contact Together We Grow Stronger
December-January 2018/19
TIM BOSTOCK:
Making cricket add up
Plus READY TO ROAST RINGTONS' STEPHEN DRYSDALE IN A SPIN GINGER SNAP MUSIC'S DEE DOWLING LAST WORD SAGGEZZA'S MARTIN WILLIAMS
Welcome... Chamber president John McCabe Twitter: @John_fusionPR
Welcome to this edition of Contact, which features some tremendous success stories and tales of entrepreneurship. These features are all the more positive given warnings from our members in the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) about lower levels of confidence. The survey showed the continuation of a decline in business growth, with a 15% annual fall in export sales growth one of the biggest contributors. On behalf of the Chamber, I have repeatedly spoken out about business concerns regarding the lack of clarity on Brexit. The phrase ‘the clock is ticking’ has never been more apt, and I remain extremely concerned that it will strike on the hour with no deal done. By the time the next Contact is published in 2019, I hope the whole picture is clearer and the news is good. The Budget presented mixed news for our North East economy, though it did include some support for key projects such as the South Tees Development site. We were also pleased that the Chancellor listened to our campaigns to improve business conditions in our region, and we welcome the business rate relief for town centre retailers as well as the future High Street Fund. We have so much to celebrate in this region and it was a pleasure to welcome HRH Prince Edward to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead in October. He spoke with great passion about the work of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, which he now leads. The young people who achieve this recognition are not always academic, and they thrive on the practical challenges the scheme sets them. I urge you to look out for potential employees who have these awards, as well as those with good qualifications. Let me take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Christmas and all the best for the coming year.
John McCabe, Chamber president EDITOR Jane Pikett EDITORIAL TEAM Dean Bailey Jane Hall Paul Robertson Contact is the magazine for North East England Chamber members. News and press releases should be sent to submissions@ neechamber.co.uk ADVERTISING Colin Rutherford 01661 844 115 colin@offstonepublishing.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Gibson Nicky Rogerson Dave Charnley Gilbert Johnston Peter Skelton
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contact 3
“We are in the business of cricket; everything is geared towards success on the field, but we can only achieve that if things are right off the field" Tim Bostock
44 Profile: Stephen Drysdale
65 Last Word: Martin Williams
www.neechamber.co.uk
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Profile: Durham CCC's Tim Bostock
Contents
06 60 seconds
40 Profile
With Dee Dowling of Ginger Music Company
Durham CCC chief exec Tim Bostock
10 In my view
44 Profile
With James Ramsbotham
Ringtons' Stephen Drysdale
13 Inbox
48 Success
News and views from the world of business
Sliding doors at PC Henderson
14-25 News
50 Special focus
News from the Chamber and its members, including Partners and President's Club updates, new partnerships, investments, national recognition and much more
Finance: And where to find it
54 Motoring Where McLaren leads, others follow...
36 Chamber policy
58 People
The Chamber's view: Town centres
Movers and shakers across the region
38 Success
65 Last word
A new life in shoes for Simon Bourne
With Martin Williams contact 5
60 seconds
Striking the right chord Jane Hall spends 60 seconds with Dee Dowling of Ginger Music Company
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Dee Dowling has many strings to his bow. A musician for 30 years, a studio engineer and producer, a lecturer in music technology and the holder of a degree in Music Performance it all has a nice ring to it. For the past decade or so he has been at the helm, alongside his wife Christine, of Gateshead-based Ginger Music Company, which offers recording facilities, rehearsal space, a live music venue and teaching facilities. Earlier this year he co-launched the new independent music label, Ginger Syrup Records, with the aim of developing the North East’s best emerging performers. Inspired by the legacy of ‘Madchester’ figurehead Tony Wilson and his famed Factory Records, Ginger Syrup works with artists to produce, develop and release their own singles and albums on an international scale.
artists are happily doing it for themselves. I learned a long time ago with this business that diversity is key. We can record, mix, master, produce great video and social media campaigns; release music digitally and physically; promote it; host live music ‘happenings’, and a lot more. We’re fortunate to have these great spaces, knowledge, the people and the passion to create - all under one roof.
Q Where does the ‘Ginger’ come into it? Your hair colour? Your favourite biscuit? Yeah, the hair! I was out there flying the flag when ginger was uncool. I’m fond of a nice ginger biscuit with a cuppa, too. Naturally, I love all things ginger. I’m having a ginger herbal tea right now.
Q What can you do to promote and safeguard the region’s cultural identity? We’re working with songwriters and storytellers. I’d hope we’re in the thick of it, and certainly the wish is to develop and be part of the regional narrative.
Q How healthy is the arts and culture scene here in the North East? 30 years ago, when I was 18, I left to pursue a career in music in London. There was very little going on here, and certainly record labels weren't interested in coming here to look for us. Now, this area is buzzing with music, art, culture and great venues. It’s a very different environment. And it’s full of seriously good talent.
Q And what's the ethos behind Ginger Syrup Records? Ginger Syrup is all about developing and nurturing new music in our region and beyond. But we have a different model, to provide label services without the tie-in of a standard recording contract.
Q Do you think peole appreciate what the arts does for the region? I do feel there’s a tendency to forget how much the arts contribute to overall economic success. But I’m happy that the North East continues to produce success stories in every sector. We have much to be proud of.
Q It’s a brave move, launching a record label in the current climate. I think if we were just all about a label in its traditional form we’d be on shaky ground. Times have changed and a lot of
Q What's on the horizon for Ginger Music Company and Ginger Syrup Records? Right now, we’re rethinking the demo, and rolling out an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) for musicians. www.neechamber.co.uk
"This area is buzzing with music, art, culture and great venues"
Bands/artists need to be seen in the digital way, so we’re using video alongside music to get their message out there. Our EPK is a scalable package. It goes from recording to social media to video to product release to launch. We’re creating ways for artists to access all this, potentially for free, using crowd funding, music sales and ticket sales to pay for the entire package. They get the label services but stay in control and have 100% ownership of their music. We’ve developed a larger space for accommodating larger ensembles and groups to create live music video sessions, and in the New Year we’re installing another smaller, intimate video space for acoustic sessions. So the future, alongside our recording work, is very much about hosting and streaming live www.neechamber.co.uk
music video happenings and finding amazing artists to help promote them to the world. Q Who has inspired you in your career? In performance and songwriting, Phil Lynott, Sting and Justin Currie from Del Amitri (I’m a bassplaying singer, too). In production, Trevor Horn, Alan Parsons, Daniel Lanois and Nigel Godrich, and I hugely respect mix engineers like Michael Brauer and Andrew Scheps. Q Which famous names have you worked with recently? We’ve recently had Alexandra Burke record all the vocals for her last album. There’s a list of bands from The New York Dolls to Lindisfarne who’ve used our studios, too. Joe McElderry was also here rehearsing for a tour. contact 7
60 seconds
Q What is the best part of your work? That it rarely, if ever, feels like a job. I never have to drag myself into work and I always feel gratitude just walking through the door every day. I’m in the company of creative talent. Plus, I get to work every day with my wife and my dad is always around; he’s the genius builder, helping to make my next idea a reality. Q What might you be doing if you weren’t in your current role? Honestly? I’d be touring, making music, recording music - this is my reality. I’d still be doing all the stuff I’m doing even if we didn’t have these spaces. Q What is downtime for you? Music is in my head most of the time, so when I do switch off I tend to read, or listen to books if I’m on the 8
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road. I listen to a lot of Radio 4. I like to hear discussion and the spoken word. Also, we have a family holiday home up in Northumberland so it’s fabulous to go up there, and I enjoy bike riding and hanging out on the coast. Like a lot of people, I ventured back into vinyl recently, and I love film and a good TV box set. Q Finally, what advice would you give to your 21-year-old self? Wake up every day with gratitude. Don’t imagine that you’ll feel the same way you do now when you’re 25 or 30 - or even 40. Change is inevitable. Every crisis provides an opportunity. Devour books, learn everything you can from others but don’t give others power to derail you, it’s your ride. Be patient. And don’t be late, people hate that - I was always late for everything! www.neechamber.co.uk
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In my view
Chamber chief executive James Ramsbotham is on a mission...
Chamber chief executive James Ramsbotham
To quote the Games of Thrones TV programme, ‘Winter is Coming’. It will bring many challenges, but “things always turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out”. When you read this, I’m going to be in Boston, on our fifth annual Trade Mission to this fantastic city. Over the last four years during which our region has taken businesses to this part of the US we have seen many productive links develop for our members, such as Datatrial and AES Digital Solutions. Congratulations to them. We work in partnership with the Department for International Trade (DIT) on trips such as these and it was great to hear the insights of John Mahon, DIT Director General – Export, on the importance of trade missions, earlier this month. These achievements are fantastic, but we could do so much more if we had the right level of support for our exporters. The Budget was a missed chance for the Government to really get behind a big international push for our businesses, especially with Brexit so
"The Government must get serious about delivering a deal that works" 10 contact
sharply upon us all in the New Year. There was some good news from the Chancellor, however, and the £37m investment in Northern Powerhouse rail and on smart transport was very welcome. Our infrastructure is crucial to success, so this is new funding must be maximised. As many of you will have read in previous issues, we have worked hard over the past year to promote mental health in the workplace. We welcome the Budget announcement regarding investment in services to provide help for this important area of employees’ well-being. While the Budget is the Chancellor’s moment in the spotlight, similarly our Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) is our own chance to focus on our region and how it is doing. The results for Quarter 3 indicated that, while firms have continued to invest during this period, lower levels of confidence are having an impact. The report shows a slight fall in plant investment and a much larger decline in spending on training. Workforce growth also seems to have been scaled back since the first half of this year. I’m sure, as many of you will be, that Brexit uncertainty is behind this decline. The Government must get serious about delivering a deal that works for our www.neechamber.co.uk
Philip Hammond's Budget did not deliver for British business
businesses and enables them to grow. If that is achieved, there is no reason that the slowdown we are experiencing cannot be arrested and reversed. It was a real honour to welcome HRH Prince Edward to our recent President’s Club lunch at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead. His work for the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards is superb. The organisation is keen to develop links with North East businesses for mutual benefit, so please get in touch with them if you want to learn more. The other honour this month was to support three of our members at the national British Chambers of Commerce Awards in London. Whitewash Laboratories, PC Henderson and Learning Curve were against stiff competition. It is always a great pleasure for me to meet our members and the North East Expo at the Newcastle Falcons ground was a first-class chance to see them in all their exhibition glory, especially on our Chamber Showcase floor. www.neechamber.co.uk
I was delighted to have a session timetabled where I could speak about my experience of leadership. I also shared knowledge that I have gleaned over my time in the military and banking, as well as here at the Chamber. One phrase in particular which seemed to resonate was that people do what you inspect, but not always what you expect. This will be the last edition of Contact Magazine provided by the wonderful team at Offstone Publishing. Unseen and unheard, they have been working tirelessly on your and our behalf for the last five years. I am very grateful to them for everything that has been achieved during their stewardship of this great publication. They have played a major role in developing this magazine to promote all that the Chamber and its members work so hard to achieve. Thank you and best wishes. I’m looking forward to 2019 with my typical positivity and I wish you all the best of luck over Christmas and in the New Year. contact 11
Commercial Profile
Open For Business and Open to Everyone Wealth Manager Brewin Dolphin’s suite of services mean that whoever you are, there’s a solution tailored to your needs.
Worrying Trend
There have been disquieting developments in the wealth management sector with a number of prominent firms narrowing their client base to those that produce ‘higher profits’, the message seemingly as blunt as “give us more money or go Tom Solly, Assistant Director elsewhere”. Firms have been Brewin Dolphin. shedding clients with less than £500,000 invested as they scramble to balance the load of regulation and compliance with the necessity of running a profitable business. Brewin Dolphin bucks this trend, taking a longerterm view. Huge efforts are being made to communicate what marks out the firm as being different, and it’s a tricky balancing act. On the one hand Brewin Dolphin is at the very forefront of embracing and utilising new technologies, and yet this is a firm that has managed money for more than 250 years, helped generations of families and has a remarkable and proud history.
Inclusivity
Although the balancing act may seem a little paradoxical, what ties the proud heritage of Brewin Dolphin and the drive for modernity together is a simple thing. Exceptional service and inclusivity: a desire to find new clients at every stage in their financial journey and stick by them, supporting and nurturing them along the way. “We take our responsibility very seriously when it comes to ensuring that everyone can benefit from expertise when it comes to managing money and savings.” Said Tom Solly, Investment Manager at Brewin Dolphin’s Newcastle office. “There’s the real risk of an ‘advice gap’ widening – where increasing numbers of people end up excluded from getting expert advice on how best to make their money work harder for them, and how to structure investments. In part attributable to the new pension freedoms, we’re now seeing an increased demand for advice, when the number of people in a position to give that advice is in decline or they are turning away clients deemed not profitable enough to service. That doesn’t ref lect the values we stand for at Brewin Dolphin, and it’s not the way we work.” 12 contact
The Journey
There has long been the perception that a significantly high level of wealth is needed to become a Brewin Dolphin client. In fact, Brewin Dolphin’s range of services are such that anyone with around £10,000 can be a client and can benefit from the firm’s “with you for life” approach to securing people’s financial future and helping them to achieve goals. As Tom explains, “The investment managers and financial planners here in the Newcastle office are a genuinely diverse bunch. We have staff of varying ages across all our teams; We also have specialists focusing on certain areas; some deal with business owners, others professional advisors, others young entrepreneurs.” What this means in practice is that Brewin Dolphin can always offer a personalised service tailored to an individual, while being able to draw on the overall expertise of an office with a wide range of knowledge and experience.
Being a Brewin Dolphin Client
Few people have the knowledge, the confidence and the time to deal with their financial planning and investments, so put value in the ability to work with Brewin Dolphin to help them achieve their goals. This involves exploring and identifying their goals and needs, and the best way to address them. This usually includes discussing a range of other issues and a wider analysis. “The message is this”, said Tom. “Whether you’re an individual looking to check you’re taking advantage of tax allowances or your pension is right for you; a new investor looking for an ISA or our Brewin Portfolio Service; or someone with more to invest in our discretionary services – we’re here to help. If you’re a charity or a company that needs to discuss investment, we’re here for that too. “Brewin Dolphin is open for business and open to everyone, and we’re in it for the long term. Just as we’ve been around as a firm for over 200 years, we still value that ethos and it shows in the way we work. We develop long-term relationships with our clients on which we place genuine worth, and our clients feel valued and appreciated.”
t: 0191 279 7576 e: tom.solly@brewin.co.uk www.neechamber.co.uk
Inbox Have you got something to say about Contact magazine or about business in general? Then this page is the place. Email your news, views, comment and gossip to submissions@neechamber.co.uk
Next generation
Stephen Hall, office senior partner at Deloitte in Newcastle, with the new graduate and school leaver intake
Deloitte has invested in its regional talent development, recruiting 13 graduates and school leavers at its Newcastle office. The new recruits include three school leavers who have joined Deloitte as part of BrightStart, an apprenticeship programme aimed at supporting students to gain professional qualifications alongside workplace training. Along with the 10 graduates who have secured places at the firm, they will be based across a number of Newcastle-based teams, including tax, audit and risk advisory. Stephen Hall, office senior partner for Deloitte in Newcastle, said: “The recruitment of these young people underlines our commitment to developing the next generation of outstanding business talent from all walks of life. “The investment is also testament to our growth plans for the region, and we will continue to invest significantly in our people to deepen and broaden our capabilities and serve our clients.”
DIY SOS A team of decorators from Sunderland travelled to London to volunteer their services to paint Alldec Northern foreman new life into the refurbishment painter Darren Guy of the Lancaster West Estate in London, site of the Grenfell tower tragedy. Featuring on BBC show DIY SOS, the team of decorators from Sunderland-based painting and decorating contractors Alldec Northern travelled to Grenfell where they carried out decoration work to a new community centre and the Dale Youth Amateur Boxing Club, which was destroyed by the fire on June 14, 2017. www.neechamber.co.uk
TWEET TWEET
Have you been keeping an eye on social media? Here's a taste of what you've been posting recently Chris Jewitt (@ChrisJ_FoodNE): The North descends on China! Great to be joined on stage with some of the best #foodheroes from across the #northernpowerhouse @ACORNDAIRY @Taylors @Primula_Cheese and @HarrogateTipple speaking to to 4 million #livestream viewers #FoodIsGreat! Judith Doyle CBE (@Judith_Doyle9): Really pleased to see @gatesheadcoll take a lead on helping deliver this national #apprenticeship scheme with a worldleading #automotive supplier #Lear Great work by @IVETHEJIVE and team Esh Group (@esh_group): Esh Construction #Civilengineering are delighted to be working with @Taylorwimpey and @PersimmonHomes to deliver the final phase of Newcastle Great Park Spine Road. Final Design is nearing completion with works scheduled to start in Spring 2019 on the multi million pound project Michelle Ord (@NEEChamberMiche): Very impressed with the generosity shown by members who attended the superb Percy Hedley Spellbound Ball on Saturday. Some amazing prizes money can’t buy and raising money for a great cause @percyhedley @UnitedCarlton
No drama actor returns t0 classroom East Durham College welcomed actor Richard Riddell, who appeared in the hit BBC drama Bodyguard, to the college for a talk with students. Riddell, who played detective Tom Fenton in the drama, has also had roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and in E4’s Misfits. Bodyguard also starred another local star, and former East Durham College student, Gina McKee as Anne Sampson.
Building for the future Springfield Community Association in Forest Hill is the first beneficiary of Newcastle Building Society's new Building Improvement Grant to help community groups improve their buildings. A £49,110 grant from the Society's Community Fund at the Community Foundation will enable the Association to refurbish its community centre. contact 13
News NEWS IN BRIEF
l-r Phil Graham (chief exec, National Infrastructure Commission), Bridget Rosewell OBE (commissioner, National Infrastructure Commission), Andrew Hodgson (chair, North East LEP) Sir John Armitt CBE (chair, National Infrastructure Commission) Colin Hewitt (partner, Ward Hadaway)
Infrastructure in focus Representatives from NE LEP, all seven local authorities and the region’s business community gathered to discuss UK infrastructure during a visit by representatives from the National Infrastructure Commission. Representatives from the commission, which provides impartial advice to Government, are touring the country to discuss the National Infrastructure Assessment, which analyses the UK’s long-term economic infrastructure needs and outlines a 30-year strategic vision. NE LEP chair Andrew Hodgson said: “We want to identify areas where the North East can take forward work to shape areas like digital connectivity, flood management and new transport investments, and how we can ensure the region benefits from future infrastructure funding.”
Dr Derek Watson in Inner Mongolia
Food for thought One of China’s leading dairy producers has sought the advice of a Sunderland academic whose research on food safety is receiving worldwide recognition. The University of Sunderland’s Dr Derek Watson, whose research into a positive worldwide food safety culture has gained international attention, was invited by the billiondollar Mengniu Dairy Group to a site in Inner Mongolia. The senior lecturer in the university's Institute of Business, Law and Tourism, spent a week with the company identifying areas for improvement. 14 contact
NEW COLLABORATION Teesside University and Hartlepool Sixth Form College are pooling their expertise to provide opportunities for young people to excel in specialist digital qualifications. They have signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding which will see increased collaboration and engagement on a broad range of courses. Hartlepool Sixth Form College and Sunderland College merged last year and jointly they have invested over £400,000 in industry-standard digital facilities. GROWING TEAM Sales outsourcing and solutions company Just Williams, based at Fusion Hive, North Shore, has appointed three new members to its team. Marc Atkinson has been appointed as non-executive director alongside sales specialist Chris Garbutt and marketing exec Lucy Tyreman. GOING GREEN Newton Press has won the Greener Business category in the 2018 Environment Awards organised by County Durham Environment Partnership. The judges were impressed by its environmentally friendly print technology and practices, its use of eco-friendly products and sustainably sourced paper.
Haines Watts tax partner Jonathan Scott
Accountants save SMEs £19.5m
Haines Watts North East has revealed that innovative companies have saved more than £19.5m thanks to its assistance in reclaiming Research and Development Tax Credits, with many unaware they qualified for the support. A total of 302 R&D Tax Credit claims were submitted by the Newcastle and Darlington offices in the financial year 2017/18 an increase of over 70% on the previous 12 months.
Ward Hadaway’s Matt Cormack and Mark Whitehead
Green team Wardley Biogas has received £17m funding to construct a new plant at Follingsby Lane, Wardley which will convert unwanted organic waste into green gas for use across the region's heat, power and transport sectors. Lawyers from Ward Hadaway supported Wardley Biogas on the transaction over an 18-month period. This included structuring and negotiating all major commercial contracts to bring the project to fruition. www.neechamber.co.uk
How great would your business look with its own magazine? Obviously, having your own quality magazine - published once, twice or more times a year and delivered direct to your target audiences - is a fantastic marketing tool for any business. It’s also, when you have a professional publishing team making it happen for you, surprisingly achievable. That’s why we work with some of the region’s best-known businesses, producing beautiful magazines loved by their customers and target audiences. We work with you on your publication’s format, print spec, frequency and distribution, creating inspiring design, content and photography which take your brand messages direct to your markets. Plus, we can help to underwrite the project by securing commercial support. Our clients make a big statement with the magazines we produce for them. How would you like to do the same?
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Contact us to find how out how achievable your own publication can be
The art of communicating
Offstone Publishing, Unit One, Bearl Farm, Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7AL Telephone: 01661 844115 www.offstonepublishing.co.uk info@offstonepublishing.co.uk
News I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H
Tom Warnock & Michelle Ord
It’s been a packed autumn for President’s Club. Our Business Leader Lunch welcomed more than 200 members to BALTIC to hear from HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Peter Westgarth, chief executive of the Duke of Edinburgh award. We've also welcomed St Oswalds Hospice, JDR Cables and Ernest Young into President’s Club recently. It has been fascinating to meet with so many of you, and to hear your success stories and the challenges you face as individuals, companies, sectors, and as a region. It's always great to hear of collaboration between members too, as working together continues to be a great way to achieve success. During these challenging and changing economic times many of our region's business leaders tell us how it's more important than ever to plan carefully, evolve and create a business to be proud of. It would be remiss of us to reference ending an era without acknowledging the fantastic effort and work of Eamonn Leavey to create and build Presidents Club - we are certainly proud to take this legacy into its new era. 16 contact
Partners update Jennifer Rycroft, Chamber partnerships manager (@NEEChamberJen) Chamber Partner Members form an exclusive group from a range of sectors, working closely with us to maximise their impact on the North East In November we launched our most recent report on town centres, in partnership with planning and development consultancy Lichfields, which we hope will provide inspiration for local authorities and other key stakeholders in the sector to drive positive change in a key part of our economy. Meanwhile, as part of our commitment to raise awareness of mental health in the workplace, we’ve been working with Square One Law to look at how mental health can impact productivity, turnover and, ultimately, future business success with an event to encourage business leaders to take action on mental health. In December we will drawn on the expertise of partner members KPMG, who as part of our Knowledge & Information event series, will provide members with an in depth understanding of Government initiative Making Tax Digital, which comes into effect from April 2019. As part of our Partner Lunch series, we were joined by inspirational business figure Heidi Mottram CBE at Ryhope Engines Museum. Heidi spoke to us about her roles within the NE LEP and CBI, as well as her role as CEO for Northumbrian Water. Our packed events programme also featured a chance to sit down with the Chamber’s policy directors, Jonathan Walker and Rachel Anderson, for an exclusive breakfast event. Here we discussed priorities for the coming year, helping to shape the Chamber’s 2019 campaigns and ensure that our work reflects the needs of all sectors in our economy. Finally, we are delighted to announce that leading global chemical company Venator and award-winning roofing, building, metal fabrication and fencing specialist Hodgson Sayers have joined the Chamber Partner programme. Thanks to all our Partner members for their continued support and involvement in our work. For more information about the Chamber’s Partner Members visit www.neechamber.co.uk/about/partners
OUR PARTNERS
www.neechamber.co.uk
Chamber 12 days of Christmas We want to spread some Christmas cheer, win some fantastic prizes donated by Chamber members in our 12 days of Christmas Competition. Look out for the first day of Christmas starting 3rd December. Best of Luck!
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Whitworth Hall Hotel Afternoon tea for 2
2 Revolución de Cuba £40 gift card
The Escape Key Escape room for up to 6 people
Newcastle Racecourse Hospitality for 4 guests including a three course meal
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Metro Radio Arena 2 x Boyzone tickets and live lounge pass
Blackwell Grange Hotel Afternoon tea for 2
Maldron Hotel Dinner, Bed & Breakfast for 2 with a bottle of fizz at
Newcastle Castle 2 x tickets for film screening in 2019
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HYPER 3 days of creative time (worth £1560)
Kielder Observatory Family ticket
Rockliffe Hall Spa & dine with spa garden for 2 people
The Chamber 1 year’s Chamber membership and 2 half page ads in the Journal
https://www.neechamber.co.uk/christmas-competition www.neechamber.co.uk
contact 17
Commercial Profile
News
Transforming lives by improving education around the world
Sound deal
Education Development Trust have been delivering careers advice and guidance in schools since 1996 and we are proud of our personalised evidence, informed approach.
Chamber members Instore Radio and Raithwaite’s Estate Hotel and Spa have struck up a new partnership. Licensed background music provider Instore Radio has secured a contract to supply Raithwaite Estate in Whitby with bespoke background music throughout the estate having been introduced at this year’s Chamber Expo Event. CONTACT YOUR RELATIONSHIP MANAGER TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP Medium Membership Manager Julie Digman - tel 07912 478 964 julie.digman@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberJules Teesside Rachel Thompson - tel 07833 480 474 rachel.thompson@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberRachT
We provide and support schools with a range of services: Information, Advice & Guidance through - direct one to one with individuals, group work with SEND young people and those who are at risk of being NEET Careers Consultancy - helping schools and colleges develop their careers strategy, embedding careers into the curriculum, helping schools achieve the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks and their statutory responsibilities regarding careers Tracking - working on behalf of Local Authorities and schools to track and record the destinations of their young people Work Experience (WEX) - it is vital to provide young people with the experience of being in work; Education Development Trust requires the support of employers to host young people on work experience. This helps young people understand the world of work and can help identify future talent. Employers are welcome to be added to our Work Experience for school’s portfolio just email us at workexperiencenortheast@educationdevelopmenttrust. com or follow us on Twitter @WEX_Traded
To find our more give one of the team a call 0191 301 3800 18 contact
Northumberland & North Tyne Claire McCabe - tel 0191 374 6487 clare.mccabe@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberClare Newcastle Lynsey Fairless - tel 07834 444 627 lynsey.fairless@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberLyns Gateshead & Durham West Victoria Barrett - tel 07912 478 961 victoria.barrett@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberVic Sunderland & South Tyne East Coast Julie Charlton - tel 07980 259 991 julie.charlton@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberjac1 Darlington and North Yorkshire Susan Anderson - tel 07736 799 727 susan.anderson@neechamber.co.uk
Presidents Club - North of Tyne Michelle Ord - tel 07392 317 728 michelle.ord@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberMiche Presidents Club - South of Tyne Tom Warnock - tel 07714 845 617 tom.warnock@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberTom
www.neechamber.co.uk
Port of Blyth
We have the power
Airport's financial high Newcastle International Airport has announced successful 2017 results, showing passenger numbers up 10% to a 10-year high of 5.35m, driven by more capacity with low-cost airlines. The results include a revenue increase of 4% to £67m, supported by the increase in passenger numbers and strong commercial performance. Operating profit increased 24% to £27.8m and profit before tax increased by £9.2m to £6.9m. During the year, an investment of more than £11.5m included upgrades to hold baggage handling and
screening systems. In the current year, the airport has further strengthened its mid-haul destinations with the launch of Thomas Cook’s service to Enfidha in Tunisia, as well as flights to Bodrum with Jet2.com and Thomas Cook, Antalya with TUI, Halkidiki with Jet2. com and TUI, and Dubrovnik with TUI. CEO Nick Jones said: “2017 was another fantastic year for Newcastle International. Passenger numbers were the highest in a decade, making it the seventh year of continuous growth, and I’m pleased to see numbers continuing to increase through 2018.”
Incubator hatched An incubator for fledgling businesses in Co Durham has launched at a fastgrowing business hub. Durham City Incubator at Salvus House, Aykley Heads, is open to businesses under a year old and they can benefit from six months' support including training and advice ranging from financing and marketing to legal issues and business strategy. Business owners also receive a startup grant of £2,500 and can use high quality workspace at a discounted rate. The incubator is a collaboration www.neechamber.co.uk
The region’s strengths in the offshore wind sector were on show to international investors as Invest North East England showed delegates key sites in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear as part of Offshore Wind North East Week. The visits followed the Offshore Wind North East Conference and Exhibition in Newton Aycliffe, organised by NOF Energy in partnership with Energi Coast, the North East of England’s offshore wind industry cluster. VIPs visited the Port of Blyth to experience the growing offshore wind cluster and visited the thriving offshore sector on the banks of the Tyne. Teesport
New rail link
l-r Brian Archer and Sarah Slaven (Business Durham), Dawn Fairlamb (New College Durham), Dr Tim Hammond (Durham University), Leon Howe (Durham City Incubator)
between Durham University, New College Durham and Business Durham.
PD Ports has launched a second rail service connecting Teesport direct with Scotland, opening up further opportunities to connect global importers and exporters with the north of the UK. The new service, operated by DB Cargo, will run five days a week from the quayside at Teesport to PD Stirling Terminal at Mossend in Glasgow – increasing capacity to 10 trains a week and carrying over 30 containers per journey contact 19
News NEWS IN BRIEF
NE1's Newcastle Motorshow NE1's Quayside Seaside
NE1's Screen on the Green
Winning BID Businesses in Newcastle city centre have voted to grant the business improvement district company NE1 Ltd a third five-year business term. The city’s businesses were 88% in favour of NE1's third term, from April 1, 2019-March 31, 2024, and some £10m investment will be unlocked over the five years to continue programmes including the Bigg Market Regeneration Project, NE1 Street Rangers and city centre events. NE1 will support further investment in areas including the Retail Core, Quayside and Historic Core, and focus on improving digital and transport connectivity, and the city’s green credentials. NE1 chief exec Adrian Waddell said: “Over the past 10 years, elements of our work have become more strategic, focusing on longer-term, bold and ambitious projects that have had a transformational effect on the city. We will continue this approach while championing shorter-term, day-to-day issues affecting our members.”
Safety first The Port of Tyne has received a Gold Medal in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Health and Safety Awards. It marks the port's five consecutive Gold Awards for health and safety. It is the only port in the country to achieve the Gold Medal in the annual awards, which are open to organisations worldwide. 20 contact
l-r Port staff Phil Bedford, Steve Reid, Chris Adair, David Profit and Jen Maddison
BUILDING BLOCKS Hay & Kilner Law Firm has restructured its residential conveyancing department and added two new members to the team to help it to manage growing client demand. Rachel Armstrong and Chantelle Oxley have joined the Newcastleheadquartered firm's specialist team as paralegals. HOTEL OF THE YEAR Gisborough Hall has been chosen as one of the best hotels in the region in the UK’s biggest hospitality awards. The four-star venture was the only hotel in North Yorkshire and Teesside to receive the ‘highly commended’ accolade in the White Rose Awards’ Large Hotel of the Year category. CANADIAN VISIT A delegation of Canadian technology companies visited the North East to see first hand,why the region’s tech and digital sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK. Representatives from eight prominent Canadian businesses joined the region’s inward investment body, Invest North East England, to visit world-leading sites. They then went on to attend the North East’s innovation conference, VentureFest North East.
Martin Glaholm (HSBC), Chris Hughes (Mincoffs), Michael Smith and Paul Shields (Tait Walker), Jonathan Kirk and Simon Pelly (S&A Fabrications)
Deal a steel Barnard Castle-based steel fabricator S&A has announced the sale of the building fabrication side of the business in a management buyout. Sales director Simon Pelly and senior estimator Jonathan Kirk have purchased the Barnard Castle business and the previous owners will continue as consultants. Tait Walker, Mincoffs Solicitors and HSBC UK advised on the deal.
The DigitalCity Fellowship Accelerator
Speeding up A space launch system, an escape rooms experience, and technology for the hard of hearing are some of the latest ideas being developed with the support of DigitalCity. Eight start-ups have been accepted onto the latest cohort of the DigitalCity Fellowship Accelerator. The six-month programme, led by Teesside University in partnership with the Tees Valley Combined Authority and part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), offers funding of up to £5,000, workshops and bespoke consultancy. www.neechamber.co.uk
NEW to NEWCASTLE
New contract flows The property maintenance and management division of North East-based Fastflow Group has secured a multi-million pound contract with a leading housing provider in the south. DW Support Services will take on responsibility for all aspects of property asset maintenance for Catalyst Housing’s properties in Oxford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Reading and Berkshire. The five-year deal, with the potential of a further five-year extension, could have a total value of £52m. DWSS provides property maintenance, repair and refurbishment for housing associations, councils, universities and NHS trusts., maintaining some 200,000 homes through more than 40,000 repairs a year. The business is part of the £140m turnover Fastflow Group, an independent provider of services to the utilities and property sectors with more than 800 people on sites throughout the UK.
£8m spa's a star
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The Spa at Ramside Hall has been recognised as one of the most luxurious in the country after retaining its 5 Bubble rating from the Good Spa Guide. The spa was praised for its 'light and airy design, range of experiences, enthusiastic staff, excellent treatments and delicious food'. The £8m spa opened in 2015 and received its first 5 Bubble rating months later, retaining it since. www.neechamber.co.uk
Talk to us about what you want to achieve. T: 07900 222 254 E: hello@nesma.co.uk
WWW.NESMA.CO.UK contact 21
News
l-r Anders Jersby, Dr Simon Pike Coun Sue Jeffrey, mayor Ben Houchen
£9.83m appliance of science Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and Coun Sue Jeffrey, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, visited the Materials Processing Institute to view global steel and industrial group Liberty’s new £9.83m project. The Combined Authority will invest £4.6m in Liberty's work to create advanced alloy metal powders for the manufacture of stronger, lighter metals for highprecision products with zero waste. The initiative is based at the Materials Processing Institute, providing Liberty with access to its specialist knowledge and expertise.
The big 30 Co Durham-surface repair and protection specialist Reprotec Group is celebrating 30 years in business. Founded by MD John Holmes, Reprotec was originally a sales agent for high-tech surface engineering. Reprotec Group now comprises Reprotec UK - a specialist in environmentally friendly repair and protection solutions - and Repair and Maintenance Suppliers, an online division selling repair and maintenance products. The group works nationwide and clients include Nissan, Northumbrian Water, Greencore Group, Sir Robert McAlpine and 3M.
An animation of the Bates Terminal Offshore Energy Facility features in the film
Port in pictures Port of Blyth has released a film to introduce the next chapter of its development, with offshore energy and renewables taking centre stage. The film reflects on the development of the port's Offshore Energy Support Base and highlights new opportunities. It focuses on planned developments at three sites, including the newly extended Bates Terminal, where engineering sheds are seen coming to life with wind turbine component and cable spooling operations taking place. The film also features Battleship Wharf - a 17ha multi-use terminal recently
granted a decommissioning licence for a 2.3ha site for the handling up to 50,000 tonnes per year of decommissioned offshore energy materials. It also looks at the 200ha Northumberland Energy Park development delivered by Northumberland County Council’s development company as part of the Energy Central initiative. An animation illustrates the £25m investment here with a new heavy lift quay and land remediation works for a facility, potentially for wind turbine or subsea cable manufacturing. The film is at: https://we.tl/t-GLEcoSAdGZ
New move Birtley paint and coatings specialist Tor Coatings is expanding after completing a lease on a new purposebuilt storage and distribution base. Founded in 1975, the business manufactures, supplies and distributes a range of professional and consumer coatings. The new 135,000sqft warehouse in Follingsby Park, Gateshead comprises storage, distribution and office space. Muckle helped to negotiate a 20-year lease on the facility, with additional support from Leeds-based Rhodes CRE.
l-r John Kellett (Muckle), Rob Hinton (Tor Coatings), Simon Rhodes (Rhodes CRE)
www.neechamber.co.uk
University engineers product growth
Colin Bell
Mentor scheme for SMEs SMEs can access a new mentoring scheme pairing experts from the UK’s biggest companies with ambitious SMEs. Mentoring for Growth, run by Be the Business, is expanding nationally with a new cohort of North East businesses invited to join it. Accenture, Amazon, BAE Systems, Be the Business, BT, Cisco, EY, GSK, John Lewis Partnership, KPMG, McKinsey, Siemens UK and Sharing in Growth will provide more than 130
mentors and the local programme is led by NE LEP, which will match mentees and mentors. LEP business growth director Colin Bell said: “The North East is one of the fastest growing economies in the UK with numerous talented SMEs. The Mentoring for Growth programme gives access advice, support and guidance from some of the UK’s best business minds.” Register at: www.northeastgrowthhub.co.uk
An engineering company is bringing a new offshore product to market thanks to the support of Teesside University. Darlington-based Ardmore Craig provides a range of services to the offshore oil and gas, renewable and marine sectors. The business has enjoyed an ongoing partnership with Teesside University and accessed several courses and support programmes. Most recently, thanks to the support of the Innovate Tees Valley programme, the business has spun out a new company, Laytrix, to bring a new subsea pipe-laying tool to market. An equity and loan deal has been made with Laytrix which has subsequently filed patents for the new product.
l-r UK Pods' Palkesh D. Crawford, Chris McDonald, CEO Materials Processing Institute
www.neechamber.co.uk
contact 23
News NEWS IN BRIEF NATIONAL PRIZE Morpeth-based ProAd has won a silver award for Promotional Merchandise Campaign of the Year at the 2018 Institute of Promotional Marketing (IPM) COGS Awards. The award follows the firm’s success in the 2017 awards, in which it took home both Gold and Silver accolades.
l-r Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and Quorn Foods CEO Kevin Brennan officially open the plant
Major growth for veggie food giant The world’s biggest meat alternative production facility has officially opened at Quorn Foods’ Belasis site in Billingham. The factory expansion of 9,500m2 will double production capacity of Quorn’s core products, adding some 20,000 tonnes of product per annum. It is part of a £150m investment by Quorn Foods, reflecting an increase in flexitarian and vegan diets, and the fact that the UK is the most advanced meat-free market in the world The state of the art production facility will produce 1.33M packs of Quorn products per week, equivalent to the meat produced by 1,600 cows. The efficiency improvements the expansion will deliver will help Quorn Foods continue to reduce its carbon emissions per tonne of food produced, already down by 35% since 2012 The factory expansion builds on Quorn Foods’ strongest ever year of growth, a £7m investment in a Global Innovation Centre at its Stokesley headquarters, and sees the company stay on track to become a billion-dollar business by 2027.
World-class partnership Billingham-based pump distributor Tomlinson Hall has announced a new partnership with manufacturer ITT Goulds Pumps. The partnership will add another world-class pump range to Tomlinson Hall’s portfolio and means the multiaward-winning firm can offer ITT Goulds Pumps’ innovative technology to its customers in sectors including marine, industrial, food processing and pharma. 24 contact
PARTNERSHIP PRAISED The University of Sunderland’s partnership work has been highlighted by Ofsted Inspectors in a report praising the work of North East adoption service Together for Children (TfC). It provides children’s services on behalf of Sunderland City Council and Ofsted graded the service Good, praising the quality of work to support children and young people. Leadership and management within the service was judged to be Outstanding. NEW LOOK The Ashington branch of the North East's biggest building society is set to get a new look for the New Year. Newcastle Building Society is creating an open plan branch on Station Road as part of a continuing multi-million pound investment programme across its branch network. The refurbished branch will have additional space for transactions.
l-r Colin Hewitt (Ward Hadaway head of commercial), Jason Legget (Scaleup North East programme director)
Scaling up Law firm Ward Hadaway is supporting local businesses as part of the Scaleup North East Accelerator initiative. The law firm is working closely with businesses to provide legal support and advice on a range of key issues, including help with contract negotiations, registering trademarks, employment law advice and HR. Scaleup North East is designed for companies with the potential to go through significant growth by the year 2021. The programme aims to work with 650 businesses that can demonstrate the required desire and potential to achieve high levels of growth.
STEM Centre gets go ahead Planning permission has been granted by Durham County Council for the next phase of development on the New College Durham Framwellgate Moor Campus. This will see the construction of new facilities for Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing, allowing the college to plan and deliver courses with employers to meet the higher skill needs of the region in these vital industries. The project will cost around £8m and will be ready to operate from September 2019. www.neechamber.co.uk
International conference
l-r Peter Conroy and Scott Duncan (Advantex)
Broadband breakthrough A North East-based commercial landlord is among the first to benefit from Government funding to access to nextgeneration broadband connectivity. Peter Conroy, who owns and operates Metropolitan House Business Centre in Gateshead, has signed up to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport’s Gigabit Connection Broadband Voucher Scheme. The £67m scheme, delivered regionally
by Advantex Network Solutions among others, will see tenants benefit from a funding injection worth tens of thousands of pounds to invest in advanced digital connectivity. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport scheme, designed to help companies secure access to 1000-megabit connectivity through £3,000 worth of funding per business, is being rolled out nationally.
Sage Gateshead hosted scientists and clinicians from 22 countries at a major annual conference held in the UK for the first time in 15 years. The 41st annual meeting of the European Thyroid Association was hosted over four days thanks to support from the NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau. The conference is for clinicians and scientists who study the thyroid gland and its diseases.
TRANSFORMING CANCER CARE.
The Rutherford Cancer Centre North East is now open proton therapy (from mid 2019) | radiotherapy | chemotherapy immunotherapy | MRI diagnostic imaging | supportive care For further information
0800 210 0402 therutherford.com www.neechamber.co.uk
Cancer Centre North East contact 25
Property
l-r James Fletcher (Naylors),Peter Lambert (owner and architect, Fenham Hall Studios)
Moving in Naylors has announced the letting of two new office suites at Fenham Hall Studios in Newcastle. The office complex, located in the private grounds of Fenham Hall, has recently undergone a £240,000 refurbishment to provide 2,000sqft of additional office space. A new ground floor suite has been let to existing tenant The Roundhouse Design Consultants and a new first floor 1,250sqft suite has also been let to HB Innovations on a 10-year lease.
Central Square South
Transatlantic merger GVA has announced a merger with the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm, Avison Young. The deal is expected to complete during the first quarter of 2019, subject to regulatory approvals, and will see GVA and Toronto-based Avison Young form a global partnership with more than 5,000 staff in 120 offices across 25 countries. GVA chief executive Gerry Hughes
said: “To say I am delighted is an understatement. We could not have asked for a better outcome. We now enter a new era as a key component of a global real estate advisory platform, which will allow us to further flourish and better serve our clients.” GVA has recently moved its 30-strong Newcastle office to a refurbished third floor office suite in Central Square South.
New labs for Newcastle Helix Double industrial investment for Hanro Naylors has completed the acquisition of two industrial property investments at Boldon Business Park on behalf of Hanro. The property investment company has purchased units 4 and 9 Didcot Way for £2.342m. The two industrial warehouse units, covering 39,041sqft, are located in a popular commercial area to the south of the River Tyne with access to the A19, Tyne Tunnel and Nissan. 26 contact
A new lab facility has opened in the heart of Newcastle’s £350m urban development scheme Newcastle Helix. The Biosphere will provide a home for life sciences and innovation, research and development companies. The new 90,000sqft purpose-built £25m facility will contain commercial laboratory and office spaces while a conferencing facility will offer a space for an events programme and for the sector to meet and share knowledge. Newcastle City Council worked with Kier to build the new facility, which was designed by Ryder Architects under the commercial and technical guidance of Cam-Sci.
The Biosphere
www.neechamber.co.uk
Commercial Profile in association with
Darlington firm has expansion accounted for
l-r Simon and Dawn Miles (Anarchy), Mark Proudlock (Knight Frank)
Cheers! Craft ale brewer Anarchy Brew Co has joined the entrepreneurial businesses at Benfield Business Park in Newcastle. Asset managed by M7 Real Estate with marketing by the industrial team at Knight Frank Newcastle, the business park has been transformed over the last decade, continued investment attracting occupiers
from the fitness, leisure and training sectors as well as production, wholesale and charity operators. Anarchy Brew Co has taken on 11,000sqft for a new brewery and tap room. The business, founded by husband and wife team Simon and Dawn Miles in 2012, has 11 employees and has customers throughout the UK and overseas.
The Lumen Building at Newcastle Helix, one of GVA’s 2018 instructions
National honour GVA’s Property Management Consultancy (PMC) team has picked up the Commercial Property Manager of the Year Award for 2018 at the Property Week All-Stars Awards in London. Senior director Derick Jackson, who heads PMC in the North East, said: “Regionally, we’ve enjoyed an exceptional year in Newcastle, building on our existing instruction with the Logicor industrial portfolio and winning new instructions at Cobalt Business Park and Partnership House, Gosforth with further flagship instructions in the pipeline before the end of 2018." www.neechamber.co.uk
Business owner, Nick Lyons (right) and his team
A North East accountancy firm has expanded to facilitate its current and future growth plans. Lyons Watson Accountants, based at Business Central in Darlington, has taken on a larger office in the business centre to house new staff and build on their success so far. And with further growth in mind, the expansion is highly significant for the business according to its owner, Nick Lyons. “The new office is a big step forward for us,” said Nick, “it gives us the room we need to welcome a new member of staff and we’re excited to bring clients to our new office. “We like to meet with our clients regularly to build close relationships. This enables us to provide a very personal service and advice that is specific to each client’s needs, so it’s great to be able to have the extra space in the office to host these meetings.” Nick – who is originally from Darlington – has built up a lot of connections in the area having previously worked for well-established accountancy firms in the region, so it was important for him and his business to remain in Darlington. He added: “It’s important to be based in a professional environment and it’s also important for our clients who regularly comment on the centre’s impressive facilities and how friendly Business Central’s staff are.”
Find out more about our Business Community www.ne-bic.co.uk T 0191 516 6066 contact 27
GDPR
Save the data How safe is your data under the new compliance rules? One North East business is here to tell you We live in a connected world. Technology has transformed the way people live, shop and do business. Today even the smallest business will be running more than one software application and if these applications are not connected, it’s a big problem. Imagine how time-consuming and tedious it would be to enter the same information into an accounting package, a contracts management program and a CRM system. Yet that is the daily reality for thousands of businesses throughout the country. A Newton Aycliffe business has exploited this opportunity to great effect and has grown substantially over the past 10 years as a result. Excelpoint, which has its headquarters in the Evans Business Centre, is one of the North East’s best kept secrets. It started in Bradford in 1983 as producer of low-level software. Now its advanced software is used globally in a variety of sectors including health, construction, defence, not for profit and the public sector. It’s a global player in a sector that’s been conservatively estimated to be worth £100 billion. Managing director Ian Brown explains: “Our software is straightforward, easy to configure, secure and far more cost effective than the traditional software packages businesses have been using for the past 20 years.” Ian, whose first job was as an analyst programmer for GEC Telecommunications, knows all about bespoke software, working with it for more than two decades before taking the reins at Excelpoint. He saw how businesses used an inefficient mixture of bespoke and off-the-shelf packages, such as back office, because that was the established paradigm. But the growth of internet commerce and the shift online meant 28 contact
the traditional way of doing things was outmoded. While he was working as a software developer for another company, Ian heard about Excelpoint’s plans. Initially he invested in the idea and shortly afterwards received an offer to come and run it. Ian explains: “I could see the opportunities web-based products would offer and Excelpoint’s software can easily grow with a business. I knew we could connect all types of data and I could see that we would be able to create a system that would enable clients to create bespoke business system solutions without writing a line of bespoke code.” Excelpoint’s different solution to many businesses' perennial problems was to create a software platform so flexible that it has all the benefits of a bespoke system but without any of the drawbacks such as high maintenance and ongoing costs. Minova Global produces mining equipment, parts and materials supplied to mining organisations on five different continents and
www.neechamber.co.uk
25 countries. The blue-chip mining conglomerate chose Excelpoint to help it to improve its pipeline visibility in order to support market penetration, management decisions and increase supply efficiency. Peter Assinder, Minova’s global lead of strategic marketing and technology, said: “The level of understanding and flexibility that the Excelpoint team brought to our project, with minimal input from ourselves and therefore minimal disruption, was unlike experiences with other vendors.” Excelpoint’s users can create their own bespoke systems in real time and deploy them across their workforces.
www.neechamber.co.uk
Recently, the massive regulatory shake-up caused by GDPR has seen a big spike in demand for Excelpoint’s software with companies large and small relying on its platform to ensure their compliance. Little wonder Mike Matthews, former president of the North East England Chamber of Commerce, described Excelpoint as “one of our region’s undiscovered gems”. Chamber members are able to enter a prize draw to win a GDPR compliance system worth £5,000 including 10 days for consultancy and all essential user licences. To enter go to: http:/bit.ly/excelpoint-neecc
contact 29
Knowledge
Is your business in good health?
Arlen Pettit, Chamber knowledge development manager
Five numbers have jumped out at me as telling at least some of the story of 2018, addressing the big issue of the last two and a half years – Brexit, the strength of the North East’s economy, and the importance of our health and wellbeing to our future success. The draft Brexit deal, setting out the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, runs to 585 pages. The document itself is largely impenetrable legalise, but the sheer length of the agreement demonstrates the scale of the challenge facing businesses as they work to adapt. The release of the document did not put to bed the uncertainty either, with both the future relationship with the EU and process for confirming the draft deal still up in the air. Surveying members over the summer, the Chamber found 52.4% of respondents thought Brexit would have a negative impact on their business. Worries over changes to customs, changes to standards and changes to EU
“Well over half of our exports go to Europe and businesses need certainty” 30 contact
funding were high among their concerns. In a region where the latest set of international trade statistics tell us there are 1,748 exporting businesses, it’s no wonder these issues are on business leaders’ minds. Well over half of our exports go to Europe, and while businesses are adaptable, they need certainty about the future to make strategic and investment decisions. The region’s businesses have weathered shocks before, and the strength of our labour market – there are 7,500 fewer people unemployed compared to a year ago, 17% of the total fall nationally – is tribute to that. But if we are to make a success of the future, we need our economy to be as productive as possible, and to get the most out of every member of the workforce. Supporting good mental health in the workplace will be a big part of this. Recent research by Business in the Community found that 1 in 3 of the UK workforce has been formally diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point in their lifetime. After a 2018 where mental health moved up the business agenda, 2019 will be the year for concrete action. www.neechamber.co.uk
‘Press’tigious Print
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Raise your profile
with Member to Member offers Share your offers and get your business noticed. The Chamber website has over 16,000 hits each month. Upload your offers in the member area, and view a full list of Chamber member offers at neechamber.co.uk/our-members/offers
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19/03/2018 10:24:44
Skills
l-r Paula Normington, Lauryn Hellewell, Anna Douglas and Ben Evans
You’re hired Two new solicitor apprentices have joined Muckle LLP. Lauryn Hellewell has joined Muckle’s Corporate Team through the North East Solicitor Apprenticeship (NESA) scheme, an alternative university fees-free route to becoming a qualified lawyer. Paula Normington, who previously worked as a business support officer and a paralegal at Muckle, has begun her training to become a solicitor with the Employment Team. Lauryn and Paula join existing solicitor apprentices Ben Evans and Anna Douglas, who started their roles with Muckle LLP in September 2017 through the NESA programme.
Global reputation Teesside University has been recognised among the world’s top universities for Social Sciences in a new subject-specific league table. The university is featured in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings subject table for Social Sciences, which lists more than 650 of the world’s top-performing higher education institutions in this area. The subject rankings are published on four different dates and follow the overall World University Rankings in September, which saw Teesside University included for the third consecutive year. 32 contact
Ready for action A new team of lifesavers have graduated from the University of Sunderland. The graduates are the first cohort of university-trained North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) paramedics. The university and NEAS have worked in partnership to develop the specialist training programme to help to address a national shortage in recruits.
The first 19 graduates started their course in September 2016 and have now completed two years of study with access to the university’s Sciences Complex Phase II and Living Lab with its interactive learning facilities. The students have been employed by NEAS throughout their training, allowing them to balance studying with working their operational shifts.
Award success PD Ports apprentice plumber Alex Dionysios has been named Plumbing Student of the Year by Redcar and Cleveland College. One of 20 apprentices at PD Ports, he has been working with the engineering department at Teesport for the past year alongside his study at the college. Steve James, Redcar and Cleveland College apprenticeship area lead in construction, said: “Alex was nominated for the award for his work ethic and attitude. He stretches and challenges himself to ensure that he succeeds. We’re all very proud of him.” www.neechamber.co.uk
BBC Radio Newcastle's Charlie Charlton with pupils at the competition launch
Young business brains compete
Durham university courses in World Top 50 Durham University’s research and teaching has been ranked among the world’s best in the latest global subject rankings. The 2019 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject place Law at Durham 42nd in the world, up from 51st. Social Sciences (including Geography, Politics and International Studies, and Sociology) also makes the World
Top 50, climbing from 51st to 45th. Education remains in the World Top 100, having retained 51st place. Hundreds of universities across the world are ranked by THE, which considers core areas including teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income. Durham is also ranked 74th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2019.
Raising the bar Hay & Kilner has taken on Bethany Hertbertson and Robert Hackett as practice trainee solicitors. They have started on a two-year training programme which will see them spend four blocks of six months working alongside experienced practitioners in different departments within the Newcastle firm in order to get a sound general grounding in the law and identify strengths and areas of interest. www.neechamber.co.uk
Robert Hackett and Bethany Hertbertson
A competition designed to inspire enterprise among school pupils is underway in Co Durham. Future Business Magnates – an annual competition run by Business Durham, the economic development organisation for County Durham – was launched at Newton Aycliffe’s Xcel Centre with the challenge: Made in County Durham, Sold to the World. Firms including Bignall Group, Ebac, Hydram, Waterstons, CA Group, Robertson Construction, Roman Limited, Franks the Flooring Store and Zumtobel Group will partner 18 school teams from across Co Durham and provide mentoring and support over the next few months.
Partnering up Sunderland College and Everyone Active have announced a new strategic partnership to promote education and employability, develop talent and regenerate the city of Sunderland. The college and the leisure management company will build on their longstanding relationship with closer links and sharing of best practice. Students at the college will have access to live projects, visits and guest speakers, apprenticeships and employment opportunities at Everyone Active. The leisure company will also have an input into the college’s qualifications to ensure they meet the needs of industry. contact 33
Say hola to your International Trade Adviser Whether you’re a new or experienced exporter, Department for International Trade can provide you with the knowledge and expertise of highly experienced international trade specialists who will support your entry into new markets with confidence. Call the Department for International Trade North East on 0345 136 0169 or email northeast@mobile.trade.gov.uk
Export Jason Knights (MD, Blue Kangaroo)
Export assistance Law firm Ward Hadaway is urging North East business to take advantage of international trade opportunities with the Department for International Trade (DIT). The Top 100 firm has been working with DIT North East for a year, helping SMEs in the Durham area to develop international opportunities through the DIT's North East Worldwide programme, which provides advice to businesses in the NE LEP area. Creative agency Blue Kangaroo, recently awarded a Board of Trade award in recognition of its export success, has benefited from the programme and now works with international clients including The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures and Mattel. MD Jason Knights said: "Ward Hadaway has been instrumental in helping us with the negotiation of international contracts."
Think global, act global North East manufacturing and business leaders joined export experts at Hardwick Hall Hotel to discuss export now and post-Brexit. The event, organised by accountancy firm Tait Walker, revealed the importance of considering export options beyond the EU and addressed questions and obstacles businesses face. Hosted by Tait Walker managing partner Andrew Moorby, a panel comprising Simon Crosby for the Department for International Trade, Will McGarrigle for the CBI, Patrick Kendell for UK Export Finance, Beverly
European plans
Course takes off
Hooba Foods has announced a six-figure crowdfund to unlock growth and secure supply deals with supermarkets for its vegan products. The Darlington-based company is looking to raise £250k through Crowdcube, which will help the meatfree brand increase its UK presence through a large-scale marketing and communications campaign. Hooba co-founders Jay Croslegh and John Shepherd (pictured) will also implement a growth strategy for markets across the UK and Europe.
The Business and Management Team at New College Durham has worked in consultation with the Chamber and the Department of International Trade to develop a new International Trade unit. The innovative unit has been developed as part of the college’s newly validated Open University accredited 3 year BA (Hons) Degree in Business and Management, complementing an established Further and Higher Education suite of business and management qualifications available at the college.
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Perry for the Intellectual Property Office and Jacqui Tulip for the Chamber encouraged attendees to develop a new strategy ahead of March 2019. The DIT's Simon Crosby explained that in the event of a Brexit no-deal, exports to the EU could be more expensive. As a region, he said, the North East should look to worldwide trade and the larger market opportunities that can extend product life-cycle and enhance business growth. Advice was also given on IP protection internationally, financial support through UK Export Finance, issues around customs and personnel.
Simon Crosby (lead international trade advisor, DIT) Steven Bell (head, School of Business Management & Professional, New College Durham), Julie Underwood (Chamber international trade director)
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Policy
Retail therapy How do we help our town centres to thrive? Over the past year, the Chamber and planning consultants Lichfields have been working on a report looking at the issues facing town centres in the North East and the steps that might be taken to support businesses. The project looked at a group of town centres with different characteristics - Newcastle, Berwick, Stanley, Middlesbrough and Hexham – and revealed a number of commonalities. Following our research - which included discussions with independent traders, multiples, office tenants, land agents and local authorities - we have formulated some key recommendations. Firstly, business support for retail businesses must be improved. Because of the rules around funding for businesses, there is very little available for retail and very little channelling to advice. New retail businesses are not channelled to business support organisations or are not compelled to seek help. Better support tailored to a retail environment would help business survival rates. Such support doesn’t have to be entirely funded and delivered by the public sector; existing businesses can provide mentoring to their neighbours, with co-ordination. Second, local authorities and stakeholders must have short, medium and long-term plans for the development and sustainability of town centres. The most successful authorities already have these, and plans provide a clear vision for developing and supporting business, increasing footfall and opening town centres as community spaces. It sounds obvious, but following cuts to budgets, some town centres have been left to their own devices and are suffering. Local 36 contact
authorities have a crucial role to play, but due to budget cuts have often understandably focused elsewhere. This has, in some places, led to town centre footfall and spend slipping. Recent events such as large shop closures and declining high street spend have brought the focus back, with many authorities now looking to take pro-active steps to support town centres. The public sector also has a role to play in replacing anchor tenants who have left large retail spaces. The high street is changing and there are now fewer retailers, but there can still be shopping, community and leisure spaces alongside public services such as health or education, for example, delivered in town centres. Local authorities must also make the most of planning powers to enable new uses such as town centre housing. Third, we have a challenge to businesses themselves. Town centre businesses have some responsibility for footfall and making towns a success. This is not something everybody else is responsible for. Only by collaboration and engagement will town centres improve; too many initiatives fall by the wayside due to infighting. There are examples where businesses have worked together well and taken their own initiative, but these are too few and far between. Fourth, the public must decide whether they want a town centre and support it. Internet shopping is here to stay, but while most people say they want a vibrant town centre they don’t support it or, worse, they actively undermine it through behaviour such as ‘showrooming’. The public needs to decide whether they want a town centre or not. There are many other recommendations in the report which can be read at www.neechamber.co.uk www.neechamber.co.uk
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Success
If the shoe fits… Simon Bourne has progressed from sports writing to selling sofas and quite a bit in-between to reach his present business in shoes. Kay Wilson visits him at the Hand Dyed Shoe Company The list of bespoke shoe manufacturer Simon Bourne’s achievements is drawn from far and wide. Always pushing out of his comfort zone, this creative entrepreneur once travelled to India to do freelance sports reporting on the Nehru Cup because he thought it sounded interesting. Today, he is newly settled in historic business premises which were once the offices of the Vice President of Ushaw College in Durham. But his career started in a very different place to the former Catholic Seminary. “I had a struggle at school because I always felt different,” he says, “but one particular teacher, Mr Crabtree, who taught me English, spotted that I had a flair for writing. “This belief in me helped, even though I had a mixture of jobs when I left school. It resulted in me doing freelance sports journalism in my spare time. It was great experience and I ended up doing reports for ITV, radio stations and other sports channels. “This then helped me get a marketing job with Durham County Council Children’s Services Team. One of the highlights of my time there was organising Durham’s Got Talent for young people which attracted around 1,000 entries and had a Grand Finale at the Gala Theatre.” 38 contact
At around the same time, he was out one day buying a sofa at the Original Sofa Company, and ended up giving marketing advice to the owner. The result? He was offered a job, and he went on to discover he had a hidden talent for selling sofas – and then something else. “I turned my hand to quite a few different roles at the business, but was always disappointed to throw away the leftover leather samples,” he says. “I asked my boss if I could sell them, and I went on to make a fair amount of cash selling bags of gorgeous leather for £20 on eBay. “Then I thought I could increase my profit if I made something from the leather, so I learned how to make shoes, taught by John Borrowdale from Weardale. My first pair were very rough and ready, but I fell in love with the idea of creating bespoke leather shoes in beautiful colours.” Deciding on his business idea was one thing, but it took three years and a few false starts before he identified a business which could make shoes to his standards and to deadline. He had tried out four or five workshops and spent £16,000 that he couldn’t really afford trying to get the right shoes produced, causing huge stress. So, he decided that any manufacturer he worked with had to meet five criteria before he would consider them. They had to agree to no minimum order, www.neechamber.co.uk
speak English, agree a price, have his required attention to detail and quality and employ a team of people, so no one-man bands would be considered. Then, out of the blue, an agent in Portugal contacted him and introduced him to a supplier who turned out to be ideal. He has never looked back. “I was still working at a Sofa Workshop, where I had won awards for customer service until December last year, running the business in my spare time, but orders came in so thick and fast I knew I needed to take the plunge.” www.neechamber.co.uk
After being based in a small unit initially, his new move to Ushaw College has given him the perfect space for his company. “I’m delighted to be here as my rent helps to ensure this fantastic building is maintained and restored for future generations.” The Hand Dyed Shoe Company now offers more than 30 different styles and a huge range of options including monograms, embossed effects and all the colours of the rainbow. “I want buying from me to be more than just buying handmade shoes; it’s a whole experience.” contact 39
Profile
Back in the game Cricketer turned business leader Tim Bostock predicts a bright future for Durham CCC as it emerges from its darkest days, discovers Jane Hall Overlooked by Lumley Castle and sitting on the banks of the Wear as it snakes its way to the North Sea, it’s no surprise that Durham County Cricket Club’s Emirates Riverside stadium is regarded as one of England’s most picturesque sporting venues. This particular late November day, however, it is cold, damp, and the fabled view is lost in a gloomy miasma. Which could sum up the state of play at Durham in recent years. In 2016, poor financial results threatened the existence of England’s youngest first-class cricket county. A rescue package had to be struck, including a £3.8m bail-out from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). In return for the ECB cash, Durham started the 2017 season on -48 points after being relegated to Division Two. The club was also docked four points in the NatWest T20 Blast and two in the Royal London One-Day Cup and Riverside was stripped of its Test match status, though it was allowed to continue hosting One Day and Twenty20 internationals. There was an off-pitch price to pay too - all non-player-related ECB competition prize money due to Durham for the 2016 season having to be refunded or withheld until the debts owed by the club to the ECB had been settled. A salary cap was also introduced to prevent overspending on players. How and why Durham CCC was in this invidious position is much debated, but part of the problem lay with the club’s desire to bring Test match cricket to the region. The May 2016 Test match between England and Sri Lanka at
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the Riverside made a loss of some £60,000 once the costs of hosting it and fees payable to the ECB for the privilege were deducted from the takings. Since then, the model has changed and now the ECB takes a percentage of ticket revenue, as opposed to a fixed fee regardless of attendances, thus significantly reducing the risk of hosting a major match. But this came too late for Durham. Two seasons on from the ECB bail-out, and the club, horribly hampered by that points deduction, remains in the Second Division, unable to host Test matches, and rebuilding its squad after losing key players following the relegation. But things are looking brighter. Former Australian international Marcus North arrived in October as the new director of cricket following Geoff Cook’s retirement after 28 years. The club returned to the black in the year ending September 2017, with turnover up from £5.7m to £7.58m and an operating profit of £2.35m compared to a loss of £864,059 in 2016. Profit after tax increased to £2.23m following a £1.24m loss in the previous year, and next summer Durham will host three one-day ICC Cricket World Cup games, including England’s group match against New Zealand. The club also appointed Tim Bostock its new chief exec in July this year, taking over from David Harker, who stepped into a nonexecutive role after 17 years in charge. A former professional cricketer and banker, his plans for Durham include reviving decade-old proposals for a hotel and conference centre, which he insists will put the club on a firm financial
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Profile footing for the future. He is also certain that Durham’s time in Division Two will end in the next two to three years as North carries on the job of rebuilding the team. Bostock’s appointment may well be the best signing Durham CCC has made in a long time. He brings a wealth of cricket knowledge, having played at the top level in Zimbawe, and he has over 30 years’ experience in banking, a career which took him to Australia a decade ago. More recently, he was working for the New South Wales government, a key player in the design and delivery of the most ambitious and successful transformation of government services ever undertaken in Australia. It was in Sydney – where he still has a home and where his partner and 26-year-old daughter live – that a chance conversation with Durham chair Sir Ian Botham set the wheels in motion for his return to the UK. In November 2017 Botham was giving a talk at a charity event attended by Bostock. They got chatting. “At the time I had been asked if I would consider looking at the Worcester CEO job,” says Bostock. “I was thinking about it, but I wasn’t that interested in coming back to the UK full-time. The guy who had asked me about Worcester must have been talking to Sir Ian about me. Sir Ian said the CEO of Durham was wanting to go and that I should look at it. “I said I would think about it, but in reality I didn’t really consider it too much. But the Worcester job didn’t come to anything, Sir Ian was in New Zealand for Christmas, contacted me and said he wanted to meet. I said OK, but that if I was going to really consider it I wanted to come over and see Durham for myself. So that’s what happened.” Bostock was more than aware of Durham’s problems on and off the pitch, despite living 12,000 miles away, but the opportunity to work in cricket was hard to resist. "The attraction was the opportunity to turn around the club, having a clear vision about the club, and being able to put it in a long-term, sustainable position," he says. “A lot of what I have done in the past
❝I've never worked in a business like this, where everyone I see is passionate about it❞
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has been about turning businesses around, and there was a huge attraction in doing this within sport. We are in the business of cricket; everything is geared towards success on the field, but we can only achieve that if everything is right off that field.” He has been struck by the affection in which Durham is held. “I’ve never worked in a business like this, where virtually every person I bump into in my working week is passionate about the club. You can see that the club is in their DNA.” This adds impetus to Durham’s future – one where the planned 140-room hotel and 700-capacity conference centre will bring jobs and inject millions into the local economy. Bostock is also keen to get as many one-day international games as possible for the club because this is where the true money lies. www.neechamber.co.uk
There will be blips due to fluctuations in revenue with ECB payments coming through at different times, but having renegotiated a proper commercial relationship with the club’s bank, he says: “We are no longer having to rob Peter to pay Paul.” Durham has a successful hospitality offering, hosts big name concerts, is on track to claw its way back to the top cricketing tier, has the hotel and conference proposal in the pipeline and next year’s World Cup games to look forward to, as well as the introduction in 2020 of the ECB’s new 100-ball format and the return of live coverage to free-to-air television for the first time since 2005. The majority of the games shown by the BBC will be from The Hundred tournament format, with a new five-year broadcast deal worth £1.1bn that also includes www.neechamber.co.uk
Sky Sports, running from 2020-2024. While The Hundred will be played with new teams based at Lord’s, Edgbaston, The Oval, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, Headingley, Cardiff and Southampton, cash will filter down to the 18 first-class counties who are partners in the initiative, with each guaranteed £1.3m a year. “This all adds up, which means we will be able to clear our debts. We will not be in a position to clear them next year, but we will clear them,” Bostock declares. 2021 will be a big year, bringing with it, all being well, the completion of the new facilities and, with any luck, a place back in cricketing's top tier. Plus, the extra cash from the ECB will be flowing back into the club. “Durham as a county is on the up,” Bostock says confidently. One gets the impression he’s not just talking about the cricket club, either. contact 43
Profile
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To a tea (and coffee) Stephen Drysdale wasn’t sold on Ringtons when as a teenager it was suggested his future lay with the Newcastle-based tea merchant. But time and views change, and now, as head of Ringtons’ Beverages for Business division, he is at the forefront of driving custom, with coffee proving to be the perfect brew, as Jane Hall discovers When Stephen Drysdale was 16, a careers adviser at school organised a job interview for him with the Newcastle tea company Ringtons. Drysdale’s family was involved in the vending machine sector, and the careers adviser obviously thought Ringtons would be a good match for the youngster, but he had other ideas. “My impression of Ringtons as a 16-yearold was that it wasn’t very dynamic. Everybody thinks you’re going to be delivering tea doorto-door. I have no idea what job the careers guy had pinpointed for me, but I didn’t fancy Ringtons so I didn’t turn up for the interview.” Instead, he spent the next few years working for various vending machine companies, becoming MD with one Gateshead-based operation. Then, eight years ago, in a delicious irony, he was appointed head of Beverages for Business (BFP) with the very firm he had turned his back on as a callow youth. The path to Ringtons’ door in August 2010 was not without drama, however. It took six months to convince Drysdale to join the familyrun business. He may have been older and wiser, but his sentiments about the century-old brand hadn’t necessarily moved on. “It was a long process,” he admits with a wry smile. “I was with a firm that was spending around www.neechamber.co.uk
£2,000 a week with Ringtons at a time when their average customer was spending £1,000 a year. The Beverages for Business operation had flatlined. It hadn’t gone anywhere for 35 years and they wanted me to turn things around. But I still had this pre-conceived idea of Ringtons being old-fashioned.” His appointment may turn out to be one of the wisest moves Ringtons has made in its 111- year history. When he came on board, the BFP department was turning over a modest £1.2m a year. It’s now reached £4.1m and aims to hit £5m by July 2019. While the division only achieved 1% to 2% growth in Drysdale’s first year, by the second it had shot up to 25% and by the third to 40%. Since then, year-on-year growth has been steady at around 20%. When he started, Drysdale spent 13 weeks assessing the business, “going out with the delivery drivers, speaking to customers who had left us, those we had and those we wanted, and reminding people what it is we actually do,” as well as streamlining the operation. Customer order values increased by 200%300%, while the biggest development has been in coffee sales, which now account for 50% of BFB’s revenue. Of course, Ringtons is traditionally seen as a tea merchant. It was how contact 45
Profile
the firm began in 1907 when Samuel Smith moved from Leeds to Newcastle and began selling tea door-to-door from a horse and cart. Smith launched with a £250 loan from a gentleman called William Titterington, who was to give the latter part of his surname to the firm. Legend has it that when it came to branding the original cart, there wasn’t enough space to write Smith & Titterington, so it was shortened to Ringtons - the addition of the ‘s’ for Smith. In 1914, Smith bought out Titterington and the business, which is based in Byker, Newcastle, is still owned by the Smith family. Currently Simon, Nigel and Colin Smith are the fourth generation to sit on the board, with the fifth waiting in the wings. The firm has come a long way from its first horse and cart. It continues to deliver door-todoor, but now to more than 260,000 customers across the UK, the range now including coffee, biscuits, chocolates and homeware. This doorstep service accounts for £36m of the firm’s £65m annual turnover. There’s also now an online shop delivering goods to customers worldwide, and through its BFB section Ringtons supplies the nation’s cafés, restaurants, hotels and workplaces with tea and coffee. North East customers include Fenwick, the Sage Gateshead, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Alnwick Castle, Middlesbrough Football Club, the Freeman Hospital and Gainford Group hotels and bars. North East England Chamber of Commerce, which Ringtons joined in 1950, is also a client. Jon Malton, Ringtons’ brand director, says: “The Chamber champions businesses in the region and is a voice on a UK level, which is vital to supporting companies in the North of England. We are delighted to partner the Chamber on its membership recognition initiative, whereby a Ringtons hamper is given to members celebrating anniversaries and special events.” The door-to-door service is something of an anachronism in the modern world, but it thrives. Drysdale says: “People are living longer, we are 46 contact
spending more time at home, it’s a convenient service, and customers like it. They appreciate the products and they like the personal touch. The door-to-door delivery side has seen 16 years of record growth. It is the personal service and customer support that appeals.” Tea performs best on the doorstep, while coffee soars in the competitive BFB market. Sales of coffee are now double those of tea in the BFB division, and more than £2.5m was invested in Ringtons’ coffee roasting facilities in Newcastle last year. The company can now produce 1m kg of coffee – enough for 16m cups - every year. A move into supplying other brands with their own-label products has provided a massive boost, literally bringing Ringtons’ www.neechamber.co.uk
❝The customers appreciate the products and the personal touch❞
products to the lips of millions of people – albeit unknowingly. Yet this crucial revenue stream might well have evaded the company, says Drysdale. “We won a coffee contract in 2014 for some own-label business that we couldn’t fulfil. We couldn’t let that happen again.” Thus, in 2016 Ringtons opened a plant on Balliol Business Park in Longbenton, Newcastle. It’s not the usual business approach: invest first and then chase orders, but it has paid off. Drysdale says: “Two years ago own brands didn’t exist, but from a coffee point of view, it is 25% of volume.” Plans are in place to expand the operation, a year ahead of schedule. This is one of the joys of still being a family-run firm - decisions can be made more quickly and solid foundations laid www.neechamber.co.uk
for longer-term plans. It’s one of the things that eventually attracted Drysdale to join Ringtons. Now his department is the firm’s fastest growing, accounting for 10% of Ringtons’ brand sales. All notions that Ringtons is an ‘old-fashioned’ company have long been dispelled in Drysdale’s mind. He appreciates the attention to detail, the autonomy, and that as a family-run firm it is about the long-term view, one that will hopefully ensure it is still an iconic part of the Tyneside business landscape in another 100 years. It is something that Drysdale failed to appreciate first time around as a teenager. Now, he says, “I can’t think of a better company to work for.” contact 47
Success
Sliding doors A brave decision to sell off its hugely successful garage door business was just the kind of sliding doors decision which provide a major game-changer for Co Durhambased PC Henderson, as Kay Wilson discovers There can’t be many North East companies with an Indonesian agent so proud to be representing them that its factory and its workforce clothing is branded with their name. Working with Co Durham-based PC Henderson is seen as a badge of honour around the world, while at home it has received many accolades, including being shortlisted at the British Chambers of Commerce awards in November. Founded in 1921 in the South East, it moved to the North East in 1969, attracted by the availability of space for expansion and the local workforce’s reputation for hard work. Today, PC Henderson’s vast range of sliding and folding door hardware is sold to more 70 countries around the world from its manufacturing plant at Bowburn Industrial Estate. MD Trevor Cossins, two and a half years into his role, has spearheaded a current growth spike based on a history that helped to lay the foundations for success. “The initial big boom time for us was in the 1960s with the huge national construction programme for housing estates,” he says. “At that time, we produced garage doors and it was estimated that around 50% of all garage doors installed in the UK 48 contact
were made by us. However, eventually the market became extremely saturated and the bold decision to sell the garage door side of the business was made in 2008. This decision has definitely paid off because it has allowed us to focus solely on the sliding door hardware side of the business. “We found there was much more business to be gained by concentrating on the sliding and folding door market, which is where our expertise in quality manufacturing lies. “When I joined the company I set out a deliberate policy to ensure we were much more closely connected to our customers. We constantly do market research, so we are always totally clear on what is needed for us to supply the very best products and services to the marketplace. “Results from these fact-finding exercises gave some great insights into our marketplace. For example, we found that our Chinese customers have very different product requirements based on their installation procedures. “Our current design didn’t fit well with this Chinese installation technique, so we adapted our products to ensure a smooth installation process. We see huge potential in China with the boom in five-star luxury hotels where the quality of our www.neechamber.co.uk
range is an excellent fit for their requirements.” Export sales currently account for 70% of company sales and the company employs 56 people in Bowburn. Trevor Cossins sees plenty more opportunities to increase these figures with expansion of marketplaces in Germany and Central Europe as well as Asia. “We have a number of German speakers in our business and we will be exhibiting at two major trade shows in Berlin in November and at Munichbased Bau in January. There will be a new product launched at Bau and it’s a very exciting prospect with masses of potential. “I believe our business is so successful because www.neechamber.co.uk
the scale of our door hardware range is hard to beat; it’s definitely our USP. Our hardware can cater for anything from 8kg small cupboard doors right up to 8000kg aircraft hangar doors.” The company doesn’t just sell on to architects, specifiers and developers, it also works with a number of national household name retail brands. Trevor Cossins said: “Our growth and the chance to go to the BCC awards to compete with the best exporters in the country is tremendous for us. Traditionally, we have been a very humble business and it's time we recognised our own achievements. Fingers crossed that what we have built up here will ensure other people recognise them as well.” contact 49
DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR £3200 OF FUNDING. Get a grant of up to 40% to make your business better by bringing in some outside expertise. We’ve got £1m of funding for businesses just like yours, so what are you waiting for? Find out more and apply online in less than ten minutes:
www.nbsl.org.uk/nebsf/county-durham
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Focus
Access to finance Our December-January special focus takes a look at some of the region’s successful funding programmes – from the £10m North East property Fund to UK Steel’s innovation centres and from business development funding delivered by NBSL to the success of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund
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Special
l-r Mike Guellard (NEL), and Stephen Flynn and Chris Forster (Rosebirch)
Joan Cook (centre) of UK Steel Enterprise with members of the Solomons Europe team at the Innovation Centre, Hartlepool
Fit for future growth
Businesses at home in Innovation Centres More than 80 thriving businesses are currently making Innovation Centres managed by UK Steel Enterprise their home. Companies involved in sectors from engineering, food and energy to construction, finance and software are taking advantage of the offices, workshops, facilities and support provided at the Centres in Hartlepool and Redcar. “Our aim is to take worries about premises and long leases away from our tenants,” says Sarah Thorpe, area manager for UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel businesssupport subsidiary. UK Steel Enterprise has invested more than £12m into building and developing two centres. Costs start from as little as £50pw for an office and facilities that include high speed broadband, 24-hour access, parking, meeting rooms, a manned reception, gym and chill-out room, they set a high standard.
Powerhouse Investment Fund milestone
Steve Dougan, Teesside University head of enterprise
The Communicate Technology PLC team
FW Capital has invested in 100 SMEs through the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. Businesses in the NPIF region, which includes the Tees Valley, have been supported with loans between £100,000 and £750,000, which has helped to boost business growth across the area. Tees Valley firm Communicate Technology PLC is one of the firms to benefit. The fast-growing company installs and maintains IT, telecoms services, cyber security and cloud-based services to businesses across the UK, and specialises in multi-occupancy commercial properties and business parks. Communicate Technology PLC approached FW Capital during a growth phase which resulted in revenues doubling. The team secured a £500,000 investment enabling it to complete its plans to hire staff and purchase equipment. Jo Whitfield, fund manager at FW Capital North East, said: “We are delighted to have now helped 100 SMEs across the North of England. We pride ourselves on our ability to act as long-term growth partners." 52 contact
Rosebirch Fit Out Solutions is growing with the help of £50,000 from the new North East Small Loan Fund Supported By The European Regional Development Fund. The firm works across the UK and Europe on the installation of specialist bespoke joinery in retail and commercial environments. Its management team worked with regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers to secure the Small Loan Fund investment, which will give it the financial flexibility to go after bigger contracts.
Graduate entrepreneurs receive £36,000 A start-up programme which offers early-stage businesses thousands of pounds worth of support has taken on a new cohort of entrepreneurs. A total of 10 new businesses have been admitted onto the latest round of Teesside University’s Launchpad FUEL programme and have received funding totalling £36,000. The companies include an artificial lure manufacturer, a board game manufacturer and a fashion designer. www.neechamber.co.uk
Commercial Profile l-r Peter Smith (Besos) and Jonathan Barnes (NBSL)
Flying start for £1m Co Durham fund A new business growth grant programme launched earlier this year has now issued funding to more than 90 Co Durham businesses. NBSL’s North East Business Support Fund provides up to 40% grant funding to help businesses access external expertise for business improvement projects. Shildon-based Besos Food and Drink is one company to benefit, launching its website and a programme of digital marketing thanks to support from the fund. MD Peter Smith says: "After we got the firm online, we suddenly took £120,000 in orders. Thank you, NBSL!"
Boost for JD Homes A £630,000 investment by FW Capital, which manages the North East Property Fund, has given a North East construction company the opportunity to pursue its first multi-plot residential l-r Stephen Carmichael, David development. Land, Joe Dixon and Tony Cullen JD Homes, the residential building division of JD Joinery and Building Services, secured the short-term loan to bring forward The Stables development of homes in Stannington near Morpeth. The £10m North East Property Fund was established to kickstart smallscale property schemes and is backed by Santander and NE LEP. It offers loans up to £1m for residential and non-speculative commercial developments in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Co Durham. The Fund can provide up to 100% of build costs for suitable schemes with repayment terms available up to two years. www.neechamber.co.uk
Great ways to finance your business
Peter Taylor (centre) of UK Steel Enterprise at Ronco Engineering, where investment in new machinery is boosting growth, with CEO Alastair Waite (left) and David Steel, Managing Director.
UK Steel Enterprise, set up in 1975, has more than 40 years experience of supporting businesses. Our range of finance packages can help your business by providing working capital, funding for a re-location, new premises, equipment and machinery or for a management buy-out. Investments are tailored to your company’s needs and we support businesses operating in many sectors. As a notfor-profit organisation we often have additional flexibility. Our equity finance provides investment funding of up to £1m..….taking a minority stake in your business but leaving control with you. Our loan finance starts from £25,000, is often unsecured and with fixed interest rates. Our Regeneration Fund backs start-ups and early-stage businesses that may need just a few thousand pounds at a vital stage. UK Steel Enterprise, a subsidiary of Tata Steel, has supported more than 1,200 businesses in the Northern region’s steel areas of Tees Valley, Derwentside and West Cumbria, investing more than £20.6m and helping to create around 17,000 jobs. If you want to join UK Steel Enterprise-backed companies in the region that include Exwold Technologies, Hart Biologicals, Animmersion, Covol Engineering, and Ronco Engineering……get in touch.
Call 01642 777 777 or email north@uksteelenterprise. co.uk to see how we can help your business grow. Web: www.uksteelenterprise.co.uk contact 53
Motoring
Carbon dating Jane Pikett reflects upon McLaren's £50m carbon fibre testing facility, and the future of lightweight motoring Assuming you haven't been stuck on the Moon in recent weeks, you can't have missed the fact that McLaren is very much the space age marque of the moment. First, it built itself a futuristic £50m carbon fibre testing facility on the site of a former coal mine near Sheffield which it introduced to the watching world with a film of a Senna track hypercar performing doughnuts on the 75,000sqft factory floor. It then managed to get three HRHs - the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Crown Prince of Bahrain - to undertake the centre's official opening, then it got everyone hot under the collar with its cheeky sneak preview shots of the new 720S Spider supercar. The second model in McLaren's £1.2bn Track25 business plan, the new drop-top follows the McLaren Speedtail, a hybrid ‘Hyper-GT’ that will join the company’s Ultimate Series with a central driving position and the fastest top speed of any McLaren yet. The 720S Spider, which is scheduled for its full reveal in December, will go on sale next year. Like its big brother, it will likely feature a folding hard-top roof made from lightweight composite panels and a carbon fibre chassis. McLaren's new South Yorkshire centre - the handily titled McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) - aims to be a world leader in innovating the sort of lightweight carbon fibre and composites we will see on the Spider; materials that will work with future powertrain development to save weight and produce greater energy efficiencies. Prototyping has already begun at the centre on innovating McLaren’s next generation of
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lightweight carbon fibre tubs (the exterior shell, also known as a monocoque, which provides structural support), which are integral to the agility and performance of its sportscars and supercars. Of course, carbon fibre has long been a part of McLaren’s DNA, the company having introduced the first carbon fibre chassis into Formula 1 in 1981. Carbon fibre’s innate strength and lightweight properties mean that the company has never made a racing car, sportscar or supercar without it since. After completing the trial tubs in 2019 and once fully operational in 2020, the MCTC will produce carbon fibre tubs for the McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, Surrey, for hand assembly into cars. So who will drive these cars? Well, more than 90% of McLaren's cars are exported worldwide to people far richer than most of the readers of this magazine; people who don't have to ask how much before they buy. While carbon fibre is already used for many components by many makers, the number of cars on the road today featuring a carbon fibre tub remain few, basically because of the costs of production and development. They include BMW's i3 and i8, the Ford GT, Ferrari's Enzo, the Lamborghini Aventador, the Bugatti Chiron and the somewhat more modest Alfa Romeo 4C. So when will carbon fibre technology allow its widespread use in even the most modest car tubs? Certainly, the next 10-20 years will see enormous advances in technology and affordability, which means lighter, more economical and more nifty cars for all of us. Until then, mine's a McLaren...
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McLaren's sneak preview shot of its new 720S Spider, due to be revealed in December
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Motoring
Eovque-ing a drama
To car, or not to car...
Land Rover's new Evoque has been revealed, albeit in a leak to media hours prior to the official unveiling at the end of November. This somewhat dampened Land Rover's pleasure in its carefully planned teasing of the model. However, the launch of the roomier five-door newbie, which starts at £31,600, has been well received, with praise for its modernist exterior and luxurious interior.
You have to hand it to Volvo, which bagged itself a flurry of publicity when it announced as we went to print that it was planning to dress its stand at the press preview days at Los Angeles motor show with… well, nothing. Instead, Volvo said it would be creating a display based on the changing concepts of car ownership with virtual demos of its 360c concept. The show, due to be held Nov 30-Dec 9, was set to feature 1,000 models including
concepts from Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Infiniti and VW. Of more immediate interest, Toyota was all set to show off its new Prius, and Mini was unveiling its new Clubman Starlight, Countryman Yin Yang and John Cooper Works Knights editions. VW was also all set to unveil the Beetle Final Edition SE and SEL – the last variants of the third-generation Beetle, launched in 2011, and the last to roll out of VW’s Mexican production line next year. Goodbye, Herbie...
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People John Holmes with chief executive John Johnson
Trusted advisor
Social influencers
The Auckland Project has appointed Dan Wolfe to its board of trustees. Wolfe joins the board of the visitor destination in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham alongside his role as director of communications and development at Historic Royal Palaces, which includes Kensington Palace and the Tower of London.
Social housing provider Bernicia has appointed John Holmes as its new chair. Holmes, operations director at Kielder Observatory, brings extensive experience of executive and non-executive roles to the post as Bernicia launches a £190m investment programme over the next five years.
l-r Anders Jersby, Carol Patton and Dr Gerard Stephens
David Towns and Elizabeth Earle
Top trio
Expert team
The Materials Processing Institute has appointed its director of client services, Dr Gerard Stephens, to the post of director of operations. Anders Jersby is promoted from business development manager to director of commercial and Carol Patton from business services manager to director of business services.
Muckle LLP has appointed one of the region’s leading solicitors to its growing Agriculture, Estates & Rural Property team. Elizabeth Earle joins as a senior associate, working as part of the team led by David Towns. She joins Muckle from Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP and has more than 13 years’ experience.
Industry leader Durham University’s Computer Science Department has recruited computer scientist and social entrepreneur Prof Sue Black. A champion for women in computing, she founded BCSWomen, the online network for women in tech, and #techmums, a social enterprise which empowers people through tech.
Karl McCracken
Ken Arnold
Get connected The North East Local Enterprise Partnership has appointed two growth hub connectors. Ken Arnold and Karl McCracken will connect business support, and finance and funding providers with businesses as part of the North East Growth Hub – the region’s online business support platform.
l-r David Nixon, Peter Glenton, Carl Swansbury, Nick Johnson, Chris Robson, Adam Cassidy and Alex Simpson
Climbing the ladder
Money matters
Reprotec UK, a specialist in resin flooring systems and surface protection technology, has appointed Elliott Lindsay, who joined the company aged 16, head of operations. Trevor English, meanwhile, joins the company as business development manager, bringing 17 years’ experience in sales and marketing.
Ryecroft Glenton has appointed Nick Johnson corporate finance partner. He has 25 years experience in advising on MBOs, disposals, acquisitions, fundraising and providing strategic support to owner managed businesses, Plcs and PE houses throughout the UK, as well as internationally.
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Back to school Digital media entrepreneur Alex Connock has been appointed visiting professor in e-commerce video at the University of Sunderland. In 2018 he founded Missile Digital Studios, having previously built production companies Endemol Shine North and Ten Alps, which he co-founded with Bob Geldof. www.neechamber.co.uk
Theatre Royal's Philip Bernays (centre left) and new Chair Nick Swales with two Kinky Boots Angels
Theatre’s new leading man Newcastle Theatre Royal has appointed Rathbones’ regional director Nick Swales its new chairman. Based on Grey Street overlooking the historic theatre, he said: “My office overlooks the Theatre Royal and to be invited to be the chairman of this iconic organisation right on my doorstep is an honour.” He is a former chairman of the Percy
Hedley Foundation, and is a trustee of the Newcastle University Retirement Benefit Fund and the university’s Development Trust. He will replace outgoing chair Bill Midgley OBE, a well-known face from North East business circles and former president of the British Chambers of Commerce.
Star performance Sunderland College drama lecturer Jonathan Wharton has been named Further Education Lecturer of the Year at the 2018 Pearson Teaching Awards. He was praised by judges for being highly creative in finding ways to inspire and engage students and for delivering free drama workshops to secondary school pupils at Thornhill Academy in Sunderland, who otherwise would not be able to access creative arts. The Pearson Teaching Awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have.
A cut above East Durham College barbering lecturer Alison Brightwell has been named the first female British Grandmaster Barber. The award, which is given to the best in barbering by the British Master Barbers Alliance, was awarded to Brightwell at the hair and beauty trade show HJ Live in Manchester. In 2014 she was the first woman ever to be presented with the title of British Master Barber. l-r Master Barbers Alliance chairman Tony Copeland, EDC barbering lecturer Alison Brightwell and Simon Shaw, Whal artistic director
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Growth plans The MD of a growing North East law firm is planning further expansion after participating in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK initiative. Emma Gaudern, founder and MD of Durham-based EMG Solicitors, was selected to take part in the programme, which provides support to high-growth businesses. The solicitor founded her firm in 2014 and has grown from a handful of staff to a team of 30. Future plans include expansion and a second office.
New advice from Acas Workplace expert Acas has published new advice after its research revealed only one in four employers said their performance management systems were adapted for staff with special needs, disabilities and conditions such as dyslexia and autism. The new research - entitled Improvement required? - included a survey, which found that one in 10 employers admitted their performance management system was demotivating for staff. One in 10 employers said their systems were used for planning and monitoring training and development. The advice includes guidance on avoiding surprises, favouritism and discrimination, and can be found at www.acas.org.uk/ performancemanagement contact 59
Events Chamber Exchange
Chamber President’s Club Lunch October 18 at BALTIC, sponsored by Gateshead College
Black Bull Inn, Richmond 10 January, FREE This is the Chamber’s flagship networking event encouraging an exchange of experiences, ideas and offers between members. A round-table networking event with two table changes held the second Thursday of each month across the region. The first table 'Sharing a Success' – delegates are encouraged to share a recent business success. The second table 'Discussing a Challenge' – delegates are encouraged to discuss current or recent challenges, how you may have overcome this challenge or if someone is facing a current challenge, those around the table are encouraged to offer advice and guidance. Chamber staff including senior management and partners will lead each table.
Dave Laws (Leeds Bradford Airport), Eammon Leavey (Chamber), John Mowbray, HRH The Earl Of Wessex and James Ramsbotham (Chamber)
Judith Doyle (Gateshead College) and Emily Cox (Vigin Money)
Presidents Club members
HRH The Earl of Wessex
HRH The Earl of Wessex, Judith Doyle (Gateshead College) and James Ramsbotham (Chamber)
Inspiring Females Seminar October 16 at the Rivers Hotel, sponsored by Virgin Money Venue sponsor
Cheryl Lee (Now is your Time), Nickie Gott OBE (She’s Gott It) and Donna Elliott (Now is Your Time) 60 contact
Rachel Lawson (Office of Police & Crime Commissioner)
Laura Barrett (St Oswalds Hospice) and Jem Cross (Maldron Hotels)
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Tees Valley Annual Business Lunch November 9 at Middleton Lodge, sponsored by Northern Skills Group
James Ramsbotham (Chamber), Rishi Sunak MP, Zoe Lewis (Middlesbrough College) and John McCabe (Chamber)
James Ramsbotham (Chamber)
Zoe Lewis (Middlesbrough College)
Partner & Corporate Members’ Annual Lunch November 14 at Seaham Hall, sponsored by Denstu Aegis Network
Steve Underwood (Denstu Aegis Network)
Dr Ben Broadbent
James Ramsbotham (Chamber), Steve Underwood (Denstu Aegis Network) Dr Ben Broadbent and John McCabe (Chamber)
Gary Fawcett (Brewin Dolphin) and Eamonn Leavey (Chamber)
Rebecca McEwan (Dentsu Aegis Network)
Global Members’ Lunch November 16 at Ramside Hall, sponsored by LV Shipping
James Ramsbotham (Chamber)
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James Ramsbotham (Chamber), Matthew Ord (LV Shipping), John Mahon, Julie Underwood (Chamber) and David Coppock (DIT)
Matthew Ord (LV Shipping)
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Events FEATURED EVENT
FEATURED EVENT
FEATURED EVENT
Preparing to make tax digital
Brexit and your Supply Chain Operation
Quarterly Economic Breakfast
Tuesday 11 December, George Washington Hotel, FREE
Wednesday 12 December, Northumbria University, FREE
Friday 11 January, Café 21, FREE
TO BOOK
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Networking 04.12 - CHAMBER LOCAL (GATESHEAD MONTHLY)
08:30-10:30 • ESLINGTON VILLA, LOW FELL FREE
04.12 - CHAMBER LOCAL (TEES VALLEY MONTHLY) 10:00-11:30 • COMMERCE HOUSE, M’BROUGH FULL 06.12 - CHAMBER CHRISTMAS EXCHANGE 11:00-14:00 • COPTHORNE HOTEL, NEWCASTLE FULL 11.12 - CHAMBER LOCAL (NEWCASTLE CITY CENTRE MONTHLY) 08:30-10:30 • THE VERMONT, NEWCASTLE FULL 13.12 - CHAMBER CHRISTMAS EXCHANGE 11:00-14:00 • BLACKWELL GRANGE, DARLINGTON FULL 19.12 - CHAMBER LOCAL (SUNDERLAND & S TYNESIDE) 08:30-10:00 • NORTH EAST BIC, SUNDERLAND
FREE
19.12 - CHAMBER LOCAL (NORTHUMBERLAND & N TYNESIDE) 10:00-12:00 • THE HASTINGS, SEATON DELAVAL
FREE
03.01 - CHAMBER LOCAL (GATESHEAD)
0300 303 6322
15.01 - CHAMBER LOCAL (TEES VALLEY-MIDDLESBROUGH)
Flagship
10:00-11:30 • COMMERCE HOUSE, M’BROUGH
26.02 - TEES VALLEY ANNUAL REVIEW & AGM 11:00-14:00
16.01 - CHAMBER LOCAL (SUNDERLAND & S TYNESIDE)
JURY’S INN MIDDLESBROUGH HOTEL
FREE
08:30-10:00 • THE SUNDIAL, SOUTH SHIELDS FREE
17.01 - STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
10:00-12:00 • VENUE TBC FREE
Skills, Knowledge and Information Network 07.12 - MAXIMISING YOUR MEMBERSHIP 08:00-10:00 • CRATHORNE HALL HOTEL, NR. YARM FREE 11.12 - PREPARING TO MAKE TAX DIGITAL WITH KPMG 08:00-10:30 • MERCURE NEWCASTLE GEORGE WASHINGTON HOTEL FREE
12.12 - BREXIT AND YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN OPERATION 13:00-16:00 • NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY FREE 11.01 - QUARTERLY ECONOMIC BREAKFAST 08:00-10:00 • CAFÉ 21, NEWCASTLE FREE
08:30-10:00 • ESLINGTON VILLA, LOW FELL FREE
25.01 - HR KNOWLEDGE 09:30-11:30 LUMLEY CASTLE, CHESTER LE STREET FREE
03.01 - CHAMBER LOCAL (DURHAM BI-MONTHLY) 10:00-12:00 • VENUE TBC FREE
Area Meetings
08.01 - CHAMBER LOCAL (NEWCASTLE CITY CENTRE) 08:30-10:00 • THE VERMONT FREE 10.01 - CHAMBER EXCHANGE
11:00-14:00 • THE BLACK BULL, MOULTON FREE
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07.12 - DURHAM AREA MEETING 08:15-10:00 • CO DURHAM & DARLINGTON FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE, BOWBURN FREE
11.12 - DARLINGTON AREA MEETING
08:15-10:00 • MERCURE KINGS’ HOTEL FREE
FREE
05.03 - TYNE & WEAR ANNUAL REVIEW & AGM 11:00-14:00 SAGE GATESHEAD
FREE
12.03 - DURHAM ANNUAL REVIEW & AGM 11:00-14:00 DURHAM MARRIOTT ROYAL COUNTY
FREE
19.03 - NORTHUMBERLAND ANNUAL REVIEW & AGM 11:00-14:00 THE SILL, BARDON MILL, NR. HEXHAM
FREE
International 24.01 - LETTERS OF CREDIT AND METHODS OF PAYMENT 09:15-15:30 • DURHAM COUNTY CRICKET CLUB
£350**
Department for International Trade Events 03.12 - YOU CAN EXPORT: BOOST YOUR INTERNATIONAL SALES ON SHOPIFY 08:45-12:00 COMMERCE HOUSE, MIDDLESBROUGH FREE 03:12 - YOU CAN EXPORT: BOOST YOUR INTERNATIONAL SALES ON SHOPIFY 13:15-16:30 • NE BIC, SUNDERLAND FREE
** Global member price £240+VAT. Foundation Award in International Trade: Global Member Cost: £640.00+VAT (3 courses) £800+VAT (4 courses) Standard Cost: £900.00+VAT (3 courses) £1000+VAT (4 courses) *Free to Global members
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If you’re ready to grow, get in touch. We’d love to help. Call 0300 303 6322 Visit neechamber.co.uk Connect @neechamber
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If you’re ready to grow, get in touch. We’d love to help. Call 0300 303 6322 Visit neechamber.co.uk Connect @neechamber
Last word
A collective effort to build skills in tech and digital Taking tech from the boardroom to the living room could solve software’s search for sustainable skills, according to Martin Williams, MD of Saggezza in the UK, one of the North East’s most innovative tech companies
Martin Williams
Skills is a burning challenge internationally. How do we get enough skilled people to sustain the industries that are seeing growth? How do we realise our potential? Saggezza is a technology company with offices in the US and India. It opened a Sunderland HQ after being impressed by the facilities the region had to offer. Our whole business is built on the idea of helping clients to realise their potential by harnessing the power of the data they have within their business. And that relies on people. Skilled people. One of the challenges we face in all of our offices is around skills… how do we get the right skills to succeed? We recently got together 20 influencers from some of the region’s most wellregarded digital businesses to discuss the future of the region’s tech sector at a roundtable debate. Focusing on the pressing issue of skills to support the software sector’s growth, the message we heard repeatedly from those around the table was that greater collaboration was needed to get the message out that a career in software is one to go for. A report released earlier this year by
“We need to ensure more young people are encouraged into careers” www.neechamber.co.uk
Tech Nation estimated that the sector was already worth £1bn to the region, growing more than twice as fast as the rest of the economy. We need to grasp that opportunity and ensure that the worlds of industry and education are coming together to ensure the region’s true economic potential is harnessed. Though our company, which is based in Sunderland Software Centre, has grown from three staff to more than 40, I do fear further growth could be stifled by a lack of future talent. What is abundantly clear is that there is a huge amount of effort going in to ensuring the North East has the right skills to support its fastest-growing sectors, and there is strong desire among industry leaders to offer support. But we need a concerted effort by software leaders to ensure digital and tech is highly visible to parents and influencers and that more young people are encouraged into a career in this exciting sector. When we held our roundtable, it was very clear that the desire is there. Professor Alastair Irons, Academic Dean for the University of Sunderland’s Faculty of Technology, was among the most engaged, bringing ideas and innovation to the contact 65
Last word
Girls are developing an interest in careers in tech and digital by playing games like Minecraft on the OGravity programme
discussion and keen to work together to help solve this challenge. Follow up discussions we have had since then have allowed us to learn from others about what is working and what is not. There are pinch points. It is estimated that across the UK, only around 16% of tech company employees are female. That’s something we at Saggezza are keen to address. Saggezza is already running its pioneering 0Gravity initiative, founded in India by 15-year old Krish Samtani, which uses video games such as Minecraft to help to encourage Sunderland’s children to get into coding. Now, the company is planning to explore how it can roll out the programme in partnership with other businesses. We know that 0Gravity has engaged a young generation, and what has been particularly exciting is that it has engaged young females. They’ve signed up, taken part, and loved 0Gravity. The ambition is to inspire them so much that they see tech and digital as a career pathway for them. 66 contact
We want to build on that. The group engages with 8-11-year olds, but perhaps the answer is to invite parents along too, and show them how to code. By getting young people and their parents engaged in coding, the North East will perhaps be able to inspire a new generation of tech-skills; young people with the passion to take this exciting sector to the next level. The outcomes from the roundtable session we held will be shared with NE LEP to support its approach to the region’s skills strategy. Meanwhile, Sunderland City Council chief executive Patrick Melia, who was also at the event, has agreed to take forward a city-wide effort to ensure that Sunderland supports its tech sector. We’ve already seen the council deliver on some of that. We know there is a way to go, but we feel there is momentum building, and that’s exciting for the sector and the North East. If we get a grip of this now, we can ensure that we remain the cutting edge tech hub the world is starting to recognise us as being. www.neechamber.co.uk
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