News / York Means Business film launched
York Means Business film launched
Wednesday 18th November 2009
A packed audience of business and council leaders has hailed The Press’s new York Means Business film at its premiere at the Mansion House.
The film, created by award-winning filmmaker Christopher David, of York-based Flash Frame Productions, was branded “fantastic and positive” by York council leader Andrew Waller, who said it would help York “get out there and sell the benefits of the city in a highly competitive world.”
The Lord Mayor of York, John Galvin, said the film was “excellent”, adding: “It’s a wonderful example of the media working with the local authority.”
Denise Stuart, chief executive of the inward investment agency, york-england.com, said York was a fantastic destination but warned that it was competing with the whole of the UK and the rest of the world in attracting business, which means York needs to be constantly proactive in promoting itself.
“The DVD will enable york-england.com to continue the very important role of attracting business and growing the economy to create jobs for our local people,” she said.
Mr David said the eight-minute film, created as part of The Press’s York Means Business campaign to promote and support the region’s economy during the recession, had two key aims: “Firstly, to blow apart the negative myths and preconceptions that so many people have about life in the north, and secondly to replace those preconceptions with positive views of a brilliant city, with great people in a beautiful region.
“This film is designed to attract business leaders to re-locate to York.”
He said he had wanted to show York not as an historical backwater from the Viking era but as positive, vibrant and full of potential for the 21st century.
He said: “In the film, the city comes across as a great place to do business, set against a beautiful visual backdrop with a wonderful quality of life – and that’s very important.
“If we can attract more new business into the area everyone benefits. Don’t think of the ‘business community’ as separate. If business succeeds the community benefits; and what’s good for the community is good for business – it’s symbiotic. York has so much to offer growing businesses: York is more cost-effective than the south east. We have brilliant transport links across the UK and Europe. First class schools, and an extensive pool of talent and skills helped, not least, by two world-class universities and great colleges. I really wanted to do this film. I love York, and I want other people to be passionate and enthusiastic about it, too.”
The film is now available online at york-england.com's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/yorkenglandcom1 and copies of the DVD can be obtained free of charge by emailing Gareth Murphy on gareth.murphy@york-england.com
Businesses are welcome to put the film on their own websites and a web-ready version can also be obtained from Gareth on the above address.
Some key quotes from the film’s interviews with top York business people:
“Fantastic universities, fantastic colleges, great schools and world-class employers.” David Rennie, managing director Nestle Confectionery UK.
“I was completely captivated by the whole ‘York experience’.” Liam O’Brien, TSYS.
“We’re constantly on the lookout for talented, motivated staff and York provides us with exactly what we need.” Andrew Wass, managing director Gear4Music Ltd.
Source: Mike Laycock, The Press, http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/business/yorkmeans/
