first Friday: 4th April

16th January 2008

The Wakefield District's key monthly business networking event first Friday takes place on 4th April at the Cedar Court Hotel, between 12 noon - 2pm. Guest speaker will be Jon Lloyd, Chief Executive of UK Coal.

A Chartered Surveyor, Jon held senior roles at Yorkshire Water Plc before being appointed Regional Managing Director for DTZ Debenham Thorpe in 1994, moving to the Halifax Property Group in 1997. On the merger of the Halifax and the Bank of Scotland in 2001, Jon became Deputy Head of Group Property for the merged HBOS plc, and was appointed Head of Group Property in 2004, a position he held until he joined UK Coal in 2006.
 
UK Coal is a mining, property and power company employing 3,100 people, with its headquarters at Harworth Park, near Doncaster.
 
As Britain’s biggest producer of coal, UK Coal operates four deep mines in the Midlands and Yorkshire, and five surface mines in the North East, the North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands. Over 90% of UK Coal’s annual output of almost nine million tonnes is sold to generate around 5% of Britain’s electricity requirements.
 
UK Coal’s power business, Harworth Power, includes the generation of electricity using engines to burn methane extracted from collieries, and the development of wind farms on more than 10 sites.
 
UK Coal's property portfolio, managed by Harworth Estates, has increased in value by £69M to £145M over the year. The company estimates the portfolio land value in 2012, with the benefit of planning consents, will be £926M.
 
Paul Barrett, first's Head of Marketing and Investment said:
 
"We're delighted to welcome Jon to the April first  Friday event. I am certain that Jon will provide valuable insights into the challenges facing the coal industry, which are well known in the Wakefield district, as well as information relating to the increasing energy prices."
 
first  Friday attracts delegates from local and regional companies and offers a fresh approach to business networking and local economic regeneration, as well as illuminating insights from high profile guest speakers, a Q&A session and an excellent lunch.