise (Keighley News, 26/11/99)
Keighley Business Forum collapses (Keighley News, 26/11/99)
Jobs are lost as pioneering waste company goes to the wall (Keighley News, 12/11/99)
by John Bellerby, Keighley News, 12/11/99
A PIONEERING environmental company praised by Prime Minister Tony Blair and American President Bill Clinton has crashed with the loss of ten jobs.
Keighley's award-winning waste management company NCEEM this week ceased trading with debts believed to be in excess of £300,000.
Chief Executive lain Copping, who has lost his job, says: 'What's happened is that some of the income we were anticipating from various sources has been delayed through circumstances beyond our control.'
NCEEM - the National Centre of Excellence for Environmental Management - was originally formed as part of Keighley Business Forum (KBF). It was split off as a separate company earlier this year. KBF director Mr Copping went with the new company as its chief executive, remaining based at Cedar House, in Lawkholme Lane, Keighley.
Mr Copping says: 'The board of directors has taken advice and appointed Price Waterhouse Coopers to look at a voluntary liquidation which can be agreed at a creditors' meeting on Monday, November 22. At the moment efforts are still being made to see what parts of the business , can be rescued.'
Mr Copping says the company's problems are nothing to do with the quality of work which has been done.
"The quality of our staff and their loyalty has been tremendous,' he says. "We have had a great deal of success regionally, nationally and internationally, and have made a great impact. This week we have had messages of praise and support from all over the world, including the USA, South Africa, Germany and the rest of Europe.
NCEEM, which helped the development of innovative solutions to enable businesses to create wealth in sustainable ways, was the leading, force behind recent ground-breaking trans Atlantic environmental conferences. US President Bill Clinton even recorded a video address for the last conference in America.
The organisation was funded through landfill tax grants and government contracts, as well as receiving support from companies such as BT and Yorkshire Water.
Keighley Business Forum chairman Tim Parr says: "It's a tragedy, both for the area and nationally. Waste minimisation has been a tremendous success story for Keighley and looked as if it would continue to be."
Elaine Pearson, director of the KBF, said she could not comment on NCEEM, but confirmed it was business as usual for the forum.
by John Bellerby, Keighley News, 26/11/99
HIGH-FLYING Keighley Business Forum has gone bust with the loss of nine jobs.
T'he decision to go into liquidation follows the financial collapse of the forum's spin-off sister company NCEEM two weeks ago with debts thought to be around £300,000.
Last minute efforts to rescue the forum (KBF) failed. A final decision was made by its board on Monday after advice had been taken from Price Waterhouse Coopers. A creditors' meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 14.
KBF, the flagship company representing Keighley's businesses, is a victim of NCEEM's bad debts.
KBF director Elaine Pearson, who took up the post in May after eight months as deputy, says: "The series of events which unfolded over the last few months has within the last few days become such that the board had no choice but to initiate insolvency proceedings. The failure of NCEEM meant some £50,000 of cash which was expected to be received mainly in September is now not going to be received.
'The final nail in the coffin has been advice received that some of NCEEM's liabilities could revert to KBF.
"As a result of this, the package of assistance to get round the NCEEM bad debt that had been put forward with the backing of Bradford council, Yorkshire Forward and others cannot now proceed. This is because it could no longer guarantee the survival of KBE"
Elaine took over as director of KBF from lain Copping. He went with NCEEM (National Centre of Excellence for Environmental Management) as its chief executive when it split from KBF in May.
"I am heartbroken," she says. "Who will look after the interests of businesses in Keighley now?"
KBF chairman Tim Parr says: "It is tragic that despite the hard work of the staff -,and in particular our director Elaine Pearson - the support of Bradford council and many others, this decision had to be made.
"Without doubt KBF has achieved much during the course of the 1990s. It is to be hoped that a way can be found of continuing its good work, and talks are taking place with a view to another organisation continuing the viable parts of the KBF undertaking."
KBF had 250 member companies from around the area, each paying an annual membership fee ranging from £100 to £1,000 depending on its size. Its headquarters at Cedar House, Lawkholme Lane, is leased from Peter Black Holdings and sub-let at subsidised rents to other organisations and startup businesses. No one at Peter Black was able to say how the other tenants of Cedar House would be affected.
KADTAL general manager Ian Nichol says: "I am very saddened by the demise of KBF, because I feel it did a great deal to promote Keighley. It is critically important that another organisation or combination of organisations quickly take on KBFs work."
Public relations consultant Robert Minton-Taylor.- who worked closely wills KBF, says: "I was shocked to hear of its demise. It was a dynamic organisation which had generated an enormous amount of goodwill and support for the Keighley area.
"It put Bronte Country on the tourist map, its work in raising awareness of environmental concerns was ground-breaking, it gave invaluable support to its members and it campaigned tirelessly for Keighley as a progressive and go-ahead town."
Keighley Local Enterprise Agency (KLEA) is anxious to assure its clients that it will be business as usual at the offices it rents from KBF at Cedar House. KLEA provides a similar service for small businesses as that provided by KBF.
Keighley Asian Business Forum is also carrying on business as usual. Project manager Ismail Sulaiman says: "Earlier this year we considered a merger with KBF but our members voted against it."
Keighley News, 26/11/99
As we report on page 1, Keighley Business Forum has folded. Here we look back on the achievements and history of the organisation
KEIGHLEY BUSINESS F'ORUM was quietly formed in 1989 and purposely kept a low profile.
Slowly but surely it went from strength to strength - boosting Keighley's economy and working in the interests of local businesses.
The forum was the brainchild of Iain Copping, who was at the time Bradford council's senior policy officer. It was set up to look at some of the major issues facing around a dozen of the town's leading companies.
Two years later, in the early summer of 1991, the forum 'went public'. In June the forum elected officers, a strong committee and identified primary policies. The first chairman was Stephen Wolstenholme, who was distribution director at Magnet in Keighley, and the vice-chairman was well known solicitor Keith Blackwell. Mr Copping became the secretary and was appointed director in 1992.
The first major initiative was to achieve a transport infrastructure for Keighley.
In a joint statement Mr Wolstenhome and Mr Blackwell said: 'The forum is a very high-powered group. Our voice will be heard and our influence will soon become evident.
"Our one strength is that we are beholden to no one. We are independent, apolitical and can go where other bodies would perhaps draw back from on behalf of Keighley.
"We are dedicated to the prosperity and advancement of the district and if we have to take people on we will do so, though it is our intention to persuade rather than bludgeon.'
Since that time the KBF has been involved with many campaigns - setting up office space for start-up or expanding businesses, and lobbying government ministers on the Bingley bypass, electrification of the Aire Valley Rail line, the City Challenge bids and the multi-million pound Single Regeneration Budget.
Trade missions were also held in America, South Africa and Eastern Europe as well as yearly 'one stop-shop' exhibitions.
KBF decided it need a president as its figurehead and in January 1994, Sir James Hill agreed to take on the role.
In 1995 Keighley Chamber of Trade unanimously voted to merge with the KBF.
Earlier this year Prime Minster Tony Blair and other leading members of the Government praised the forum for its pioneering role on high-profile national and international initiatives.
The comments followed the success of the award winning waste management company NCEEM. Earlier this year NCEEM was split off from the KBF - with Mr Copping becoming chief executive of the company, remaining based at Cedar House, in Lawkholme Lane, Keighley.
Earlier this month NCEEM crashed with debts in excess of £300,000 and the loss of ten jobs, including Mr Copping's.
Elaine Pearson, born and bred in Keighley, stepped up to become director of the forum. Elaine joined the organisation in September 1998, after a 20-year career in banking.
Since NCEEM's crash Elaine and her team have worked without pay in a bid to save the forum. At one stage a rescue package was agreed. But it foundered after more debts - in NCEEM's name, but reverting back to the KBF - were discovered.
Editorial, Keighley News, 26/11/99
The demise of the Keighley Business Forum has sent shock waves rippling through many aspects of life in the area.
The fact that such a pioneering organisation which has fought tooth and nail for Keighley has gone to the wall is in some ways unbelievable. But it has - through no fault of its own.
What is for certain is that a tremendous battle was fought by director Elaine Pearson, the staff and board members to save the organisation in the wake of the collapse of NCEEM.
Rescue packages were put together but were thwarted as a more true level of debt became known. Twenty jobs involving people looking after and promoting the interests of Keighley have been lost.
After several weeks of struggling, the board has made an extremely sensible decision to go into liquidation. Until creditors' meetings are held and further inquiries are made the full background will not be known.
But on the face of it there must surely be an official inquiry into the part NCEEM played in the collapse. The reported figures involved do not make comfortable reading, and the list of questions grows at the turn of every corner.
A full statement must at least be made, as many of the projects involved public money. Other organisations caught up in the knock-on effects must be told as soon as possible what is to happen in the future.
The major challenge for the future must be to ensure that projects being managed by the KBF continue. The Forum had a pivotal role in developing strategies for the future of Keighley.
The question must also be asked - who now will represent the interests of Keighley businesses and the KBF's 250 members?
Business Link has left the town and we have no Chamber of Commerce or the like. Once the situation has become clear it is imperative that every effort-must be made to re-launch the KBF.
Representation of business interests is an absolute must. It will mean going back to basics.
It is vital for the future prosperity of the Keighley district that another forum rises like the legendary Phoenix out of the ashes.
T&A, 4/12/99
Talks have been held to set up a new business group in Keighley following the demise of the Keighley Business Forum.
The flagship organisation which represented Keighley's businesses went into liquidation with the loss of nine jobs following the financial collapse of a spin-off sister company.
NCEEM (National Centre ol Excellence for Environmental Management) collapsed with debts believed to be around £300,000.
Its failure meant that about £50,000 due to the forum was not forthcoming, and KBF also faced being saddled with some ol NCEEM's liabilities.
The decision to go into liquidation was taken after advice from Price Waterhouse Coopers. A creditors' meeting will be held on Tuesday December 14.
Efforts have been going on for several months to establish a new Keighley Business Partnership.
Talks have been held between the chief executives of Keighley College, Keighley and District Training Association Ltd (KADTAL), KBF and the Asian Business Forum.
In a joint statement, the partner organisations said: "The recent announcement regarding the demise of Keighley Business Forum is deeply regretted, as it has been a very positive partner throughout the discussions.
"At the same time this new partnership will deliver an even more comprehensive support service than that previously delivered by the partners individually."
Keighley News, 10/12/99
AN EX-EMPLOYEE of failed waste management company NCEEM has hit back at claims the company's debts brought down Keighley Business Forum. Former policy and Research manager Chris Sealey says: "To lay the blame for KBFs demise entirely at NCEEM's door is a gross oversimplification.
"The £50,000 'owed' by NCEEM to KBF had in fact largely been offered to KBF as a goodwill gesture when NCEEM split off from KBF. This money would not have previously been in the KBF budget for this year.
'The creation of NCEEM actually released KBF from responsibility for a significant monthly salary bill, as some staff transferred to the new company," he says.
"Since NCEEM was formed ,KBF has been receiving £12,500 each quarter from a government contract to deliver a waste minimisation programme for business.
"The work was entirely carried out by NCEEM staff at no cost to KBF. This 'free' KBF income was set to continue until April next year.
'The planned merger with Keighley Asian Business Forum would also have helped the viability of KBF. Why did this merger recently collapse at the last minute?
"Looking at KBFs activities in recent months, the question has to be asked: what had happened to some core activities such as the annual business exhibition?"
Mr Sealey says: "Rather than simply blame NCEEM, a more fundamental question must be asked: was KBF in its recent form really a viable operation going forward, even if NCEEM's 'debt had not existed?"
Mr Sealey pays tribute to the work of NCEEM chief executive and former KBF director Iain Copping.
"Few have worked harder to promote the interests of Keighley's businesses, in the past decade than Iain, and with enormous success," he says. "Without Iain's energy and dynamism there would never have been a KBF, and many in the town must be very grateful to him."
Keighley News, 17/12/99
TORY councillors have demanded to know what the demise of Keighley Business Forum will cost council tax payers. Ann Hawkesworth and Glen Miller made the call at Keighley Area Panel's meeting.
The forum, which represented Keighley's businesses, went into liquidation with the loss of nine jobs following the financial collapse of a spin-off sister company. Cllr Hawksworth wanted to know how much Bradford council had paid as part of an unsuccessful rescue package. Cllr Miller added.. "If any money is wasted then we have failed. If it's £100,000 or £10,000 it's money that could have been used elgewhere."
Labour councillor Barry Thorne angrily reacted that Councillor Miller was making a cheap comment. He said: "The company has gone down through no fault of the council or its officers. It's not about the council being negligent."
Cllr Thorne believes the cost to the council will be negligible. "A lot of people in the private sector will have lost money," he added. He stressed the full details of what went wrong were not known yet. Liquidators have this week been appointed after a meeting of creditors. He said there would be no secrecy because Malcolm Hoddy, editor of the Keighley News, was among those party to the discussions.
Cllr Miller, who represents Worth Valley ward at City Hall, insisted he was not accusing the Labour rulers of negligence. Bradford council's regeneration chiefs would work with liquidators, and the council would take over running some Bronte Country Tourism projects.
Keighley News, 28/1/2000
An investigation into the dramatic collapse of Keighley Business Forum is still under way. Development agency Yorkshire Forward confirmed yesterday that their enquiries into the stricken organisation are on-going.
KBF folded last November with debts estimated to be around £300,000 and the loss of nine jobs. The flagship company which represented Keighley's businesses was said to be a victim of debts run up by its spin-off sister company NCEEM, which went into receivership in November. KBF went into liquidation in December.
Keighley News, 11 Feb, 2000
A top-level investigation into what happened to a £265,000 government grant to the now defunct Keighley Business Forum is still under way.
Yorkshire Forward, the government's regional development agency, confirmed yesterday that a probe into the fate of its money is not complete.
The forum, an umbrella organisation for Keighley firms, folded last November with the loss of nine jobs and debts estimated to be around £300,000.
The forum was said to be a victim of debts run up by its spin-off waste management company NCEEM. KBF and NCEEM administered several high-profile projects for Keighley's Single Regeneration Budget, including Keighley Asian Business Forum.
Negotiations are under way with other local organisations to take over responsibility for these projects with SRB funding.
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