About us

Business Kirklees

Business Kirklees is delivered by the Business, Economy & Growth Service at Kirklees Council.

We deliver targeted business support that helps businesses to start up and grow, supporting economic growth and creating jobs for local people. We also work to attract inward investment for Kirklees.

Here to help

Business Kirklees provides free support to businesses of all sizes and sectors across Kirklees.

We navigate the complex local, regional, and national business support landscape so you don’t have to - helping you access funding, support networks, knowledge and skills to enable your business to thrive.

Working together for local business

We work closely with others to ensure businesses receive high-quality, relevant support. We share knowledge and best practice, influence decision-making, and broker businesses’ access to support programmes.

Meet the management team

Guiding our vision for Business Kirklees, our management team comprises people from varied backgrounds with a breadth of skills and experience. Meet the people leading the way with passion and expertise...

We’d welcome your feedback on our service to ensure we continue to meet your business needs. If you’d like to get in touch email [email protected] or phone 01484 221000.

Christopher Duffill

Head of Business Economy & Growth

Chris is passionate about helping businesses, people and communities to realise their potential. He has 25 years’ experience developing, delivering and evaluating strategies around economic development and regeneration, working at a senior level in the public and private sectors.

Andrew Sharp

Strategic Partnerships Manager

Andrew has worked in economic development for over 20 years, developing and delivering a wide range of business support and regeneration projects. He now leads on the strategic delivery of Business Kirklees’ inward investment and business support services.

Yvonne Walsh

Senior Business Centre Manager

Yvonne is an experienced Business Manager with a long-standing practical application of working in local government and private sector business. She is skilled in business planning, operational management and strategic planning within a commercial service.

Patrick Loye

Business Team Manager

After 20 years within account management, in both the private and public sector, Patrick now manages our start up and growth support activity. He’s passionate about business support and prides himself on being able to build relationships with partners and businesses.

Our funding partners

With thanks to our funding partners on these programmes:

Kirklees Growth Managers

Part-funded by the European Union - England European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Work and Pensions are the managing authorities for European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund funding through the Growth Programme, funds established by the European Union to help local areas stimulate their economic development. By investing in projects, the funds will help to support innovation, businesses, skills and employment to improve local growth and create jobs.

Startup West Yorkshire

Start-Up West Yorkshire is delivered by the West Yorkshire Local Authorities through Start Up Manager support, and webinars and one to one specialist support delivered by People Plus on behalf of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.