Airedale Enterprise Services (AES) is the centre of excellence and choice for business support and enterprise in Yorkshire & Humberside and East Lancashire; delivering services to businesses, start-ups, colleges, social enterprise and individuals.
As a social enterprise we are committed to helping businesses grow, ploughing back our profits into supporting entrepreneurs when they most need a helping hand. We have supported more than 17,000 individuals and small business owners and look forward to working with you too.
Our In-House team combines real first-hand business experience with consultancy and coaching skills to provide practically focussed strategic growth plans for your business. To complement our own staff, we have a network of experts that work with us on specialised projects and training to help your business develop.
For over 30 years we have delivered start-up delivery programmes on behalf of Bradford Council, Business Link, Yorkshire Forward, The Training & Enterprise Council, Keighley SRB (Single Regeneration Budget) Keighley Town Council, West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency, Bradford Chamber of Commerce, Sheffield Enterprise Agency, DWP, Job Centre plus, Yorkshire & Humber Regional Enterprise programme, Barclays Bank, NatWest bank, Bradford Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (Bradford Kickstart) Bradford Rising Stars and The National Enterprise Network – Ready for Business and Start & Grow programme. WE are currently chosen to be the main delivery partner of Virgin StartUp loans in Yorkshire.
Business Adviser, Supercoach & Trainer
Viv is a certified Transformative Supercoach and graduate of Michael Neill’s elite coaching academy. She is also an author with a mission to share what is useful for people to know about how they create their experience of life.
Richard is an established environmental trainer with a wide range of experience in helping businesses to implement environmental management systems. Whilst he also teaches environmental subjects at undergraduate and post-graduate levels, his extensive experience in business enables him to recognise the need for a pragmatic approach to environmental management.
Lyn’s ethos is to highlight the ‘human’ in HR. With over 20 years’ experience assisting businesses to interpret employment legislation on behalf of the people they employ. She holds an impressive array of professional qualifications and publications to her name.
Call us now to grow your business
Since moving to Keighley 16 years ago Sue has been a great supporter of the advice and services offered by AES. Initially Sue brought her own small business to the area and met the staff of KLEA (the previous name of AES) at an enterprise event. Sue benefited from the individual advice and some of the free courses on offer. Since then she has helped run the Small Business Club, led courses on publicity and marketing and then became as member of the Board. Sue believes that AES offers an amazing range of services and support for anyone considering starting up or wanting to expand their own business.
Although not a true Yorkshireman Robert has lived in Airedale since 1975 and has been associated with AES for a number of years both as a director and partner representative. He worked for many years on training programmes for young people and adults to help them improve their skills and knowledge for employment. Since 2003 his focus has been on regeneration and economic development in Airedale. Now that his family has grown up he has more time to enjoy cycling not only to work but on longer routes with friends, walking (preferably when its sunny, he says) and has a lifelong interest in horticulture. He is also a volunteer at Bingley Contact Centre.
I was born and bred in Keighley and have always worked in the local area on an employed and self employed basis. My employment has remained in the Accountancy and Finance sector. Initially working for a firm of Chartered Accountants in Keighley whilst obtaining my professional qualifications, then moving on to work for various local charities and voluntary organisations. After the birth of my daughter I decided to become self employed. The birth of my son 3 years later confirmed this was the right path for me, due to the flexibility that it offered. (Although anyone who ‘is’ self employed will understand that you actually work a lot harder!!) My self employment was helped by AES or (KLEA as was) initially with my business plan way back in 1992 – I received further help through business advice and relevant training courses. I have been involved with the organisation on and off ever since. First as a worker (Finance Officer) and now as a board member. I am proud to be associated with AES and the much needed services they offer.
Born in Surrey and brought up in Lincolnshire, Carol is the Ssecond of 4 children of a GP, and always thought to be “the one with brains”. An external London degree in modern languages and economics from Cambridge College of Arts and Technology was followed by the birth of her two children, while she worked in the city and in the West End of London for computer companies. In 1974 the family moved to Yorkshire and Carol spent 25 years working in textiles as a production control manager. In 2000 she moved to work as finance and operations manager for the local Council for Voluntary Services, retiring in 2008. She is now a trustee/board member for Keighley & Ilkley Voluntary & Community Action (KIVCA), for the Keighley Furniture Project (Treasurer), and is the Chair of AES. She edits and produce a quarterly magazine, Tykes’ News, for folk music in and around Yorkshire, is a volunteer “patient” for Leeds University Medical School, and clerk to the Trustees of The Drake & Tonson Foundation. Carol joined the board of AES while still working for KIVCA as liaison between the two organizations and thoroughly enjoys being part of a non-profit-making organization that does so much to help others into business with advice and training.
