The Yorkshire Mafia, the business membership group that promotes the philosophy that ‘we are stronger together’ as it delivers a year-round programme of events, will celebrate its tenth successful year with a celebration on Yorkshire Day.
Inviting its 21,000 pre-approved members, as well as those that have yet to join the group, the team will celebrate at the Oracle Bar in Brewery Place in Leeds from 6pm to 11.30pm.
With a combined commercial contribution to the local economy of no less than £8m per year, as a result of the Buy Yorkshire Conference, the largest business to business event in the North, and also Leeds Business Week, which is scheduled for October, the group has had a positive impact on business throughout the region.
Launched in 2008 by Geoff Shepherd, the group quickly became one of the most significant on LinkedIn before a schedule of events for both business and charity were created to bring people together in person.
Believing that people buy people, the group has created thousands of opportunities for Yorkshire based companies to work together, while also putting the region on the map through the media engagement that the events attract.
Geoff comments: “When we started the Yorkshire Mafia it was about bringing people together to learn, share and engage with one another. We know that people rely on the YM as a network of approved suppliers that have credibility by association and I am very pleased that we have been able to facilitate that.
“Over the years we have seen other groups attempt to recreate what we have at the YM and while this is a huge compliment it just simply isn’t possible for others to dedicate the time and effort that is needed to rival us. There is no competition when it comes to the calibre of event that we host and the speakers and sponsors that we attract.
“I am hugely proud of the YM and all that it stands for. Knowing that we are going in to our tenth year and that we have made such an immense contribution to the local economy, while also providing support for some genuinely worthy causes, is what keeps us going. We really are stronger together and I look forward to celebrating this fact with others during our event on Yorkshire Day.”
Over the years the Yorkshire Mafia has arranged a number of charity events including a trek across the Sahara Desert and climb up Mount Kilimanjaro. Bike rides from York to Paris have also raised funds for third sector organisations while an annual Christmas campaign, Ho, Ho, Homeless, continues to support thousands of rough sleepers each year.
