Yorkshire festive focus: Jillian Thomas, Future Life Wealth Management and former President of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce

As Christmas is only days away, and the businesspeople of Yorkshire are preparing to hang up their stockings, Bdaily is catching up with the region’s business leaders to reflect on the highlights of 2016 and how they plan on spending the holiday period.

For the series’ next instalment, we are speaking with Jillian Thomas, managing director of Future Life Wealth Management and former President of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.

Your business

What were the three biggest highlights for for your business in 2016?

Being awarded the New Model Advisor Award for the fourth successive year – these awards recognise prominent leaders and outstanding achievements in the UK financial community.

Planning clients financial affairs to benefit from the potential outcomes of EU Referendum, and Brexit outcome

My staff; during another busy year, with continuous deadlines to meet, they have excelled, and I am exceptionally proud of them individually and as a team

What are your business’ goals going into 2017?

Continued expansion by organic growth. In 2016 we took on another Financial Planner Tracey Bromley. After a couple of months to get her feet under the Future Life table, 2017 will see Tracey grow to her full potential, we expect this to increase turnover by 20-25 % per annum year on year for the next four years.

We have just taken our second apprentice; we would like both of these members of our team to be fully operational by summer 2017, with a further apprentice to be taken on in the Autumn 2017.

Continue to enjoy what we do, providing bespoke financial planning to client we love to work with

Anything you/your business would have done differently over the past year?

No, you cannot improve on perfection……………..!

Your region

Why do you think Yorkshire is a great place to do business?

There is a blunt honesty working with Yorkshire business owners. You know where you stand, people go the extra mile to made things a success. Since the heavy industries of the past, ‘new frontier’ companies and industries have appeared. Within the Sheffield City region the Digital sector has emerged with over £2bn turnover in this sector.

The Universities are vital to the continue emergence of these new legacy businesses, which are putting pride back in the ‘Made in Sheffield’ and ‘Made in Yorkshire’ brands.

Any other company/companies in the region stand out for you?

Roses the Bakers are a family run bakery, based in Sheffield. This business started in 1940, during the second World War, and over the years has established its self in the suburbs of Sheffield and also a factory on Brightside Lane.

The quality of the Breads is exceptional, having taken influence from the continent. The service is outstanding, and the marketing for a confectioner is breathtakingly simple but highly effective, with items changing in line with the seasons, and events like Wimbledon and Halloween.

This company shows that any independent business can compete with big multi-nationals if you listen to your customers, and deliver what they want.

What does Yorkshire want to see happen in the future/next year?

Yorkshire needs to stop talking about devolution and a electing the respective mayors, and get on with it.

There is a significant amount of money available to enhance the regions fortunes, and we cannot sit and watch continued arguments, whilst there is an ever increasing possibility of these monies disappearing and/or being withdrawn.

Politicians need to stop talking to themselves, and start talking to the electorate, and making effective decisions, for everyone’s future.

Yourself

What individual goals did you achieve personally/professionally in 2016?

I was President of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce President, only the second female in 155 years.

During my year in office there many significant developments, but HS2 and the opportunities following the Brexit vote, following the fall in Sterling were probably the most important.

I really enjoyed my year; as a person I developed, I was able to see the cream of Sheffield business people at close quarters and benefit from their experience.

In my three years going through the roles, culminating as President, the girl with a few dreams, became a woman with vision.

How to you unwind after a stressful day at work?

Pulling weeds out of my flower beds in my garden, or going to a concert or theatre.

What would be the perfect Christmas gift for you?

An airline ticket and hotel accommodation to a country I haven’t been to yet, although there aren’t many of these, as I have been to 102 countries to date.

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