West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is celebrating after winning the Most Effective Campaigning award, sponsored by BT, at the British Chambers of Commerce’s annual Chamber Business Awards 2016. The Chamber Business Awards, now in its 13th year, is one of the showpiece events in the business calendar, highlighting the role of business in delivering growth and prosperity for the UK and local communities.
The Chamber was praised by the judging panel for its campaign to lobby HS2 to create a single station in Leeds to maximise the economic benefit to the region. The Chamber assembled a panel of members from across the region, launched a report calling for the existing station and HS2 services to share a common concourse, and for the new station to be part of a fully integrated transport hub, and having the capacity to meet future rail growth.
Following the campaign, HS2 recommended the creation of a single station bringing high speed and classic rail services together with a shared concourse in Leeds.
Francis Martin, President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:
“West and North Yorkshire Chamber have delivered a fantastic campaign to ensure that plans for HS2 are best placed to provide the maximum economic benefit for the region. This member-led campaign has successfully argued for sensible and functional infrastructure planning which will be able to meet future rail demand. The Chamber is a well-deserved recipient of this award.”
Mark Goldstone, Head of Business Representation & Policy for the West & North Yorkshire Chamber said:
“This award is testament to the commitment of those businesses across our region who gave their time freely without seeking reward in order to improve the economy for all. I am delighted that the British Chambers of Commerce have recognised this effort and I am thrilled to accept this award on their behalf.”
