Helping the Huddersfield Examiner and the University of Huddersfield

Copywriter Andy Hirst from Huddersfield-based AH! PR writes first ever publication featuring top 100 businesses in Kirklees

The first ever publication featuring the top 100 businesses in Kirklees is now online … and Yorkshire-based journalist/copywriter Andy Hirst from Huddersfield PR company AH! PR was asked to write most of it.

Known simply as the Kirklees Top 100, the publication has features on the top 10 plus many of the best-known business names in the area along with profiles on those classified as ‘ones to watch’.

It’s a joint venture between the University of Huddersfield, Kirklees Council, the Huddersfield Examiner and the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre in Huddersfield.

It’s a purely editorial publication to showcase businesses and show the strength and depth there is in Kirklees despite the coronavirus crisis. Kirklees Top 100 puts the district on the map as an attractive destination for inward investment, business start-up, scale-up and growth.

Andy, who was formerly Head of Content at The Huddersfield Examiner, said: “It was an honour to work on the Kirklees Top 100 and some of the businesses in there have amazing stories to tell ranging from one textile company that dates back to 1766 and a graphics company that provided 700 graphics for the award-winning Titanic Experience museum in Belfast which makes it such a world-renowned exhibition.

“The publication also has a major feature on charities as the Kirklees area has a magnificent reputation for its commitment to helping others. This includes helping people with terminal illnesses to those with mental health problems, the disabled, the homeless, asylum seekers and families in dire need through to breakfast clubs for youngsters in deprived areas.”

Andy set up the Huddersfield Examiner’s Community Awards 21 years ago and still co-hosts the glittering presentation event every year with ITN newsreader Nina Hossain (http://ah-pr.com/work/pioneering-event-written-by-andy-hirst-from-ah-pr-and-co-hosted-with-itn-newsreader-nina-hossain-shows-how-major-awards-ceremonies-can-be-done-online/) . The awards highlight the amazing charitable and voluntary work that goes on in our communities day in and day out and this year were hosted online in a pioneering move which led to dozens of other awards ceremonies following suit.

Kirklees Council leader Clr Shabir Pandor said: “The Kirklees Top 100 has highlighted the calibre of our business community, not just on a regional level, but internationally. We want to draw on that expertise and success and work together to aid economic recovery by identifying and creating growth and employment opportunities as well as attracting inward investment.”

Sue Cooke, Chief Executive of the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre and originator of the initiative, said: “The Kirklees Top 100 has helped showcase the thriving and successful business community that is right on our doorstep. Many companies within the Kirklees list are at the top of their game and we hope that being part of the top 100 will enable them to forge links and really drive investment into the region, creating new jobs and opportunities.”

To stay in touch with news about the Kirklees Top 100 Companies follow @KirkleesTop100 on Twitter and Kirklees Top 100 on LinkedIn.

An online page-turning edition of the Kirklees Top 100 is available here http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?PBID=36a66913-dcde-4e71-aa58-882bbc248814

Alternatively contact Andy at andy@ah-pr.com and he’ll happily email you out a PDF version.