Member Magazine: Autumn 2021

AUTUMN 2021

HIGH FLYER: THE FUTURE OF HAYS TRAVEL ALSO IN THIS EDITION CELEBRATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE NORTH EAST, BALANCING PURPOSE AND PROFIT AND THE POWER OF MENTORING

WELCOME

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Welcome back to the latest Entrepreneurs’ Forum member magazine - as life returns to some levels of normality we are delighted to issue our first printed magazine since 2019!

In our last edition we declared 2021 as the ‘Year of the Entrepreneur’ based on the optimism of our members and partners to emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever. The road has been longer and more winding that we expected but we’ve seen our members remain positive throughout and this certainly remains the case as we approach the final few months of 2021.

Recently, we came together in our first black-tie awards ceremony in two years to celebrate our region’s high achievers, acknowledging their incredible work at our North East Entrepreneurial Awards (pages 6-7).

And going forward, there’s plenty to look forward to. As we approach 2022 (the Forum’s 20th birthday) we can confidently say entrepreneurship is booming - maybe we should have named this the “Decade of the Entrepreneur”?

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For the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, our aim is to continue to bring together like-minded entrepreneurs to inspire and help each other to grow strong and sustainable businesses - this is as true today as it was when we were founded almost 20 years ago.

With that in mind, we’ve been busy working behind the scenes to put together not only this magazine - which is a celebration of the collaboration and achievement of our members - but also our autumn/ winter events programme, which brings back our famous in-person events including our Together We Can Take on the World conference.

Each event, regardless of format, has been designed to give you - our members - the chance to reunite, be inspired and learn from one another, sharing experience and knowledge gained throughout an exceptional past 18 months. With that said, if you know of anyone who could benefit from such a peer network, please let us know. After all, we’re stronger together.

Elaine Stroud and James Robson MBE Chief Executive (Interim) and Chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum

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CONTENTS 04.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

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YOUR NEXT CONFERENCE PLACE FREE!

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THE 2021 NORTH EAST ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS

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GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

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THE BIG QUESTION

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THE POWER OF MENTORING

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IP IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE

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A DAY IN THE LIFE

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BALANCING PURPOSE AND PROFIT

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SAVE THE DATE

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MEET THE BOARD: KARI OWERS

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BUSINESS AGILITY 1-2-3

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RECOMMENDED READS

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OUT OF OFFICE

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GLOBAL BUSINESS, LOCAL ROOTS

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THE TIME FOR ECO-READERS?

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HIGH FLYER

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HERE TO HELP

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

Chris Mullen Classic Windows North East

Matthew Goddard Wear Valley Décor Centre

Laurance Laybourne 21 Hospitality Group

Nikki Masterman Inspired HR

Peter Moore T3 Security

Simon Bailes Simon Bailes Peugeot

James Hill Polar NE

Graeme Coyle Seller Presto

Matthew Patterson The Gin & Rum Warehouse

Steven Robinson Blu Sky Tax

Glen Hall Talent Insight Group

Lizzie Gilthorpe Differentology

Stephen Black Kinetic Properties

Peter Cromarty Corporate and Commercial Business Solutions

Jonny Grubin SoPost

Jon Place Integrity Solutions NE

Tony Slimmings Paraplanning Hub

Nikki Renton J Renton Groundworks

Rob Hughes Accapi

Nigel Marston Jane Prior Funeral Directors

Stephen Sadler Intimation Neil McGregor NMcGregor Property Services Neil Forrest JM Glendinning Ian Henderson Boiler Plus

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Abu Ali, WilliamsAli Corporate Finance Gary Giles OGEL Angus White Naylors Gavin Black

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David Calvert Stack Digital Andrew Hall Rowen Group

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YOUR NEXT CONFERENCE PLACE FREE! When you bring someone into the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, you’re not only inspiring them to grow their business faster, you’re helping them to ensure the Forum continues to grow stronger too.

1. Tell your entrepreneurial friends why you’re a member of the Forum 2. You or your friend give us a call on 0191 500 7780 3. Your friend becomes a member and, as a thank you, we give you both a place at our next conference saving you £99 (+VAT) each

We all get by with a little help from our friends!

Terms and Conditions: To join, your friend must run a North East based business which turns over at least £250,000 annually.

Your free conference places are offered once your friend has joined the Forum.

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THE 2021 NORTH EAST ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS And the winners are…

Returning to the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead for our black-tie awards ceremony, our 2021 North East Entrepreneurial Awards honoured North East business leaders who had demonstrated strong leadership standing out from their peers during these exceptional times.

EMERGING TALENT Dan Parker, Aspect Facades Our Emerging Talent Award was awarded to Dan Parker of Aspect Facades. Having averaged year on year sales growth of 270% across the first four years of trading, Aspect Facades are now set for another bumper year of growth, with over £6million secured out of a projection of £8million for the current financial year.

SCALE-UP ENTREPRENEUR Steven Rawlingson, Samuel Knight International Steven Rawlingson, founder of global manpower specialist Samuel Knight International, was named Scale-up Entrepreneur. In 2019, Samuel Knight International USA was launched in Boston and Chicago and despite the COVID pandemic both the UK and USA branches grew by 90% - 100%, with the company being on track to achieve £30 million in sales.

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What we do is made possible by the support of our partners and this year, our Awards were delivered in collaboration with ION as headline sponsor and Ward Hadaway, the Malhotra Group, Agilico, Qrious and IA Growth as award supporters.

MENTOR OF THE YEAR Bill Scott OBE The Mentor of the Year award was presented to Bill Scott OBE who, after growing Wilton Group into a successful engineering firm, is now giving back his expertise and knowledge to help other North East business owners prosper. He was praised by those he has worked with for the ‘passion and interest’ he shows, the ‘confidence and positivity’ he instils in those he works with and for being a ‘genuine inspiration’.

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Lee Hutchinson, Double Eleven Lee Hutchinson of Double Eleven was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Lee founded the business in 2009 after a successful gaming career and has since grown it into a leading console porting and publishing agency working with the likes of Microsoft, Sony and Paradox Interactive. The company shows no signs of slowing down, with record levels of turnover and profit this year and more ambitious projects in the pipeline.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT John and Dame Irene Hays This year’s Lifetime Achievement award was presented to two individuals who have worked in partnership in both business and marriage to make a major impact on individuals and communities across the country: John and Dame Irene Hays. They were acknowledged for their longstanding contribution to the region, particularly within Sunderland where the Hays Travel headquarters are based, and for saving thousands of jobs when they purchased the Thomas Cook retail operation.

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THE 2021 NORTH EAST ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS

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“AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I WANT MY WORKPLACE TO BE THE SAFEST PLACE IT CAN BE AND I’M HAPPY WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT WESTRAY RECRUITMENT MAKE THE TEAM VALLEY TRADING ESTATE A SAFER PLACE.”

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GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER It’s no secret that, one of the biggest trends in recent years is the growing focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR).

It’s a trend that’s rippled throughout the Forum membership, with North East entrepreneurs putting community projects and social responsibility at the top of their agenda.

One example is the team at White Digital, who, inspired to make Darlington city centre a safer place for all, invested in a community defibrillator.

But when managing director Doug Dinwiddie arranged installation of the defibrillator he realised it was no longer needed.

From White Digital’s office on Grange Road, Darlington, you can find three community defibrillators within the 200-metre vicinity.

Taking to LinkedIn, White Digital’s former Marketing Manager Chloe Page shared a post of the spare defibrillator, encouraging local businesses to share where it should be installed.

That’s when Ashleigh Wright of Westray Recruitment replied. Just three years ago, Westray Recruitment sadly lost longstanding member of the team, Glen Forster, from a cardiac arrest.

Knowing how important this lifesaving piece of equipment would be to the businesses around Team Valley, where Westray Recruitment is based, Ashleigh commented, “Westray Recruitment Group sadly lost a very, very much loved member of our team coming up to 3 years ago now due to a heart attack that took place in our office car park.

“To my knowledge, there aren’t any defibs based nearby and this is obviously something that’s close to all our hearts.”

After much collaboration between White Digital, Westray Recruitment and the North East Ambulance Service, the defibrillator now sits proudly on the outside of Westray office wall for employees, visitors to the office and the local community to use in case of a cardiac arrest.

“The defib cost White Digital around £1,800 but when you consider the price of saving someone’s life it’s nothing,” comments Doug.

“As a business owner, I want my workplace to be the safest place it can be and I’m happy we’ve been able to support Westray Recruitment make the Team Valley trading estate a safer place.

“For every minute it takes for a defib to reach a patient, they have 10% less chance of recovering. Having a defib in the workplace really will make all the difference if it’s ever needed.”

While both teams hope that the community defibrillator never needs to be used, both Ashleigh and Doug are immensely proud to have placed a lifesaving piece of equipment in the extremely busy industrial estate and most importantly, in memory of Glen.

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THE

BIG QUESTION

What made you take the leap into entrepreneurship?

Caroline Moody, Moody Logistics and Storage I never intended to join the family business, but circumstances dictated and once here I became completely hooked on logistics. My arrival coincided with a period of rapid and exciting changes, including ‘just in time’ deliveries that have transformed the sector. I have worked in all aspect of the business, including HR, operations, and sales, which gave me the knowledge and confidence to grow the firm in terms of its fleet and workforce. No MD can do it alone, and I’m fortunate to have a fantastic team behind me, including my brother Richard and brother-in-law Gavin, together with other key managers. Our whole staff are very much part of the Moody ‘family’. As the third generation to lead the company, road transport is in my blood. As such I feel inspired and obliged to take this business forward, through investment, identifying growth opportunities, and promoting the sector whenever possible.

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Dr Emma Black, Cascade Cash Management My desire to be an entrepreneur stemmed from a conversation at my kitchen table with my brother where we spotted a niche in the market to allow whole of market access to the best savings rates daily. It was further fuelled by wanting to launch a unique offering, employing talented individuals, and creating an opportunity to do good in the community when the company does well. I’m delighted to say, having administered over £1bn of savings, we are succeeding in all those aims to date!

Malcolm Humble, Arian EMS The truth is I never saw myself as an entrepreneur so I Googled the definition. “A person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.”

There you go, I am an entrepreneur! After spending around 20 years in management roles in some huge multinationals I can honestly say I learned more about how not to run business than how to run a business well. From CEOs or MDs having their own agenda and the business came second, letting the market dictate your business model, down to plain old stupidity. After playing my part of some significant redundancy processes I’d simply had enough of my day-to-day life being shaped by incompetence and having little or no control over it.

Making what was effectively hundreds of people unemployed through no fault of their own takes its toll on you. I thought if I can’t do it better than my last few employer’s I’d eat my hat.

Graham Purvis, Robson Laidler The first entrepreneur I knew, was close to home. He was my Granda and he started in business for himself on his return from WW2 in North Northumberland. He was driven to build a better life for his family and he was an advocate of working for yourself rather than someone else. That message was a repeating theme as I grew up. I didn’t have the courage initially to take that step into entrepreneurship but 5 years after joining my current company I heeded the advice from the old man and became part-owner. 18 years on and I’ve enjoyed every minute.

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THE POWER OF MENTORING In a marketplace that’s more crowded than ever before, today’s brands need to shout louder and accomplish more if they’re going to capture the attention of their target market - and no one knows that better than James Allen, founder of Guerilla.

An economics and marketing graduate and experienced account director, James founded Guerilla in 2002 with an overarching goal: to build a result focused, marketing communications agency which blended creativity and strategic thinking.

The idea was revolutionary.

In the early noughties, while most regional marketing agencies would work either ‘above the line’ for creative campaigns or ‘below the line’ in branding and design, James wanted to do both.

Refusing to limit himself to these boundaries, and viewing both as important aspects of communication, James launched ‘media neutral brand communications’ agency Guerilla.

The term meant Guerilla were a fully integrated agency, communicating through multiple channels from brand strategy, advertising, and PR strategies - and they did it all in-house with a remarkably small but focused team.

In the years since, Guerilla has grown steadily, becoming an award-winning agency delivering ‘clear thinking’ and ‘real results’ to their portfolio of clients.

Things were looking optimistic for the company with the team celebrating multiple client wins, awards, and ambitious future plans at the end of 2019.

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“BEING A POSITIVE, PASSIONATE ROLE MODEL AT WORK IS VITAL TO ENSURE THAT THE TEAM ARE BEHIND YOU AND SUPPORTING YOUR VISION.”

But in early 2020 the national lockdown saw the majority of Guerilla’s closely knit team abruptly forced to operate remotely and James working from the office alone.

After speaking to Lianne, and reopening Guerilla’s offices, James was looking to the future, and in particular, how he can achieve the business’ impressive growth ambitions.

Add that to the confidence and positivity he naturally instils gives you a huge amount of encouragement and belief that you can achieve whatever it is you want to achieve.”

Struggling to see the wood for the trees, James requested support through the Forum’s mentoring programme and was connected to Lianne Walker MBE, former managing director of Walker Filtration.

In addition to joining the Forum’s 2021 Scale-up Leader’s Academy, where he would work with members and business coach Ian Kinnery to develop a blueprint for business success, he also started having regular chats with experienced entrepreneur Bill Scott OBE.

Having found incredible value in speaking to experienced entrepreneurs within the Forum, James encourages other members to get involved with the programme.

James recalls, “I spoke to Lianne at the beginning of the first lockdown, when I was holding the fort and in the office on my own.

I think it was fair to say that at the time I was feeling at a particularly low ebb and I was very worried about how the business would perform.

“Fortunately, Lianne called me and it was just the tonic that I needed! Lianne was very reassuring, telling me that I was doing everything possible to protect the business to look after our employees and clients.

“She really fired me up by passionately reminding me about the Guerilla ethos of never giving in and fighting on.

“Lianne also calmly took me through the immediate focus of what was required to run a business during these challenging times and she outlined some additional measures that I could put in place. She was great because she not only shared some great practical advice, she also provided me with the inspiration, warmth and passion that made it clear that I was not alone.”

Bill founded Wilton Engineering in 1994, using the lessons learned throughout his apprenticeship and senior management positions to shape its growth.

Today Wilton has become the ‘go-to company’ for world-class fabrications - it was his knowledge of successfully scaling a business and his business expertise that he was able to share with James.

“Putting aside the huge amount of experience, knowledge and ability he possesses, within a minute of sitting down with Bill I realised just how much confidence and positivity he has,” said James.

For now, having graduated from the Scaleup Leader’s Academy this summer, James is already seeing Guerilla go from strength to strength, and he is applying the knowledge shared throughout his mentoring to build a stronger and sustainable business.

Access to peer-to-peer mentoring support is part of Entrepreneurs’ Forum membership and includes confidential one-to-one connections, round table discussions, insight groups and mentoring sessions.

To find out more visit entrepreneursforum.net/mentoring

He continued, “As a mentee, you feel elevated with each piece of know-how and advice he feeds into your discussions because of the passion and interest he shows in your business.

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“OUR SPECIALIST IP TEAM HELPS BUSINESSES TO PROTECT AND MAXIMISE THE VALUE OF THEIR IP ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.”

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IP IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE Doesn’t a year pass by quickly? We are fast approaching the first anniversary of the UK leaving the EU on 31st January 2021. But what has changed in the time since?

And how has it impacted local businesses?

Someone who’s closely followed the changes is Alex Sheil, partner in the Intellectual Property and Information Technology (IP/IT) team at Ward Hadaway.

In his role, Alex helps clients to protect, develop and enforce their ideas and new technology. He’s been ranked an expert in the field by both Legal 500 and Chambers.

He comments, “Whilst Brexit has had a wide-ranging impact on UK businesses, in relation to intellectual property (IP) the main change was that (with effect 31st December 2020) the UK ceased to be a member of the EU registered trade mark and registered design systems.

“From that date EU trade mark and design registrations no longer cover the UK and instead “comparable rights” were granted to cover the former EU rights in the UK. “Over the last year Government has announced trade deals and negotiations with a range of countries across the world to replace those that the UK benefited from when it was a member of the EU and, as part of this, businesses have been encouraged to look at the opportunities to sell their goods and services in the global marketplace, rather than only focusing on the closer to home EU market.”

Protecting IP in a global marketplace is vital for any fast-growing business, Alex notes it can throw up extra challenges that need to be dealt with.

He continues, “There are approximately 195 countries in the world and it is not possible to register a ‘global patent’ or a ‘worldwide trade mark’ that protects the technology or brand of a business in all those countries in one application. IP rights have to be protected on a country by country basis, either by registering IP rights in individual countries or by using one of the international systems that enable IP protection to be obtained in countries that are members of the relevant registration system.

“In the post-Brexit world our clients are increasingly looking at the alternatives to the EU only IP registration systems. Luckily there are a number of ways to efficiently register IP rights in a large number of the main markets in the world, the main ones being PCT (The International Patent System) which can be used to protect patentable inventions in the 153 states that are members; Hague (The International Design System) which enables designs to be registered in 75 contracting parties covering 92 countries; and Madrid (The International Trademark System) trade mark protection for brands can be obtained through registration in the 124 member countries.”

However, because registration fees are payable for each country selected for protection, Alex adds that choices still need to be made for budgetary and economic reasons. Furthermore, the process for making applications using these systems can be complex and difficult.

Alex continues, “An essential first step, therefore, is for businesses to develop a clear strategy that identifies their priorities in terms of customers and markets, the location and plans of their competitors, their route to market in each existing or new territory and the ROI that their investment in IP protection in specific countries is likely to achieve.

“Our specialist IP team helps businesses to protect and maximise the value of their IP on the global stage and to make best use of the PCT, Hague and Madrid systems to achieve this.”

wardhadaway.com katherine.richards@wardhadaway.com

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A DAY IN THE LIFE When Charlotte Nichols’ morning alarm went off at 6am on Tuesday 14th September, she didn’t have any problem shaking off any grogginess. On that particular day, she had a full day of Harvey & Hugo client meetings, reviews and most importantly, playing wolves and bears with her daughter!

6.00am:

7.30am:

“NO MATTER WHAT MY “Being a positive, WORKING DAY BRINGS, passionate roleWILL model I KNOW THERE at is vital BEwork NOTHING ASto ensure that theAS CHALLENGING team are A behind GETTING TWO-YEARyou OLDand OUTsupporting OF HER your vision” PYJAMAS!”

I leave to head off to today’s first client meeting via my daughter’s nursery. No matter what my working day brings, I know there will be nothing as challenging as getting a two-year-old out of her pyjamas!

8.30am: I start my day with a peppermint tea and a quick email check.

I always plan my work before finishing the day before and set out my priorities for the next day. I’ll set work that requires a bit more concentration for first thing, so I can get it ticked off early and feel better about the day - today’s task is a PR and marketing proposal.

I then do some last-minute prep for the day’s meetings* before getting changed into something a little more presentable and heading out.

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I arrive early for the meeting and have time to record a sneaky vlog. I’ve made a conscious effort to record more video content this year and so far I’ve stuck to my new year’s resolution.

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9.00am:

A strategy meeting with White Digital. I love these meetings where we really get to know the new clients we’re working with.

The team at White Digital really get into the spirit of things and we leave knowing the business much better, all ready to get started on their PR and marketing strategy.

5.00pm:

2.00pm:

I’m back into my scruffs for cuddles and playing wolves and bears! I occasionally log back on to work after bedtime if there are any pressing deadlines.

11.30am: A quick check-in at our Darlington HQ to collect the post and check a few emails, before heading out to a lunch meeting… another of my favourite types!

My final meeting of the day is with my accountant to discuss year-end accounts with the team at Stuart Hall & Co. I’m not a fan of the financials but the figures for the year look good, so I’m happy.

Charlotte Nichols is the founder of PR, social media and content marketing agency, Harvey & Hugo. Their mission is to build lovable and memorable brands by telling stories across a range of digital and traditional media. To find out more visit harveyandhugo.com

12.00pm:

Time for lunch at Café Lilli, in Norton, with Everflow’s marketing team and their Harvey & Hugo account manager Jenn.

It’s so lovely to be back out meeting over lunch again. We discuss this quarter’s PR themes over burgers and chips; PR is always better with chips.

* I am still holding a lot of meetings over Zoom but that wouldn’t have been as fun for the photos, so I picked one of my busy days where I was out and about.

4.00pm: Back home in time for an email check, to complete any end-of-day tasks and prepare my list for tomorrow.

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BALANCING PURPOSE AND PROFIT In May 2021 we held our first Sustainability Insight Group, a session which brought together entrepreneurs to discuss how they can harness their businesses for good, balancing purpose and profit to achieve more.

As part of the session, we welcomed James Ghaffari (B-Corp UK) who delved deeper into the details of B-Corp certification and shared how businesses within the region can become certified.

To become B-Corp certified, businesses must meet achieve 80-points or more in the B-Corp Impact Assessment which measures the impact of both a company’s day-to-day operations and their business model.

James explored the B-Corp criteria, adding, “People want to work for, buy from, and invest in businesses they believe in.

But the advantages of B-Corp are clear. Not only is a commitment to the environment and society now on everyone’s agenda, but many stakeholders look for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) when researching a company.

“Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit.

They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.

“This is a community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using business as a force for good.”

For some, it is a key element in company statements, while for others, it is an opportunity to achieve competitive advantage, as well as benefiting the wider world.

BECOMING B CORP Robson Laidler accountants and business advisors announced it was the first business in the region to receive certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp) back in July 2021.

Managing Director and Forum member Graham Purvis was appointed Robson Laidler’s MD in 2016 and works with the Robson Laidler team to ensure the company’s vision and strategy is met, while continually improving the Robson Laidler service offering.

Graham said, “Our purpose is to make a positive difference to people’s lives and this spans across all our stakeholders, from our clients to our people and community and this is engrained in everything we do.

“We set out to become a B Corp two years ago and during this time we have undergone the rigorous assessment to meet the standards and procedures that are so very rightly set out in this certification.”

With offices in Newcastle and Durham, Robson Laidler joined 4,000 businesses globally and 400 in the UK who have certified as B Corps reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit.

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“WE HOPE THAT OUR COMMITMENT TO DOING BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY WILL BE AN INSPIRATION TO OTHERS AND REALLY “Being a positive, HELP SPREAD THE passionate roleCAN model IDEA THAT WE at work is vital to REDEFINE SUCCESS ensure that the IN BUSINESS TO BE AS team are behind MUCH ABOUT PEOPLE you supporting ANDand PLANET AS IT IS your vision” ABOUT PROFIT.”

Graham said, “Back in 2016 the firm had set out on a five-year business transformation plan to take us up to our 100th anniversary.

This plan included investing in our people, premises, software, training and community.

“I first heard about B Corps in a book called The Business of Good and, after working on defining our purpose as a business, becoming a B Corp fell naturally as one of steps to demonstrate that purpose.”

Graham notes that B Corp Certification is the only certification that measures a company’s entire social and environmental performance, scoring the business in areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers.

He continued, “We scored better in some areas than others due to certain initiatives we had already implemented in the business but going through the assessment process helps you identify the parts where improvement is needed.”

For Robson Laidler, this meant reviewing current practices, building upon existing initiatives and in some cases, implementing change throughout the business.

“Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on all their stakeholders,” Graham adds, “So we changed our governing documents at Companies House to include a commitment to a ‘triple bottom line’ approach (People, Planet, Profit) to business.

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“Our Articles have also been amended so that, when making decisions, a range of ‘stakeholder interests’ – including shareholders, employees, suppliers, society and the environment – will be considered.”

In addition to governance, Graham also reviewed B-Corp’s ‘workers’ section which included the financial security, health, wellness and safety, career development, engagement and satisfaction of the Robson Laidler team.

Graham continued, “We defined career pathways to give our people guidance and transparency on the key competencies, behaviours, and technical abilities they should possess if they wish to develop with their careers.

“We also developed our Better Health at Work awards with health and wellness initiatives and introduced an overarching Wellbeing Policy for the Business.”

Within B Corp great focus is given on community-based business, and in particular, those businesses that serve their local economy.

“We are proud ambassadors for our wonderful region and giving back to the North East, through economic impact, community engagement and giving, is high on our agenda.

“We are working with one of our clients to increase our wastepaper recycling and offset our offices’ current monthly carbon footprint by planting 72 trees, rescuing 8kg of food, and providing 2 months of access to a solar lamp to families in need.

“We will be looking at our procurement policy and supply chain to review how we work with other businesses that fit in with the B Corp ethos including sustainability.”

Finally, the Robson Laidler team looked at the last B-Corp category: customers.

“Because of the business we are in, this is fundamentally geared around customer engagement, feedback and quality of service.

I am exploring more “out-of-the-box” solutions for the bigger picture of how what we do can address a social or economic problem for our customers.

Graham added, “We hope that our commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and really help spread the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about people and planet as it is about profit.

“I am happy to talk to any business leader who would like to find out more about how their organisation can become part of this movement.”

“Our next 5-year plan has double digit growth to provide more jobs for local people using local suppliers whilst continuing to have more than 85% of the people we serve based in the North East of England. We will continue to evolve our local community giving from our £180k contribution over the last 5 years to introducing our own Community Foundation.”

In addition to the local communities in which they operate, all B-Corps must sign a Declaration of Interdependence stating the belief, “That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered [...] and thus we are responsible for each other and future generations”.

Graham adds, “We have committed to be net zero by 2030 and as such we have plans to limit, measure, offset and reduce our carbon footprint.

Our next Sustainability Insight Group will take place early 2022 and is open to all entrepreneurs who are interested in exploring how being more sustainable within their business can lead to greatness. To find out more, visit entrepreneursforum.net

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SAVE THE DATE OUR CONFERENCE IS BACK! Returning Thursday 11th November, Together We Can Take on the World will see 300 business leaders reunite at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead for what is the highlight of our 2021 event calendar.

Sponsored by Recognition PR and hosted by journalist and presenter Charlie Charlton, Together We Can Take on the World promises to be an inspirational day of shared knowledge and making new connections.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE

Richard Harpin HomeServe

Matt Bishop and Reece Gilkes The Sidecar Guys

Kresse Wesling CBE Elvis & Kresse

Richard McCann Sunday Times No. 1 Bestselling Author

With more speakers still to be announced, to save your seat, visit entrepreneursforum.net.

Thank you to Recognition PR, North East Local Enterprise Partnership and City Fibre for supporting.

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MEET THE BOARD: KARI OWERS Kari Owers joined the Forum Board in early 2020 - she is the Founder and Managing Director of O agency in Newcastle, who specialise in integrated creative communications across PR, branded content and digital media.

1. Describe your entrepreneurial journey in 3 words.

6. What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?

Never stops changing.

2. If you had one extra hour of free time every day how would you use it?

I’d walk in nature with my dog.

3. What makes you feel like you’ve had a successful day?

Maggie Gyllenhaal - just for her wardrobe mainly!

5. Who’s the most inspiring speaker you’ve heard at a Forum event?

7. Who was your childhood hero and why?

If my team are buzzing, laughing and celebrating success.

4. Who would you like to play you in a movie of your life?

John Hays - I attended a Focus a dinner at Seaham Hall and he was wonderfully inspiring and generous with his advice. It was memorable too because there was a power cut after dinner and everyone had to walk back to our cars by candlelight!

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Be prepared to park it. i.e. don’t try to bring every idea you have to life - difficult for a creative brain like mine, but very valuable and has always stayed with me.

Anita Roddick - I had never seen a women entrepreneur like her on TV until she came on the scene. She was passionate about her values as well as being commercially successful.

8. Name one thing you’re looking forward to in the next 6 months.

A bit more predictability!

9. Tell us about your pets.

Beau is a black lab, he’s 11 and a big hit at the office, he’s very chilled.

10. Which Forum event will you be at next?

The Together We Can Take on the World autumn Conference - always a great event, and a chance to meet new faces.

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“DON’T TRY TO BRING “Being a positive, EVERY IDEA YOU HAVE passionate role model TO LIFE - DIFFICULT at work is vital toBRAIN FOR A CREATIVE ensure thatBUT theVERY LIKE MINE, VALUABLE AND HAS team are behind ALWAYS STAYED you and supporting WITHvision” ME.” your

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BUSINESS AGILITY 1-2-3 Rapid and continuous change has become normality for most organisations, with remote and flexible working transforming the way workforces and businesses operate.

But there’s a problem - traditional working practices and the workplace technologies that support them are hindering efficiency.

For John Burns and Mark Bryce, and the team at Agilico, business agility can be achieved in three simple steps, and can help any team stay connected, responsive and productive in the face of rapid change.

John comments, “Business Agility 1-2-3 centres around three key digital approaches that can help you overcome the primary challenges faced in becoming more agile, robust and efficient.”

John stresses that, by following these three simple steps, any employer can boost performance and efficiency across their organisation.

“The first step is to invest in a flexible and fit for purpose hosted telephony system that allows your team to stay connected no matter where they are.

“Some can integrate directly into Microsoft Teams while others allow you to check the status and availability of your colleagues, regardless of their location.”

The second step focuses on reducing dependency on office-based infrastructure for printing, preparation and posting of physical documents, using hybrid mail.

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Mark adds, “Using a hybrid mail solution will give your teams the power to print, package and post documents to your customers and business contacts at the click of a button - from any location.

“This allows you to maintain the highest levels of customer satisfaction across your business, letting you dispatch key documents rapidly through an online portal.”

The third step focuses on document digitalisation and ensuring employees have access to the data and documentation they need to work effectively, anytime and anywhere.

“A document digitisation system will transform the way your team works with documents and make your information accessible from any location,” comments Mark.

“That means no more wasted time working on incorrect versions of documents or chasing paper copies. At the touch of a button you can access documents securely and from any device.”

With more and more businesses adopting remote and flexible working solutions, it’s clear investment will need to be made into upgrading and maintaining technology infrastructure.

Luckily, Business Agility 1-2-3, and other simple business models, can keep organisations fully operational and deliver the highest levels of service.

John Burns and Mark Bryce are directors at Agilico . Agilico is one of the largest workplace technology solutions providers in the UK and its’ expertise is trusted by more than 11,000 customers across the UK. Formally United Carlton Office Systems, Agilico Workplace technologies (North) has a significant and growing presence in the North East, dealing with over 30% of the NE Top 200 firms. The recent acquisition of Diamond Group cements the businesses’ to commitment to this region. The Group has over 14 offices UK wide with more acquisitions to follow.

agilico.co.uk mark.bryce@agilico.co.uk

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RECOMMENDED READS

THE FIFTH DISCIPLINE: THE ART AND PRACTICE OF THE LEARNING ORGANIZATION

by Peter Senge

Recommended by Ian Kinnery Kinnery Limited A book packed full of wisdom. As a professional Business Coach I understand the importance of a growth mindset and when we can turn an organisation into a learning organisation it simply means that every day everyone is learning to be better than they were yesterday. Simply transformational.

DO TEAM: HOW TO GET THE BEST FROM EVERYONE

by Charlie Gladstone

Recommended by David Park Park Commercial Insurance Brokers This is a quick read with reminders for every entrepreneur about running a team, looking after people, making tough decisions, giving honest feedback and encouraging ideas. I often go back to this to remind myself about how to support the team and create a great place to work. If you get that right, and the business looks after the team, then the team naturally looks after the business. Building, and really caring about, a great team is the right thing to, and also happens to be good for business.

THE BRAND GAP

by Marty Neumeier

Recommended by Graham Sleep IA Growth In 2005, a mentor of mine introduced me to the book THE BRAND GAP by MARTY NEUMEIER. As someone who didn’t like the world of marketing world at the time (all advertising and promotion) I was somewhat uninspired to read such a book however at 80 pages or so, I thought well it won’t last long even if I don’t enjoy it.

I was stunned to say that I enjoyed it so much it changed my views and attitude at the time that not all marketing was to do with advertising and promotion. Put simply, it is a summary of how to create a brand and how to keep it “live” and “relevant”.

Short, concise and to the point - I still pick it off my shelf from time to time and it is as relevant today as it was then.

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OUT OF OFFICE Travel down Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, and you’ll find the home of Populus Select, a leading Executive Search firm in the Science, Sustainable Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing sectors.

Heading up the business is founder and managing director Sim Hall, who, along with a passion for delivering tailored recruitment solutions, has been working on another creative project behind the scenes.

Swapping Populus Select’s offices for the garage, Sim has been working on the restoration of a Land Rover Defender - a project also taken on by Forum chairman James Robson during the 2020 lockdown.

James said, “The full rebuild of my Defender started on the 18th February 2020, just before the first lockdown hit us all. The rebuild took until the 5th June with over 400 hours being dedicated to it which would not have been possible had it not been for the pandemic. Under “normal” circumstances working weekends I would have expected it to take at least 12 months.

“I started the rebuild of my 1996 Defender 300tdi 90 because the chassis had reached the end of its economic and safe life.

Fortunately, as the vehicles have a good intrinsic value there are several manufactures of galvanised replacement chassis’. They aren’t cheap (£2,000) so you have to be sure it’s an undertaking you are going to see all the way through.”

Inspired by James’ restoration of his Land Rover Defender, Sim took the plunge and invested in his own.

Sim said, “I first learned to drive in a Land Rover on my Uncle’s farm near Ripon aged 10 and since leaving the Army, where I drove one daily for years, I have always hankered for one.

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“In June this year, after many months of research including consulting James after following his successful rebuild project during lockdown and casting my own mind back to my earlier Army days, I invested in a 2005 Defender TD5. Green naturally!

“James wisely advised the most important aspect to get right on the selection of the right Defender was to find one with a great chassis and engine. This would alleviate a great deal of pain and cost in the renovation.”

While both Defenders had great frames and structure, they both needed a thorough analysis before any major work started.

Reflecting on his restoration, James noted, “The first priority for me was to strip down the car to make a thorough assessment of the condition of the other major parts. Due to the restricted opening of some of the suppliers due to the lockdown it was important to get parts on order as soon as possible.

“The paint was left until near the end and I found a local paint shop who were prepared to take the panels in kit form.”

Sim said, “Even though I was expecting the steering to be a little ‘vague’, when I first drove it was like steering a boat! And unsafe.

So that was the first job to get the steering a little more positive.

“This involved renewing all the steering components under the Defender; track rod, track rod ends, steering arm, wheels and tyres and basics like getting the tyre pressures set right. Happy to say that’s all completed and it drives like a dream.”

Although both Defenders are now road safe, Sim and James note that the restoration of Defenders presents its own unique challenges.

But I’ve given myself until November this year to get the vehicle in a safe and usable condition with much of the bodywork complete.”

Sim commented, “Mine has been used, since new, as a work horse on a farm and is rather agricultural at the moment. There’s plenty of evidence of this but it means things are seized and clogged up with mud and corrosion. Perhaps the most challenging aspect though is it being off the road while we work on it!”

Despite the long road ahead to get the Defender back in a safe working condition, Sim refuses to give in. Instead, he’s adamant to continue working on the project.

James added, “Deciding how far to go with the restoration was the most challenging part. I didn’t want a concours vehicle but I wasn’t going to spend all this time and then scrimp on finishing touches.”

But the hard work has all been worth it. As James notes, his Defender passed its MOT last December without a single advisory “not bad for a 25-year-old vehicle!”.

And while James took on the car restoration on his own, he does encourage anyone thinking of beginning similar projects to speak to those with experience.

“If you aren’t familiar with the vehicle you are thinking of restoring talk to club members and others who have donethe job.”

With his Defender restoration now complete, James is supporting Sim with his own.

Reflecting on the support he’s received from James so far, Sim said, “There were several things that needed immediate attention, which James has been generous with his time and advice.

Sim said, “Last week I spoke with the guy who reluctantly sold me the Defender. He told me a couple of his friends had contacted him to ask if he had sold the vehicle as they had seen a guy driving it round Darlington with a permanent smile on his face!

Sim continued, “If you are going to buy one, get it now. Prices for original shaped Defender and series models are increasing all the time and the market is very active. And spend a little more on a good chassis and engine.”

For James, his next project takes him back to the garage. He said, “My next project is building a new double garage, with a 4-post car ramp and room for the Defender and my 1965 Triumph TR4-A.” And for Sim, while his passion and enthusiasm for the restoration is clear, it’s not shared by everyone. His next project, he notes, will be one based on the art of persuasion.

“Convincing my wife that the budget I’ve worked out to renovate the Defender is money well spent and an investment is my next goal! Then I can get to work on the interior.”

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GLOBAL BUSINESS, LOCAL ROOTS Headquartered in Newcastle, and with additional offices in London, Bristol, Dallas, Chicago and Boston Samuel Knight International (SKI) has become one of the leading names in energy and rail recruitment sector supplying direct hires and full project manpower solutions.

At the helm is CEO Steven Rawlingson, who founded the business in 2014 after identifying a gap in the market for project manpower and consultancy services within the energy and rail industries.

After securing seed-stage support, SKI faced serious scaleup challenges in its third year when it saw exponential growth.

Revenues increased 400% to hit £10m but back at the office, support functions needed to be strengthened.

Steven said, “It looked like we were going to be a ‘could have been special’ business. I had grown it too quickly and was in a bit of a pickle.”

“IT REALLY CHANGED “Being a positive, MY MINDSET AND passionate HELPED MErole GETmodel THE at work is BACK vital to BUSINESS IN ensure that the TO LINE. I LEARNED THINKare LIKE A CEO. team behind Iyou CAN’T TELL YOU and supporting WHAT IT DID your vision” FOR ME.”

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And despite the pandemic, both the UK and USA branches grew by 90% - 100%, with the company being on track to achieve £30 million in sales.

Their continued success and determination for further growth led Steven to the finals of the 2021 North East Entrepreneurial Awards where he won the Scale-up Entrepreneur award.

“As a member of the Forum, we knew we’d be surrounded by similar minded people, but it’s been a breath of fresh air to work on our challenges with other entrepreneurs.

For Steven, the lessons learned throughout the Scale-up Leader’s Academy have been instrumental in his success so far, and in the firm’s future ambitions.

“The Scale-up Leaders’ Academy allowed me to reassess and learn how to keep the four key plates of my business - people, strategy, execution, cash - spinning in the right way.”

“It really changed my mindset and helped me get the business back in line. I learned to think like a CEO. I can’t tell you what it did for me.”

The company’s impressive growth is testimony to its unrivalled services, its people and the innovative solutions the company provides to its clients.

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In 2019, SKI secured further investment to finance the next phase of growth and celebrated the launch of SKI in Boston and Chicago.

To learn more about sustainable growth, Steven joined the Scale-up Leader’s Academy, delivered by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

Starting with an intimate team of four, in just 6 years, SKI has grown into a 70-person team, with an estimated turnover of £22m year end of 2020 - firmly moving towards their goal of achieving £100m turnover.

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By utilising the latest technology and online resources, SKI uncover the most soughtafter talent, allowing them to stay at the forefront of the recruitment industry, and deliver the very best candidates with speed and utmost attention to detail.

To find out more about the Scale-up Leader’s Academy, and to apply for our 2022 cohort beginning January 2022, visit entrepreneursforum.net

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THE TIME FOR ECO-LEADERS?

By David Cliff, Gedanken

David Cliff is Managing Director of Gedanken. But behind the title is a man who thrives on using his decades of experience, including senior manager posts across the public and private sectors, to help to make a difference to the lives and careers of others. Here he delves deeper into the emergence of ‘eco-leaders’.

Leadership has multiple definitions and viewpoints. The term ‘eco-leadership’ was coined in the late 90’s/early 2000’s as an attempt to encapsulate leadership challenges that are crucial to a postmodern world with ecological challenges. Recent times have made this approach much more centre stage as we have entered the ‘Anthropocene’ era where our species impact massively on the whole ecosystem.

‘Eco’ refers of course to ecology. This means how interdependent systems maintain homeostasis that allow growth, evolution and balance. This definition is sufficiently generalised to include not only how organisations trade across the planet, but also the sub-systems that are incorporated within their operation.

Adopting this leadership approach poses key questions that leaders need to ask themselves about their leadership and organisational functions - here are just some of them:

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5. SOCIAL ECOLOGY How do we maintain corporate social responsibility and understand our organisation as part of the world?

Within communities, how do we avoid exploiting workforces or exposing them to unnecessary hazards, pollutants or aggressively destroying competition that provides economic stimulus within those communities that have other social value?

How do we balance the profit imperative and board ambitions against the organisation’s contribution to society?

6. METAPHYSICAL ECOLOGY

1. ECOLOGY OF SELF

3. ECOLOGY OF INTERNAL SYSTEMS

How do we affect our own work life balance? How do we balance the need to self-actualise against our relationships with others? Increasingly, how do we square our own ambitions against societal and planetary needs?

How do our teams interrelate? Is there effective communication and accuracy between message sent and received within the organisation? Do we understand the relationship between different parts of large systems? Do we for example have a sales-led operation which in addressing the bottom line, causes internal disharmonies, stress and disempowerment?

2. ECOLOGY OF OTHER How do we provide sustainable, engaged workplaces for people that are nonexploitative and support mental health, creativity and productivity? How do we balance the needs of shareholders, funders and our own needs against workforces that are collectives? The growth of CIC’s and other organisational structures reflect increasingly the tendency of some entrepreneurs to see workplaces as a collective rather than an owned entity.

4. TEMPORAL ECOLOGY Do we understand the long-term implications of what we are doing now? Have we an exit plan? Have we adopted a future view to look at the unintended consequences of our actions? How do we define success now and how will it be viewed in 30 years’ time? For example, taking 20% of plastic out of your packaging is no good if it’s still floating on the oceans in a century’s time, it appears virtuous now but may be ultimately tokenism. Have we adequate workforce planning in high skilled arenas where there is a long lead time to develop high calibre staff? Look no further than the NHS for examples of the latter.

Renowned management theorist Vic Lessem conceived of the notion of the “metaphysical leader” as the most evolved leadership form. Such leaders see their businesses as part of the world and function as integral parts thereof. Such organisations hold evolved humanistic interests and legacy at the heart of their CSR and culture. What their organisation provides often has deeply considered social value and they explore the moral philosophy behind their actions.

They will ask questions as to what their own contribution and that of their organisation has to the environment, to habitats, to wellbeing in the workforce, to the growth of communities and the promotion of human rights. They see their organisation as less moulded around profit and growth as much as around purpose and contribution. Values are more than rhetoric or the subject of a development workshop but are almost a form of ‘Zen’ driving their daily practice.

Certainly, whether one adopts the notions of Eco-leadership or not, organisations no longer need to be just ‘lean’, but ‘green’ and the agenda just c annot be ignored. The term ‘green’ however is ‘semantically packed’ and some of the above questions perhaps begin the unpacking process to allow business leaders to consider the evolved steps they need to take to lead, trade and prosper in the times of change ahead.

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“IN ALL OF MY CAREERS, I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO HELP AND SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE.”

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HIGH FLYER It’s hard to imagine a stronger partnership than the one between John and Dame Irene Hays.

While they may have been propelled to national prominence in 2019 when they acquired the failing Thomas Cook retail operation, as business and life partners, they’ve worked together, always putting others first and giving back to the North East.

Brought up in Ashington, Northumberland, Dame Irene worked her way through the ranks in local and national government, becoming CEO of Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council and serving as Director General of Local Government and Regeneration in Whitehall.

Born in Sunderland, John had returned to the region after studying at Oxford and Manchester. On his return, he realised the town of Seaham was missing a funeral directors and travel agents and, deciding the latter would be more fun, launched Hays Travel in 1980 using the back room of his mother’s babywear shop as his office.

Today, Hays Travel head office is grander; their newly refurbished workplace stands proudly in Sunderland’s Keel Square – each room decorated in Hays’ iconic blue and orange colour scheme.

In their 40 years of business, John and Dame Irene (as co-owners) grew Hays Travel into one of the region’s major employers, placing strong emphasis on the personal and professional development of their team.

Starting small, their workforce grew steadily and, two years after launch they developed the Hays Travel apprenticeship scheme. Over 35 years later and the scheme is as popular as ever, with 450 new apprentices expected to join the company later this year.

“The reason why I am so passionate about apprentices and apprenticeships is that they have added the goods all the way through my career, and in Hays Travel,” comments Dame Irene.

“We introduced them into the travel company in year two, so it’s been a long time; 40 years.

Apprentices have consistently delivered and that’s why I do what I do for the education department.

“Before we acquired Thomas Cook, 47% of senior managers started as apprentices, which is huge really, and that includes many of our very senior people. We measure our managers on how well they bring on their apprentices”.

Through their two-year apprenticeship programme, and within their Ofsted Travel Academy, Hays Travel employees are trained on the art of high-quality customer service.

This, combined with Hays Travel’s focus on a “human-first” approach to booking holidays, has carved a niche for the business.

And while the arrival of the internet may have been perceived as a threat to the industry, John and Dame Irene viewed it as a help, not a hindrance, with Hays Travel actively using digital channels to establish a link with potential holidaymakers.

It certainly paid off - today, Hays Travel is the UK’s largest independently owned travel agent, with sales of over £1 billion per annum, 7,500 employees and 450 retail branches across the UK. Recognising the importance of speaking to and supporting other North East business owners, John helped in the formation of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and served on its board for 5 years.

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In May 2019, he took to the Forum’s conference stage, sharing the lessons learned throughout this entrepreneurial journey and the secrets to Hays’ success.

It was here he referenced his and Dame Irene’s strongly held belief of doing the right thing for the business, its customers and its people.

And it was this shared value that led the couple to bid for the Bath Travel retail group and most recently the Thomas Cook branches in 2019.

As the only bidder for the entire Thomas Cook estate, Hays Travel acquired a further 550 shops as part of the purchase, saving over 2,000 jobs and creating an additional 500.

Taking on low profit-making stores and transforming them into successful branches was a challenge the duo took on, but nothing could have prepared them for the obstacles they faced in 2020 when they navigated the challenges presented by COVID. Together, John and Dame Irene worked around the clock to protect jobs and keep people safe, despite having virtually no incoming revenue due to restrictions to their industry.

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Throughout an exceptional 18 months, the pair ensured service standards remained high, and costs were competitive, helping to support jobs, local communities and the economy.

By autumn 2020, with a vaccine on the horizon and recruitment underway for their 2021 apprenticeship cohort, things were looking up for the couple.

But in November 2020, after collapsing at work, John Hays tragically passed away.

To honour his contributions to Sunderland and its community, the city lit its landmarks blue and orange. Tributes poured in from those who knew him best; his team, the North East business community and his customers.

Shortly after his passing, and in recognition of her services to training, education and young people, Dame Irene received some ‘bittersweet’ news; she’d been awarded a damehood in the Queen’s Honours List.

“When they rang me and said I had been awarded the honour, the first person I thought about was John and he would have been thrilled,” said Dame Irene.

“I know I am getting the honour but the honour is for all the people who have helped these young people over the years to be successful.

“I was overwhelmed when I heard. In all of my careers, I have always tried to help and support young people to be the best they can be.”

Both passionate about supporting the next generation to be the best they can be, John and Dame Irene launched the Hays Travel Foundation which has awarded over £1 million to community projects, helping to support young people in education, sport, the arts and health.

Now as Hays’ Travel chair and owner, Dame Irene is focused on taking forward John’s ambitions for the company with a team who share her and John’s passion for the travel industry.

While they’ve navigated two challenging years, it seems that a bounceback is on the horizon; in August 2021, Hays Travel celebrated their first profitable month since COVID, a sign of better things to come.

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HERE TO HELP If you need any support - get in touch with the team below!

ELAINE STROUD

MICHAEL DIXON

For partnership, sponsorship or to learn more about the Forum, get in touch with Elaine at elaine@entrepreneursforum.net

Whether you need a mentor or know someone who’d like to join the Forum, contact Michael at michael@entrepreneursforum.net

STACEY CROWTHER

AMY MASON

For event details, logistics and speaker suggestions, get in touch with Stacey at stacey@entrepreneursforum.net

If you have news to share, or want to learn more about how we can promote you and your business, contact Amy at amy@entrepreneursforum.net

CEO

Events

Mentoring and Membership

Marketing and Communications

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UPCOMING EVENTS From member events to socials, entrepreneur dinners to chaired discussions, the final events in our autumn programme have been designed to inspire you, connect you to your peers and support you to prepare and deliver your future plans.

FOCUS DINNER

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION

(for entrepreneur members)

(for entrepreneur members)

Robert Forrester, Vertu Motors Branches Restaurant, Jesmond Wednesday 3rd November 6.30pm - 10pm £75 + VAT

Is Your Marketing Bringing the Best ROI? Brewin Dolphin, Newcastle Thursday 4th November 2pm - 4.30pm FREE

E-COMMERCE INSIGHT GROUP Northern Design Centre, Gateshead Friday 5th November 9am - 11am FREE (for members who run online stores)

ENTREPRENEURS’ CONFERENCE

SPOTLIGHT DINNER

EXCHANGE EVENT

(for all members and partners)

(for entrepreneur members)

(for all members and partners)

Together We Can Take on the World Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Thursday 11th November 8am - 5pm £99 + VAT

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Rez Gachcar, Mud Daddy Venue TBC Tuesday 16th November 6.30pm - 10pm £50 + VAT

Build a Meaningful Brand with Mark Shayler Emirates Riverside, Durham Tuesday 23rd November 9am - 12noon FREE

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MENTORING DROP-IN SESSION Brewin Dolphin, Newcastle Friday 26th November 1pm - 4pm FREE (for entrepreneur members)

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION

SOCIAL EVENT

(for entrepreneur members)

(for all members and partners)

Attracting, Retaining and Rewarding Staff Visualsoft, Stockton-on-Tees Tuesday 30th November 2pm - 4.30pm FREE

FOCUS DINNER

SOCIAL EVENT

(for entrepreneur members)

(for all members and partners)

Lee Hutchinson, Double Eleven Coach House, Middleton Lodge Thursday 2nd December 6.30pm - 10pm £75 + VAT

Christmas Drinks (Newcastle) Samuel Knight International, Newcastle Friday 10th December 5pm - 8pm FREE

Christmas Drinks (Darlington) White Digital, Darlington Thursday 9th December 5pm - 8pm FREE

To book for any of our upcoming events visit entreprenerusforum.net or call 0191 500 7780

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PROUD TO BE PARTNERED BY:

WE’RE STRONGER TOGETHER:

0191 500 7780 info@entrepreneursforum.net entrepreneursforum.net

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