Together we can take on the world

TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD THURSDAY 10TH MAY CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL, NEWCASTLE

Sponsored by:

Conference brochure sponsored by:

#NEentrepreneurs

ONE OF THE LARGEST CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNING FIRMS IN THE UK A full service financial advisory house redefining the UK wealth management market.

OUR MANAGED PORTFOLIOS HAVE BEEN 5-STAR DEFAQTO RATED FOR 3 YEARS RUNNING OVERSEEING £8 BILLION OF CLIENT ASSETS OFFERING FINANCIAL PLANNING, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ESTATE PLANNING WHOLE OF MARKET CHOICE NO LOWER WEALTH LIMITS, NO EXIT PENALTIES 60% LOWER COST* THAN THE MARKET LEADER

financial portfolio to assess costs, performance and suitability.

This no obligation initial consultation is available to all Entrepreneurs’ Forum members.

To book your appointment with a Fairstone adviser email

fairstone.co.uk

/fairstonegroup

@FairstoneGroup

/fairstonegroup

Fairstone Financial Management Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – FRN: 475973 Part of the Fairstone Group. Registered in England. Company No: 05574120.

Fairstone Private Wealth Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 457558) 2

#NEENTREPRENEURS

WELCOME WELCOME TO WHAT PROMISES TO BE ANOTHER GREAT DAY OF INSPIRATION FOR NORTH EAST ENTREPRENEURS.

CHAIRMAN

I’ve been to a lot of Entrepreneurs’ Forum conferences over the years, but this is my first time as chairman and I’m really looking forward to hearing how some truly amazing people have achieved their dreams and grown their businesses.

As my business grew and became more successful, I became more confident in my own capability and started to look backwards; striving for a better worklife balance and the opportunity to give back in the same way people had done for me.

As entrepreneurs, we all start out with a vision and ambition to make life better for ourselves, our families and the wider world. We go through highs and lows, face tough and challenging times but, despite it all, remain resilient and optimistic about the opportunities ahead.

In what is often an overly complicated business world, this simple idea has proven to be genuinely transformative for thousands of North East businesses over the last 15 years and will hopefully help thousands more in the years to come.

Every one of you in the room today has this in common and, given time is our most precious commodity, I’d like to thank you for sparing yours to come together with over 300 like-minded souls.

I know Sir Peter Vardy is in the audience today and it was his foresight that put the foundations in place to build our network of peers. He understood how lonely being an entrepreneur can be, and brought together a group of founders who wanted to grow their businesses and develop as leaders by learning from the experience of those that have done it all before.

I’ve been a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum since 2003 and in the early days this ethos not only helped me to look forward and gain confidence, but also to understand how I was doing in comparison to others in the region. I also got access to people I could aspire to emulate and wasn’t frightened to approach for help and advice.

In truth, there are very few business problems that someone hasn’t already faced and, more than likely, overcome. The Entrepreneurs’ Forum is a unique network not only in our region, but nationally.

Quite why that’s the case I’m not sure, but being able to meet and share experience with like-minded people is so important for entrepreneurs that we all need to treasure days like today.

So here’s my challenge to you: take notes, ask questions and get new ideas from our speakers that will help you grow your business faster, but also push yourself out of your comfort zone and talk to as many new people as possible. Everybody here can teach us all something, so go ahead and learn as much as you can.

Together we can take on the world!

James Robson MBE Entrepreneurs’ Forum Chairman 3

TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

TODAY’S PROGRAMME SPONSORED BY 9AM - WELCOME

12 NOON

James Robson MBE Entrepreneurs’ Forum chairman

Mark Beaumont Athlete & Adventurer @MrMarkBeaumont

9.10AM - OUR HOST Alfie Joey Half of the Mimic Men, half of the BBC Newcastle breakfast show and more than half decent artist, writer, comic, actor, impressionist, singer and presenter. @alfiejoey

In partnership with

1PM Lunch

2.15PM

9.20AM - A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR

Angus Thirlwell Hotel Chocolat @AngusThirlwell

Lee Hartley Fairstone Group

3.20PM

In partnership with

Comfort break

9.30AM Mica McNeill Team GB Bobsleigh @MicaMcNeill

10.15AM Sir John Timpson Timpson @Timpson_News

11.15AM Coffee, cookies and time to chat 4

3.45PM Julian Leighton Orange Bus @orangebus

In partnership with

4.30PM - SUMMARY Alfie Joey & James Robson MBE

5PM Drinks reception

In partnership with

#NEENTREPRENEURS

Today’s Programme

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Sir JohnTimpson, Timpson

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pg.

Mica McNeill, Team GB Bobsleigh

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Mark Beaumont, Athlete & Adventurer

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pg.

Angus Thirlwell, Hotel Chocolat

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Julian Leighton, Orange Bus 5

TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

A BIG THANK YOU! WE WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE ANY OF THE THINGS WE DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF GENEROUS PEOPLE LIKE OUR SPEAKERS, SPONSORS AND PARTNERS. Sharing our ambition to make the region stronger and our belief that small and medium sized businesses are the lifeblood of the economy, each of our partners is an expert in their field and cares deeply about the North East and the people that live and work here.

They all want to help business owners who are in pursuit of growth and you can meet with the leaders of each of these organisations here today, amongst the audience and at their exhibition stands.

EVENT SPONSOR

ASSOCIATE PARTNERS

FAIRSTONE GROUP

BUSINESS DURHAM

Launched in 2008, Fairstone is a national financial advisory and wealth management firm that combines market knowledge, specialist expertise and the very latest technology to produce the highest quality outcomes for their clients in a cost-effective manner. One of the UK’s largest Chartered Financial Planning firms, Fairstone‘s head office is in Newcastle and, with 36 regional locations and management hubs, they have a truly national presence. Across the UK they now have over 400 financial advisers servicing 41,000 clients who collectively hold over £8bn in investment and pension assets.

Business Durham is the economic development organisation for County Durham, working on behalf of Durham County Council to deliver the environment for business and economic growth.

It is a knowledgeable and trusted guide, which connects businesses with the right funding, advice, and networks they need to grow and thrive. Business Durham works closely with partners to encourage an enterprise culture, helping entrepreneurs to turn bright ideas into successful reality. The organisation manages a portfolio of business property and excels in finding the right space for businesses to grow.

@FairstoneGroup fairstonegroup.co.uk

@_BusinessDurham businessdurham.co.uk

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#NEENTREPRENEURS

Event production & AV provided by

NORTH EAST GROWTH HUB The North East Growth Hub is a crucial part of the region’s business support infrastructure. Business growth and access to finance are key drivers to help create more and better jobs for the region.

If you’re planning for growth, the North East Growth Hub can help you achieve it. Visit the online platform which gives you access to the region’s biggest database of finance and funding support, business support programmes and a directory of business events, seminars, training and networking opportunities to help you grow your business.

A Big Thank You!

CONFERENCE BROCHURE & NETWORKING PARTNER NORTH EAST FUND The North East Fund Limited (TNEFL) is the holding fund manager appointed to govern the North East Fund (NEF). The team has now been responsible for over £300m of investment funds, over the past 14 years, including the £159.5m Finance for Business North East Fund (JEREMIE), and has been responsible for supporting over 1,000 North East businesses.

@GrowthHubNE northeastgrowthhub.co.uk

@NorthEastFund northeastfund.org

VIRGIN TRAINS

AUTOMOTIVE PARTNER

Virgin know getting to your customers for a faceto-face is crucial, so they’ve created a new, free, online service aimed at businesses to make booking and managing your GB business train trips as straightforward as possible. Say hello to Railblazers.

Hassle-free booking? Check. The best deals for trains? Check. Quick and easy payment? Check and check. What are you waiting for? Take control of your train travel today by setting up a free account for your company. @Virgin_TrainsEC railblazers.co.uk/EastCoast

LEXUS NEWCASTLE Lexus Newcastle is a state-of-the-art Lexus Centre, designed to offer you the opportunity to experience amazing. Each member of the Lexus team is knowledgeable, friendly and highly trained, so you’ll always get a warm welcome. Call in or get in touch and enjoy the complete Lexus experience, from the award-winning service using genuine parts, to the extraordinary Lexus self-charging hybrid range. @Lancaster_Lexus lexus.co.uk/centres/Newcastle

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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

EXHIBITORS OPPORTUNITY IS CREATED WHEN YOU MEET PEOPLE YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED TO MEET; PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES OUT OF YOUR DAY TO SPEAK TO EACH OF OUR EXHIBITORS AND FIND OUT HOW THEY ARE ALREADY HELPING NORTH EAST ENTREPRENEURS TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES. WHO KNOWS WHERE IT MIGHT LEAD!

BARCLAYS EAGLE LABS

CROWNE PLAZA NEWCASTLE

Empowering ambitious entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses to scale by bringing together academics, industry experts, investors and business groups to help them accelerate.

Newcastle’s most luxurious and contemporary hotel, they are dedicated to ensuring you succeed in business when travelling.

DELOITTE

BREWIN DOLPHIN One of the UK’s leading providers of personalised, discretionary wealth management services.

Providing insights and solutions to help address the unique set of challenges faced by entrepreneurs throughout the business life cycle, they can help you to unlock the potential for growth and innovation.

BUSINESS DURHAM The economic development organisation for County Durham, they work on behalf of Durham County Council to deliver the environment for business and economic growth.

CASCADE CASH MANAGEMENT An independent and unbiased cash solution for businesses who want a unique and optimised way of administering their cash portfolio.

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DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DIT) The Department for International Trade offers expert guidance and advice on growing internationally. Their ERDF project can help eligible businesses achieve their international aspirations.

DIAMOND GROUP Recognising ICT, telecoms, copying technology and people make the world go round, they can help support your business world by developing cost effective tailored solutions that make a real difference.

#NEENTREPRENEURS

Exhibitors

ELANDERS UK

NEWCASTLE UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

A global business with a North East base, specialising in printing and packaging, supply chain solutions and logistics; working with customers to deliver their strategic goals.

Known for a combination of top-class facilities, outstanding catering and service which ensures they remain at the pinnacle of Premier League hospitality.

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

FAIRSTONE GROUP One of the UK’s largest chartered financial planning firms.

GATESHEAD COLLEGE A trusted training partner delivering apprenticeships, funded workforce development and work ready students with an employment edge.

LEXUS NEWCASTLE Lexus Newcastle is a state-of-the-art Lexus Centre, offering you the opportunity to experience amazing, from award-winning service using genuine parts, to the extraordinary Lexus self-charging hybrid range.

Providing a range of specialist services and facilities to support your business needs, the University can harness their people, research excellence and infrastructure, to help you find innovative solutions to real-world challenges.

NORTH EAST FUND The holding fund manager appointed to govern the North East Fund (NEF); a new ÂŁ120m investment programme available to SMEs across Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear designed to drive economic growth.

NORTH EAST LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP Delivering programmes aimed at helping businesses scale and grow. This includes northeastgrowthhub. co.uk, the digital home for North East business support and finance.

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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

Exhibitors

NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND

Unlocking value in a way that is unique to your business, Northumbria University can help you to identify and implement new business opportunities, develop your staff and your business proposition.

Whether you are looking for business advice, new employees, training for your workforce or access to world-class technical facilities and expertise, the University’s enterprise and innovation team can assist.

SAGE Leading a revolution in invisible accounting and giving business builders a competitive advantage through next generation cloud solutions.

TEES VALLEY BUSINESS COMPASS Helping ambitious businesses realise their growth potential by offering access to a range of practical services, information and unlocking finance schemes.

TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY One of the UK’s leading modern universities, Teesside University received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Excellence in Higher Education for its work in the field of enterprise and business engagement.

TOC PROPERTY BACKED LENDING TRUST Giving entrepreneurs access to the fast growing market of direct lending, through a UK onshore, close-ended investment trust with a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange.

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UNWRITTEN CREATIVE Developing personas to define customer pains, aims and purchasing habits, allowing Unwritten to build brands, websites and marketing collateral that deliver positive financial impact.

VIRGIN TRAINS Say hello to Railblazers, a free, online service aimed at businesses to make booking and managing your GB business train trips as straightforward as possible.

WARD HADAWAY One of the UK’s Top 100 law firms, helping entrepreneurs achieve their ambitions.

SCALE-UP LEADER’S ACADEMY

JOIN THE SCALE-UP LEADER’S ACADEMY GREAT ENTREPRENEURS ARE NOT GREAT BECAUSE THEY STARTED A COMPANY; THEY’RE GREAT BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO SCALE IT. The Scale-up Leader’s Academy combines practical workshops, scale-up coaching, inspirational events and the opportunity to learn from those who have been there and done it before, helping you to build a blueprint that will accelerate your growth sustainably.

THE FACTS INTAKE

15 entrepreneurs

DATES

September 2018 to February 2019

LOCATION

Across North East England

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

Founders of fast-growing North East businesses, with at least 10 members of staff

COST

£2,000 +VAT for Entrepreneurs’ Forum members

“The Scale-up Leader’s Academy came along at just the right time for me and has really opened my eyes. The group sharing has been hugely valuable, both receiving advice and offering help to others.

The coaching sessions have given me a lot to think about and, although I haven’t used everything I’ve learnt yet, even the little tweaks I’ve already made are proving to be invaluable.”

Raman Sehgal, ramarketing

Apply to join the Scale-up Leader’s Academy and find out more visit entrepreneursforum.net/scale-up

TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

MICA MCNEILL Team GB Bobsleigh

Sponsored by

@MicaMcNeill

Mica was part of the duo that achieved Britain’s best ever result in the women’s bobsleigh at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games, more than punching above their weight to finish 8th less than six months after their funding was controversially pulled.

Mica, the pilot, had to go cap in hand to the public when her funding was cut off. #PoweredByThePeople, she crowdfunded the money to complete her season needing only six days to reach the £30,000 target that would cover the team’s running costs.

The sum swelled to beyond £40,000 and paid off handsomely when they came in only 1.62 seconds behind Gold medallists Germany, outstripping Britain’s previous best 9th place finish back in 2006.

After coming tantalisingly close to a fairy-tale podium, Mica is already looking ahead to the next Winter Games in Beijing 2022, with plans to “absolutely smash it” and be among the medals.

WHAT IS THE THING YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? It has to be making British history at the Olympic Games in February and that I’d done everything I could to get my team there! When it got tough I never gave up fighting.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? The funding cut and dealing with politics within my sport. I had to raise the funding to go on with our season, but also manage the money and organise a whole winter in two weeks. This was everything from travel, accommodation, training and sled freight from October to February.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? I’d like to have an Olympic medal and be able to look back and say I’ve had a fantastic career so far!

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#NEENTREPRENEURS

Our Speakers

GREAT IDEAS

“ Focus on the process and the outcome will take care of itself.

This is something that was in my head leading up to the Olympics, during the Olympics and I think will stick with me for the rest of my career.”

WHO, DEAD OR ALIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH? When I am out on the road all I want to do is have dinner with my family.

WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION? For inspiration I always look to my family. They will always be my biggest support.

BOOKS TO READ

USEFUL WEBSITES

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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

SIR JOHN TIMPSON Timpson

Sponsored by

@Timpson_News

Founded by Sir John’s great grandfather in the 1860’s, Timpson was taken over in 1973 but 10 years later Sir John led a £42m management buyout. In 1987 he sold the shoe shops and concentrated on building the shoe repairing and key cutting business, which has diversified into engraving, watch repairs, dry cleaning and photo processing.

Timpson now has over 1,900 branches nationwide, including the Max Spielmann, Johnsons the Cleaners and Snappy Snaps brands. The Group has a turnover of over £200m and profits of over £20m. It is a private business wholly owned by Sir John Timpson and his family.

Recognised for his creative approach to employee engagement and innovative work helping ex-offenders back into employment, Sir John wrote the book ‘Dear James,’ in 2000, which passes on the lessons he learned during 25 years as a chief executive to his son.

He went on to describe his business philosophy in ‘How to Ride a Giraffe’, ‘Upside Down Management’ and ‘Ask John’.

‘High Street Heroes’ was published in 2015 and his latest book, ‘Keys to Success’, gives 50 tips from a true management maverick.

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DESCRIBE YOUR COMPANY IN ONE SENTENCE: Great service by great people.

WHAT IS THE THING YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? The way we recruit people from prison.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Creating a culture of ‘upside down management’.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR COMPANY IN FIVE YEARS? More shops within supermarkets, less in the high street. Same culture as today.

#NEENTREPRENEURS

Our Speakers

GREAT IDEAS

“ We are proud of our customer service but it only works with the right people. They need great personalities.”

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER HAD? Check your bank balance every day against the same day last year.

WHO, DEAD OR ALIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH? Sir Charles Clore.

WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION? My late wife, Alex.

BOOKS TO READ

USEFUL WEBSITES

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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

MARK BEAUMONT Athlete & Adventurer

In partnership with

@MrMarkBeaumont

Mark has become a household name through his documentaries about ultra-endurance and adventure which have taken viewers to over 100 countries.

He had his first taste of adventure at the age of 11 when he decided to cycle across Scotland, and first made fame aged 23 for an 18,000 mile round-the-world bike race; where he shattered the previous circumnavigation cycling World Record by a staggering 82 days!

In 2015 Mark rode the length of Africa at a pace of 160 miles a day, taking 18 days off the previous best. Off the bike, he has ocean rowed through the high Arctic and survived after capsizing whilst rowing the Atlantic.

In 2017 he completed a second global circumnavigation, similar to his first 10 years earlier, smashing the World Record again.

He now holds this title in a time of 78 days and 14 hours, averaging 240 miles a day!

Mark was named ‘Top Scot’ in 2011 and has received an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Dundee, where he is also Rector.

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WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Surviving capsized in the middle of the Atlantic. This is the only time I have clearly thought ‘I am going to die’ - so to fight on and help save the lives of the six man team I was responsible for was incredibly stressful, dangerous and difficult.

It took 14 hours for us to be rescued.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? I’ve never been a fan of five year plans; they can limit your potential.

I’ve lived my career in a series of major projects lasting a year or two at a time. Some of the best opportunities come from being open and flexible, whilst always furiously busy with what is in front of you.

#NEENTREPRENEURS

Our Speakers

GREAT IDEAS

“ If you were to write the Haynes manual for what I’ve done, it would include training, aerodynamics, logistics, equipment. All those factors are important, but the X-factor is grit.”

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER HAD? Work hard to be valued for who you are, rather than just what you do.

WHO, DEAD OR ALIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH? Barack Obama.

WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION? My family.

BOOKS TO READ

USEFUL WEBSITES

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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

ANGUS THIRLWELL Hotel Chocolat

In partnership with

@AngusThirlwell

Angus counts himself as one of the luckiest people around - to work every day in a business that lives by his fixations for chocolate, true creativity and honest ingredients.

To say that he is passionate about chocolate would be an understatement because, as he willingly admits, it’s more of an obsession.

Together with his business partner, Peter Harris, he founded Hotel Chocolat in 2004 with three guiding principles that remain central to the brand’s success today: authenticity, originality and ethics.

Angus religiously eats chocolate every day, tastes and approves every single recipe, and is as much at home in the development kitchen as he is in the boardroom or amongst the cocoa trees.

With its Rabot Estate cocoa plantation in Saint Lucia and a boutique hotel in the grounds, a chocolate manufacturing facility in Cambridgeshire, a London cocoa cuisine restaurant, stores across the UK and three in Denmark, Hotel Chocolat occupies a unique space, being able to link all aspects of chocolate from the tree to the consumer.

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DESCRIBE YOUR COMPANY IN ONE SENTENCE: An original, authentic and ethical new-wave British chocolate brand.

WHAT IS THE THING YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? Being able to make lots of people happy everyday.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Being patient while we built up the brand.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR COMPANY IN FIVE YEARS? Stonger and better.

#NEENTREPRENEURS

Our Speakers

GREAT IDEAS

“ There are a million reasons to eat dark chocolate; it boosts your cognitive facilities, awakens the body and keeps you happy and focused.”

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER HAD? Don’t chase money.

WHO, DEAD OR ALIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH? Winston.

WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION? The power of imagination.

BOOKS TO READ

USEFUL WEBSITES

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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

JULIAN LEIGHTON Orange Bus

In partnership with

@orangebus

Julian discovered his entrepreneurial spirit at university, though not in the lecture halls, but in the deprived areas of Bradford during the early rave scene of the 1990s. Initial success (and some rather scary situations) led a somewhat cockier version of Julian to the highpressure arena of importing and selling meat, where he was soon sacked for standing by his fierce principles.

Bruised from missing out on his dream job as a field sales rep with adidas, he moved on to a highly successful stint with IBM, but ultimately the conformity of the ‘regulation length hair and blue suit culture’ proved too challenging.

Despite having little interest in technology, a chance meeting with Doug Richards (Dragon’s Den) led to the founding of Orange Bus - a pioneering interaction design agency that has allowed Julian to pursue his love of engineering, his passion for understanding problems, researching broken things and creating solutions to re-build them for success. Skills largely honed, it has to be said, by the labour of love that comes with being a Lambretta-loving Mod...

Julian’s journey is one of individualism, repeated risk-taking, getting shafted, learning to do things you don’t like doing and finding strength in the face of adversity. It’s one of endurance – the highs and lows from a non-conformist teenager to multi-million pound acquisition success.

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DESCRIBE YOUR COMPANY IN ONE SENTENCE: We design and build the interactions between users and technology, be they a traditional web experience, mobile device or perhaps a voice assistant like Alexa.

WHAT IS THE THING YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? Creating this from nothing, it’s hard starting with a blank sheet of paper and an idea.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Almost certainly cash flow in the past, it’s really hard to scale-up a service business without funding and Orange Bus was started with nothing.

#NEENTREPRENEURS

Our Speakers

“ We’re now owned by Capita and Orange Bus is engaged with some huge clients as a result, we’re spearheading a number of large contracts for the group now and I can see us continuing to grow into this type of role providing a highly skilled, consultancy led service to global clients.”

GREAT IDEAS

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER HAD? If you have to make a difficult decision, imagine you could write your thoughts on a note and stick it on the canteen wall for everyone who could be affected to read, then imagine how they would react.

WHO, DEAD OR ALIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH? It would be a long list, but pretty much anyone who has achieved things against all odds, from engineers to sports people or entrepreneurs. I find people who won’t accept “no” to be the most interesting.

WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION? I find anyone with a positive attitude inspirational regardless of what they’re actually doing.

BOOKS TO READ

USEFUL WEBSITES

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

INSPIRATIONAL EVENTS INVEST IN YOURSELF WITH AMAZING SPEAKERS AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES THAT WILL SPARK NEW IDEAS FOR YOUR BUSINESS. WITH EVENTS COMING IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO CATCH UP WITH YOUR PEERS BEFORE THE SUMMER.

2018 MAY ANDY RUBIN, PENTLAND BRANDS Member Event 22 / 05 / 2018 Berghaus HQ, Sunderland.

JUNE MENTORING DROP-IN SURGERY

JULY LIANNE WALKER, WALKER FILTRATION

SUCCESSION OR SALE

Member Event

03 / 07 / 2018 Barclays, Newcastle.

13 / 06 / 2018 Walker Filtration, Washington.

DEAN BENSON, VISUALSOFT Focus Dinner

05 / 06 / 2018 Deloitte, Newcastle.

20 / 06 / 2018 Wynyard Hall, Wynyard.

BUILDING A CUSTOMERCENTRIC BUSINESS

PD PORTS

Exchange Event

28 / 06 / 2018 Teesport, Middlesbrough.

07 / 06 / 2018 Newcastle Falcons, Kingston Park.

Sathvee te da

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Round Table

SUMMER DRINKS Social Event 05 / 07 / 2018 NBS, The Old Post Office, Newcastle.

On-site Visit

NORTH EAST ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS

FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE CONFERENCE

6pm - until midnight 28 / 09 / 18 Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel.

8am - 5pm 08 / 11 / 18 Wynyard Hall Marquee, Wynyard Hall.

entrepreneursforum.net/events

GROW STRONGER TOGETHER

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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM Linda Edworthy Tees Valley Combined Authority

Jennifer Bernard Bernard Interiors

Andrew Brook Dobson Brook-Dobson Brear

Catherine Coulter BeaconHouse Events

Simon Bibby Pure Conceirge Cleaning

Maureen Brown Sullivan Brown Resourcing Partners

Emily Cox Virgin Money

David Black Black and Banton

Iam Burn University of Sunderland

Simon Crosby Department for International Trade

Julie Blackie Pink Boutique

John Burns Diamond Group

Simon Crowe Niven Architects

Gary Fawcett Brewin Dolphin

James Blackwell Ronald James

Hazel Burns Diamond Group

Hilary Currie Business Durham

Charlie Fielding Square One Law

Kyle Blackwell Ronald James

Neil Capstick Executive Compass

Derek Curtis Cellular Solutions

Dan Foskett Connection Flooring

David Blair BMC Recruitment

Dawn Carhart Barclays

Samantha Davidson Horizonworks Marketing

Daniel Fraser Jackson RDFJ Graphic Design

Julia Austin Tyne Bank Brewery

Melanie Bolton Sullivan Brown Resourcing Partners

Diane Carney Gentoo Group

Penny Davison Penny Print

Anne Ganley Thompson Waste

Alfie Bailey Advice4Business

Adam Boothby Elanders

John Cave Biddible Media

Gary Dinsdale Welcome Vending

Chey Garland Ergo3

Andrew Barratt Digital Allies

Charlotte Bottomley First AV

Gary Chaplin Business Durham

Michael Dixon Entrepreneurs’ Forum

Ian Batchelor Analox

Nick Bradley Restaurant Design Associates

Adrian Cheesman Demob Job

David Dixon Teesside University

Andreas Giazitzoglu Newcastle University Business School

Dionne Clark Arch Group

Joe Dixon JD Joinery & Building Services

Neil Addyman Restaurant Design Associates Brian Aitken Newcastle United Football Club Paul Alexander Elite: Together Abu Ali Baldwins Suhail Aslam Teesside University Marc Atkinson National Safety Passport Steve Attwell RTC North

Mark Beaumont Debbie Beck Lexus Newcastle Chris Bell PPD

Paul Branton Analox Jeff Breen Cornerstone Fundraising & Development

Colin Bell North East LEP

Toby Bridges NBT Integrated Services

Yvonne Bell

Andy Briggs IA Growth

David Bennett O’Brien Waste Recycling Solutions

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Anne Bromley Travel Bureau

David Cliff Gedanken Nola Collinson Crowne Plaza Hotel Jamie Collis Recognition Marketing & PR Sarah Cooper Barclays Sean Costigan AlphaGraphics North East

Lorraine Ellison Simply Additions Iain Farrell Analox

Steve Gibson Entrepreneurs’ Forum Bryony Gibson Bryony Gibson Consulting

Dawn Dunn North East Fund

Ben Gibson Micro Scooters

John Duns North East Times Magazine

Kirsty Gowans Drilcorp

Lee Durham durhamlane

Mairi Graham Entrepreneurial Scotland

Lisa Eaton Unwritten Creative

Steve Grant The TTE Technical Training Group

Stacey Edmondson Entrepreneurs’ Forum

James Gray Taopix

#NEENTREPRENEURS

The People in the Room

Hayley Gray Taopix

Richard Hopper Northumbria University

Kirsty Lawrenson EYPS

Alice Hall Pink Boutique

Maddy Houghton Unwritten Creative

Stephen Lawrenson EYPS

Stephen Hall Deloitte

Nadine Hudspeth Gateshead College

Mark Lazenby Square One Law

Gill Hall Square One Law

Lilian Hughes Retox Digital

Helen Lee North East LEP

Eve Halliday Sage (UK)

Stephen Huntley Geoff Huntley Plant

Jordan Lee HiUp App

Emma Harbottle Analox

Angela Huntley Geoff Huntley Plant

Julian Leighton Orange Bus

Chris Harker Second Skin

Holly Hutchinson Hollathans Group

David Lewis Collectables Retail

Michael Harriott Business Durham

Alex Ingham MI Supplies

Mark Lewis Analox

Michelle Harrison Lignum Bespoke

Stephen Irish Hyperdrive Innovation

Philip Lewis Collectables Retail

Nick Hart Hart Door Systems

Dinah Jackson North East LEP

Linda Lowther Advice4Business

Jayne Hart The HR Dept Newcastle

Vikki Jackson-Smith J&B Recycling

John Hartley QAIC Packaging

Victoria McCartney Cool Blue Brand Communications Rachel McDermott Ben Johnson Lisa McFarlane Unwritten Creative Matt McGough Ithica Films Paul McGowan Collingwood Legal Neil McGregor N McGregor Property Services Steve McNicol Ward Hadaway Mica McNeill Team GB Bobsleigh Chris McPhillips Whitewash Laboratories

David Nixon Ryecroft Glenton Christine Nugent Business Travel Kevin O’Hare Sycamore Aviation Anthony O’Neill The TV Agency Peter Oram NBT Integrated Services Kari Owers O PR Robin Owers O PR Tim Pain University of Sunderland Robin Palmer Robin Palmer PR Steven Parker Digital Allies

Rachel Lynch The Community Network

Sarah Medcalf Newcastle United Football Club

Emma Parker Horizonworks Marketing

Brian Jobling Atom Bank

Andrew Mackay Coleman James

Sarah Melling Ringtons

Roisin Patton Square One Law

Lee Hartley Fairstone Group

Alfie Joey BBC Radio Newcastle

John MacWhirter Leda Transport Solutions

Kim Miljus Global Radio

Nigel Pearson University of Sunderland

Katherine Hay-Heddle Ward Hadaway

John Jones Diamond Group

Lucy Malarkey Gentoo Group

Nina Miljus

Irena Peel NBS

Brendon Hayward OSBIT

Shwetlana Katkar Geoff Huntley Plant

Gillian Marshall Entrepreneurs’ Forum

Chris Henderson Climb Creative

Martyn Kimber Elanders

Dan Martin Elmtronics

Vivien Herrera-Lee Properties Unique

Ian Kinnery Team Massive Results

Rob Mathieson ION

Simon Herring Pipers Crisps

Kathryn Kirk Ryecroft Glenton

Sean Mattimore Elanders

Colin Hewitt Ward Hadaway

Harry Laidler Laidlers Foodservices

David Hicks Deloitte

Noel Lambert Spark Ecommerce Group

Nynzi Maung Department for International Trade

Cath Hindle NGI

Richard Lane durhamlane

Jason Hobbs North East Fund

John Lawler Madventure International

Scott Hopkinson Fairstone Group

Andrew Lawrence Barclays

Matt Mavir Last Night of Freedom Kerry Mc Cabe Unwritten Creative Charlotte McBride Newcastle University Dawn McCartie Newcastle University

David Miller The TV Agency Douglas Montgomerie Brewin Dolphin Caroline Moody Moody Logistics & Storage Lesley Mort The Community Network Samantha Mowat Newcastle United Football Club Simon Newsham Baldwins Charlotte Nichols Harvey & Hugo David Nicholson The Nicholson Group Joe Nicholson J.N. Rusticus

Lesley Pender Newcastle University Business School Pamela Petty Entreprenising Rob Phillips IGNIFI Vicky Pigg Analox Ruby Pino Virgin Trains Mark Plowright Virgin Trains John Porrett Unique Magazines Stephen Prior Forest Carbon Jon Proud Smart IT

25

TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

The People in the Room

Alan Purvis NBT Integrated Services Ben Quaintrell My Property Box Fiona Raglan Dipsticks Research Michael Rankin Brewin Dolphin Steven Rawlingson Samuel Knight International Samantha Read APM Cleaning Michaela Reaney Gradvert Dennis Reed Fairstone Group Ben Ridgway Intelligent Services Group Stacey Ridley Fairstone Group Tom Riley Whitewash Laboratories Alan Riseborough Northumbria University Graham Robb Recognition Marketing & PR James Robson Alexander Jewitt & Co. Andrew Robson Perfect Image Andrew Robson Gateshead College Vincent Robson Northumbria University Gary Rodgers Diamond Group Steven Roper Ward Hadaway Ken Ross CCL Accountants Jon Routledge Ryecroft Glenton Julie Routledge Retox Digital

26

Kirstie Royce Vivid Promotional Marketing Jessica Rutherford Newcastle United Football Club Paul Sample Lola Jeans John Savage Flame Heating Spares Emma Seheult Vivid Promotional Marketing

Richard Steele Barclays Patrick Stephens The Shred Centre Andy Stephenson Weekend Box Neil Stephenson Stephenson Ventures Andrew Stevenson Ardmore Craig Elaine Stroud Entrepreneurs’ Forum

Gavin Sewell Honcho Markets

Mike Swan Lexus Newcastle

Matt Sharpe Baldwins

Carl Swansbury Ryecroft Glenton

Helen Short Absolute Quality Consultancy & Training

Christine Taylor Contact Field Marketing

Nicola Short Gradvert

Christian Taylor Sage (UK)

Jane Sinnamon Collingwood Legal

Phil Teasdale Enterprise Made Simple

Rob Sisson Virtual Tailor

Sarah Thackray BeaconHouse Events

Jane Skilbeck Parsons Containers

Angus Thirlwell Hotel Chocolat

Sarah Slaven Business Durham

Ralph Thompson Silvermoor Equestrian Haylage

Sir Peter Vardy The Vardy Group of Companies

Maureen Wright Westray Recruitment Consultants

Jackie Wade Winning Sales

Ashleigh Wright Westray Recruitment Consultants

Joanna Wake RAW Digital Training Caroline Wallace Gentoo Group Tim Ward Bid and Reseach Development Paula Warnes Elanders David Watson IGNIFI Karen Weir Weir Insurance Brokers Marcus Welch Futureplumb Gary Welford Brewin Dolphin Simon Whiteside Ryecroft Glenton Helen Whitfield NBS Jessica Williams Just Williams Consultancy

Susie Thompson Gentoo Group

Andrew Willson Absolute Quality Consultancy & Training

Graham Sleep IA Growth

Melanie Thompson-Glen Gateshead College

Tony Wilson Smart IT

Andy Smith Perfect Image

Sir John Timpson Timpson

Paul Wilson EDM Zone

Craig Smith The Printed Bag Shop

Chris Toon Gateshead College

Mark Wilson Analox

Andy Smith Intimation Creative

Andy Trafford MacDonald Martin

Lyndsay Wind Sign Design (GB)

Daniel Smith Ringtons

Jackie Trafford MacDonald Martin

Jeff Winn On Medical

Gill Southern Wessington Cryogenics

Nevil Tynemouth New Results

Haley Woodman Crowne Plaza Hotel

Pete Southern Clockwork Espresso

Paul Upton Virgin Trains

Johnny Woods Thrive Marketing

Peter Slee Spark Ecommerce Group

Janette Young Newcastle University Business School

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