A-level students from three West Yorkshire grammar schools were the guests of leading Yorkshire accountants and business advisers Garbutt & Elliott at the Ilkley Literature Festival.

Garbutt & Elliot invited 60 students from Ilkley Grammar School, Bradford Grammar School and The Grammar School at Leeds to hear a talk by top economist and journalist Tim Harford, at the King’s Hall.

Tim Harford is the author of four economics books, the presenter of BBC television series Trust Me, I’m An Economist and the writer of a humorous weekly column, called Dear Economist, for The Financial Times, in which he uses economic theory to attempt to solve readers’ personal problems.

Mr Harford talked about his latest book Adapt, in which he debunks our obsession with a ‘command-and-control’ approach to economic policy and social planning and suggests instead we explore trial and error (and error in particular) as a way forward.

Ilkley Grammar School’s head of business and economics, Jacqui Nicholl, said: “Some of the students take economics A-level to give balance to their overall education but others hope to study the subject at university and may choose finance, banking or accountancy as a career.

“I encourage them to explore the topic beyond the curriculum by reading good quality publications and we’re thrilled Garbutt & Elliott has created this opportunity for them. I’m sure it will really inspire them,” she said.

Garbutt & Elliott have Yorkshire offices in Leeds and York.