Yorkshire Water is in a better position to measure the environmental impact of its operations after becoming the first water company to put a financial cost on them.

The Bradford-based business revealed it has developed an environmental profit and loss account (EP&L) which puts a monetary value on both the positive and negative environmental impact of its operations.

Yorkshire Water says it will help it to integrate sustainability into its core business strategy and enable it to better manage the challenges posed by climate change, scarce resources and a growing population.

It said overcoming environmental challenges and achieving its vision required new ways of thinking and working.

The EP&L provided an insight into water abstraction and identified opportunities to improve the long-term sustainability of its water network. Information from the EP&L has been used to inform discussions with water regulator Ofwat and the Environment Agency over water resources and how to strike a balance between ensuring future supplies at a fair price while protecting the environment.

  • Shipley-based Keycare, the UK’s largest provider of insurance for lost and stolen keys, made two senior appointments as it continued to win new business. The firm, which insures more than 750,000 people for lost keys, appointed financial controller Katie Hurrell and company solicitor Ros Marshall Smith as it unveiled a deal with Bollington Insurance Brokers, which provides home insurance and specialist cover for foster carers. David Robertson, Keycare chief executive, said: “These posts follow a raft of appointments as we continue to strengthen the team dynamics to make significant inroads into new sectors.”
  • Bradford could see its share of 80 new engineering jobs being created in Yorkshire by Openreach, BT’s local network business.

The company said the latest intake would help to continue improving customer service and bring high-speed fibre broadband to even more communities. Nationally, Openreach expects to recruit 1,600 engineers.

Tom Keeney, BT regional director, said: “Not only are we building a superfast broadband network, which is giving a major boost to the region’s households and businesses, we are creating highly skilled local jobs, offering exciting careers.”

  •  International trade-support specialists at Bradford-based Chamber International have been contracted to provide continuing help to the UK’s only piano maker after it secured a £1.75million Chinese order.

CI’s export office team will help Yorkshire Pianos at Bolton Abbey, a craftsman co-operative, which has won a five-year contract to supply 500 Cavendish pianos to a Chinese wholesaler.

Adam Cox, Yorkshire Pianos man-aging director, said: “We contacted Chamber International, which took an active and astute interest in our business.

“They are now acting as intermedi-aries with our shippers and are tak-ing care of all the paperwork so we can avoid any potential pitfalls. We could not have succeeded without Chamber International’s help.”