North East Times Magazine - March 2015

Leathers

MARCH

2015

ÂŁ2.95

Gearing up for success

CONTENTS

March 2015 BUSINESS NEWS –

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SAVE THE DATE –

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Business events – mark them on your calendar.

ON THE MOVE –

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New executive appointments.

10 QUESTIONS FOR... –

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George Liddle, operations manager at Hotel Indigo.

COVER STORY –

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Leathers LLP gets on track with its fundraising challenge.

STATE OF THE ART –

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BUSINESS LUNCH – 116 Harry’s Bar and Brasserie, Newcastle.

ARTS –

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An interview with Alexander Armstrong and Jonathan Yeo.

MOTORS –

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CREDITS

Directors: Mike Grahamslaw, Mick O’Hare Commercial director: Martin Stout Editor: Alexis Forsyth Editorial: Jessica Laing, Aimee Robinson, Georgia Butler Senior designer: John Haxon Feature photography: Chris Owens

Front cover: Michael Leather, managing partner of Leathers LLP. With thanks to The Globe Bar & Music venue.

Office: Quayside - i4, Albion Row, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1LL. | t: (0191) 265 7050 @NETimesmagazine Find us on issuu

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BUSINESS NEWS

Science Central officially opened by Minister for Cities A commemorative stone marks the first phase of Newcastle’s Science Central development.

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ne of the biggest urban regeneration projects of its kind in the UK was officially launched last month by Minister for Universities, Science & Cities, the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP. The Minister was the guest of honour at the official opening of Science Central. He was joined by Cllr Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council, and the vicechancellor of Newcastle University, Professor Chris Brink, to commemorate the first phase completion.

To mark the occasion, the Minister laid a commemorative stone in one of the site’s newly developed public areas, Science

Square. Originally the Elswick Colliery, and later the home of Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, the 24-acre Science Central is a long-term partnership between Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University, as part of the Newcastle Science City initiative.

Mr Clark later addressed an audience of business leaders in The Core, Science Central’s landmark £11.2 million building, which opened in November.

Minister for Universities, Science & Cities, the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP said: “Science Central is a unique city centre development that will not only drive scientific advances and innovation in the region; it will create jobs and a thriving community to grow the

North East economy. I am delighted to be here today to officially open Science Central and mark the first phase of the development’s completion by laying this commemorative stone.”

In January 2015, Newcastle University unveiled its £58m investment plan for Science Central, which includes a state-ofthe-art Urban Sciences Building. This aligns with the ambitions of the partnership to make Newcastle a smart city of the future, with Science Central as a flagship project bringing together academia, the public sector, communities, business and industry to create a global centre for urban innovation in the heart of the city.

Sustainable success thanks to Go Smarter

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o Smarter – Tyne and Wear’s sustainable transport programme – has launched a successful matched funding initiative to support businesses in facilitating travel behaviour change in the workplace.

Organisations enrolled in the Go Smarter to Work Business Engagement Programme can apply for matched funding – to a maximum of £5000 – to introduce a sustainable transport or flexible working scheme for their employees.

Research has shown that people who have an active commute to work have fewer sick days and are more productive.

Sustainable commutes also offer wider

environmental and economical benefits.

Businesses across Tyne and Wear have already taken advantage of the scheme with many reporting significant changes in staff travel habits.

Go Smarter’s SRO Nick Clennett, head of transport strategy development and enterprise at Gateshead Council, said: “By removing the barriers to sustainable travel we can encourage more businesses and staff to adopt new ways of commuting into work. Go Smarter’s matched funding scheme has already had lots of success stories and we’d love to see more across Tyne and Wear.”

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NE1 Ltd secures HLP cash

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E1 Ltd has received initial support of £202,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) as part of its Townscape Heritage initiative for the redevelopment of the historic Bigg Market. The project aims to reinvigorate the Bigg Market area, restore its historic significance to the city centre and help unlock private sector investment to secure the city’s heritage for years to come. The HLF has earmarked £1,625,100 for the project, which, with match funding, will be worth £2.9 million of new investment.

LiveWorks build gets underway

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new cultural development on Newcastle’s quayside has begun work on site. The ambitious cultural development, designed by Flanagan Lawrence for Live Theatre, creates an outdoor performance space and transforms an existing 19thcentury alms house into a children and young people’s writing centre. In addition, the scheme creates a new public park and a commercial office building. LiveWorks is a new £10 million capital scheme by Live Theatre, who purchased the quayside frontage and adjacent buildings in February 2014.

NECC secures deal to boost exports

Mary Berry to open Barker and Stonehouse store

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Curry Club celebrates six years

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he Curry Club celebrated six spicy years of networking lunches in the city centre following its February lunch at Dabbawal on High Bridge, Newcastle.

Businesses from across the region attended the event, which is a popular fixture on the North East’s business networking scene. Curry Club founder, David Wilson, said: “We’ve always kept things simple with the Curry Club. Same place and time every month, mixed with excellent food and value for money, which has been a great recipe for success.

Businesses support Work Discovery Sunderland

he region’s largest business membership organisation has been awarded a five-year contract by UK Trade & Investment to deliver export services across the region. The North East Chamber of Commerce will now take responsibility for boosting exports across the whole of the North East, and will utilise its membership and links to all sectors of industry and other regional business networks to increase visibility of the region's team of international trade advisers.

ueen of cakes Mary Berry will visit the North East this month to open the new Barker and Stonehouse store at Teesside Retail Park. The British baking legend and star presenter, who has hosted several hugely popular TV shows and written more than 80 cookery books, will open the £4.5 million store to the public on Saturday March 28.

he region’s top businesses have once again pledged their support to a scheme which links the region’s companies with schools in Sunderland. Work Discovery Week will bring together students from across Sunderland with a range of organisations through an imaginative programme of events, and takes place from June 29 to July 3. The initiative is part of a year-long programme under the Work Discovery Sunderland banner.

Owen Pugh supports Patchwork Project

H&H Insurance Brokers expands into North East

Bell Truck and Van sponsors Accent

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orth East construction firm Owen Pugh is helping young people in Newcastle after funding driving lessons for the Patchwork Project’s driving group.

Owen Pugh has contributed £1500 towards the project through the Owen Pugh Fund at the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. The project has supported 19 young people to date and has been extended due to its popularity with young people.

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&H Insurance Brokers, a major provider of farm, commercial, personal and specialist livestock insurances, has opened its first office in the North East. As one of the UK’s largest independent rural insurance brokers, it is expanding to keep pace with demand. The Carlisle-headquartered business is now open for business in Aykley Heads Business Centre, County Durham, with the new office headed up by senior rural development manager, Thom Jones.

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ell Truck and Van, one of the largest dealerships in the North East, has sponsored Accent Magazine Group. The business sells a full range of both new and used Mercedes-Benz trucks and vans, and recently supplied Accent Magazine Group with a sponsored Citan van. Mike Grahamslaw, managing director of Accent said: “It’s great to be working with Bell Truck and Van, and our new vehicle will help raise the profile of both companies.”

DIARY NECC200 TYNE & WEAR REVIEW & AGM

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Discovery Museum, Newcastle Web: www.necc.co.uk Tel: (0300) 303 6322 Price: Free (members only) This celebratory event was created to mark and review business in Tyne & Wear and the North East over the last 200 years. NECC’s Tyne & Wear Committee will welcome director of Tyne & Wear Archives, Ian Watson, as guest speaker.

Includes lunch and a chance for attendees to network and share experiences.

Save the date Charity balls, business dinners and seminars.

TEENAGE CANCER TRUST FASHION SHOW

THE NEWCASTLE BUSINESS EXHIBITION

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Hilton Newcastle Tel: (0191) 490 9700 Web: www.eventbrite.co.uk Price: Free, £200+VAT per exhibitor Created in the hope of generating business opportunities between local people and organisations, this helpful networking event includes free seminars by market leaders and gives businesses the chance to exhibit in front of visitors to help boost their profile.

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SALES & THE ART OF NEGOTIATION EXCHANGE

Nancy’s Bordello, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 260 2929 Web: www.nancysbordello.com Price: £5

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SPA SPRING SPECTACULAR LADIES LUNCH

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Rockliffe Hall, County Durham Tel: (01325) 729 999 Email: enquiries@rockliffehall.com Web: www.rockliffehall.com Price: £24.50 per person This spring-inspired ladies lunch event will give guests the chance to view new seasonal nail colours from Orly and receive health and beauty advice from the hotel’s spa professionals.

Includes a charity raffle, a chance of winning a spa gift worth over £20, welcome refreshments and a two-course meal.

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Jesmond Dene House Tel: (0191) 212 3000 Email: weddings@jesmonddenehouse.co.uk Web: www.jesmonddenehouse.co.uk Price: Free

Rivergreen Centre, Aykley Heads, Durham Tel: (0191) 500 7780 Web: www.entrepreneursforum.co.uk Email: info@entrepreneursforum.net Price: £50+VAT (members only) The Forum’s first Exchange event of 2015 aims to share proven sales methods and explore how to maximise the impact of sales on business development. Hosted by Tom Hedley, co-founder of agency, Hedley McEwan, it will also consider the importance of marketing on sales. Clive Rich, a professional negotiator who has broken £10 billion worth of deals for clients including Sony, Yahoo and Apple, will join Tom.

SPRING THEMED WEDDING OPEN EVENING

Hosted by local online clothing designer, JPStyle, this unisex catwalk show will help raise much-needed funds for Teenage Cancer Trust – the UK’s only charity dedicated to bettering lives of young people suffering with cancer.

Aimed at raising funds for the seven young people (aged between 13 and 24) that are diagnosed with cancer every day, the event will generate money to help fund specialist nurses, equipment and activities that help teenagers throughout their treatment. Those attending will receive a goody bag and the chance to design their own Teenage Cancer Trust t-shirts. Clothing featured on the catwalk will also be on sale and feature as a raffle prize.

Email jessica.laing@accentmagazines.co.uk with your events

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Held in the hotel’s Great Hall from 5pm to 8pm, this helpful open evening aims to provide brides and grooms-to-be with inspiration for their big day. The hotel’s dedicated wedding coordinators will be in attendance throughout the evening and no appointment is needed.

Includes plenty of exhibitor stalls and complimentary drinks and canapés.

AN EVENING WITH SIR PETER VARDY

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Bistro 21, Durham Tel: (0191) 500 7780 Web: www.entrepreneursforum.co.uk Email: info@entrepreneursforum.net Price: £75 (members only) This intimate dinner will allow guests to network and learn more about the hugely successful career of Sir Peter Vardy – awardwinning entrepreneur and North East businessman. The founder of Europe’s most profitable motor dealer group, Reg Vardy, will be sharing his inspiring story, including his past, present and future businesses and charity work.

APPOINTMENTS

On the Move Your monthly guide to appointments and promotions.

ANDREW UPTON AND DR THOMAS YING

SARAH WILLSHIRE

JOHN TOWNSEND

Peterlee-based electrical testing instrumentation group, Seaward, has promoted Andrew Upton (right) to deputy managing director and Dr Thomas Ying to director of engineering. In his newly created position, Andrew, who joined Seaward in 2006, will be responsible for the company’s strategic business development and commercial functions. Dr Thomas Young, who has been with the company for 18 months, will introduce improvements to its new product development and technology programmes.

Newcastle-based law firm, Watson Burton, has appointed commercial property and development lawyer, Sarah Willshire, as associate in real estate. Sarah, who has experience in development work and advising clients on the acquisition of sites for development purposes, will service the firm’s key clients, Aviva Investors and Bellway Homes Limited, and provide support to Watson Burton’s corporate and commercial team on real estate matters.

International digital data experts and technology start-up incubator, Clicksco Group, has appointed John Townsend as a non-executive director. John, who has earned an impressive reputation in the UK’s finance and investment sector over the past 40 years, will be based at the organisation’s Wynyard office and joins as the company’s first non-employee shareholder in a transaction valuing the Group at over £60 million.

SHAUN FOOY

LISA STRONACH

ALLISON BROWN

Allied Irish Bank (GB) has appointed Shaun Fooy as manager of its management team in Newcastle. Shaun, a graduate from York University with more than 20 years’ experience in business banking, including commercial lending, business development and relationship management, will help the North East team as it focuses on developing lasting banking relationships with owned managed businesses across a wide range of sectors.

North East-based law firm, BHP Law, has appointed Lisa Stronach as a conveyancing executive. In her new role, Lisa, who has 20 years’ experience in her field and joins the firm’s Darlington office, will be working with a number of the firm’s conveyancing matters, which are, currently, at a level three times higher than at the same time two years ago.

Gosforth-based occupational health specialists, Physiotherapy Matters, has appointed Allison Brown (left) as a senior physiotherapist. Allison, who has worked in occupational health for over 20 years, brings a wealth of experience and accreditations to the role, including manual handling training, acupuncture and work station assessments, and will play a key role in developing and maintaining the company’s practices and services across the North East.

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INTERVIEW

10 questions for...

George Liddle George Liddle is operations manager at Hotel Indigo, Newcastle and the Marco Pierre White Restaurant, and is responsible for all aspects of the food and beverage. George, who has 20 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, joined the Indigo management team in 2012, and was instrumental in the successful opening of the Fenkle Street property.

What was your first break in business?

What attracted you to your current role?

What has been your career highlight?

And your career lowlight?

What do you enjoy most about your role?

On leaving the army at a young age, I returned to Newcastle where I was employed at Callers Furniture store, Northumberland Street.

One morning I was asked to deliver items to Linden Hall Hotel. When I arrived at the hotel I was blown away by the meandering driveway, picturesque landscape and stately buildings.

By chance, I started talking to a member of the hotel staff named Alan Blenkinsopp. At the end of the conversation, and to my surprise, he informed me he was the general manager, offering me a job on the spot. I have been involved in hospitality ever since.

I have worked in many top, fully established hotels in London and the North East, including the Ritz, Rockliffe Hall and Jesmond Dene House. When I was approached to be part of the team opening a new hotel, restaurant and bar on my doorstep, which offered up a terrific new concept to the local hotel industry and the bonus of Marco Pierre White’s name above the door – it was too fabulous an opportunity to turn down.

Although my career has developed into a managerial one, my passion as a mixologist has never waned.

The thrill of designing cocktails and still being able to get a ‘wow’ is a real buzz.

My career highlight was winning the World Cocktail Championship in Vienna in 1993, having previously come third in Tokyo, and second in Mexico – at an event only occurring every four years. I still feel extremely proud, as the event has never been won by any other British mixologist.

Realising that hospitality’s main drawback is working on all those special occasions like Christmas, Easter and Valentine’s Day, rather than spending time with my own family. It is, however, an honour to be involved in creating those special memories for our guests.

Its diversity and challenge. I am privileged to have the opportunity to meet amazing people from all walks of life on a daily basis; to work in an environment where no two days are the same. On a personal level, I enjoy witnessing the professional development of my staff and appreciate their loyalty, as many have worked for me at different locations, over a number of years.

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What's your biggest challenge?

Who are your heroes, in and out of business?

What is the best piece of business advice anyone has ever given you?

What does the future hold for Hotel Indigo and Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill?

What do you do to relax?

Hospitality is full of challenges: having a full venue, delivering promises on time, maintaining standards, changes in legislation and overcoming the impact of the recession – even Trip Advisor can impact on our business. I believe challenge and change is an integral part of keeping ahead of the game and striving for the best.

My business hero is Terry Laybourne, MBE in respect of all his hard work, inspiration and dedication to hospitality, which has benefited many other local businesses in the North East.

My personal hero is Sir Bobby Robson, who I first met in London while he was the England manager. As we spoke he acknowledged my accent, and we began a conversation about Newcastle United. He was a complete gentleman and so very humble.

To be yourself and treat everyone equally. Throughout my career I have met people from all walks of life and I truly believe that, regardless of a person’s status or background, when they walk into a hotel, restaurant or bar they deserve great service and to leave feeling pampered.

The focus for 2015 is not just about growth but continuing to improve and develop the quality of food and service we deliver. Over the last three years, we have been on a very exciting journey becoming one of the leading hotels not only in the North East, but across Europe and beyond.

We are lucky to be so close to a range of venues, which means our guests are often star struck by who they may spot dining in the bar or restaurant, but for others the need for a private area has been noted. As the Indigo brand aims to keep on trend and to lead the way; we pride ourselves on listening to our guests.

Running was always my passion. I particularly enjoyed taking part in events like the London Marathon and the Great North Run, and even raced abroad on a number of occasions. Unfortunately, after a knee injury and operation, I am no longer able to participate.

However, as a true Geordie, working and living so close to St James’ Park is a real dream.

Hence, relaxing these days involves watching my home team, spending time with my family, walking our mad dog and enjoying the best perk of being in the hotel trade and staying at some super establishments.

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BUSINESS Nigel Mills, chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum

Untapped potential The North East needs a unified approach to unlocking business growth, says Nigel Mills, chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum. here are over 150,000 businesses in the North East and, while this includes many iconic names we all recognise, three quarters are individual men and women working on their own. If each of them employed just one more person we would wipe out the region's unemployment overnight. If only life were that simple.

These entrepreneurs need to be encouraged to grow their businesses, and others of their ilk to start up on their own. Of all the people who say they want to, only one in eight actually do it, which means there's a huge untapped well of enthusiasm for, and interest in, entrepreneurship.

Recent research has shown that 55 per cent of adults don't know where to go for help, or don't have the support to encourage them to take that final leap.

The good news is the number of businesses in the North East is growing; in fact, at 12 per cent growth year on year, our percentage increase is double the national average. But if we are to continue stoking the fire, we need to make it easier to get started. There is potential for a huge entrepreneurial swell that could be truly transformational.

A lot of great work is going on in our schools and universities to present entrepreneurship as a real career choice, alongside that of skilled employment through support of the

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apprenticeship programme.

Two of the North East’s most successful entrepreneurs – Bill Scott of Wilton Group and Bryan Bunn of Nortech Solutions – through their support for the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and developing the skills base of young people through apprenticeships, are demonstrating the power of career choice that is now available in our region.

Bryan, Bill and others like them are a real inspiration to those considering starting a business. They freely admit they came from ordinary backgrounds, but whether through a competitive spirit, innovation, tenacity or just necessity, they have become extraordinary and are now prime examples of the kind of potential that runs right across the North East.

Within the Entrepreneurs' Forum membership there are many outstanding entrepreneurs, representing growing organisations that are realising the potential of the fantastic business opportunities that exist in our region today.

A key part of the Forum strategy is to not only encourage entrepreneurship here in the North East, but to show people outside the region the significant opportunities that are available.

These influential individuals need to be encouraged to visit and see for themselves, so they can encourage others to establish their businesses

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here. This is best achieved by the business community and entrepreneurs demonstrating leadership and presenting a strong and united front that makes others sit up and take notice.

The key messages are unity, career choice, and the many unexploited opportunities that exist in this great region. If we all get behind this, then we really will make a difference. This means reaching out to other parts of the country and overseas in a structured, methodical programme of activity, to bring opinion formers, decision makers and multipliers to the North East – and wow them with the undeniable truth of our regional potential.

What we have here, in terms of culture, entrepreneurship and infrastructure, forms the basis of a region that can not only deliver now, but can also evolve to support a growing population, more businesses and greater growth.

Through the Forum, existing and future entrepreneurs will find the support and shared experience of peers, inspiration and ideas which will help them to take advantage of the opportunities that exist here in the North East to establish and grow their businesses to the benefit of all.

Together we can take on the world.

For more information, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net

DEVELOPMENT

Can you manage change?

Asks Rod Findlay, consultant at Your Sport Consulting.

y recent appointment as director of planning and governance at England Golf has involved a lot of personal and professional change.

This prompted me to consider the process of change and my experience in previous roles, where the businesses have been able to transform their positions through approaching the challenges strategically.

Most individuals go through changes in either a personal setting or business environment. You may have set the goal of getting a new job or getting fit for a sporting challenge. And with five years or more of difficult economic times I am sure that most companies will have had to respond to desired or enforced changes.

As a partner in a law firm some years back, the litigation team I headed up faced the loss of our major source work. Deciding against packing up and going home, we knew that we had some months or years ahead to replace the caseload and we set ourselves a long-term goal and short-term targets.

Everyone ‘owned’ the strategy and after a few years of hard work – the team were one of the most highly regarded in the North East with a good portfolio of cases.

On the other hand, while chief executive at Newcastle Thunder rugby league club, our team faced the immediate withdrawal of funding from the club owner. The strategy, in that case, was to be community focused and self-sustaining. In the first year, the club made a profit and in 2011 was awarded Community Club of the Year.

Maintaining the vision

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Setting the vision The basics of change management are no different to strategy formulation. You need to decide on a vision of where you see yourself or your company in, say, five years time. This is

EXPERT VIEW Rod Findlay Consultant Your Sport Consulting Email: rodfindlay@yoursportconsulting.com Twitter: @RodFindlay

likely to be something general but it will need to be supplemented by a number of manageable bite-sized chunks.

Whether a personal or business goal, it is unlikely you will get there in one jump. Small targets allow you to accrue successes along the way, to reach the overall target. They also allow you to reset if you go off course. No change ever went smoothly. Beneath the overall strategy will be other strategies for each individual area. This could be a marketing plan in a business environment or nutrition plan in a fitness goal.

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The major challenge with change management is dealing with the human factor. It is well recorded that change is stressful even when it is desired. In particular, with enforced change, it is more stressful as people may prefer the original position.

I would say that there are three approaches.

Some people embrace change and you would be wise to adopt this group as your ‘change ambassadors’. The next group will probably go along with new proposals in a passive manner.

The final group will oppose the proposals and may fight against them. Initially, it is worth sense checking objections to test the advisability of the proposals. However, if the objections have no validity then you must either bring this group on board or potentially remove them from the equation. Change is hard enough without having to fight internally.

Even assuming everyone is on board, there will be setbacks and times when people forget why the change was being implemented. Steve Black, the strength and conditioning coach who is probably best known for his work with Jonny Wilkinson, posted some time ago on Twitter about change. He said that you need to "clarify expectations [and] then give constant feedback and encouragement to not only maintain expected standards but [also to] strengthen them".

Being aware of the changes Change is generally gradual. Like growing children, you might not notice it if you live with it every day. It is often useful to have an external consultant work with you on change management to remind you of progress; bring you back on target if there has been slippage; and help when hard decisions need to be made.

DEVELOPMENT

When is the right time to change job?

Bryony Gibson, managing director of Bryony Gibson Consulting, discusses motivation in the workplace and how to spot the right time to look for a new challenge.

EXPERT VIEW Bryony Gibson Managing director Bryony Gibson Consulting Tel: (0191) 375 9983 Web: www.bryonygibson.com Twitter: @bryonygibson

orking in the recruitment industry, one of the most interesting questions I get to ask people starting the search for a new job is, why do you go to work?

The initial response usually includes something along the line of "because I have to", but once you dig a little deeper, what seems like a straightforward question often has a much more complex answer.

In truth, if you feel ready for a change it’s crucial you find out why before you move on.

Without knowing what makes you tick, or identifying why you’re unhappy, you run the very real risk of swapping one unrewarding job for another.

Happy employees equal a more productive and effective business, and from an employer’s point of view a great staff member is one who’s engaged, ambitious, confident, honest, hardworking, driven, takes responsibility, and importantly, fits with the organisational culture.

These are all ingredients that will help you climb the career ladder, so when considering your future, why not start by thinking about whether you meet these traits on a daily basis within your current role; and if the answer is no, maybe it is time to ask yourself a few more searching questions, like:

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• How did you come to be in your current role, was it on purpose or by chance?

• When returning from holidays are you relaxed and raring to get back to work?

• Do you agree with the organisation’s vision and mission?

• In your opinion, is the business heading in the right direction?

• Are your personal values and beliefs aligned with those of the company?

• Do you respect and admire your boss?

• Do you trust and enjoy working with your colleagues?

• Are you regularly learning new skills, gaining experience and being challenged?

• Do you feel valued or taken for granted?

• Are you happy with the amount of money you’re making?

• Is there opportunity for growth and career progression in the near future?

• Do you get enough time to spend with your family and friends?

• Are you often stressed and unhappy?

• Is what you’re doing moving you closer to your long-term personal goals?

• Do you and those closest to you think you are fulfilling your potential?

The first time I meet someone looking for a new challenge, it's my responsibility – and in everyone’s best interest – to offer unbiased advice and help them evaluate what they’re getting out of work versus what they’d like to get.

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It’s important not to be too hard on yourself when doing this, because work is never going to be as much fun as spending time with your family and friends, but you do need to make sure you’re happy and moving in the right direction.

Sometimes that means thinking in a different way about why you go to work.

Perhaps ranking your motivations on a scale of importance, or simply chatting openly and honestly about what it is that you’re passionate about and, as a result, what success looks like to you.

If frustrations are internal, or simply money related, the first step I’d suggest is to have the courage to address them with your employer, giving them the opportunity to change things.

If the issues are more deep-rooted, or nothing changes, then sometimes it is you that will have to make the change and move on.

If that’s the case, you might also have to accept that making a change will take you outside of your comfort zone, but as they say, “a comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there”.

Contact Bryony for help finding the right tax and accountancy role or recruits on (0191) 375 9983. Alternatively, visit www.bryonygibson.com, connect on LinkedIn or follow @bryonygibson.

Andrew Ward’s business is celebrating its 25th anniversary

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INTERVIEW

Working it In this month’s Entrepreneurs’ Forum interview, Andrew Ward – founder of Workwear Express – shares his start-up story.

With 25 years' experience as an entrepreneur, and still only 42, Andrew Ward was an early starter in business. He had barely passed his driving test when he set off in his van around the building sites and open cast mines of the North East hawking his boots, shorts, jackets and jeans.

Andrew, from Wolsingham in County Durham, learned as he went along, building his early enterprise, Ward's Workwear, to the point where he took on premises and people. Enjoying his success perhaps a little too much, by 21 he had declared himself bankrupt and had to start all over again. He then built a more sustainable business, Workwear Express, which – in its 25th anniversary year – is now one of the UK's leading suppliers of printed and embroidered clothing, with customers ranging from individuals and SMEs to the likes of Greggs, John Lewis and the NHS. As it was for many businesses, the recession of 2008 was a turning point.

In response to both a fall in orders and the loss of a major customer, the company moved into e-commerce, servicing a more varied SME market of 2000 new customers a month and marking annual growth of 35 per cent.

This is Andrew’s start-up journey…

another. In 2005, I bought our current site off plan and had it designed with office space, production, distribution and warehouse space.

And then the recession hit...

The phones stopped ringing and we lost an account that was worth a third of our business. I let one member of the sales team go, sold his car and reinvested it to build an e-commerce site. It was like starting from scratch all over again.

We still grew every year during the recession, but when we moved towards e-commerce, we concentrated more on the SME market. We still have big customers but we're not dependent upon them. We have a variety of products and customers, which makes the business interesting.

How else has the market changed?

British industry has changed a lot in 25 years. We now have a more servicebased economy and companies also have brand identities, so they want their staff to be in branded uniforms. There's also a big market for promotions – we can print 1000 t-shirts an hour for events, plus bags and caps for giveaways. It's a varied market.

What kind of reaction did you get from customers as a 17-year-old with a vanload of merchandise to sell?

I think they enjoyed supporting me. I started working with my dad when I was 13 and when he packed it in, there was nothing to take over. So I just did what he had done – I went round local businesses during the week and attended agricultural shows and markets at the weekend. I didn't understand anything about budgets, margins or forecasts.

The North East, at that time, was about heavy industry but not all companies provided work wear and uniforms. Men bought their own, so I was selling to individuals rather than businesses.

In a competitive market place, how have you stood out?

We have a motto 'trust us with your name', so people know what they are going to get from us. We have 24-hour production and 24-hour turnaround.

We've developed our own brand, too, which people now recognise. It's also about price. It's a difficult business to make scalable and we are one of only a few to achieve it through years of hard work and investment in people, processes and machinery. Ultimately, it's the service that differentiates us.

What were your first business premises?

As an entrepreneur, do you have a mentor?

I took a unit at Dragonville in 1990, coincidentally opposite a trade retail park I've just recently bought. I got a 7500 tonne truck, then another, and took on an employee – so there were two of us covering the whole of the North East. We did pretty well, but I was young and stupid and spent more money than I was making. I was borrowing from one supplier to pay another.

I ended up at the county court in Durham and paid £200 to make myself bankrupt.

I've never had a mentor. I’m looking to attend more Entrepreneurs' Forum events this year. I joined at the start when Richard Branson came to the region to launch it. The events are always good and you come away more motivated after hearing the speakers' stories. It's great to have something like the Forum for the local business community – it's difficult to imagine what it was like without it.

What does the future hold for Workwear Express?

How did you grow the business again from that low point?

We're in the early stages of looking at international websites and sales staff.

Orders will still come through Durham and be shipped from here. We already do a lot of international work – a jackets order worth £100,000 is heading to an oil refinery in Libya soon – but there's a lot more to do overseas, as well as in the UK.

Suppliers helped me get back on my feet by giving me restricted credit terms and my customers stayed with me, so I started again. It's the only thing I've known; I've never worked for anyone else and I couldn't do anything else. I know what it's like to have absolutely nothing and I never want to go back to that again. That's what gets me up on a morning.

Andrew Ward is a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, a unique group of like-minded people who come together through peer-to-peer mentoring and a series of inspirational events to share best practice, create valuable connections and grow their business.

How did you grow?

We branched out into uniforms because more companies wanted clothing with logos. I bought an embroidery machine and taught myself how to use it. Eventually I took on a machinist and a van driver, and I employed sales people. I traded from a house in Coxhoe then rented a small unit, then

For more information, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net

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EVENT

Women Lawyers' Division re-launch event Fifty of the North East region's female lawyers recently attended a fabulous pamper evening at John Lewis Beauty Retreat, Newcastle, to mark the re-launch of the local Women Lawyers' Division.

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he event was sponsored by Hay & Kilner Solicitors and Wesleyan, and was enjoyed by all.

The ladies were treated to Prosecco and canapĂŠs on arrival, together with sample treatments, demonstrations from top beauty consultants, exclusive discounts and a goody bag.

For further information, contact Clare Thompson, partner at Hay & Kilner.

Email: clare.thompson@hay-kilner.co.uk.

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BUSINESS

A gem of an approach Discovering talent – that’s what lies at the heart of North East-based recruitment agency, GEM Partnership.

North East Times catches up with managing director, Rob Dunbar, for a closer look at the business…

EM Partnership is a North Eastbased recruitment agency that was established in the aftermath of the credit crunch, back in 2009.

During its formative years, the business focused on sustainability and establishing itself in the region. This approach has paid off, with GEM Partnership experiencing growth of 40 per cent in 2014. GEM also extended two of its largest contracts into long-term deals and regularly had over 1000 temporary associates working on a weekly basis. It also placed more permanent candidates in 2014 than in any other year.

With three offices across the region in Newcastle, Peterlee and Newton Aycliffe, the company has a geographic footprint well suited to meeting the needs of its varied portfolio of clients and continuous stream of jobseekers.

GEM Partnership also has on-site client contracts within large-scale client operations throughout the region. The on-site teams are, essentially, a strategic extension to those companies’ HR functions, delivering solutions on a daily basis.

The company is moving its headquarters this month to a larger, modern, open plan office space within Generator Studios – a site designed to see the business through its next phase of growth.

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A premium service In terms of the company’s approach to recruitment, it has adopted three distinct subbrands: GEM Premium People, GEM Professional Services and GEM Talent Search – responding to the diverse needs of employers and candidates.

GEM Premium People provides recruitment solutions to industrial based businesses, which

have long been synonymous with the region.

Rob explains: “We work in partnership with a range of businesses and provide strategic solutions – anything from one person for a day, to high volume labour of hundreds of people.

This can be all year round; sometimes it’s seasonal – a lot of businesses require the flexibility to remain competitive in their own sector.”

The GEM Professional Services arm covers the IT, engineering and technical, contact centre and commercial sectors which are core sectors in the current labour market in the North East, across both temporary and permanent requirements.

Meanwhile, GEM Talent Search, the most recent addition to the trio of sub-brands, is refreshingly different to traditional search and selection in that it does not differentiate between executive, operational or specialist talent. The model has been designed around the concept of talent identification and acquisition, while also providing organisations with an invaluable insight into their broader market place.

Creating a dialogue Accountable, value driven, innovative, knowledgeable and partner – these are the five key values that underpin GEM and its ethos.

The team live and breathe these values in every aspect of their work, and this helps to drive consistent results across the business.

Rob comments: “By consistently adopting these values, we find solutions for clients and candidates. Most clients now want more than just ‘this’ number of people or ‘this’ specific recruitment campaign done. They want dialogue; they want to know what’s happening in the market.”

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Indeed, contrary to most people’s assumptions, it’s not just about filling vacancies.

For GEM Partnership, there are a host of other services to consider – from researching labour market trends, advising on legislative changes through to hosting seminars on a range of topics.

A candidate’s perspective GEM Partnership concentrates on providing a quality service to jobseekers; again using its values to ensure it recruits the right candidates.

Rob explains: “For GEM, simply placing a candidate into a role is not the full story. As well as matching skills against client requirements, we also focus on cultural alignment and aspirations of both parties for the long-term.”

GEM Partnership also acknowledges that it can impact on so much more than its immediate clients. Rob comments: “We are in a people business, so the positive difference we have on the region, society and individuals is that we put people into work – that’s a really big responsibility. It affects not only the individuals, but their families and society at large.”

Looking ahead, GEM Partnership is looking to strengthen its team with some key appointments across all its brands. Growth and brand development also remain firmly on GEM’s radar.

Rob says: “We want our brand to be promoted across the region and this will come from working in partnership with more clients and more candidates.”

He adds: “I think we see our growth as a continuation of what we are already doing but also taking advantage of any opportunities that may present themselves.”

For more information, visit www.gempartnership.com

Rob Dunbar, managing director at GEM Partnership

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BUSINESS

Danger danger North East-based Chartwise UK now delivers a range of training courses aimed at those who work with dangerous goods. ransporting corrosive chemicals around for a living might sound dangerous and terrifying, but there’s one North East based firm now taking the stress away from this kind of work.

Chartwise UK, based on Team Valley in Gateshead is now offering a rigorous and comprehensive ADR Training (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road).

The Initial ADR Training is a vocational licence that allows the holder to carry dangerous goods on the road. To gain this licence a candidate must sit the Initial ADR course and pass all of the associated exams over a four to five day period, depending on individual requirements for the candidate. This licence is valid for five years, after which the holder must complete the training again to maintain validity. Alternatively, the holder can choose to undertake ADR Refresher Training (between two and three days in duration) which must be completed at least six weeks before the licence expires.

The extensive course covers all seven key areas: current legislation, identification of

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dangerous goods, packaging and labelling, documentation, loaders’ responsibilities, vehicle and driver requirements and security of goods.

Chartwise UK is accredited as a training and exam centre by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and there are only two other centres in the local area that can currently deliver this qualification.

Chartwise UK is also able to deliver

Dangerous Goods Awareness courses, aimed at staff who may come in to contact with dangerous goods while at work, whether it be handling them, walking past them, or simply what to do in case of emergency.

Why would I want to send my staff on the course, you may be asking? Well, it’s actually a legal requirement that dangerous goods training must be kept up-to-date, and the responsibility falls on both the company and the employee to ensure compliance. Businesses failing to ensure their staff are trained and continually updated with current regulations will be in breach of their legal obligations, and this can result in fines.

Chartwise UK is aiming to use this latest training offer to ensure your business is a safer place to work, while delivering the course in your time-frame. The new course format can take place either at the recently updated training facility on Team Valley, at your premises or at a suitable agreed location.

For more information visit www.chartwiseonline.com, call (0191) 491 5032 or follow @chartwiseUK

Preparing SMEs for the journey ahead Diamond Group launches its new ‘Business in a Box’ IT solution. he business world can be a scary place, especially when trying to think about all the various elements required in setting up a new business. But one company is simplifying this process with a new IT offering that is set to change the business landscape.

Diamond Group, located in East Boldon, has put together a simple yet powerful solution, suitably named ‘Business in a Box’. This new ‘Business in a box’ platform will cater for businesses of all sizes, from one person to largescale operations, and will start from £17 per week.

Owner John Burns says: “I’m really looking forward to our ‘Business in a Box’ solution launching, as I can see just how much this kind of offering is needed in today’s world of business.

“Being a business owner myself, I fully understand the headaches involved, but our new solution will help to ease that pressure for

business owners across the North East.”

Diamond Group’s comprehensive solution covers everything from print/copier systems and management to IT systems and support, as well as full telecoms packages, and even mobile communication systems.

The ‘Business in a Box’ includes: a powerful PC or laptop, a colour multi-function photocopier/printer/scanner machine, a business telephone line (including free national and mobile calls) and an in-bound fax number. It even comes with Diamond’s expert advice and know-how to get your business moving.

All you have to do is select what you need in your ‘Business in a Box’ package, and the world is your oyster.

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John Burns, owner of Diamond Group

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For more information, contact (0191) 519 3700, visit www.diamond-group.net or follow @DiamondGroupNE

LEGAL & FINANCIAL NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Watson Burton advises on Ringtons’ agreement The North East law firm assists the 108-year-old tea brand’s expansion across the pond.

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orth East law firm, Watson Burton has advised on an agreement that will see products from renowned tea merchant Ringtons, distributed throughout the US. Advising North Atlantic Imports LLC, Watson Burton has structured an agreement that will be used throughout the eastern United States and also by Finest English Teas in the west, ensuring nationwide distribution.

The agreement is governed by English Law (as against US law) and protects all parties for any future potential redistribution agreements in the US with online retailers such as Amazon, as well as paving the way for a range of merchandise such as teapots and mugs.

FDA regulations (food and drugs) in the US are different to those in the UK, so it was important that the distribution agreement also made provision for the need for alternative labelling and packaging for those products that are imported from the UK. Sam Jardine, Watson Burton’s lead

partner on the agreement said: “Due to the clicks-and-mortar nature of North Atlantic Import’s business this was a particularly complex cross-border agreement, as we needed to ensure that all parties were clear

about geographic sales boundaries. We also worked closely with US trademark attorneys to ensure that whilst operating under UK law, Ringtons’ rights would remain protected.”

Admiration for Chase de Vere

Law students assist consultation on Magna Carta

Clarke Mairs LLP kickstarts Tynedale RFC tour

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ndependent financial advisors Chase de Vere, which has offices in Newcastle, has been named by eprivateclient as one of the Top 25 Most Admired UK Companies for 2015.

This accolade is based upon analysis of leading firms of lawyers, accountants, trust companies and financial advisors, with an overall Top 25 list produced from across these professions.

Chase de Vere is the only firm of independent financial advisors to make the prestigious Top 25 Most Admired list.

John Lucas and Simon Smith sign the USA export contract

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aw students from Northumbria University, Newcastle, visited Westminster to give their opinion on the possibility of a ‘new Magna Carta’.

As the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta approaches, the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee is consulting on whether the UK needs a written constitution.

The students met with representatives from the Committee, presented a written response on the topic and discussed if now is a good time for the UK to embark upon the path towards a written constitution.

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ewcastle-based Clarke Mairs LLP was the lead sponsor of the Tynedale Rugby Football Club Under 16s’ Amsterdam tour last month.

The Clarke Mairs logo adorned the shirts of the team as they played fixtures with two top Dutch teams – the Haarlem Rugby Club and The Pink Panthers Rugby Club. The fourday tour also involved cultural visits to local landmarks.

More than 400 children are members of Tynedale RFC’s thriving youth section, and the club has the largest Under 16 squad in the county.

LAW & FINANCE

Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?

Joanne Major of Major Family Law spotlights pension reform and ‘silver splitters’.

EXPERT VIEW Joanne Major Principal at Major Family Law Tel: (01661) 824 582 Web: www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk Twitter: @majorfamilylaw

ecent statistics have shown the dramatic increase in divorce rates in the over 60s. In its most recent report, the Office for National Statistics produced a specific study on this age group for the very first time.

Various explanations have been advanced for this increase, including changing attitudes towards divorce, increased financial independence within marriages of that age group, and most predominantly, the fact that people generally are living longer.

While in 1991, a typical 60-year-old man in England could expect to live another 21 years, that figure has now risen to 26 years. The pattern for women is similar.

Whatever the reason for the trend in general terms, it is nevertheless a momentous decision to end a marriage, and often in these particular instances, the marriage in question is one of significant duration: while the average divorcing couple has been married for just 11 and a half years, over 60s who do so have been together for around 30 years, on average.

When it comes to a division of the marital assets, the length of the relationship and the contribution made by each of the parties are material considerations, along with a number of other factors including the standard of living

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enjoyed by the couple prior to the divorce.

There is no strict mathematical formula to how matrimonial assets should be divided, and at a judicial level the decision is mainly discretionary. From past decisions that judges have made, however, it is clear that the courts are driven by the principles of need, compensation and sharing.

This is being brought sharply into focus with the intended pension reforms introduced by the Chancellor and due to come into force in April of this year. For couples approaching, or at, retirement age – property and pensions are likely to be the two largest assets to be divided.

From April, those aged 55 or over will be able to access their entire pension pot as cash, should they wish to do so.

For some, this may allow more freedom for retirement planning and may prevent a forced sale of the former matrimonial home. Of course, that is only a small part of the picture.

While it has the potential for greater capital freedom, opting to take a chunk of capital out of a pension has two main implications: there is likely to be a tax liability as a result of the withdrawal; and removing the capital removes the size or source of an ongoing income, which is relevant to the parties’ ability to support themselves beyond the divorce.

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Even without the reforms, pension funds can be split and equalised as part of a divorce settlement, but pensions are a complex area and independent financial advice is always recommended to value the pension fund and to advise as to the most efficient way of dealing with it.

Divorcing couples will now be able to look at potential settlements which allow the party with the larger pension to retain that pension by instead agreeing to pay a lump sum, or a series of lump sums – funded by them taking advantage of the ability to drawdown.

This latter option may prove the most attractive because it is more tax effective than one single withdrawal of a large lump sum.

What may also assist in future planning to allow for a fair division of assets is the provision introduced by the government allowing all people aged 55 or over to obtain a free state pension statement which will show the amount of pension they will be entitled to receive following retirement.

This will allow for more certainty when calculating and balancing assets.

The reforms are not without their critics, but with divorce for the older generation on the increase, they have the potential at least to make for a fairer financial settlement.

LAW & FINANCE

Exit stage right Andrew Miller, regional director, Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, North East, guides entrepreneurs through the crucial pre-exit stage of a business.

EXPERT VIEW Andrew Miller Regional director Barclays Wealth and Investment Management North East Web: www.barclays.com

e know from our most recent Entrepreneurs Index that the number of entrepreneurs reaching the exit, wealth creation phase of their journey is on the up. In the 12 months to June 2014, the number of partial or full sales of companies resulting in at least £0.2 million of individual wealth creation increased by 8.2 per cent.

So what are the most important things for an entrepreneur to think about when planning the sale of their company?

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eyes, they are likely to point out all the little idiosyncrasies you may not have seen.

Next, it is worth thinking about motivation.

Something as simple as writing down the five main reasons for selling/not selling, and then likewise considering what is driving a potential buyer, can help focus the mind on what the ‘deal breakers’ might be on either side, and help the team negotiate more effectively.

Desired value is also worth considering before addressing the structure of the deal.

Don’t forget about the other people Fail to prepare, prepare to fail If you are an entrepreneur, the decisions you make – or ignore/are unaware of – before the sale, can have a significant impact on your postsale choices. Giving some thought to the advisory team, ‘dressing the business for sale’, communicating with staff and securing important tax reliefs, will make the achievement of your desired post-sale outcome far more likely.

The first thing to think about is taking advice. The fewer concerns that arise with the accounts, record keeping, contracts or business structure, the less likely that offer will be reduced, made more dependent on ongoing results or fall apart all together. The rationale is similar to the seller of a house asking a brave friend to come and poke around their house before it’s put on the market. With a fresh set of

Concerns about what the sale might mean for your staff should be an important part of the pre-sale phase. You may find it helpful to think about the pre-sale period in terms of how it might affect your ‘trusted lieutenants’, core staff and other staff members. This can provide a platform for considering, and discussing with the advisory team, the potential staff-related issues and tasks, before the deal is upon you.

It’s also important to ensure you have provided for your family should something go wrong in the pre-exit phase – have you considered securing the equity in the business should something happen to you while the sale is going through? Are personal assets like the family home and ‘rainy day’ cash secure and accessible? Have you reviewed your pension arrangements to ensure they are not ‘mixed in’ with business assets? All of these things will be

essential to consider so that you, or your family, do not encounter any nasty surprises.

From pre-exit to post-exit Few entrepreneurs have time during pre-exit to construct a detailed personal financial plan, but what is possible is to start to sketch out some high-level priorities and thoughts, to make sure the bigger opportunities that will be lost once the ink is dry on the deal are not missed.

There are a few questions to ask yourself to begin that process, such as: what do you plan to do, post-sale – am I a ‘serial entrepreneur’ or is this a one-off business? When I have more time, is philanthropy likely to feature more in my financial planning? Do I want to give my children and/or grandchildren significant wealth?

Enjoy your journey At Barclays Wealth and Investment Management we have recently released a dedicated guide to pre-exit planning to help our business owner clients navigate this, every so often, tricky time.

Either side of the sale is a period of considerable adjustment, but as long as you ‘have a plan’ it can be an enjoyable and exciting time. It marks the end of one journey, and the beginning of another – one likely to be less intense but no less rewarding.

Barclays offers wealth and investment management products and services to its clients through Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiary companies.

Barclays Bank PLC is registered in England and authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered No. 1026167. Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.

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LAW & FINANCE

Going through a divorce?

How to safeguard your finances...

By Jo Jackson, head of financial planning at Brewin Dolphin.

EXPERT VIEW Jo Jackson Head of financial planning Brewin Dolphin Email: joanne.jackson@brewin.co.uk Web: www.brewin.co.uk/newcastle

round 236,000 people get divorced in England and Wales every year, according to the latest government figures, with the highest number between men and women aged 40 to 44.

Planning a divorce can be sad and stressful, but getting to grips with the financial implications early in the process can help to ease some of the inevitable strain. It will also cut your legal costs if you work out what you want financially from the process before you instruct a solicitor, as this will reduce the number of hours of negotiation for which you will be invoiced.

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Support for children There are many things you will have to consider along the way – the most important being continuing financial support for any children.

But whether you have children or not, the other factors that all divorcing couples will have to settle include what will happen to the family home, savings, debt, pensions and investments, as well as the divorce costs themselves. From any agreements put forward to the courts, the judge will always seek to ensure that the settlement is fair and reasonable to both parties.

So when planning a divorce, the first thing both spouses need to do from a financial

perspective is to establish how much money each of you need to cover your immediate needs, such as accommodation, food and bills – including any debts such as credit cards and personal loans. You should sit down and go through all your regular costs to work out the minimum you need in order to get by each month, and if possible, agree who will be responsible for which debts.

The family home You can then move on to the assets held jointly or individually, the biggest of which are likely to be property and pensions. Of course, the most significant and most emotive asset is likely to be the marital home.

The main options are usually selling it and splitting any equity, or one spouse ‘buying out’ the other. Both of these scenarios are often deferred to a later date when children are involved, as often the parties agree that the parent with custody will remain in the property until the youngest child turns 18 or finishes university.

If you will be staying in the marital home and your ex-partner contributes to the mortgage, you need to ensure that payments are made promptly. The Building Societies Association has found that divorce and separation account for eight per cent of

mortgage arrears. Failing to keep up with the repayments could put your home at risk of repossession and potentially damage your ability to get credit in the future.

Divorce settlement – pensions With regard to pensions, legislation came into force in 2000 to ensure that all types of pension schemes can be divided, whether or not people are still saving into them, or they have retired and are withdrawing funds or receiving income. Divorce lawyers will seek to establish the size of pension funds available in order to work out what the ‘cash equivalent transfer value’ should be to the spouse requesting the pension share.

This is complicated, as it may involve taking projections of future worth into consideration.

Once a pension share amount has been agreed upon, the transfer will be made to a pension held in the name of the beneficiary. Fees may well be charged for valuing and transferring pensions, so it is important to find out what they could be from the pension providers involved.

Planning a divorce is a complex process and the financial settlement will affect the rest of your life, so decisions should only be made after you have consulted professionals for advice.

The information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness.

The opinions expressed in this document are not necessarily the views held throughout Brewin Dolphin Ltd.

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COVER STORY

This year sees chartered accountancy firm Leathers LLP celebrate its 25th anniversary and it’s marking the occasion in style, with a 3344km cycle challenge around France.

Alexis Forsyth catches up with managing partner Michael Leather to find out more about the epic bike ride…

Netherlands, with the cycle route passing through Belgium and then sprawling across the north and south of France, meandering over a mix of terrain that will see the cyclists tackle 30km climbs, 12 per cent hill gradients and up to five mountains.

The course – which passes through Le Havre, Mûr de Bretagne, Pra-Loup and Alpe d’Huez – is both picturesque and punishing at the same time, but promises to provide a spectacular and dramatic backdrop to what can be best described as a once in a lifetime experience.

Michael will be one of the few ‘Lifers’ cycling all 21 stages, something he admits is no easy feat: “I’ve been told it is the equivalent of cycling from London to Cairo. In terms of the mountains, I will do more mountain climbing than Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon, Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro, and Everest put together! I struggle to comprehend it.”

Seven employees will join Michael on the tour this summer; Becky Scott, Barry James, Ryan Harrison, James Swiers, Chris Smith, Jonathan Carr and Jonathan Leather, along with Neil Matthews who is a partner in the sister practice of Leather Matthews Restructuring LLP. They will undertake the shorter Tour Tasters, personally chosen by each member to suit their individual abilities and preferences.

To support their efforts, Team Leathers have set up a website – a go-to resource for those who want to find out more about the cycle challenge, the motivations of the staff taking

ow do you celebrate 25 years in business? Well, if you’re Leathers LLP, you’ll mark this business milestone by pedalling your way around France – following the Tour de France route, to be precise – to raise funds for charity.

The chartered accountancy firm, which has offices in Newcastle and Durham, was keen to do something special for its silver anniversary, and as managing partner Michael Leather explains, the customary business soirée just wasn’t going to cut it.

“I didn’t want to do the classic corporate dinner or wine and cheese evening,” Michael says. “I had been doing some research and came across the Tour de Force. When I found out more about the charity behind it, I thought ‘this is something absolutely fantastic’, so that’s why I chose this, rather than doing a homemade version.”

He adds: “It’s a super way to put something back and to also mark 25 years in a completely different way. The overall response has been so overwhelmingly positive – it’s been breathtaking.”

The Tour de Force kick-starts on June 27 and follows all 21 stages of the 2015 Tour de France route, with participants staying seven days ahead of the professionals. Participants can brave the entire route, or choose one – or a combination – of the shorter Tour Tasters, which last between two and nine days.

The challenge gets underway in the

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Leathers LLP is looking to raise £50,000 for the William Wates Memorial Trust, the charity that created the Tour de Force challenge.

Established in 1998, the grants giving trust helps disadvantaged young people fulfil their potential and stay away from a life of crime.

The William Wates Memorial Trust has also agreed to support The Wheels Project, based in Hebburn, with a £10,000 grant. The Leathers team nominated this local cause following a meeting between Michael and the charity’s founder, Bob Neill. The Wheels Project provides support and training to young people aged between 12 and 19 with an interest in motor vehicles. Not only does this improve their road safety knowledge, it also equips the youngsters with a range of work related skills and builds their self-confidence, too.

Michael concludes: “I think it’s important for businesses to recognise the benefit of charities within the community. To support the community in either a small or a big way should be part of the fabric of what we do; it can’t simply be about making money.”

part, and of course, how to donate. You can also go behind the scenes with the Team Leathers diary and get the latest – and very honest – updates on how their training is coming along.

Michael started his training regime in October last year and is steadily clocking up the miles on his bike in preparation for what he calls “the sheer physical challenge” of undertaking three weeks of cycling with only two rest days. He admits that he can’t even begin to imagine how he will feel when he eventually crosses the finish line on the ChampsÉlysées.

So what is Michael most looking forward to?

“Just getting on with it and starting the challenge! It starts on my 54th birthday in Utrecht so that’s kind of one of those serendipitous moments.”

As for the rest of Team Leathers, as their diary entries reveal, the bulk of their training and preparation for the challenge got underway in the New Year. The countdown clock, pinned to the bottom corner of the website, is a constant reminder of the dwindling training time they have left.

The Tour de Force is having a wider impact within the Leathers office, too, as Michael explains: “There’s more of a sense of people working together. Staff are doing more regular exercise, and looking at nutrition and what it means. There’s a business purpose behind it, too – you can build a real team.”

For more information about the Leathers Tour, visit www.howdoyoucelebrate25yearsinbu siness.com For general queries, visit www.leathersllp.co.uk

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EVENT

Leathers LLP drinks reception The chartered accountancy firm welcomes guests to its celebratory event in Durham.

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eathers LLP held a drinks reception at The Town House in Durham last month to thank its clients and to celebrate moving back into Durham, where Michael Leather first established the business 25 years ago.

As part of the silver anniversary celebrations, Michael plans to cycle all 3344km of the Tour de France route in July, alongside eight of his colleagues. They are hoping to raise ÂŁ50,000 for the William Wates Memorial Trust, which helps disadvantaged young people. www.howdoyoucelebrate25yearsinbusine ss.com

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LAW & FINANCE

A pension spring clean Boost your pension pot before April with these pointers from Peter Rutherford of Universal Tax Strategies.

ith legislation now confirmed, and pension freedoms a reality after April, it is vital to make sure that you make the most of your pension savings. To help, here are ten reasons why you may want to boost your pension pot before the tax year end.

For a higher rate individual with taxable income of between £100,000 and £120,000, an individual contribution that reduces taxable income to £100,000 would achieve an effective rate of tax relief of 60 per cent. For higher incomes, or larger contributions, the effective rate will fall somewhere between 40 per cent and 60 per cent.

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1. Act now to prepare for the new flexibility Those over the age of 55, and still making pension contributions and not drawing a pension, should act before April to preserve their contribution allowance at £40,000.

Failure to do so could mean having their annual allowance capped at £10,000. If you are over 55 – take some income before April!

2. Immediate access to savings for over 55s With a combination of tax relief and tax-free cash, pensions will outperform ISAs for the vast majority of savers. Consider maximising contributions before the year end.

8. Avoid the Child Benefit tax charge

EXPERT VIEW Peter Rutherford Partner Universal Tax Strategies LLP Tel: (0191) 374 0333 Email: peter.rutherford@utsllp.co.uk

9. Providing for loved ones

Some clients may be willing and able to pay more than their 2014/15 allowance in the current tax year, even after using up carry forward. Close the 2014/15 Pension Input Period (PIP) early and pay an extra £40,000 in this tax year in respect of the 2015/16 PIP.

The new death benefit rules will make pensions an extremely tax efficient way of passing wealth down the generations. There is typically no Inheritance Tax (IHT) and the possibility of passing on funds entirely tax-free on death before the age of 75. Clients may want to maximise pension funding to shelter funds from IHT without the need to wait for seven years.

6. Pay employer contributions before corporation tax relief drops further

10. Sacrifice bonus for employer pension contributions

For the current financial year, the main rate of Corporation Tax is 21 per cent falling to 20 per cent in April. Companies may want to bring forward pension funding plans to benefit from tax relief at the higher rates.

Sacrificing a bonus, which can typically be paid in March or April, can bring several positive outcomes. The employer and employee National Insurance savings can be a boost to the pension contribution, and taxable income can be reduced, potentially avoiding lost personal allowance or Child Benefit tax charge.

5. Use next year’s allowance now

3. Personal relief at highest rates Higher or additional rate tax payers this year, perhaps uncertain of income levels in the near future, should look to maximise contributions now to get tax relief at their highest marginal rates.

4. £50,000 allowances The pension carry forward for 2011/12 and 2012/13 are still based on the £50,000 allowance. As each year passes the reduced £40,000 allowance dilutes what can be paid.

Up to £190,000 could be paid this tax year without triggering an annual allowance charge.

By 2017/18 this maximum will drop to £160,000 – if the allowance stays at £40,000.

Child Benefit, worth £2475 to a family with three children, is cancelled out by a tax charge if the taxable income of the highest earner exceeds £60,000. There is no tax charge if the highest earner has income of £50,000 or less.

As a pension contribution reduces income for this purpose, the tax charge can be avoided.

The combination of higher rate tax relief on the contribution, plus the Child Benefit tax charge saved can give an effective rate of tax relief as high as 64 per cent.

7. Recover personal allowances

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LAW & FINANCE

Europe: the recovery story for 2015?

If there’s one area of the world where it appears that events are conspiring against good performance for equities, it’s Europe. Says Helen Johnson of Sanlam Private Investments.

EXPERT VIEW Helen Johnson Portfolio manager Sanlam Private Investments (UK) Ltd Tel: (0191) 300 9242 Email: newcastle@spi.sanlam.co.uk

emographically, Europe has an ageing population, low fertility and an antagonistic attitude to immigration.

Given that perhaps 60 per cent of economic growth derives from an increasing population, this is not a good place in which to start when GDP growth is already so low and domestic demographics so poor.

With exposure to a collapsing Russian economy, a feeble banking industry across the continent and a bloated public sector, it all feels as if Europe is an area to avoid at all costs. So why do we retain European exposure for our clients?

The cavalry is on its way! The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched genuine Quantitative Easing (QE) in an attempt to improve financing for companies and economic activity.

Meanwhile, we are likely to see an increase in infrastructure spending, partly financed by centralised European institutions, which will also support growth. Thirdly, we should not underestimate the progress that has been made by

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many of the peripheral European governments in sorting out the imbalances in their economies.

In the medium-term, this process of reflation is actually reinforced by what is going on in Russia.

The combination of a collapsing oil price and Western sanctions means that it may suffer two or more years of recession – and Russia makes up around 15 per cent of German exports. This big drag on German economic performance is likely to encourage the more conservative at the ECB to embrace some of the more aggressive forms of monetary and liquidity easing seen elsewhere. In Japan this kind of move prompted a very sharp stock market rally after Shinzo Abe was elected in late 2012 and launched a massive reflation package.

There are some companies in Europe that are no more exposed to ‘Europe’ than their UK or American peers. A prime example would be AB Inbev, the company that brews Budweiser in the US and Stella Artois in Europe for export across the world. What drives these shares is strong

operational performance, global reach and the stringent management disciplines the company deploys across its entire business. Such companies, and similar ones like Nestlé and Syngenta, offer characteristics to our clients that are difficult to find elsewhere and are defensive in nature.

So, with QE, reasonable valuations, increasing monetary and political will to add liquidity to the economy, and with significant infrastructure spending to come, Europe may not be such a bad place to invest after all, despite the miasma of gloom surrounding her.

It hasn’t worked in 2014, but who is to say that 2015 will not prove more fruitful for our clients in the area? After all, the lesson from Japan since the end of 2012 has been that the time to buy into a broken economy through the stock market is when aggressive action is finally undertaken by the relevant authorities.

When sentiment is so poor, it is often the right decision to work against a gut instinct that tells us to get out of something after it has already gone down.

This article is for information purposes and should not be treated as a forecast, research or advice to buy or sell any particular investment or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of investments may fall as well as rise. Investors may not get back the original amount invested.

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EVENT

Jonathan Yeo in conversation with Alexander Armstrong One of Britain’s leading portrait artists, Jonathan Yeo, was interviewed about his life and work by Lit and Phil president – and star of stage and screen – Alexander Armstrong.

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ponsored by wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin, the event took place in late January in front of a packed audience at Newcastle’s historic Literary and Philosophical Society.

The event was held in aid of the Lit and Phil appeal, which aims to raise £1 million to pay for improvements to the Grade II listed library, which is the largest independent library outside of London, housing over 150,000 books, covering every field of interest. www.litandphil.org.uk/appeal

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LAW & FINANCE

RMT supports tech firm’s acquisition RMT plays a pivotal role in a technology based business deal in the region. upport from RMT Accountants & Business Advisors has helped to complete the sale of a long-standing North East technology firm to an ambitious IT infrastructure and support services group.

The Onyx Group's acquisition of Knowledge IT is designed to support the Teessideheadquartered company's drive towards achieving a £100 million turnover within the next five years, and to help expand the range of services it can provide to its 200 customers.

Founded more than 30 years ago, Knowledge IT had an annual turnover of £11m. The Washington-based firm works with a range of private and public sector businesses and specialises in cloud computing, data centre services and virtual server and desktop solutions.

The firm's former managing director George Sanger, who has joined Onyx as group commercial director as part of the deal, appointed RMT to audit Knowledge IT's accounts and assist in paving the way to a successful sale.

With over 170 employees, the combined

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Left to right: George Sanger (Onyx), Greg Bolton and Paul Gainford (both RMT)

business is one of the largest IT infrastructure and services organisations in the North East, and includes six data centres, seven workplace recovery centres and a highly-skilled team of technical architects and consultants.

George Sanger says: "Onyx's desire to increase the range of services they provide,

coupled with our goal of widening our geographical presence around the UK made this a very sound move for all involved.

"Customers are increasingly looking to buy hybrid technology solutions, which combine physical IT and cloud-based offerings, from suppliers who can meet their requirements from under one roof.

"The combined strengths and areas of expertise of the two businesses creates an extremely promising offering in that respect, and there are huge opportunities for us as we bring the respective operations together and move forward as one business.”

He adds: "I'd had previous positive experience of working with the RMT team, and their support through this deal was superb."

Paul Gainford, head of commercial services at RMT, says: "Both Knowledge IT and Onyx have long been amongst the region's mostadmired technology businesses, and we're very pleased to have been able to help the Knowledge IT management team achieve their goals through this deal."

For more information, visit www.r-m-t.co.uk

Green light for Car-Ching expansion plans Car-buying company Car-Ching is accelerating its 2015 development plans after opening three new branches across the region. orth East-based Car-Ching has established operations in Darlington, Alnwick and Blyth as part of the first stage of its plan to set up 60 new offices across the UK in the next three years.

The Shiremoor-headquartered firm is already looking at opening half a dozen further branches in the first half of the year, both within and outside the North East, as well as recruiting the staff required to run them.

Car-Ching was set up last year by experienced motor industry professional Jason Miller, who runs the business with his wife Niki, and who also owns the Overdrive North East car dealership in Morpeth.

As part of the firm's development, CarChing has recruited Doug Lawson, who previously worked as a buyer and mentor with webuyanycar.com, to help manage operations and develop a car-buying service that's clearly differentiated from the competition.

The Car-Ching management team is working with RMT Accountants & Business

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Left to right: Niki Miller & Doug Lawson (both Car-Ching), Paul Gainford (RMT), Jason Miller (Car-Ching) and Greg Bolton (RMT)

Advisors on the firm's development, as an extension of Jason Miller's long-term relationship with the firm through Overdrive North East.

Jason says: "Our aim is to provide a stressfree, easy and efficient way for people to sell their cars, and while we were confident that we'd developed the right business model for

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Car-Ching, the way it's taken off has surprised even us.

"Setting ourselves the target of opening 60 branches in the next three years is ambitious and will require a lot of hard work, but we're convinced there's a strong market out there for us to develop and have drawn a lot of encouragement from the way things have gone so far.”

He adds: "Having used RMT as Overdrive North East's advisors for several years, it made sense to bring them on board for this new business, and their sound advice will be one of the foundations on which we build our future growth.”

Greg Bolton, head of corporate finance at RMT, adds: "The Car-Ching team's motor industry knowledge and clear vision of how they want to operate is already reaping commercial rewards, and it's exciting to be involved with a concept that has such huge potential for growth."

For more information visit www.car-ching.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Making the most of pension changes Tax efficient planning begins with the right pension strategy, says Jan Farnworth, independent financial adviser at Lycetts.

he 2014 Budget proposed the biggest change to retirement planning in living memory, reflecting the Government’s vision for a more flexible regime, giving individuals more choice, control and responsibility over how they access their pension savings.

From the age of 55, individuals can access money saved through money purchase pensions, and this sum will no longer automatically be used to buy an annuity to provide guaranteed income for the rest of a person’s life, or be restricted to a maximum income drawdown pension.

The changes are to be flexible, allowing investors to take withdrawals as and when required, with each withdrawal being free on the first 25 per cent, with the remaining sum taxed as income. Alternatively, pension legislation continues to allow pension holders to take 25 per cent tax-free cash from their

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EXPERT VIEW Jan Farnworth Independent financial adviser Lycetts Web: www.lycetts.co.uk

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pension pot as a lump sum and drawdown income, or purchase an annuity with the remainder of the pension.

Pensions can also now be used as a tax efficient solution within Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning. On death under the age of 75, the pension pot may be passed as a tax-free lump sum to a beneficiary or a trust. On death after age 75, the pension plan may be passed on to a spouse or any other chosen beneficiary, who then in turn can pass it on to a child or grandchild, or anyone else free of tax.

Withdrawals taken by the beneficiary will be taxed as income depending on their marginal tax rate.

Together, these changes are radical and farreaching, and with the right strategy in place they can provide an excellent opportunity for tax efficient planning. To make sure you have the right retirement strategy in place, speak to your Lycetts adviser.

LAW & FINANCE

David Nairn, of Rowlands accountancy practice

Post-election predictions The General Election is just a matter of months away. David Nairn, a taxation and business planning specialist with Rowlands accountancy practice, looks at its potential effects on businesses in the region.

This election will have a greater interest than ever before for the region’s business community. Why do you think this is?

It’s not just about the economy this time.

People want to know, will the austerity packages and cuts continue, will there be an attempt to stimulate more growth? And from a regional viewpoint, the devolution debate prompted by the Scottish Independence Referendum will see a strong focus on regional powers and assemblies. The North East business community will be hoping not to suffer in comparison with other areas which perhaps have stronger lobbies.

What type of detail are SMEs likely to see within the various party policies?

On the economy, the stage is set with Conservatives seeking further cuts and austerity measures perhaps without the moderating influence of a coalition party, while Labour will seek to reduce the effects of austerity and try to grow the economy. The effect of UKIP and the prospect of a ballot on EU membership will make SMEs exporting to other countries very anxious over the uncertainty this will bring and the long-term effects on their market. Both major parties though will stake out the middle ground as champions of small businesses and enterprise.

What legislation changes would you like to see happen to help the local economy grow?

ensure that no adverse policies are mandated rather than to make a nervous over reaction based on supposition about uncertain outcomes.

In the dash to devolve power, the North East runs the risk of losing out to other regions in the UK. While improved transport links have been announced, the partial dualling of the A1 is not enough. The HS2 and HS3 rail links that have been proposed don’t do enough to stop the region from being isolated. Public services in the North East and government agencies have experienced cut backs. The Government should seek to move more of its departments to the North East from the overcrowded and expensive south and bolster the region’s economy.

If businesses want to make their views known on business matters, how should they do so?

Is there anything that companies can do to protect themselves during this period of uncertainty and, potentially, transition?

How can the team at Rowlands help over the coming months?

While there could be significant changes in approaches to policy, sometimes the scaremongering about the potential threats to taxation or withdrawal of relief can prompt companies to take short-term decisions which can prove to be counterproductive. Finance Bills are not enacted for some time after an election, and in a contest as close as this, will any policy changes be as drastic? What could be the effect of a further coalition government? It is better to wait for the election’s outcome and

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The region’s voice is not heard loudly enough at Westminster, but membership of the North East Chamber of Commerce and the North East CBI may prove most effective for lobbying MPs while they are more concerned about preparing for their re-election rather concentrating on policy matters. Making direct contact with the political parties could also prove effective.

Our team at Rowlands will be keeping an eye on the political landscape and will flag up those policies that may result in opportunities or threats to our clients’ businesses. We will try to forecast how the outcomes will affect their business prospects and aspirations. At Rowlands, we pride ourselves on offering a responsive and efficient service that seeks to benefit our clients’ interests in both the short and longer term.

For more information, visit www.rowlandsaccountants.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Shared Parental Leave becomes law What will it mean for your business? Asks Square One Law associate, Roisin Patton.

new arrival in the family is always very exciting and, for the first time, couples are now able to share those early weeks by splitting what was traditional maternity leave.

As we strive towards equal pay and career opportunities for all, it is great to see that both parents now have the opportunity to share the responsibility of raising their children with support from their employer.

Shared Parental Leave (SPL) means that couples with babies due, or children matched or placed for adoption, on or after April 5, 2015 will be able to share leave equally. The rights apply to parents of babies born prematurely so don’t be caught out as the new rules could already apply.

What does this actually mean for you and your business? As the title suggests, eligible parents can elect to share up to 50 weeks of leave after the first two weeks of compulsory maternity leave. They can also share up to 37 weeks of pay.

Both parents can suggest a flexible SPL pattern to their respective employers who will either

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EXPERT VIEW Roisin Patton Associate Square One Law Email: roisin.patton@squareonelaw.com Web: www.squareonelaw.com

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agree to it or not.

The concept is simple and well intended; however, SPL has attracted some criticism over the administrative headache it could create for employers and the potential additional cost.

The most controversial aspect of the new rules is the lack of obligation for employers to replicate any enhanced maternity benefits they already offer. The risk of indirect sex discrimination claims for employers who pay enhanced maternity benefits and choose not to offer enhanced benefits for SPL is set to increase.

Many of the big employers such as Deloitte, PWC and Shell have taken the lead and published their plans for offering enhanced shared parental pay. The Civil Service is offering employees a very generous 26 weeks’ full pay to be taken at any time during the first year.

It will be interesting to see how other employers implement SPL within their current family friendly policies and procedures, and if this manages to encourage more couples to share leave following their new arrival.

LAW & FINANCE

Pension reforms – what about bankruptcy?

Neil Harrold, partner at Hay & Kilner, assesses the vulnerability of personal pensions.

EXPERT VIEW Neil Harrold Partner Hay & Kilner Tel: (0191) 232 8345 Email: neil.harrold@hay-kilner.co.uk

he forthcoming reforms to how a personal pension may be flexibly accessed have attracted a great deal of comment.

While the Pensions Minister may be relaxed if people buy a Lamborghini with their pension fund, the sight of a bankrupt driving around in an exotic sports car while their creditors nurse losses would stick in the craw of many.

However, most people will retire with modest funds which they will make last for the remainder of their lives. A £100,000 pension fund will currently offer a 55-year-old in good health an inflation linked annuity of just over £2000 per year.

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So is a personal pension vulnerable to bankruptcy?

If a bankrupt is entitled to receive income in excess of what is necessary to meet their reasonable domestic needs, the court may make an income payments order (IPO) requiring them to pay the excess to their trustee in bankruptcy for a maximum of three years.

In the 2012 case of Raithatha v Williamson, the court decided that the bankrupt (aged 59) had an entitlement to an immediate payment under the pension scheme “merely by asking

for payment” so that the court could make an IPO including the value of what the bankrupt could have obtained from it (in particular the 25 per cent tax free lump sum) had he so asked.

In contrast, in the case of Horton v Henry decided at the end of 2014, the court held that, in the case of an uncrystallised pension, there was no power for the court or for the trustee in bankruptcy to compel the bankrupt (also aged 59) to take his pension in a particular way.

Horton v Henry is being appealed, so the Court of Appeal will decide later this year which of these two conflicting judgments is correct.

In any event, an IPO cannot be made if its effect would be to reduce the income of the bankrupt below what is necessary for meeting the reasonable domestic needs of the bankrupt and their family.

Over what timescale are ‘reasonable domestic needs’ to be assessed?

In the 2014 case of Re X, where the bankrupt’s personal pension was worth just over £100,000, this would have produced an annual annuity of either £5474 or £4103, depending upon

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whether a 25 per cent tax free lump sum of almost £27,000 was taken.

The bankrupt’s other income resulted in a shortfall of £5592 in meeting her reasonable domestic needs which the court inferred would continue in the future. The court therefore declined to compel the bankrupt to take her pension in such a way that would reduce her annual income well below the figure which she required to live on, not just for the three-year maximum lifespan of an IPO, but indefinitely.

The interaction between personal pensions and bankruptcy is complex and controversial.

In the Raithatha and Horton cases, the capital value of the pension was approximately £900,000 – no wonder the creditors wanted to get their hands on it to help recoup their losses.

However, Re X shows that even a pension pot of £100,000 will only produce a modest income to assist a person to merely get by; any excessive lifestyle is certainly out of the question.

This issue will continue to be controversial when flexible access to pensions comes into force in April.

Finally, any bankrupt that is rash enough to blow their pension pot on a Lamborghini will quickly find that their trustee in bankruptcy will claim it as after-acquired property for the benefit of their creditors.

LAW & FINANCE

Why cloud accounting is good for business Amanda Samosa of accountancy practice, Stephenson Coates Limited, looks at the advantages of swapping traditional in-house accounting software for the cloud.

EXPERT VIEW Amanda Samosa Accounts manager Stephenson Coates Limited Tel: (0191) 256 7766 Email: amanda@stephensoncoates.co.uk

So what is this thing called the cloud?

Why the cloud and accounting software are the perfect match

Think about when you use internet banking.

Every time you access this data, you’re using the cloud. The cloud is a platform to make data and software accessible online anytime, anywhere, from any device. Your hard drive is no longer the central hub.

You can use cloud-based software from any device with an internet connection. Online accounting means small business owners stay connected to their data and their accountants.

The software can integrate with a whole ecosystem of add-ons. It’s scalable, cost-effective and easy to use.

In the cloud, there’s no need to install and run applications over a desktop computer.

Instead, you pay for the software by monthly subscription.

Accounting software shouldn’t be a chore to use Small business accounting software that’s not available via the cloud can be tedious.

Traditionally, it can take up far too much of your time and effort. This doesn't add value, and takes the fun out of being in business.

Cloud software can save your company time and money.

Problems with traditional accounting software include: • The data in the system often isn’t up-to-date and neither is the software.

• It only works on one computer network and data bounces from place to place. For example, on a USB drive. This is not secure or reliable.

• Only one person has user access. Key people can't access financial and customer details.

• It's costly and complicated to keep backups (if done at all).

• It's expensive, difficult and time consuming to upgrade the software.

• Customer support is expensive and often slow.

Cloud security is world class As a small business owner, you might be concerned about a cloud service provider storing your data. But the cloud is one of the most secure ways to store information. For example, using cloud software, if your laptop is stolen, no one can access your data unless they have a login to the online account. With cloud software, this is where the data lives – as opposed to on your hard drive.

In the event of a natural disaster or fire, being in the cloud means business productivity doesn’t need to be affected because there’s no downtime.

All of your information is safely and securely stored off site. As long as you have access to any computer or mobile device connected to the internet, you’re back up and running.

In addition to this, if you invite users to view your data, you can control the level of access.

This is much more secure than the old-fashioned way of emailing your files or sending out a USB

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stick with your data on it.

Five ways cloud software benefits your business: 1. You have a clear overview of your current financial position, in real time.

2. Multi-user access makes it easy to collaborate online with your team and advisors 3. Worry-free maintenance means you can spend more time doing what you love.

4. Everything is run online, so there’s nothing to install and everything is backed up automatically. Updates are free and instantly available.

5. Upfront business costs are reduced – version upgrades, maintenance, system administration costs and server failures are no longer issues.

Instead, they are managed by the cloud service provider.

Work smarter with accessible data in the cloud The beauty of this type of software is the flexibility it gives you to run your business from work, home, or on the go. You can be confident that you have an up-to-date picture of how your business is doing, no matter where you are.

Software updates can be developed and delivered faster and more easily in the cloud.

This means you don’t need to worry about installing the latest version and you’ll get access to new features instantly. With cloud accounting software, you have the option to run your business remotely, from anywhere in the world.

When data is fluid and accessible, the possibilities are endless.

LAW & FINANCE

Important decisions ahead – get ready for the debate!

Vinay Bedi, executive director at UBS Wealth Management, looks at the prospect of a European Referendum. have just returned from the excellent UBS Forum at The Sage listening to the UBS Global and UK Investment experts putting their thoughts forward for 2015. You would have thought that the General Election would have been a major talking point, however, what became apparent was that North East business and industry appears to be focusing on the prospect of a European Referendum.

As we all know, the North East is a major exporting region, probably one of the strongest in the UK. Trade with our overseas customers is crucial to the region. Relationships are important and the exchange rate is critical.

Europe is therefore, whether we like it or not, a major part of the North East economy. It is understandable that our friends in industry and commerce are concerned.

Sadly, I am old enough to remember the first referendum in 1975 which was initiated from the 1973 decision to take the UK into Europe – 'this will enable us to be more

countries ensuring that they would – and could – buy our products and we, likewise, won the day. Roll on 42 years and this concept has grown into a European economy with all the trappings and trimmings that can frequently create some elements of consternation and frustration.

Regardless of your view, the North East needs its trade with Europe. As a region, we look after ourselves. We must ensure that we take a full and active part in this debate as it gathers steam and that the voice of reason – our reason – is heard.

From what I can tell from the UBS Forum, that debate is already starting. If you thought that the Scottish Independence debate was intense, just wait until this one kicks off.

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efficient and more competitive in gaining more markets not only in Europe but in the rest of the world' said Ted Heath at the time.

We voted to stay in. The desire to secure strong trade links with the major European

For more information visit www.ubs.com/uk The views expressed in this article are the personal views of Vinay Bedi and not the views or opinions of UBS AG.

Design infringement – the right support is essential Niall Head-Rapson, partner and leading IP specialist at McDaniel & Co, talks IP awareness and support. or any company involved in the design of new products or processes, the first step in the development of any successful intellectual property (IP) strategy is to acquire knowledge about your rights.

You can do this through your own research, by consulting a lawyer or by becoming a member of an organisation called ACID (Anti Copying in Design).

ACID is a membership organisation that is committed to raising awareness and encouraging respect for IP. It is intent on stamping out IP rights abuse and can greatly assist design oriented companies that wish to protect their IP assets with a range of support.

As one of ACID’s legal affiliates, McDaniel & Co regularly assists design-related companies in this way. For example, in 2010, when we first came across Burgon & Ball, manufacturers of high quality agricultural and garden tools, the company was unfortunately no stranger to IP issues and continues to face similar problems with 22 such infringements in the last two years.

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A recent dispute with Spear & Jackson centred on its miracle patio surface cleaning brush, a UK and EU unregistered design. With our assistance, this was settled in Burgon & Ball’s favour – without the need for legal proceedings. The terms and conditions of the settlement remain confidential.

Dids Macdonald, ACID’s chief executive

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officer, said: “Speaking generally, the garden product sector is impressive but ACID has seen a rising culture of ‘me-too’ products which is surprising given that original design, increasingly, is becoming a market differentiator. Burgon & Ball, around since 1730, have survived on skills and design to create a brand that is trusted worldwide for its quality. Long may this continue.”

Heather Culpan, managing director of Burgon & Ball, said: “Our company and Spear & Jackson are both members of the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) and I know that ACID is working closely with GIMA to create guidelines and acceptable best practice on IP issues soon which I, and many others, very much welcome.”

This is yet another positive outcome for Burgon & Ball. Its pro-active strategy towards IP awareness, registration and enforcement has paid dividends and demonstrates the benefits of gaining professional advice.

For more information, visit mcdanielslaw.com

LAW & FINANCE

All change for pensions Sarah Crilly, associate in the family law team at Ward Hadaway, highlights the revolutionary change to pensions being introduced next month.

n a nutshell, defined contribution pension pots (also known as money purchase pots) will become a very simple cash asset. Rather than being constrained by complicated legislation to purchase poor value annuities or complicated draw-down facilities, retirees will be able to do as they please with the pension pot from the age of 55. As is the case now, 25 per cent of the pot will be tax-free. The rest will be treated as income and simply taxed at the retiree's marginal rate.

Effectively, retirees could choose to take hold of the whole lot in one go, rather than in dripfeed form, without punitive tax penalties.

This does not apply to defined benefit arrangements (also known as final salary, career average or cash balance arrangements), but any member of a defined benefit arrangement has a statutory right to transfer a ‘cash equivalent transfer value’ to another arrangement, such as a money purchase pot. Depending on the rules of the defined benefit arrangement, this provides a means to cash-in the accrued benefits.

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EXPERT VIEW Sarah Crilly Associate in the family and matrimonial team Ward Hadaway Tel: (0191) 204 4263 Email: sarah.crilly@wardhadaway.com

The pension asset will be much more easily split in divorce proceedings if viewed as a cash sum available from the age of 55. It is likely to be the second most valuable asset in any marriage after the family home, and may even be the largest, taking into account any debt secured on the home. As divorces often happen in periods of financial stress, the pension asset may be all the more valuable.

Individuals either going through or contemplating a divorce whose spouses may be approaching 55, or are older, may have to give serious consideration as to whether or not injunctive action should be sought to prevent their spouse drawing down on the pension pot before their divorce has been determined.

These pensions reforms will impact on any financial settlements from now on. No longer do the parties have to consider trading off other assets rather than going to the effort and expense of sharing a pension pot. It will now be a much less complicated task.

Government in tax giveaway shock Baker Tilly North East’s Stuart McKinnon profiles Research & Development tax credits. es, you heard right. The Government wants you to pay less tax and, even better, it wants to make it easier for you to do so!

HMRC recently issued a consultative document with the snappy title of Improving Access to Research and Development Tax Credits for Small Businesses. They began by informing us that over 15,000 companies, both large and small, claim over £1.4 billion of Research and Development (R&D) tax credits each year. A staggering figure already but they want to give even more away. The consultative document seeks to remove as many barriers as possible that may be preventing small companies from making claims for this enhanced tax relief.

The main barrier may well be an understanding of what qualifies as R&D. It’s a bit like an elephant; we know what it is but how do you describe it? This isn’t about people in

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EXPERT VIEW Stuart McKinnon Baker Tilly North East Tel: (0191) 255 7000 Email: stuart.mckinnon@bakertilly.co.uk

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white coats working in laboratories talking a language only they understand. It’s about everyday businesses just like yours.

The chances are, whatever business you are in, you are trying to make things better. It could be by improving products or processes or a combination of both. If you are, then you could well be incurring qualifying expenditure and the Government wants to cross your palm with silver.

There are very few businesses which don’t qualify for R&D tax credits. Therefore, make sure you maximise your claim. Some businesses feel it just isn’t worth the bother, but just to put this into context, for every £1 of qualifying expenditure, the Government will fund 45p by way of a reduction in your tax bill.

Even if you are a non-tax payer you can recover just over 32p as a direct payment. And it even gets 1p better from April 6 when the relief increases. So buy now while stocks last!

LAW & FINANCE

Kathryn Armstrong, managing partner at Gordon Brown Law Firm

Keeping in the know Stamp duty reform... a bit of notice next time would be welcome, says Kathryn Taylor, managing partner at Gordon Brown Law Firm. he announcement by the Chancellor on December 3, which stated that the rules on stamp duty were being overhauled, caught most residential conveyancing solicitors I know on the hop.

Within minutes of the announcement being made, clients started calling our firm to seek guidance and calculations of their new stamp duty amounts. Unfortunately, none of us had any warning that the rules were changing and being a busy volume firm, we had numerous clients in the middle of transactions, all of them wanting to know ‘how does it affect me?’.

So while George Osborne was in the throes of finishing his speech, members of our residential conveyancing team were frantically searching the internet and calling HMRC for guidance, which was unfortunately not available for some time. The focal resource point of our efforts to update clients became a live feed on the BBC website, with most clients being told ‘we don’t know yet’.

In the conveyancing world, December is always a particularly busy time of year with many clients pushing to be in before

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Christmas. Some might argue that, from a solicitor’s perspective, the Chancellor couldn’t have picked a worse time to make his announcement.

When the guidance/calculators did appear on HMRC’s website it became clear that from December 4 a new tiered system was being put in place, with stamp duty being calculated in a similar way to income tax with clear bandings in place. With average house prices in the North East of England around the £147,000 mark, the average saving to clients is over £1000. That figure makes a huge difference, particularly to a first time buyer.

It is fair to say that, on the whole, most of our clients were absolutely delighted with the rule changes, with the notable exception of one client who was buying from within the £2 million plus bracket. That client’s file was worked on throughout the day and night so that exchange could take place on December 3 and the old stamp duty rules could be utilised, producing a saving to that client of £53,000. A large number of clients had already provided completion funds and those clients had to be

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refunded overpaid stamp duty in the following weeks.

Bizarrely, in some cases, clients actually called us to thank us for the news that their file had not yet progressed to the point of exchange or completion, something which is generally unheard of.

In short, the amount of extra work needed at an already busy time did add some unwelcome pressure for solicitors. We are now some way into 2015, things have settled, software calculators are in place and everyone is now up to speed with the new rules. It will be interesting to see how things go during the next six months and whether the new rules have an effect on the market.

All I would say to this Chancellor or the next is ‘don’t forget about solicitors’ when new rules come in to play. We have a tough job to do at the best of times and a bit of notice or warning would be much appreciated!

For more information about Gordon Brown Law Firm, visit www.gblf.co.uk or tel (0191) 388 1778

LAW & FINANCE

UNW tempts female talent with flexible working UNW has tempted a former Entrepreneurs' Forum head back into corporate life after joining industry heavyweights like Google in better supporting women in the workplace. hile professional service firms are notorious for not offering a practical work-life balance for women raising families, fast expanding chartered accountants UNW spotted an opportunity to attract marketing and business development expert Nicola Short back to work, to help it review its marketing, brand and overall communications strategy.

Nicola was executive director of the Entrepreneurs' Forum for three years until September last year, when she stepped down to gain a more workable balance between professional life and raising four children.

Newcastle-based UNW – which embraces flexible working and has previously supported women through adoption leave, requested redeployment, and working for the firm as consultants rather than full-time members of staff – quickly spotted an opportunity to lure the marketing specialist (who has previously held senior roles at Sage plc, NGI and

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Newcastle Building Society) back with a parttime head of communications role.

Nicola says: “UNW offered me a fantastic opportunity to work with a fast moving, innovative, entrepreneurial professional

services firm while giving me the flexible balance with my family.

“It's just a lovely relationship with a person and an organisation that like each other, coming together to work with each other.

UNW has grown exponentially in the region and I feel really excited, and value the opportunity, to work with such an experienced group of partners.”

UNW managing partner Andrew Wilson adds: “The professional services sector is not always very good at recognising the need to offer flexible working but we were more than happy to offer Nicola a part-time role to allow her to spend time with her young family and fulfil other commitments.

“Nicola has an excellent network throughout the North East business community and a skill set that is very relevant to us.”

For more information, visit www.unw.co.uk

Not just a game – the perils of Twitter in the workplace

By Alistair Smith, head of the employment law department at BHP Law. n the first case of its kind, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has recently considered the misuse of Twitter by an employee. The employee worked for the gaming store retailer, Game Retail Limited, as a risk and loss prevention investigator. During the course of his employment he opened a Twitter account, primarily intended for private use.

However, he elected to ‘follow’ around 100 Game stores, ironically, in order to monitor inappropriate use of Twitter by other employees.

In turn, the employee was ‘followed’ by 65 of the stores and went on to post a number of tweets that were deemed offensive by another employee, including criticism of golfers, dentists and Newcastle supporters, among others.

Game then dismissed the employee for gross misconduct. Although the employee was initially successful in bringing a claim for unfair dismissal, Game successfully appealed that decision.

The EAT referred to the fact that the offensive tweets could be read by the 65 stores and also by existing customers of Game. At no stage had the employee attempted to restrict his privacy settings

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EXPERT VIEW Alistair Smith Head of employment law department BHP Law Email: AlistairS@bhplaw.co.uk Tel: (0191) 221 0898

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and his account was effectively in the public domain. The EAT also pointed out that the employee had failed to consider having two separate accounts, to help distinguish between private and work views.

In its judgment the EAT also recognised the need to preserve an employer’s ability to remove or reduce reputational risk from social media communications. Interestingly, an employee may still face disciplinary action if harmful comments are made even through a private account.

Although businesses may welcome the decision by the EAT, this case still serves as a timely reminder of the importance of a clear social media policy to assist the understanding of employers and employees.

In today’s interconnected digital world, reputational damage can be done by an employee quite swiftly. Employers should look at protecting their business by introducing clear rules on the use of social media, implementing these with staff and policing the rules fairly to help ensure maximum protection from the damage that can be caused, including having to defend any employment tribunal claims.

LAW & FINANCE Tait Walker’s corporate finance team

Birthday celebrations and success at Tait Walker The corporate finance department at Tait Walker looks ahead to what promises to be another successful year. run of successful deal completions during 2014 signals a prosperous year ahead for North East businesses, according to the corporate finance experts at Tait Walker, which is celebrating its departmental 15th year of business this month.

The corporate finance team assisted with ten high profile deals for local SMEs throughout 2014, providing invaluable advice for businesses across a range of sectors seeking to raise finance, review funding solutions or buy or sell a business.

This renewed sense of optimism comes as the department, headed up by Michael Smith, marks 15 years of providing invaluable support and strategic advice to some of the region’s key businesses and completing a total of 250 deals since establishing the department in 2000.

Tait Walker partner, Michael Smith says: “We are moving into 2015 on a real high. Not only is the firm celebrating a considerable milestone, the mood in the marketplace is improving and the deals completed last year show confidence for the region as a whole. The next tranche of JEREMIE Funding has hugely positive implications, as does the marked increase in the number of banks willing to fund North

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East businesses.”

From assisting North Shields-based Chirton Engineering in its sale to Carrs MI, to advising the management buyout of Newton Aycliffebased JDP Contracting Services Ltd and managing the disposal of Knowledge IT to Onyx Group; the team also advised on the funding of the iconic Assembly Rooms and entrepreneurial Break90 throughout 2014.

Citing growing confidence in the region’s marketplace and improved access to funding as key contributors towards the resurgence in the North East economy, the firm has also seen a healthy appetite for inward investment from outside the region, from UK-based business buyers backed by private equity looking to purchase and build in the North East.

Michael adds: “It’s an exciting time for local businesses and we’re proud to have been able to help a considerable number of the region’s well known firms with deals over the last 15 years – a number of which have gone on to really put the North East on the map.

“From talking to our clients and looking at the corporate finance team’s current pipeline of activity, the future looks very positive, both for Tait Walker and the wider North East.”

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Reflecting its confidence in the region’s deal activity, the firm recently expanded its awardwinning team with a mixture of four new recruits and promotions, most recently welcoming the former chief operating officer at the North East Chamber of Commerce, Chris McCourt, as associate partner. The department now employs six corporate finance specialists, with scope to grow this number throughout 2015.

Andrew Moorby, managing partner at Tait Walker, says: “We are continuously looking at ways to build on our business offering and the corporate finance team is a prime example of how we are striving to do this, across all areas of the business.

“We have built an unrivalled reputation for our corporate finance offering over the years.

This reputation hasn’t been built overnight and it’s thanks to Michael and the team’s hard work we can celebrate where we are today. The client has been, and remains, at the very core of our business and it’s our aim to continue building on this ethos as we move into 2015 and beyond.”

For more information, visit www.taitwalker.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

The Bibby Financial Services team has 60 years’ combined experience in the sector

Matching ambitions with business growth Mike Day discusses how Bibby Financial Services is matching its growth ambitions to that of the region and how 2015 is looking to be a prosperous year for North East SMEs. he North East is an exciting place to be for small businesses in 2015. SMEs in the region are optimistic and ambitious, with recent research from our SME tracker showing that 69 per cent of North East SMEs were expecting sales to increase in the three months to December 2014.

This is further emphasised by recent research from our SME Tracker, which shows that 73 per cent of businesses in the North East are expecting growth over the next three years.

With this in mind, and to support the ambition of our customers, we have consolidated and expanded our own team.

As the newly appointed head of sales for the region, I will be supported by corporate manager Pulin Trivedi; business development managers Michael Horner and Julie Ralph; and Matt Lister as business development executive.

As a team, we have more than 60 years’ combined experience within the financial services sector and are all committed to developing Bibby Financial Services’ presence within the region and supporting existing and new customers.

In addition, alternative sources of funding such as asset-based lenders – including invoice finance – as well as invoice trading platforms, crowd funders and peer-to-peer lenders have come to the fore as workable sources of funding. And, in fact, some of these aren’t even

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very new – Bibby Financial Services’ own invoice finance products have been supporting thousands of businesses for three decades.

Asset-based lending has never been as popular with businesses in the UK as it is today.

According to data from the Asset Based Finance Association, the third quarter of 2014 was the biggest ever for the industry, with the number of businesses using invoice finance up by 12 per cent compared to 2013.

Our wider offering includes tailored solutions for different types of business, depending on their needs, covering corporate, trade, international and construction.

We have a dedicated corporate team that is responsible for developing opportunities for larger transactions and businesses requiring in excess of £1 million funds-out. Since its formation, the team has structured almost 200 deals.

As well as this, due to an increased demand in specific finance options for the construction sector and to complement the working capital needs of sub-contractors, we offer a bespoke construction funding solution. These types of facilities can be used to ensure sub-contractors balance the need for expenditure on material costs and wages with staged payments from main contractors – crucial when new work is coming in.

By releasing funding against uncertified

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applications for payment, the full working capital gap is bridged for the sub-contractor from point of application to point of payment.

This ensures a steady flow of working capital which, given ever lengthening payment terms, is perhaps more critical than ever.

Another important aspect of this bespoke solution is that it is a confidential service carried out by an experienced team who have a deep understanding of the complexities of this sector.

This is in addition to our trade finance offering which was introduced in 1999 and refreshed in 2014 with a new management team with extensive specialised experience.

We now manage facilities locally, offering bespoke services, while providing true international reach through our global network of 46 offices across 16 countries. Customers can also benefit from integrated logistics solutions available through Bibby Distribution.

We pride ourselves on providing a personalised service and becoming a trusted funding partner, knowing that international trade aspirations for two companies are never the same.

For more information, contact Mike Day, head of sales, Bibby Financial Services, North East on 07739 921 446 or email mike.day@bibbyfinancialservices.com.

Pulin Trivedi, corporate manager

Mike Day, head of sales

Julie Ralph, business development manager

Michael Horner, business development manager

Matt Lister, business development executive

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EVENT

Left to right: Jeremy Hargrove, Bill Lomas, Richard Apledale and Mike Bowers

Left to right: John Duns, Rob Fahey & Claire Fahey, and Jamie Douglas

Real Tennis world champions visit Newcastle Left to right: Felicity & Mike Shoesmith, and Gordon Stanger-Leathes

Spectators recently gathered at Jesmond Dene Real Tennis Court to watch the world champions of the original racquet sport in action.

Left to right: Sophie Duns, Vicky Duns and Alex Duns

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Left to right: Henry Mattinson, Theo Penn, Alison & Richard Sanderson

he exhibition match event, which was sponsored by Brewin Dolphin and Williamson Solicitors, saw 12-time men’s real tennis world champion, Rob Fahey, from Australia and his wife, Claire Fahey – the reigning ladies’ real tennis world champion – show great skill and athleticism while demonstrating this fastmoving sport.

They were joined by two-time British amateur champion, and North East-born Jamie Douglas, who displayed great speed around the court.

Real tennis is the original version of the game of tennis and is played on a large indoor court. The Jesmond court on Matthew Bank is one of the best of its type in the world and was built for Sir Andrew Noble in 1894. www.jdrtc.co.uk

Left to right: Charles Penn, Peter de Wesselow, Caspar de Wesselow and Tom Seymour

Alan Douglas and Karen Neill Left to right: Paul Hetherington, Peter Mattinson, Octavia Hargrove and Simon Harris

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Jamie Douglas

Rob Fahey and Jamie Douglas

Rob Fahey

John Duns

World champion Rob Fahey

Rob Fahey

Amateur champion Jamie Douglas

Ladies world champion Claire Fahey

Claire Fahey

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LAW & FINANCE

Funding growth Muckle LLP’s Andrew Cawkwell looks at how businesses can get creative with their funding.

eeking the right funding options for your business can prove a daunting prospect – and it’s often difficult to know which way to turn.

Your first port of call may be the banks for additional capital, but if this isn’t viable then there are the traditional equity funding routes.

Sourcing the right funding is not a one-sizefits-all approach and sometimes there needs to be a more holistic solution.

Here at Muckle LLP, our trusted adviser approach enables us to help clients access more creative funding options. A measure of our success is in the businesses we have supported which have grown and developed.

We have access to a network of alternative lenders, who can help you secure funding in ways you may not have considered.

For example, company directors could use self-invested pension plans (SIPPs) to raise capital for their business by accessing the director's pension fund. Funding can be repaid via loan payments over a fixed term at an agreed commercial rate, providing growth for

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EXPERT VIEW Andrew Cawkwell Partner and Certified Turnaround Professional Banking and restructuring team Muckle LLP Email: Andrew.Cawkwell@muckle-llp.com Twitter: @CompanyRescue

the pension scheme and the new business venture.

One increasingly popular alternative might be crowdfunding, which raises £1700 an hour in the UK. Crowdfunding may be an option as it’s a platform for raising investment, not rewards, and has one of the biggest and fastestgrowing networks of investors.

One of Scotland’s biggest independent breweries, BrewDog, which has a bar in Newcastle, is a great example of how this can work after it reached its £4.25 million crowdfunding scheme target a month ahead of deadline.

There are also alternative lenders for those who don’t have tangible assets, such as machinery. A valuation can be made of a company's registered trademark, for example, and this asset can then be used as loan security.

We’re here to help you make the right decisions on funding and make that process as smooth as possible so you can continue to grow and be profitable.

Sell me the business – if you want the cash!

Jonathan Gold, a founding director of Rivers Capital Partners, shares his insight into the art of selling to secure new capital. f you want investment, you have to ‘sell’ to the investor. All an investor needs you to do is explain how your business works and sell the whole idea. Simples!

As they say – the problem is 90 per cent of people I meet sell me the product, not the business. But at least these people have worked out that they do need to communicate and convince the investor in the first place.

So, how do you start? Well, by doing some research on potential investors. We’re all different and you should read the small print before accepting any offer. The competition is tough, and typically only around one in ten get the capital they need. Don’t think it’s easier as an existing company; it makes no difference, but if you are a start-up then you have more to prove.

Start-ups are more risky. As long as you chase the investors prepared to take such risks you can still get the cash. Just research your options.

Whatever you do and no matter what your business does, the key to raising loans, venture

me, and yes, the detail matters.

Some tips for a clear plan and pitch include:

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• Keep the plan short but detailed; 20 pages is enough plus an appendix • Explain all assumptions you make on the market, sales and growth • Back up all you say with data to help prove it’s possible • Be clear and concise; don't use complicated language • Know your finances and how cash comes in and out, in detail • Tell the story of the business – but this is not an essay competition.

capital or Angel cash is the same: communication. You should have (at least) a five-year plan based on a clear strategy.

Sadly, so many plans and presentations I sit through fail to ‘sell’ it to me. I don't know your business; what’s obvious to you is not obvious to

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Lastly, be sure you understand how it all – including my loan or equity investment – fits into your business. What do you need the money for and how will you give me a return?

For more information, tel: (0191) 230 6370 or visit www.riverscap.com

LAW & FINANCE Paul Woodford is Sinton’s 33rd partner

Promotion at Sintons Law firm Sintons has promoted a personal injury specialist lawyer to partner. aul Woodford has become the Newcastle firm’s 33rd partner, and achieves promotion to partnership after seven years with the firm.

During his time at Sintons, Paul, an industrial diseases specialist, has secured settlements for hundreds of clients across

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the UK. The appointment of a new personal injury partner at Sintons comes at a time of significant expansion and development for the department, which has recently launched a new website www.sintons.co.uk/personal-injury.

Phil Ridley, practice director at Sintons, says:

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“Paul is a very capable and well-respected lawyer who has added significantly to our esteemed personal injury team during his time here. We are very pleased to be able to promote him to partner.”

For more information, visit www.sintons.co.uk

EVENT

Mergers, federations and succession in general practice event Last month, the Royal College of General Practitioners hosted an educational seminar for GPs in Kingston Park.

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epresentatives of more than 50 primary care practices from across the North East have been discussing the best way to manage change within their organisations at an event set up by the Royal College of General Practitioners in conjunction with Lloyds Bank, RMT Accountants & Business Advisors and law firm Sintons LLP. The event reviewed the key financial, legal and accounting issues linked to developments such as mergers, federations and succession planning, and the impact they are likely to have on clinical and financial performance.

Speakers from RMT's Medical & Healthcare group, Sintons LLP’s healthcare team and Lloyds Bank covered a wide range of related topics at the event, which featured a Q&A session after the presentations. www.r-m-t.co.uk

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TECHNOLOGY NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

IT company pledges support for Transplant Games Newcastle-based Technology Services Group supports this year’s British Transplant Games.

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ational IT specialist Technology Services Group (TSG) has pledged its support towards the 2015 British Transplant Games being hosted by the North East this summer.

The Gosforth-based business is one of the first companies confirmed as a sponsor of the Westfield Health British Transplant Games, which is organised especially for those who have had life-saving organ transplant surgery as well as the families of donors.

The 2015 NewcastleGateshead Transplant Games are organised by the charity Transplant Sport and will be held from July 30 to August 2.

Carole Beverley, marketing and communications director at TSG, said:“We’re absolutely thrilled to be involved with such an inspirational event and are very proud to be showcasing our fantastic region to the visiting athletes.

“TSG staff are investing a lot of time and

TSG founder Graham Wylie with supporters of the 2015 NewcastleGateshead Transplant Games

effort into helping the organisers make sure the 38th British Transplant Games will be one of the biggest and most celebrated events in the region this year.

“We are providing expertise in marketing and fundraising along with financial

support. It’s been an exceptionally satisfying experience so far. It’s also a great opportunity for employee engagement and we will be putting a team into the Donor Run along the quayside and asking for volunteers to help with the games.”

Funding secured for mobile health and safety tool

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ateshead-based Logincident has secured a £260,000 investment to develop its breakthrough risk and claims management tool further.

Logincident is a mobile application that acts as both a risk and claims management tool for businesses. The app captures near miss and incident data across all major mobile platforms and can

alert for instant action.

Northstar Ventures provided the majority of the funding for this round (£200,000) via its Finance for Business North East Accelerator Fund, with the remainder being sourced from private investors. The deal was led by Irving Ramsay Limited.

The funding will help drive Logincident’s awareness and growth of its customer

base as well as support the further enhancement of the product.

Rebecca Roberts, investment manager at Northstar Ventures, said: “The app has the potential to help reduce injury to employees, clients and the general public which will be a huge benefit to all concerned. And, of course, it will also bring benefits to companies and their insurers.”

New contract win for Gateshead IT firm

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ateshead-based telecommunications and IT infrastructure firm Advantex Network Solutions Ltd has won an undisclosed five figure contract to supply, install and support The Fat Brewer pub, hospitality training and brewing group with a new high tech telephone system at its sites.

The company has seen strong demand

for cloud-based telephony services over the last year as more and more companies plugin to the cost and operational benefits they provide.

At Fat Brewer, the new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system, which utilises cloud technology, will provide free inter-department calls and significantly reduce costs in line

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rentals and external calls.

Christian Burns, owner of The Fat Brewer Company, said: “Advantex has supplied a great solution using technology that will meet our current and future needs.This will not only provide long-term cost savings but ensure high quality communications are retained as the business expands.”

TECHNOLOGY

Garry Sheriff, managing director of ITPS

The business case for unified communications Garry Sheriff, managing director of Gateshead-based data centre business ITPS, looks at the advantages of moving beyond email and diversifying your communications mix. oday’s IT investments require bottomline, quantifiable truths, and moving to unified communications (UC) is no exception.

So, how do you convince your board of directors that there is a business case for transforming your communications environment by adopting UC and merging voice, data, and video communications into one consolidated architecture, integrated with key business applications?

Businesses already going down the UC road report that the biggest benefits are efficiency improvements. These include removing communications bottlenecks, speeding up business activities, improving individual productivity, and in many cases, seeing a drop in capital expenditure and operating costs.

UC’s flexibility benefits are evident in sectors such as legal services, where the flow of information underpins fee-earning activity. For example, legal executive Joe Smith could begin an interaction with someone on Instant Messenger, then seamlessly escalate that to a phone call, then pick up from his mobile before shifting to a conference call to bring in a third person, and finally share a document for editing.

Traditional communications methods impose barriers by creating telephone tag and

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email chain scenarios, and removing those obstacles makes communication easier and quicker.

Fears around potential problems in having to untangle a web of disparate islands of technology to make them communicate with each other are easily allayed by choosing solutions from leading UC vendors such as ShoreTel. Its IP phone systems use standardsbased modular open architecture that can seamlessly integrate with all major platforms.

The range is designed to cope with anything from one to 10,000 users, and ease of use and ease of management are just a few of the factors behind ShoreTel fast winning market share from its rivals.

Combining UC’s functionality with a cloudbased hosting platform, such as a fully managed service that we provide from our new £4 million data centre, helps businesses by giving them a known cost of ownership, plus a consistent and guaranteed service level and quality of delivery.

For many businesses this can act as a first successful step into implementing cloud services across other parts of the organisation, as they start to see the cost and flexibility benefits of creating an intelligent IT and communications infrastructure that can scale according to needs, for instance, with the

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ability to rapidly bring new sites online, expand, contract or shut down as required.

Rapid deployment of changes and upgrades so the system is always up-to-date, centralised administration, no support charges and better disaster recovery are other big advantages of a hosted UC solution.

Overall, UC delivers greater customer satisfaction and loyalty, and increased business opportunities. For suppliers it means more efficient operations and faster ways to resolve potential issues, while for partners, communications-enabled solutions make the company easier to do business with. Added up, all of these benefits make a compelling case for implementing UC. To achieve the best results, we need to start thinking about communications in a new way.

It is time to look at moving beyond email and towards more productive collaboration throughout the workforce, supplier and customer chain.

UC is not so much a system as it is a way of thinking about the positive impact that the next generation of communications capabilities could have on your business.

For more information, visit www.itps.co.uk, email contact@itps.co.uk or tel: (0191) 442 8300

TECHNOLOGY

Left to right: Mark Jackson, Mick Keeble and Oliver Plumpton

New appointments at Perfect Image The North East-based IT consultancy welcomes two new additions to its team. erfect Image, based on Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside, has announced two top-level appointments, strengthening its senior management team within its managed services division.

Mick Keeble and Oliver Plumpton have both joined the organisation to grow the managed services arm of the business, which specialises in delivering tailored solutions and services to organisations across the UK, helping them to improve their businesses through the effective use of IT. Commenting on the appointments, Andrew Robson, CEO of Perfect Image, says: “We have always offered our customers a true managed service, however, over the last 18 months, many of our customers who already benefit from this offering have suggested we take it to the wider market.

“The decision to grow and strengthen this division of the business has very much been customer-driven.

“I am delighted to welcome Mick and Oliver to the managed services team. With their combined experience and enthusiasm for a truly customer-centric approach to IT infrastructure and delivery, I have no doubt they will play an integral part in the further development of the division. As a team we have ambitious growth targets for the coming year and I am looking forward to seeing Mick and Oliver’s contribution to the ongoing success of the business.”

Mick joins Perfect Image as head of

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managed services with over 20 years’ experience in the IT industry working for large firms across the region. Within his new role, Mick will be responsible for overseeing the growth and development of the division; strengthening relationships with existing clients and taking the company’s unique approach to consultative infrastructure and service delivery to new customers.

Adding to the team, Oliver joins the managed services division as head of service delivery. With an MBA from Durham University, Oliver’s role will see him manage all elements of compliance and implement best practice processes within this arm of the business, while safeguarding the sustainability and scalability of the offering as Perfect Image continues to grow, ensuring customers receive a first-class service.

Andrew Robson continues: “Managed services can mean different things to different people – even in the IT industry. For us at Perfect Image, it means providing a fully supported, end-to-end service across the full IT stack including applications, hardware networks and cloud solutions.

“It also means we continually assess our customers’ business needs, then select the right applications, software and infrastructure from a suite of world-class vendors such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) to ensure they get the most from their IT. It’s not a case of one-sizefits-all solutions, rather making sure the IT strategy is aligned to each individual business’

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needs through a partnership approach with our suppliers.”

He adds: “Our managed services division offers a full portfolio and takes a full life-cycle approach to identifying the right solutions for each individual scenario. With Mick and Oliver’s knowledge and specialist skills, I’m sure this arm of the business will continue to go from strength to strength.”

A managed services approach is at the centre of Perfect Image’s end-to-end IT solutions. From account management – where the consultants aim to understand the customer’s business – to the technical skills of the experts delivering the right IT solutions for clients.

By working with each of its customers in a collaborative and transparent manner, Perfect Image can ensure each client understands how, and why, the recommended solution is the right fit for their business.

Mick and Oliver join Mark Jackson, who was appointed as sales manager of managed services in 2014. Together, Mark and Oliver will report to Mick, creating a three-strong senior management team within the division.

The new appointments take the total head count at Perfect Image to over 70 members of staff, with the company still actively recruiting for a number of different roles within the business.

For more information about Perfect Image, visit www.perfect-image.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY Tara Allen, managing director at Direct Recruitment and Pete Watson, CEO of Atlas Cloud

New cloud recruits Direct Recruitment overcomes the limitations of its dated IT infrastructure by turning to a cloud-based solution. ewcastle-based Direct Recruitment recently moved to the cloud due to an imminent IT refresh and has since enjoyed increased mobility, scalability and data security.

Direct Recruitment, which also trades under Direct Healthcare and the KWA brand, is based in the North East and has almost 30 years of industry expertise.

The company turned to Atlas Cloud, after deciding it wanted to engage a reliable provider to address its increasing IT requirements, including a solution that would overcome its ageing technology infrastructure.

Atlas, which is headquartered in Newcastle and has offices in Leeds and London, increases business productivity and agility by delivering clients’ email, apps and data wherever they are, on any device.

Before moving to the Atlas Cloud solution, Direct Recruitment had contracted an external company to provide its IT. Over time, the business’ hardware had depreciated and become obsolete. Tara Allen, managing director at Direct Recruitment, says: “We were satisfied with our IT provider but our technology became outdated over the years. For example, we were running an

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ageing server in the office that didn’t meet our needs so it was the perfect time to look at alternative solutions.”

Due to the business not having any in-house IT resources available, Tara was keen on handing everything over to a reliable provider and let it take their IT hassle away. This led to the decision to go cloud-based and, after a couple of meetings with Atlas, the choice was made. Tara adds: “I instantly trusted Atlas Cloud; they really care, understood our needs straight away and offered great support throughout the process.”

Overall, Direct Recruitment’s move to the Atlas Cloud was fairly seamless; the staff quickly got used to the solution, thanks to the on-site support offered by the Atlas Cloud team, to ensure a smooth change over.

The business now has increased mobility, as staff are not confined to one single workstation at the office anymore. This makes way for hotdesking and remote working, and also simplifies the company’s 24/7 on-call service, allowing employees to deal with incoming enquiries in real time. In addition, Tara stresses that the business now has the capacity to grow flexibly with price certainty thanks to the scalability of the solution.

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Security was another important factor to be addressed as data – after staff – is the most important asset for any recruitment business and cannot be compromised or put at risk. ISO 27001:2013 certified, Atlas Cloud offers online banking security and ensures that sensitive business and client data is protected.

Furthermore, data is stored in ISO 27001 certified data centres and backed up regularly, providing a solid disaster recovery and back-up solution for Direct Recruitment.

What had the biggest impact on Tara, however, was that Direct Recruitment and Atlas Cloud share their focus on building and nurturing great client relationships. She says: “At Direct Recruitment we take the time to develop real, lasting business relationships based on trust and honest communication. Atlas Cloud operates on the same policy, offering regular reviews and ongoing support to its clients which makes them a competent and reliable business partner.”

For more information, visit www.atlascloud.co.uk, email hello@atlascloud.co.uk or tel: (0191) 283 0191

TECHNOLOGY

State of the art Aimee Robinson looks at what’s new in the world of technology and gadgets.

MICROSOFT HOLOLENS ntroducing the world’s most advanced holographic computer – the Microsoft HoloLens, with no wires, phones or connection to PCs needed. Microsoft HoloLens features see-through holographic high-definition lenses and spatial sound so you can view – and hear holograms – in the world around you.

The device was announced at the launch of Windows 10, shifting from the traditional

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machine centric view of computing to the world’s first holographic computing platform. The new device is also designed to work alongside universal Windows apps that work as holograms in the new operating system.

The HoloLens provides a new view into your reality by recognising what you are looking at and understanding what you are saying. By putting you at the centre of the

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computing experience, Microsoft HoloLens will allow users to create and access information and entertainment, and communicate in new and exciting ways.

Microsoft has indicated that the HoloLens will be ready for the launch of Windows 10 in the coming months, with its price also to be confirmed. www.microsoft.com

WITHINGS ACTIVITÉ POP ne of the leaders in the connected health revolution, Withings, has launched Activité Pop – an analogue watch with a sophisticated activity and sleep tracker inside.

The Activité Pop enables users to track activities such as walking, running and swimming, as well as sleep cycles. Its hands move automatically as it crosses time zones and there is no need to recharge it, as a single watch battery powers it and lasts up to eight months.

The watch comes in three distinctive ‘pop chic’ colours – azure, shark grey and sand, and it’s compatible with Withings free Health Mate app. Priced from £119.95.

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www.withings.com

PANASONIC LUMIX GF7 anasonic’s new compact and light interchangeable lens camera gives you creative freedom without cramping your style.

The easy to use camera is bursting with features, including a hands-free ‘selfie’ mode and 22 filter options allowing you to introduce your own individuality to photographs.

Available in silver and brown, the new Panasonic Lumix adds some serious style to the interchangeable lens camera market. It will be available with a 12-32mm lens from March.

Priced from £429.

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shop.panasonic.com

SONY BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS ony has unveiled a new range of sleek Bluray Disc players – the BDP-S1500, BDPS4500 and BDP-S5500; their style inspired by geometric shapes to compliment your television set, and perfect for any living space.

Turbo-charge your viewing experience with access to a wide range of television streaming services, with a world of shows, music, movies and more to explore thanks to the Sony Entertainment Network. Advanced super Wi-Fi promises stable, glitch-free streaming, and the Super Quick Start mode means boot-up now takes less than a second. Price to be confirmed.

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www.sony.co.uk

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MEDIA NEWS

Newcastle creative agency continues expansion O PR welcomes two new recruits to its team.

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ewcastle integrated PR, digital and creative communications agency O PR is continuing its growth plans with the appointment of two new faces to its team.

Client account manager Caroline Cockburn, 27, and account executive Kayleigh Hepburn, 23, have joined the multi-award winning agency hot on the heels of being awarded the Gold award in the Outstanding Agency category at the CIPR PRide Awards in December.

Caroline brings with her a wealth of experience in consumer communications and will work on PR, digital and creative briefs across a range of national travel and leisure accounts as well as working on a UK-wide brief to promote Northumbria University, Newcastle.

Meanwhile, Kayleigh, who has a BA in Public Relations from The University of Sunderland, will support the client services team across its consumer, B2B and community accounts, executing integrated communications campaigns and liaising with regional and national journalists and bloggers.

O’s new recruits, Kayleigh Hepburn and Caroline Cockburn

clients. They have joined us at an incredibly exciting time following a series of recent account wins and growth for the agency, and will be the first of several new appointments this year as we continue our recruitment drive.”

O PR and Communications managing director Kari Owers said: “Caroline and Kayleigh bring with them the right experience, skills and enthusiasm for the sectors we work in, which will add significant value for our

Marketing networking group launches

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new networking group has launched to bring together the region’s in-house marketing professionals to share best practice.

The new group was set up by Vicki Stone and Julie Brammer, who run their own marketing and PR businesses, and while

recently working together for the same client identified that the North East lacked an informal group where in-house marketing professionals, from managers to executives, could connect with each other to share experiences and learn something new.

The North East Marketing Managers'

Lunch & Learn networking group is holding its next event on Thursday March 26, 12pm2pm at Mckennas at Northern Stage. Guest speakers will include Sarah Thackray and Catherine Coulter from events and conference consultancy, BeaconHouse Events.

New office space for Creative North

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reative North has moved into its new office in Gateshead, complete with a ball pool board table, signal box and slide.

The organisation has a mission to make the north’s creative and digital media sector equal to London…if not better, as founder, Rob Earnshaw explained: “The

north’s Digital industry is the fastest growing outside of London, however rather than dismissing the spirit of industry that built this great region we want to harness it and inspire the next generation to become more creative!”

Commenting on the new office, Rob

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added: “Our productivity has excelled since moving into the new space, mainly because the staff love coming into work.”

Creative North is looking to place 180 young people into creative and digital jobs this year and is well on its way, with 40 already in place.

MEDIA

Ask Silver Bullet Account manager, Richard Hopper, answers your marketing queries.

Q I hear a lot about corporate social responsibility, but will this actually do anything to help my brand?

We, as consumers, are becoming increasingly moral in our purchase decisions and our attitudes to brands. From fair trade and organic to partnered charities, many organisations are embracing this ethical practice through their operations and marketing activity.

We all want to build our brands, develop positive brand attitudes and ultimately brand loyalty. Co-ordinated ethical, community or charitable activity is now becoming an implicit brand-building tool. It sounds quite simple – do something good and people will like you.

However, this all has to be carefully managed in order to maximise the impact on your brand and really differentiate you from your competition.

In recent years we have seen many organisations increasing activity in this ‘ethical’ practice. This may well be philanthropic in nature, however in many cases there will be a business motive driving the ethical project.

These organisations will not deem this activity as ‘marketing’, but it will hold a vital role in their overall marketing strategy.

As we have said before in our #AskSB articles, consumers do not like to feel marketed or sold to. We are bombarded with sales and promotional messages and now community activity and Corporate Social Responsibility is growing as a method of brand building without this ‘sales’ message.

The primary tool in turning this ethical activity into a brand building mechanism is the associated Public Relations (PR). Consumers do actually want to hear about good and charitable work, especially in our local communities. This means through ethical work your target consumer may become increasingly receptive to your PR messages – a stark contrast from a forceful advertising campaign.

With PR, the message is not delivered directly from the business to the consumer; it comes via a third party and can act as an effective endorsement of your activity and of your brand.

The reason that ethical PR has become intrinsic in many organisations’ PR strategies is that it gives the organisation far more to talk about other than their day-to-day operations, opening up the organisation’s message to a much wider audience. Morrisons’ new partnership with the Great North Run, for example, will give it many more PR and marketing opportunities in the increasingly vociferous supermarket war. A solid ethical PR strategy can develop that emotional bond with the targeted audience that really will be of tremendous value to the brand, which Morrisons will be seeking.

There are many benefits to marketers choosing to push community activity, especially in the current economic climate. It is sometimes easier to justify spend on an ethical campaign, which is often more cost effective.

In many cases the returns are more valuable and worthy for the brand when utilising ethical activity.

As with any marketing promotion,

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undertaking a community programme has to be considered. You need to have a fit between your brand and either the company you associate with or activities you are planning. For example, the public perception of a fast food chain supporting a health programme or a moneylender offering a financial advice programme could potentially be controversial and requires careful management in order to be successful.

The best examples of ethical activity are integrated throughout all communications.

British Sky Broadcasting’s ongoing promotion of its work in the Amazon Rainforest, Sky Rainforest Rescue, is an excellent integrated campaign. Sky embraced this through its PR, broadcast programme, van livery and even the Amazon green stripe on Team Sky cyclists’ jerseys in 2011. A co-ordinated marketing campaign based on ethical activity, which has only enhanced the Sky brand.

As with all your marketing, any community activity and PR communication needs to fit with your overall marketing strategy. A fully integrated campaign gives you the best opportunity that your consistent message will be received, understood and acted upon by your target audience.

If you are doing something that you think might be newsworthy and could help your overall marketing campaign or have another marketing question we can help with, talk to us. Email your questions anonymously to us hello@silverbulletmarketing.co.uk or tweet (not so anonymously) @SilverBulletPR and use the hash tag #AskSB

MEDIA

Perfect ten Sarah Hall, managing director of Sarah Hall Consulting Ltd, the PR and marketing consultancy that builds profiles and profits, shares her checklist for keeping your marketing on the straight and narrow throughout 2015.

R and marketing is fundamental to organisational success. Here are ten top tips for ensuring that your comm’s activity is helping to grow your bottom line.

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1. Ensure your website is up to date What’s the first thing you do when you want to know about a product or company? You go straight to the website. How do you feel when it’s poorly designed and the copy is out of date? I generally go elsewhere. Enough said.

2. Get to grips with SEO

4. Check your security settings and do social media housekeeping

8. Build in time for networking

There is nothing worse than losing precious earning time because of a security threat or virus wreaking havoc. Implement two-factor authentication on social networks and disconnect third-party apps you don’t need.

Most people don’t like networking because it requires guts and effort to meet new people and build relationships. The successful people I know choose the events they attend carefully, regularly set up one to ones and then they stay in touch. Don’t forget there are lots of ways to network online too, for example through #northeasthour and others based on location/sector.

5. Refine your stakeholder databases Along with your website, your customer database is arguably your most powerful sales tool. Sadly it’s also one of the ones most frequently neglected.

Set time aside at least quarterly to update and dedupe and consider new ways of leveraging it.

6. Audit all your marketing literature

SEO is a key activity for anyone with an online presence. Don’t neglect it. If you can’t do it yourself, get a specialist to help and always seek a personal recommendation because contrary to expectations, it needn’t cost the earth and the right people will help you upskill, too.

3. Develop your blog and post regularly If you want your website to appear higher in search results, regular blog posts are key and give you fresh content to share on social media platforms. Use your blog to answer questions that your customers are searching for – always keep your audience in mind so content is relevant.

One of the first things we do when working with a new client is audit their marketing materials to see whether it’s all needed, works efficiently and needs updating. Do this and you might find budget can be reallocated elsewhere and/or it’s time to refresh your corporate tone and look.

7. Set measurable goals and evaluate activity properly There is absolutely no point doing any PR and marketing activity if you’re not measuring it because you can’t tell what’s working and what’s not. Even if you’re not able to measure behaviour change and brand awareness, there are some quick and dirty metrics that can keep you on the straight and narrow. And remember that much of the time quality is better than quantity.

9. Join an industry body One of the most rewarding work-related things I’ve ever done is to join the CIPR and serve on its Board and Council to play my part in taking the industry forward. It’s certainly challenged and developed me for the better as a consultant – think about how you could benefit from joining an industry body and make signing up a priority.

10. Commit to give back Life is short and at times we all need a helping hand along the way. I’m grateful to those who give their time when I need support or advice and always try to help when people approach me. Equally, I’m a Trustee for the Sunshine Fund using my skills and networks to help it raise awareness as well as much-needed funds. This type of give back is only right and proper. What could you and your business be doing to help make our society better?

For more information, visit www.sarahhallconsulting.co.uk or follow her on Twitter @Hallmeister

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MEDIA

Kari Owers, managing director of O Communications

Red sofas encouraged people to talk about mental health

Injecting creativity into your internal comms In the heady rush to get all your good messages out to the public, all too often companies forget to ensure their staff are fully engaged with the company’s values, mission and vision, says Kari Owers, managing director of O Communications. was invited to speak last month to a local group of internal communications professionals, all working within large businesses headquartered here in the region.

The theme of the workshop was ‘Creativity in Internal PR’ where I was able to share some of our agency’s campaigns and demonstrate how they might help apply a fresh lens to their workforce communications.

With the advent of social media, a company’s staff is now one of its most valuable owned channels for communication to the outside world. Word of mouth at home or down the pub, what they share on social media, chatter in the canteen or how they interact with the customer is reliant on how much they understand – and are engaged with – the direction the business is moving.

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Here are the five top tips I shared: 1. Lead from the front – the visibility of the CEO to the workforce is of major importance to the success of the company’s internal communications. A chief that walks the floor regularly and makes the effort to talk is one that undoubtedly will have a loyal following.

If a business is multi-site or international, one creative way to make the CEO more

‘present’ is the use of video. Snappy bitesized video messages are just as quick to send from a smartphone as sending an email – which do you think will be better received? That’s right, the video with the human touch, sent as a quick and timely message.

2. Physical still matters in an online world – digital communications are great for speed and mass communication, but successful internal conversations are often better done face to face, especially when a tricky subject matter is at hand.

I demonstrated how we approached this by using bright red sofas in market towns when trying to encourage people to talk about mental health for Time to Change – it’s no different in a workplace, why not have a sofa on the shop floor, or a ‘talking table’ in the canteen? Get people together to talk – it's the best way to get your message across.

3. Keep it simple – in today’s world we have so much choice, so much noise and very little time. Sometimes internal memos, speeches or even newsletters can just get a bit wordy.

Remember the call to action often used in external marketing, drill down your internal communications to the one thing you want

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people to do, think or say differently – and then make it a simple ask.

4. Involve them – if you give your workforce the platform to embrace the company’s aims and be part of it, they will volunteer much more willingly to spread the word. Train your ambassadors in best practice on social media, and try to give them a reason to care enough to get involved.

We did just that when helping Benfield encourage its staff to be part of its social media strategy, by creating a CSR campaign called the Charity Drive. We trained people how to get on board with the campaign on social media, and because everyone has a charity they care about, they willingly supported it.

5. And, finally, if you can ditch the words altogether, just talk in pictures. Video, photography (especially pictures from around the business day to day) and infographics that make the dull or complex more digestible are all creative ways to grab the attention of your people at work.

For more information about O PR visit www.opr.co.uk, call (0191) 232 5690 or follow @oprtweets

MEDIA

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail…

JAM Marketing’s Ayesha Marston on the importance of developing a marketing strategy.

EXPERT VIEW Ayesha Marston JAM Marketing Tel: (0845) 900 2127 Email: info@jam-marketing.co.uk Web: www.jam-marketing.co.uk Twitter: @JamMarketingUK

hen we start working with a new client we are usually surprised that, even with established businesses, many still don’t have a marketing or business plan to work from.

I can understand why it would be put to the bottom of the pile, however, we always advise our clients to at least have a plan in their heads, even if they haven’t got round to putting pen to paper.

So why do we need a plan? Surely, if someone wants to use your services, they’ll come to you? If only that were true…

One of the main reasons you need a plan or marketing strategy is to ensure that your target audience is aware of you and not your competitors.

Lots of business people are scared by the word ‘strategy’, but they needn’t feel this way.

Strategies can be as short as five or six points or as lengthy as a book, it just depends how detailed you require it to be.

How do you start this process, I hear you ask?

Well, the first thing we do is some market research on the clients’ business and that of their competition so we can look in to what they

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do well as a company, and what they don’t do quite as well as they should.

We follow this up with a SWOT analysis, which stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. We encourage as many people as possible to be involved in this, as it is often junior members of staff that can see where things are going wrong, as they are on the coal face, so to speak.

This is quickly followed by a PEST analysis, which stands for political, economic, social and technological – all aspects of which should be thought out and discussed.

With the findings of the market research, the SWOT and the PEST analysis, we then have a better understanding of the business and what it needs to achieve to ensure that its marketing strategy is satisfactory for the company’s needs.

Once the brief has been discussed with the business’ hierarchy, we are then in a position to put together the suggested strategies for the company, both long and short-term, which we present to the client.

It’s definitely not a fait accompli by any means. We present these strategies to the clients and welcome their input – as an external

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marketing company we have to ensure that we are all singing from the same song sheet. We certainly don’t want a ‘them’ and ‘us’ stand-off, so it’s vital that everyone involved gets on board, especially if significant changes are to be made.

Changes aren’t always welcome and some people will fight against them, so it’s important to encourage, support and welcome ideas.

As we work through the marketing strategy, we continually re-assess, as nothing is fool proof and it’s vitally important to challenge the decisions made, as some still may not work.

Marketing isn’t an exact science and even if you have a plan in place, it’s still important to keep an open mind and not be frightened to move the goal posts if something needs tweaking.

That said, the plan is in place for a reason, so it is important to try and follow the structure – all that hard work and preparation should limit the ‘trial and error’ style marketing that many companies typically rely on.

So, my message at the beginning of this little rant – while standing on my soap box – is the same at the end: if you fail to prepare, you shouldn’t be surprised if you fail!

MEDIA

Mediaworks develops creative search campaigns for its clients

It’s not about agency versus in-house anymore…

Creative search agency, Mediaworks, looks at how businesses can best utilise agency and in-house staff to maximise their digital presence.

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ediaworks has long struggled with the age-old challenge of clients asking themselves: “Do I need to bring digital marketing

in-house?”

Usually, it was down to the fact that the work an agency had done was so successful that it had soon become a key part of a client’s business. The client’s natural instinct is to then gain more control by bringing these services in-house. However, more and more businesses are being burned by the digital skills shortage and by trusting their entire online business to an individual whose CV reads well, but who they know very little about.

This was something that always frustrated us at Mediaworks, as at times we became victims of our own success, which is never a good thing!

What we noticed, however, was that this wasn’t even a fight we should be having. When we reviewed our campaigns and looked at agency versus in-house versus a combination of both, it was the combination campaigns that were by far the most successful.

We dug a little deeper into this and identified several key reasons why any business that wants to maximise its online presence, and ultimately take the lion’s share of revenue or leads available in its market via the internet, must have both.

1. We’re expensive labourers. We found that if there is a job that can be done in-house at a more cost effective rate than that of paying an agency, then fine, we’ll train you and help you do it. This has also allowed Mediaworks to focus our time on higherlevel tasks and guide you through the more strategic obstacles the internet can throw your way.

2. We see things as an agency that your inhouse team simply can’t. The way that search engines update their algorithms is becoming more and more erratic and can sometimes be trialled in a niche market before being rolled out across the entire web.

As our team work across 50 to 60 different markets, we can see the changes Google are rolling out months ahead of any in-house team, who would only be focusing on their particular market. This could mean that one day you wake up and a Google tidal wave has hit your site wiping out your online business.

We stop that from happening.

3. We have multi-skilled experts in every area of online marketing. To get the absolute maximum out of your business, you must rely on only the best advice. If you compare it to building a house, and employing a handyman versus a skilled team of expert craftsmen – I know where I’d rather live…

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4. Executives and directors are time poor. We realise you have lots of other things to be doing in order to run your business and when you don’t have any in-house team it’s sometimes tough for us agency folk to get your attention and get things done!

5. Ownership. There is nothing better than having internal champions who love digital dollars like we do at Mediaworks. We pride ourselves, as we’d hope all agencies do, in delivering success for our clients and sometimes you need a champion internally to share those ups and downs and breathe life into a digital marketing campaign, so that the rest of the company sees the wider business benefits.

The points listed above are why we are seeing more and more local businesses coming back to the region to find a trusted partner to support their online business.

We love working with local North East businesses and helping them become as successful as possible. There’s nothing better than being able to sit down face to face and deliver good news while knowing you are making a real difference to a client’s business.

For more information about Mediaworks tel: (0191) 404 0100 or email info@mediaworks.co.uk.

STYLE

Get the look Fashion and accessories for men.

By Jessica Laing.

Marks & Spencer, £25

John Lewis, £79

Debenhams, £35

Office, £64.99 ove them or hate them, pastel shades make their grand return to the world of fashion (including menswear) this spring, injecting softness and gentle brightness into every outfit, whatever the occasion. Stuck on colours? If sorbet shades of orange, mint or yellow feel too daring this early on in the year, why not sport blue instead – the versatile, flattering and forever masculine colour that adds boyish charm to a range of outfits and lends itself perfectly to work wear. Smart and sophisticated gentlemen are encouraged to wake up their suits (the darker the better – especially black and charcoal grey) with the help of powder blue accents to add pops of soft, spring-inspired colour and eye-catching contrast. While ties and pocket squares do the job perfectly if you’re feeling or needing to be particularly formal, for the more casual types, a thin, baby blue jumper worn underneath a dark, tailored blazer works just as well.

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MODEL ATTIRE Corsivo charcoal check suit jacket, £230 Corsivo waistcoat, £55 Corsivo trousers, £120 New & Lingwood paisley silk tie, £40 New & Lingwood grey pinstripe shirt, £79 All from House of Fraser’s Spring 2015 Collection

House of Fraser, £40

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WORKSPACE & CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Patrick Parsons expands hotel portfolio The engineering firm moves forward with a renovation project in Newcastle.

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ulti-disciplinary consulting engineering firm, Patrick Parsons, has been appointed to provide a range of engineering services for a new hotel in Newcastle city centre, building on its expertise in this sector.

Newcastle-headquartered Patrick Parsons was commissioned by developer Kier Property to work on the 222 room Motel One, on High Bridge Street, which is on course to be completed in late autumn.

The firm is heavily involved in the development of the £13 million boutique hotel – following successful operations in Edinburgh, Aldgate and soon to be opened Manchester, for the German hotel chain – and is providing structural, civil and geoenvironmental services, including the design of a multi-storey steel frame with metal decking for the new part of the building.

Due to its setting within a conservation area of the city, the refurbishment of the existing building has been carefully developed to take the existing archaeology

The new hotel is being built on High Bridge Street

and original features into account.

Bruce Horsburgh, associate director of structures at Patrick Parsons, said: “We have already worked on a number of high-profile hotel projects around the UK, so we’re pleased to have been appointed as

project engineers for this exciting new hotel right on our doorstep.

“Motel One will no doubt be an excellent addition to Newcastle’s thriving hotel sector, so we’re delighted to be playing a key role in this project.”

Naylors to market £3m Maling Exchange development

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aylors’ office agency team has been appointed as sole letting agent on Hoults Yard’s £3 million office hub, the Maling Exchange.

The redevelopment project will breathe new life into a former jam jar factory, which was vacated over 75 years ago by former occupiers, Maling Pottery.

The property sits in front of the existing Hoults Yard business village and media hub in the heart of the Ouseburn Valley. Work is already underway to convert the warehouse into 40 customised offices catering for small businesses and move-on accommodation for bigger and expanding firms.

Simon Taylor, head of office agency at

Naylors said: “The development will address a shortage of innovative work space for new and expanding firms within the rapidly growing creative and tech sectors in the North East.There is very little commercial space like this on offer and it is already proving popular with a high level of inquiries coming in.”

HTA Real Estate assists investment acquisition

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TA Real Estate has acted on behalf of CRT Property Investments on an investment acquisition at New York, North Tyneside.

CRT Property Investments Ltd, the property investment subsidiary of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, purchased a 37,700 sq ft unit, situated on the popular

New York Industrial Estate in North Tyneside.

Working with commercial property agents, HTA Real Estate and Blue Marble Properties, CRT Property has taken ownership of this modern unit having agreed the purchase with Knight Frank in Newcastle, acting on behalf of vendor Hansteen.

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Property investment and development director, Shaun O’Brien said: “The purchase of the New York Industrial Estate unit fulfils our criteria twofold; not only do we establish an important income for the delivery of our regeneration projects, but we are also investing directly into one of the regions that we support.”

PROPERTY

GFW Research is a useful tool that assesses key topical trends

GFW Research brings key information to light George F White’s dedicated team analyses key issues within the market to assist clients in making business, land and property choices. eorge F White is an established land and property consultancy that’s been in business for over 30 years.

With its heritage firmly rooted in the North East, the business has experienced continued growth and, as a result, has been able to expand nationally across the UK. This success, according to the company’s managing partner, Robyn Peat, is down to being able to offer specialist, informed advice to clients and provide clarity and direction to help people make the right choices.

“Being able to provide informed advice only results from completely understanding the markets and industry that you work in,” explains Robyn, who has been at the firm for 26 years. “We are able to provide detailed knowledge and help to educate clients because of our understanding of the market, industry issues and specialist know-how. This is completely derived from the people that work across the business. By giving the right tools to excellent people – the team – we can give the right guidance and support to clients.”

Robyn continues: “One really useful tool that we provide is GFW Research, a dedicated team that delves into, and analyses, key issues

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within the market and assesses key topical trends.

“With each piece of research, a detailed report is produced that is there to provide useful content to the team who assist clients in making business, land and property choices.

The business is truly consultancy led in its approach – advising and directing people from the beginning of a decision-making process through to the end. Longevity in business is vital and I believe the only way this can be achieved is by focusing entirely on your people – offering them opportunities and development as well as good, solid resources, such as our research provision.”

GFW Research covers the whole spectrum of rural and urban property. The research arms the team with evidence-based facts that they can discuss with clients when helping them shape and guide a decision. The provision of fact-based advice and opinion enables the business to provide a new dimension to business consultancy, differentiating it from the range of advice options available in today’s marketplace.

Sally Hart, head of communications at the firm, explains: “Each research project is carefully considered, planned and aligned to

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our clients’ requirements. In a lot of cases, our research brings to light market trends and issues that people are not even aware of, but definitely should be, and this is always the main aim when deciding what research initiative to undertake.”

Sally adds: “A recent piece of research we did, for example, focused on pylon damage and disturbance compensation. The research looked at the fact that electricity distributors may offer landowners one-time only payments to obtain permanent rights to keep pylons on land which many landowners take without realising just how much extra compensation they’re entitled to. Our research showed that, overall, the compensation amount payable could actually be much higher than the current amounts being issued for permanent rights – and this is what we wanted to make our clients and other landowners aware of. The research has proved useful to our team who have been advising those facing such issues around pylons and oversail on their land.”

For more information about GFW Research, visit www.georgefwhite.co.uk/research or contact Sally Hart, head of communications, at sallyhart@georgefwhite.co.uk or tel: (01665) 603 231.

PROPERTY

London prices force investors north Neil Hart, director at Bradley Hall, shines a spotlight on the North East’s commercial property market. ast year was a boom period for Europe’s commercial property sector. New research shows that demand for real estate in Paris, buoyant UK and Germany markets and strong private equity interest in Ireland and Spain saw deals reach their highest level since the financial crisis began in 2007.

The figures are impressive. According to the report by research firm Real Capital Analytics (RCA), there were €213.1 billion (£158.6m) of commercial real estate transactions in 2014 – a 13 per cent rise on the previous year.

Commercial sales in Britain rose 16 per cent but this growth wasn’t driven by a buoyant London market. Real estate sales in the capital actually fell by three per cent last year, as high prices led investors to regional markets such as Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Glasgow.

Before the financial crash, the UK property market boom was driven mainly by London and the south east, but the RCA research highlights a welcome deviation from that trend. Now growth has been dispersed throughout the regions, with investors

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discovering that there are better bargains to be had in places such as the North East.

Even in the boom times, the North East market was reasonably priced and far removed from some of the inflated values seen in the south of the country. For that reason, when the financial crash came, this region was less adversely affected than London and the south east.

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After a challenging few years, the North East has seen steady, sustainable growth across all markets, particularly the industrial, retail and office sectors. New research by the Office Group of agents (of which Bradley Hall is a member) showed that 2014 provided the region’s office market with its best year for four years.

In all, just under 800,000 sq ft was let across out-of-town and Newcastle city centre markets – but that in itself has led to a shortage of space. The diminishing availability of Grade A stock is driving up rental values, although there are still plenty of good deals on the table for savvy investors who shop around.

The shortage of high-value stock is a problem that needs addressing, though.

Significant investment in new office developments is required – a move that would create jobs and wealth and boost the regeneration of the region.

For more information, visit www.bradleyhall.co.uk or call (0191) 232 8080

RURAL

Clockwise from left: Caroline Dickinson, Sir Hugh Blackett, Ed Beaumont and the DJ & SJ Recycling site

Rural business – keeping our countryside ‘vital’ Willy Browne-Swinburne from Rural Solutions looks at what the Rural North East is bringing to the region’s economy and talks to the real movers and shakers in rural diversification. ith over 75 per cent of our region’s land mass classed as rural, it is amazing how little acknowledgement our rural entrepreneurs get. These people dispel the myth that life outside the major conurbations is a sleepy, agricultural idyll for the town folk to drive to and admire.

In the North East, despite all the limitations of broadband, mobile reception and red tape, we are lucky to have some real rural business heroes – they take big risks, they work incredibly hard and employ substantial workforces. Here are just a few…

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Caroline Dickinson – Brocksbushes Fruit Farm, Farm Shop and Tea Room

pomposity. But in the spirit of his exceptionally progressive forebears he has turned his estate into a model of dynamism.

For years a Cheshire home, he realised the vast and dry rot ridden house was not what any right minded hotel chain would consider. So he did it himself.

Now the Matfen Hall Hotel and Golf Course is one of the region’s finest, winning the North East Hotel of the Year in 2014. Now employing over 200 staff, he and his wife, Anna, have mastered the careful balance of maintaining and preserving some wonderful heritage assets while also growing a fantastic business.

Charles & Ed Beaumont – Trees Please

green waste licensed composting operation) and a state of the art agricultural contracting business together with an organic wastes recycling business operation dealing with major companies based in northern England.

Furthermore, with other interested parties, they have built the first anaerobic digester in the Tyne Valley. Five years in the making, the project successfully went live in December 2014.

The group now provides full and part-time employment for 14 people and employment for innumerable local and not so local contractors.

A balanced approach

Caroline has built the Brocksbushes brand into a major North East destination.

She and her late husband Billy started with a fruit picking business and have built a business which now employs nearly 40 people, attracts over 100,000 customers a year, and all this, despite the fact that green belt policy has prevented her from any proper development of her facilities.

What she has in energy is matched by her stoic patience and determination to make this great business grow.

Trees Please is situated on the south side of the Tyne at Corbridge. Farmers at heart, Charles and Ed spotted a gap in the market for wholesale nursery trees 15 years ago.

They now have a team of over 30 people and sell over seven million trees per year all around Europe from their growing stock of over 20 million. A global brand, on a farm in Corbridge – hardly your rural stereotype!

Dan, Sally & James Enderby – DJ & SJ Recycling

All these business heroes live and work in the countryside, and with that they understand the importance of balance. A balance that looks at the countryside as a progressive and flexible working environment while understanding that they ‘don’t make it anymore’ and caring is as important as exploiting.

At Rural Solutions we, too, understand that sense of equilibrium. The balancing act between the respect of what is our most precious and limited resource – land – and the importance of vitality in the countryside is fundamental to our approach.

Sir Hugh Blackett – Matfen Estates

The family have developed a diversified set of rural businesses which includes a home farm (incorporating a successful horse livery and

For more information email wbs@ruralsolutions.co.uk or tel: (01756) 769 199

Sir Hugh is the antithesis of baronial

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PROPERTY Rook Matthews Sayer markets some of the region’s finest properties

Oh so fine North East-based estate agency Rook Matthews Sayer has re-launched its luxury Fine Living brand, which specialises in the sale of beautiful properties worth over £500,000. Marketing manager, Georgie Scott-Batey tells us more…

First of all, what is Fine Living?

What’s changed?

Fine Living is Rook Matthews Sayer’s luxury brand, which specialises in the sale of exceptional homes with a high market value.

As one of the region’s leading estate agents, Rook Matthews Sayer is appointed to market some of the finest properties in the North East, including prestigious bespoke apartments, luxury city homes, large country houses, letting complexes, equestrian homes and small sporting estates.

Our Fine Living clients benefit from a tailored individual marketing plan that is designed specifically for the sale of these types of properties.

We have brought it up-to-date with a contemporary and stylish look, a new logo and a full suite of supporting marketing material to show these homes off in the light they deserve.

What’s the history behind the Fine Living brand?

Fine Living was originally created eight years ago by one of our founding directors, Rod Matthews, to offer an additional, exclusive service for homes exceeding a value of £500,000.

Fine Living prospered for years, but then as the housing market slowed – particularly the sale of higher value homes – we also slowed activity associated with the brand.

The market is moving again and we have seen lots of encouraging signs within the property sector generally. In response to this heightened activity, we have, in turn, invested heavily in re-establishing our Fine Living brand.

Describe the typical Fine Living client.

A typical Fine Living seller would have an exceptional property to sell that is worth over £500,000.

Meanwhile, a Fine Living buyer would be looking for a home to buy that is unique and a rare find. These properties tend to be hidden gems that rarely come onto the market. Most of these buyers are looking for their perfect ‘forever home’.

Tell me more about the brand’s relaunch…

We re-launched Fine Living last month, on Valentine’s Day, with the message ‘Fall in Love with Fine Living’, which quite frankly is very hard not to! At 5pm, all the branches, together with our head office, enjoyed a delivery of Rose fizz and we all collectively raised a glass to toast our beautiful new brand.

To coincide with the re-launch, we are offering all new Fine Living customers, who are selling a home that would fit within this offering, a complimentary advertising campaign in the press and social media.

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What does Fine Living offer, that isn’t currently available elsewhere?

Fine Living offers sellers an established service to sell their home successfully. We have a specialist team of Fine Living managers and valuers who each have over 15 years’ experience in this business. They have expert knowledge of this high-end market, having worked with these types of properties for many years.

We are now providing sellers with a new and improved service, and an eye-catching brand that buyers and sellers are ‘falling in love’ with.

We are receiving a lot of interest from our registered househunters who are searching for properties of this type, and from new sellers who would love to sell their home using this exclusive brand.

What are your plans for the rest of 2015?

We will be investing heavily in the refurbishment of our offices, especially the Fine Living offices, to ensure that we can showcase each and every home, using the latest marketing displays available.

We have also been working hard on our marketing, including our new responsive website which launches this spring – 2015 is going to be an exciting time for Rook Matthews Sayer!

For more information, visit www.rookmatthewssayer.co.uk

PROPERTY Ben Hunter and Richard Farrey, directors at Silverstone Building Consultancy

Planning a building or construction project?

Richard Farrey of Silverstone Building Consultancy advises on how to ensure your commercial building project runs smoothly. mbarking on a commercial property build or renovation project can be a daunting task for many business owners. How will you ensure all aspects of the project run smoothly and continue to manage the day-to-day needs of your business?

Good project management and a planned, organised approach is the foundation of a successful building project. Instructing a chartered building surveyor to act as project manager should be high on your list of priorities and the earlier they are involved in the project the better.

Appointing a project manager who can expertly manage the client and contractor relationship throughout, with the ultimate goal of achieving the client’s objectives, will be an excellent investment that saves you time and money in the long run.

A good chartered building surveyor will have the experience and depth of knowledge to advise and assist with all aspects of the build process from the outset including: design, procurement, planning, budget, contractors and other specific areas to ensure the project is delivered on time and within budget.

Some of the key benefits of instructing a surveyor as early as possible include:

• The ability to identify potential snagging issues that may have been overlooked by the client in haste to finish the project • Keeping the project on target and ensuring works are completed to the client’s satisfaction at each stage of the project.

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• Managing timescales and budgets to meet the client’s expectations • Understanding and implementing the client’s brief

Gestamp Tallent's £8 million car manufacturing facility

• Applying value engineering techniques to consider the client’s budget • Expert knowledge of building regulations, health and safety, sustainability, boundary and party wall issues • Management of communications between the client and contractor to ensure exacting standards and specifications without conflict of interest • A good working knowledge of the best contractors with a proven track record and best suited to the type of project • A sole point of contact who will manage client, design team, project team and site meetings on your behalf

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Silverstone Building Consultancy has experience ranging from managing small but complex refurbishments to large-scale, multimillion pound design and build schemes and everything in between.

Silverstone acted as project manager for Gestamp Tallent’s £8 million new build factory in Newton Aycliffe, which won best commercial development project at the RICS North East Renaissance Awards in 2013. The development, known as Plant 5, comprises an 185,000 sq ft state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing facility providing a significant extension to Gestamp’s existing facilities.

Silverstone is therefore well placed to advise anyone considering embarking on a commercial new build or renovation project and involving a chartered building surveyor as soon as you have an idea of works to be undertaken and budgets available, comes recommended. You will then be in the best position possible to ensure the project runs smoothly for all parties involved.

For more information tel: (0191) 231 4263 or visit www.silverstonebc.com

L E I S U R E & H O S P I TA L I T Y N E W S An artist’s impression of what Hampton by Hilton Newcastle will look like when completed

Luxury hotel set to create 60 new jobs Newcastle’s newest city centre hotel, Hampton by Hilton Newcastle, will open its doors next month.

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completion.

The 160-bedroom hotel, which is the first Hampton property in Newcastle and the 14th in the UK and managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts on behalf of Baron House Hotel Limited, will create up to 60 jobs when

it opens for business on April 3, 2015.

When complete, the eight-storey building, which replaces Baron House, will officially open its doors to a number of guests, from couples and business travellers to a number of competition winners who have already won the chance to be amongst the first to stay there.

Facilities at the new hotel, all of which will

be open 24 hours a day, include a bar and lounge, a gym and a dedicated work area.

Commenting on the new hotel, general manager, Paolo Franchi, said: “The team has led a multi-million pound makeover of the former Baron House building and we are proud to be a part of the revitalisation of the Newcastle Central Station area, which welcomes thousands of people into the city every day.”

Thank Frankie it’s Friday

Built with community in mind

A year of success

ork on Hampton by Hilton Newcastle, situated on Neville Street, opposite Central Station, is nearing

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ead of Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events at St James’ Park, Frankie Angus, has introduced a new special offer for corporate clients. Designed to give delegates a range of perks to enjoy at the end of their working week, the new ‘Thank Frankie’ package, which costs from £25 per delegate, includes hot drinks and pastries on arrival, mid-morning beverages and biscuits and a hot and cold finger buffet. In the afternoon, guests will also be able to enjoy free on-site parking, pre-booked Wi-Fi and event stationery.

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esigner, Wayne Hemingway, returned to the Gateshead-based housing development he helped to design last month to officially open Staiths Café and Bar. Situated on Staiths South Bank, the venue, which is run by Mark Hodgson and Suzanne Hutton, is set to become the heart of the Staiths community, operating as a shop, art gallery and event space, as well as a café.

Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway originally designed the building as a community space when they collaborated with house builder, Taylor Wimpey.

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urham-based events company, Oldfield Events, which joined forces with Seaham Town Council to provide firstclass hospitality at Seaham Town Hall, is celebrating a successful start to the joint venture. The Town Hall, which is a result of a £1 million investment by the town council, opened last year at Seaham Town Park as a versatile events space and, as a result of the partnership, has already played host to a number of events, including concerts, seasonal events and celebration days.

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY Seaham Hall plays host to a range of business events

The corporate allure of Seaham Hall Renowned as the destination of choice for brides-to-be and spa devotees alike, Seaham Hall is also making a name for itself in the business world, as general manager, Ross Grieve, explains. mart, sophisticated and enviable – that’s how Seaham Hall’s general manager, Ross Grieve, describes the corporate service and facilities on offer at the five-star boutique hotel.

Boasting a cliff top location amidst 37 acres of landscaped gardens, Seaham Hall, which dates back to the 1700s, regularly hosts an array of corporate events and functions; from high-profile car launches and bustling conferences to press launches, boardroom meetings and action packed team-building days.

Corporate users form a key part of Seaham Hall’s business model, complementing its hotel, wedding and spa-based clientele and helping to support the venue’s mid-week strategy. Ross says: “The layout of the hotel means that we can combine leisure guests, spa goers and business meetings discreetly without any disruption to other guests enjoying the facilities.”

The venue boasts a mix of well appointed function rooms, with an excellent choice of outdoor and indoor breakout areas, too, including a stunning terrace.

With its beautiful floor to ceiling Georgian windows, the venue’s Ballroom enjoys plenty of natural daylight with sea views and can accommodate up to 120 delegates, theatre style. The Courtyard, meanwhile, is an airy two-storey atrium featuring a vaulted glass ceiling and marble floors, and is a versatile

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space that can provide the striking backdrop to a daytime event or an early evening business soirée.

If you’re after a space that makes for an interesting talking point among delegates, then The Byron Room should come top of your list.

In 1815, this room played host to the wedding of romantic poet, Lord Byron, and Annabella Milbanke. Nowadays, it can be used for meetings of up to 40 people.

As for The Annabella Room, this offers pleasant views of the garden and is ideal for smaller, private meetings.

Aside from its history and beautifully presented facilities, what makes Seaham Hall stand out against other corporate destinations in the region? Ross says: “In addition to our iconic setting on a cliff top overlooking the dramatic Durham heritage coast line, Seaham Hall offers a sublime personal service, so our corporate conference organisers don’t have to worry about the detail.”

It’s not all about delegate packs, flipcharts and keynote speeches, though – sometimes, a more informal yet memorable rendez-vous is called for, and a business lunch, set in the impressive surroundings of Byron’s Bar & Grill, promises to deliver just that.

Commenting on Seaham Hall’s newly launched business lunch, Ross says: “We are surrounded by many local businesses, both in Seaham and the surrounding area who have the need to meet in a convenient place over

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lunch, or for a quick one-to-one meeting or simply an area to catch up on emails with access to complimentary Wi-Fi.” Ross adds: “Food and service is, of course, vital so we ensure that our business associates using Byron’s Bar & Grill at lunchtime experience quality food and service – all delivered within an hour.”

And for something altogether different – team-building days are the choice du jour for companies looking to reward staff, as well as build morale among their team, and Seaham Hall caters for this growing business need.

Seaham Hall’s coastal location lends itself perfectly to this type of pursuit, as Ross explains: “Not only can we offer team-building within our 37 acres – including activities such as duck herding, falconry, laser clay shooting and treasure hunts to name just a few – we also work closely with nearby Sharply Golf, Fishing and Sports who can provide an exhilarating day of golfing, mud buggies, quad biking and off road 4 x 4 driving.”

Always seeking new opportunities to meet the evolving needs and expectations of its corporate clients, Seaham Hall will be unveiling additional meeting space later this spring. Ross enthuses: “It will put an interesting spin on meetings that we are very excited about – watch this space!”

For more information about Seaham Hall, visit www.seaham-hall.co.uk

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Understated luxury Jessica Laing enjoys an overnight stay at Eslington Villa.

’ll admit, my partner and I were in two minds about spending the night – our cherished Friday night – at Eslington Villa.

I had visited the hotel a few months before, this time to sample its award-winning cuisine (by far some of the best food to have ever passed my lips in a restaurant), but not once had I ever considered spending the night there.

Tucked away in an unassuming area of Low Fell (I advise taking a precautionary Sat Nav if you aren’t familiar with the area), the familyowned and ran hotel, which is one of Gateshead’s most esteemed venues, is a

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popular haunt among the middle-aged and silver-haired, known and loved for its hushed ambience and smart, yet homely, interior.

Quiet, secluded and slightly on the oldfashioned side, I doubted whether the place could compete with some of Newcastle’s livelier, more contemporary city centre hotels and offer two 23-year-olds (teenagers, in comparison to its customary clientele) a funpacked Friday evening.

Nevertheless, with the mouth-watering memories of my last visit in mind, we found ourselves pulling up to the hotel around

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6.30pm, an hour before our dinner reservation, in the faint hope that, perhaps, it might just prove us wrong.

After a warm greeting from reception and exchanging smiles with a group of pearl-draped older women on their way to the lounge area, we were shown to our room.

One of the hotel’s 18 individually decorated bedrooms, all of which are designed and styled to suit a range of tastes, the ‘Poplar’ room (one of the hotel’s superior bedrooms) was ours for the night – and, to our surprise, what an impressive room it was.

While my partner explored the immaculate en-suite bathroom, which is far larger and considerably more modern than we expected (think floor-to-ceiling tiles, soft spotlight lighting, an ample bathtub and one hell of a power shower), I took pleasure in inspecting the bedroom.

For such a modestly sized space, I found it incredibly inviting: basic, but effortlessly charming, oozing with the kind of comfort and cosiness that makes you feel right at home.

The impeccably dressed double bed, complete with fresh cotton bed linen, a tasteful throw (which, on this particularly chilly winter evening, proved to be just as useful as it was decorative) and chic, stag-embossed pillows that I wanted to take home with me (I didn’t), was a particularly pleasant discovery.

Set against a feature wall, adorned with gold, woodland-inspired wallpaper (I would’ve liked to have taken this home, too), it is certainly the room’s best feature, although the facing bay windows, which provide breathtaking views of the hotel grounds and, in the distance, Team Valley, come a close second.

After a swift change of clothes, we ventured downstairs to the restaurant for our evening meal. By far the heart of the hotel, the intimate, award-winning eatery is praised for plating up a varied range of sophisticated, yet unpretentious, dishes with an emphasis on local produce and a nod and a wink to classic French cuisine.

Despite having a 7.30pm reservation, we

were seated in the connecting lounge area – essentially a living room, comprising cream sofas, coffee tables, a fireplace and a vintage mahogany bar – for a good 15 minutes to kick back with a drink and make our choices from the evening menu.

After much deliberation and salivation, I began with the heirloom carrot salad; a medley of crisp mixed leaves, tangy beetroot ribbons and fresh carrot shavings, tossed together with salty, crumbled feta cheese, a garlic crumb and a light drizzle of balsamic. I’ll confess, it was probably the first salad I’d ordered in years, but ended up being the perfect choice: sweet, salty and bursting with palette-awakening freshness.

My partner, meanwhile, settled on an oriental-inspired concoction of soft egg noodles and tender duck, doused in a punchy, hoisin-esque sauce, which he devoured at lightning speed (always a good sign – especially for a guy who isn’t a huge fan of Chinese food).

Moving on to mains and, while he tucked in to sirloin steak, accompanied by a mild horseradish butter and rustic, home-style chips, I opted for the slow-cooked shin of beef, served with spinach, sweet pomme puree and a sprinkling of crispy duck fat crust for extra crunch.

To my delight, the meat arrived smothered in rich, jus-like gravy and cooked to perfection: charred somewhat on the outside, with a meltin-the-mouth centre that made my eyes roll with satisfaction.

Never people to skip dessert, my partner

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rounded off his meal with baked vanilla cheesecake (served with sharp apple puree, miniature donuts and a scoop of cinnamon ice cream), while I demolished a slice of the moist banana bread, served with a slick of thick and delectable caramel sauce and an inventive ‘dark chocolate krunchie’ topping, guaranteed to bring out the chocoholic kid in anyone.

After an undisturbed night’s sleep, we ended our stay the following morning with a pot of tea, a helping of buttery croissants and two flawless full English breakfasts (the best we’ve ever had) – the perfect way to round off a faultless overnight stay.

Combining unpretentious luxury and fivestar food that appears to only get better with every visit, Eslington Villa offers fantastic value for money for everyone, regardless of how long you stay, whether you’re visiting for business or for pleasure, or as we found out, how old you are.

Fancy feeling rested, contented and well fed? Then I urge you to pay this place a visit – a hotel I thought I’d never visit, to a hotel at which I’d gladly stay again and again.

Double occupancy from £79.50 to £110; single occupancy from £69.50 to £94.50.

Rates include full English breakfast and VAT. Corporate rates available.

Eslington Villa, 8 Station Road, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE9 6DR. For bookings, tel: (0191) 487 6017 or visit www.eslingtonvilla.co.uk

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Top hotelier is having a ball A leading North East hotelier is hoping to boost a charity’s coffers, with the return of one of the region’s most prestigious fundraising events... n Friday April 24, Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield will welcome hundreds of the North East’s business leaders and socialites for the Lobster Charity Ball 2015.

Now in its tenth year, the black-tie event is the brainchild of hospitality entrepreneur John Adamson, who owns both Hardwick Hall and Ramside Hall Hotel, County Durham.

Earlier this year John was publicly thanked for a £55,000 contribution to Stockton’s Butterwick Hospice Care and is hopeful that this latest function could raise even more.

John says: “Supporting the region’s charities is something that I feel very strongly about. I’m proud that we have already been able to make a real difference to a variety of amazing organisations.

“I hope that attendees at this year’s Lobster Charity Ball will have a fantastic time and give generously in support of another very worthy cause.”

Proceeds from the Lobster Charity Ball 2015, compered by North East comedian and

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The Lobster Ball is now in its tenth year

TV entertainer, Brendan Healy, will be donated to Stockton-based charity, Daisy Chain, which provides a safe, fun and friendly environment for children and families affected by autism.

Throughout the evening guests will be able

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to enjoy a wide range of entertainment, headlined by R&B sensation Jocelyn Brown, including live performances by pop and soul group, Black and White, and big band Musicians Unlimited.

There will also be a fashion show by Durham-based retailers Woven and Sorella, with a four-course, gourmet surf and turf feast created by the award-winning chefs from the Rib Room Steakhouse and Grill.

John adds: “The line-up for this year’s ball has been specifically designed to cater for a wide range of attendees, including those who use the event as a way of entertaining corporate guests, and it’s sure to be a memorable evening.”

Tickets for the Lobster Charity Ball, priced at £145 + VAT per person, include a champagne and canapé reception, access to a Taittinger Champagne Bar and complimentary wine, lager and beer throughout the evening.

For more information call (01740) 620 253 or email info@hardwickhallhotel.co.uk

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

The Stadium of Light plays host to a range of events

Stadium of de-light Football isn’t the only item on the menu at the Stadium of Light throughout 2015... ood, footballers and music’s biggest acts are promising a year to remember at the home of Sunderland AFC. Top flight football often takes the accolades at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light but there is more on offer at the award-winning venue, with a host of events taking place.

Renowned as one of Europe’s finest football stadiums, the Stadium of Light has also established itself as one of the North East’s leading venues, building a tremendous reputation as a market leader in the hospitality and events industry.

This year the Stadium of Light will be a hotbed of activity, from high-profile concerts featuring Foo Fighters and a host of other big name stars, to the annual University of Sunderland graduation ceremonies, countless weddings and more.

Behind the scenes, the stadium’s management team and subsidiary, 1879 Events

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Management, will be hard at work ensuring 2015 is the hottest year yet for corporate events.

The venue’s versatility, accessible location and ability to cater effectively for up to 1000 guests, means it is in constant demand for everything from proms and product launches, to conferences, meetings and staff training days.

Every event is approached with the same gusto and dedication to delivering a high standard of service – and it’s this attention to detail which has helped keep the Stadium of Light at the top of the league.

Alongside the Stadium of Light, 1879 Events Management also provides the catering and events operation at the National Glass Centre, where it manages private events, as well as the centre’s public Brasserie.

It has also managed a wide range of external events at sites across the North East including

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LGBT festival, Newcastle Pride, where it catered for more than 65,000 people in 2014, as well as South Tyneside music festival, Sound Waves.

In the summer of 2014, 1879 was able to build on this experience with the launch of its first, wholly-owned venue, The Beach House, Roker.

2015 is set to be a busy year for the Stadium of Light and 1879 Events Management, and one they are looking forward to.

For more information visit www.thestadiumoflight.com, follow @StadiumofLight or like www.facebook.com/StadiumOfLight.

To find out more about 1879 Events Management, visit www.1879events.com, email info@1879events.com, call (0871) 911 1269 or follow @1879Events.

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Add a touch of Cinnamon this Mother’s Day The Cinnamon Club in County Durham is serving up a specially crafted menu this Mother’s Day. his Mothering Sunday, on March 15, the Cinnamon Club – led by owner Sabir Ahmed – is aiming to not just please, but to thrill on what is the restaurant’s first ever Mother’s Day celebration.

With its chic, luxurious décor and stylish Champagne bar, the Cinnamon Club, located in Trimdon, County Durham, ticks all the boxes when it comes to a special occasion – and that’s before any mention of the food.

A carefully prepared set menu for Mother’s Day will offer all the freshness and spice you’d

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expect from the Cinnamon Club, with food lover Sabir and his team of experienced chefs also looking to create a few surprises to spoil mum, too.

As with any special event, Sabir and the team are excited to welcome new and returning customers to the Cinnamon Club, but they are most excited for the challenge of making this Mother’s Day the best one mum could ever ask for.

Diners will be treated to a delightful menu filled with authentic spice and packed with

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more flavour than most can handle! Sabir says: “No one loves being with their family more than myself, so I know that making your mother feel special on her big day is really important. I look forward to seeing the smiles on our guests’ faces as they are served the unique menu the team and I have put together.”

The Mothering Sunday menu will be available by reservation only. For more information visit www.cinnamon-club.com, call (01429) 883 942 or follow @CinnamonClubDH

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY The Sunderland BID team

Late night Sunderland set to rocket…

Sunderland Business Improvement District introduces a raft of new initiatives to highlight the city centre’s late night offering. ewcastle has an international reputation as a party city, Durham is renowned for its heritage and history but sometimes it’s hard to find exactly where to place Sunderland in the scheme of things.

It may have languished slightly in the shadows behind other major cities in the region, but that’s certainly in the past, with a number of exciting and imaginative initiatives taking place to ensure the city has its rightful place in the North East hierarchy.

Enter Sunderland BID – the city’s Business Improvement District – the team have definitely made it their business to showcase what Wearside has to offer.

The organisation hit the ground running less

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than a year ago and has notched up a whole range of impressive successes, now turning its attention to driving locals – and visitors – in to the city centre at night.

This has been helped in no small way by the introduction of late night shopping on a Thursday evening, strongly supported by The Bridges shopping centre, where most of the major retailers are now remaining open until 8pm.

A full programme of entertainment is also in place on Thursday evenings, ranging from flash mobs doing Dirty Dancing routines to art installations and a mobile zoo.

“It’s an education process, getting people to realise that Sunderland is now open beyond the normal shopping hours,” says Ken Dunbar, chief executive of Sunderland BID.

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“But people are now starting to recognise the advantages of being able to shop until late, which also gives them the opportunity to explore the great bars and restaurants that we have to offer.”

The Bridges is supporting the late night initiative by offering free parking on Thursday nights from 5.30pm until 9pm in its two car parks.

Centre director at The Bridges, Andy Bradley says that the late evenings were already proving successful and had grown out of research that said this was a priority for shoppers.

Andy adds: “We’ve listened to our customers and have provided a service which they have asked for.”

For more information, visit www.bidsunderland.co.uk

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Lee Pattison acquired The Coquetvale Hotel last year

A new string to his bow…

Lee Pattison, owner of The Coquetvale Hotel in Rothbury, profiles his current business ventures. fter acquiring The Coquetvale Hotel, Rothbury in February 2014, owner Lee Pattison and his team have taken the business from strength to strength.

With the support of business partner, George Collins, Northumberland Hospitality was formed to take over the run down Coquetvale Hotel.

In one year, the hotel has funded an £80,000 refurbishment project incorporating every aspect of the business – from the gardens and car park to the bedrooms, restaurant and bar. It is now an elegant country town hotel.

The team are also looking to take the hotel to another level with the appointment of Brian Greggain and his wife, Arlene. The couple have many years of experience in the industry and have worked with a number of bespoke country houses, not to mention the five-star Mandarin Oriental in London. They recently moved back to the local area and thought The Coquetvale would benefit from their vast experience.

2015 will see the hotel hosting exclusive-use intimate weddings and other private celebrations.

Indeed, The Coquetvale is establishing itself as the perfect destination for a family gathering or special celebration.

The hotel offers a range of competitive packages, such as all bedrooms and food for up to 40 guests from as little as £2000. Guests can try their very own murder mystery party or corporate away day. Other sell out events on the hotel’s calendar include gala dinners and music nights, which promise to make this an exciting year for The Coquetvale’s guests.

After turning the hotel’s fortunes around, Lee is looking to concentrate more on his own

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successful business, Forte Sales & Marketing, which helps businesses of all sizes promote themselves across the region, especially those in the hospitality industry.

Lee says: “I really enjoy improving business

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performance and I’m doing what I enjoy most. It’s not unusual for business owners to get caught up with the day to day operations and forget about their sales and marketing activity, and that’s exactly what we’re here for.”

For the past five years, Lee has continued to enjoy the consultancy side of Forte, which offers businesses excellent opportunities to connect with prospective clients across the North East. Other aspects include marketing, social media optimisation, and training for front of house staff, to enable hotels to maximise on their occupancy, while still achieving the best rate possible.

Lee offers small to medium sized businesses the expertise to showcase their offering to a wider audience, specifically tailored to an individual’s budget and requirements.

But it doesn’t stop there, Lee also arranges and delivers some of the largest company events in the North East.

Having delivered events of various sizes, from 100 to 1000 guests, his sales and marketing business, Forte, is keen to build on its previous successes of venue finding and event organisation, which covers every aspect of an event, down to the finest detail.

Lee is also supporting a new business called Exclusive North East, which aims to build networking opportunities for decision makers throughout the region, as well as offering concierge services and one-off events hosted in bespoke venues.

For more information, visit www.coquetvale.co.uk and www.fortesalesandmarketing.co.uk

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY Opera North’s production of Verdi’s La traviata Photo credit: Richard H Smith

Traviata leads vibrant opera season Opera North’s La traviata is set to return to Newcastle Theatre Royal this spring, accompanied by three of the most exuberant operas ever written. etween March 3 and 7, the Verdi masterpiece La traviata will be performed alongside Mozart's sublime comedy, The Marriage of Figaro, and a double bill of Falla’s La vida breve and Puccini’s comic, Gianni Schicchi.

The Marriage of Figaro is tender, funny and heart-warming.

Mozart's music expresses all the joy and pain of love, along with the agony and ecstasy of desire.

Director Christopher Alden’s ferocious take on Manuel de Falla’s short opera, La vida breve is intense and passionate. It is paired with Puccini’s only light-hearted comedy, based on an episode in Dante’s Inferno. Puccini’s music illustrates the greed and absurdity driving the actions of a dying man’s scheming relatives.

La traviata was a smash hit sell-out when it was performed at the Theatre Royal in November 2014, and has been revamped with an allnew cast. Alessandro Talevi’s Belle Époque adaptation was previously noted for its glamorous costumes and eye catching set details.

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For more information, visit www.theatreroyal.co.uk

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LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Left to right: Fiona Lutz, Rob Mullen, Lindsey Ballantine (all Break90), Adrian Dye (Sintons) and Alan Graham (Close House)

Close House looks to Break90 One of the UK’s leading golf resorts has enhanced its reputation as being at the forefront of the sport by backing a new North East business that’s set to revolutionise the golf retail market. lose House – home of the world’s only Lee Westwood golf courses – has become the first major venue to install a Break90 express retail pod – an automated machine that offers golfers a new and exciting means of buying merchandise. The pod enables clubs to make cost savings while offering a much wider range of stock than in their traditional pro shops.

Players can purchase everything from golf kit to green fees.

The retail pod, created by Northumberland-based Break90, is accessible at all hours of the day, and through the installation of the pod, golf staff at Close House can concentrate on providing tuition and service to members.

Graham Wylie, owner of Close House, recently announced that significant investment would be made in the venue’s golf operation, after closing the hotel for conversion into a residential house. Among the first stage of plans is the full refurbishment of the clubhouse, which is set to begin this month.

Fast-growing Break90, which was established in July, has already created the 20 jobs it initially predicted, with more on the way. It is in talks with over 45 clubs around the UK at present, with a view to national rollout within the next three years.

The innovative business is based in Stocksfield, only a few miles away from Close

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House, and was founded by entrepreneur Fiona Lutz and business partner Rob Mullen – whose previous creation includes the internationally-acclaimed Sweetspot range of golf snacks.

Directors include Chris Holmes, chairman of Carrs Milling, and former Carrs financial director, Ron Wood. Both have invested in Break90 after being impressed with its potential.

As well as the merchandise, the retail pods offer screens for product manufacturers’ adverts and can also include Costa Coffee terminals.

John Glendinning, managing director of Close House Golf, says: “Close House is committed to offering the highest standards so that our venue and levels of service are the best they can be. As a venue with an international reputation, we are keen to lead the way with new innovations.

“Through the installation of the Break90 pod, we can offer a new experience to our golfers, along with new levels of convenience for them. We can stock a much wider range of products than ever before, which can be changed seasonally. Our golf professionals will also be able to assign more time to doing what they do best – playing and teaching golf.”

He adds: “As well as backing a local business, we firmly believe Break90 offers a credible alternative to the traditional means of golf retail and we are very pleased to be the

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first to install the XPS pod shop.”

Rob Mullen, director of Break90, says: “We are absolutely thrilled that a premium golf resort like Close House has become the first major venue to use the Break90 pod shop.

Break90 is about offering a new and exciting retail experience for golfers, to provide an alternative to buying on the internet or from the big-name low-price high street retailers. It is fantastic that Close House has really bought into our vision.

“The reaction to Break90 has been absolutely phenomenal, and things are going at such a pace we have created the 20 jobs planned for our first year in only six months.

We are in negotiations with clubs across the UK at present, and remain confident that we will be operating across the whole country within three years.”

Break90 has been supported legally by Newcastle law firm Sintons. Partner Adrian Dye, who has acted for Rob Mullen for a number of years, comments: “As a keen golfer myself, I can fully understand why Break90 looks set to be hugely popular with golf players and clubs alike. Rob and Fiona have addressed the main challenges in golf retail and devised an innovative solution which is now being endorsed by clubs of the calibre of Close House.”

For more information, visit www.break90.co.uk and www.sintons.co.uk

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Business lunch

Harry’s Bar & Brasserie Alexis Forsyth soaks up the classy surroundings of Harry’s in Newcastle. ccupying a prized position on Newcastle’s Grey Street opposite the magnificent Theatre Royal is Harry’s Bar and Brasserie, which opened its doors only last year.

Judith and Franco Graziani, whose previous ventures include Franco’s and Paris Texas, are at the helm of this classy establishment, which has joined the ranks of other top-notch eateries strewn along this architecturally renowned street.

Inside, polished wooden floors, mirrors and venetian blinds – illuminated by flashes of amber lighting – combine to create a cosy and welcoming backdrop.

A lunch and pre-theatre two-course menu is available, ideal for diners who are pressed for time. We, however, had the luxury of enjoying a leisurely lunch and ate from the a la carte menu instead. There’s a nod to Italian fayre on there, with a good selection of pasta and rustic pizza dishes (with gluten-free options available), together with a smattering of traditional home comforts – think pork belly, lamb and beef.

Getting our lunch underway, I selected the smoked salmon, served with a bread roll and a dollop of dense, smooth creamed cheese with a delicate hint of lemon and chive. My

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colleagues, meanwhile, enjoyed a plate of light, battered king prawns with a fragrant sweet chilli sauce; and a sizeable portion of tender spare ribs smothered in a barbecue glaze; this contrasted beautifully with the zesty orange segments dotted around the plate.

I had deliberated over my main for quite some time but eventually settled on the Northumbrian brisket burger. Plated up on a wooden chopping board, the brioche bun was spilling over with shredded strips of smoky brisket, topped with bacon, and accompanied by a bowl of skin-on fries, onion rings and a lip smacking chipotle sauce.

A glistening copper pan graced the opposite side of the table – my colleague’s lobster spaghettini looked delicious, and was cooked in a light and refreshing blend of cherry tomato, garlic lobster bisque and chilli sauce. The only quibble with this dish was that the portion was too generous.

As for my other colleague, he tucked into a firm favourite – fillet steak, sourced locally from the Matfen Estate. A helping of skinny fries, rainbow coleslaw and onion rings rounded off this tasty dish.

For dessert, I was tempted by the crepe suzette – it was, afterall, Pancake Day that

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very week – although I swayed towards the chocolate orange fondant in the end. There was a 15-minute wait (a welcomed lull following my hefty portion of brisket) as the dessert is created to order. This was a luscious concoction, with the fondant’s centre oozing smooth, chocolaty goodness complimented by a subtle orange tang.

While in my little chocolate heaven, my colleague, meanwhile, plumped for the crème brulee, served with an assortment of fresh berries and a Biscotti biscuit. To his delight, the lid perfectly cracked upon the tapping of his spoon.

It was the tiramisu, presented in a novel jam jar, which won my other colleague over.

The glass jar was layered with coffee, Amaretto soaked sponge and mascarpone cream cheese, and was a sweet and filling finale.

Overall, it was a satisfying lunch, and judging by the lively ambience on our visit, Harry’s is proving popular with diners and drinkers alike. And, of course, who can resist such an exquisite location?

Harry’s Bar and Brasserie, 77 Grey Street, Newcastle, tel: (0191) 261 2621, www.harrysbarnewcastle.com

King prawn tempura with sweet chilli dipping sauce

Spare ribs, Harry’s original spare ribs with sweet chilli sauce

Smoked salmon, with lemon and chive creamed cheese

£8.95

£5.95

£7.95

8oz fillet steak, served with smoked garlic butter, rainbow coleslaw, onion rings, tomato and skin on fries

Smoked Northumbrian brisket burger, served in a brioche bun with tomato, lettuce, chipotle sauce, onion rings and skinny fries

Lobster spaghettini, cooked in a cherry tomato, garlic lobster bisque and chill sauce

£19.95

£14.50

Crème brulee with fresh berries and Biscotti biscuit

Chocolate orange fondant served with vanilla ice cream

£5.95

£5.95

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£19.95

Tiramisu

£5.95

MOVING WITH THE TIMES Dame Allan’s was founded in 1705 and is proud of this longstanding heritage, but continues to be forward-looking in its approach to education. Here, Dr Hind – principal for the last 11 years – talks success, coping with change and his hopes for Allanians beyond the school gates, in the ‘outside world’.

Through its links with Schools North East and its own partnership schemes, the school ensures it keeps apace of changes taking place in the ‘outside world’.

ame Allan’s is an independent school in Newcastle, consisting of a Junior School, Boys’ and Girls’ Senior Schools and a Sixth Form. It was founded by Dame Eleanor Allan, who wanted to provide education for 40 boys and 20 girls from poor family backgrounds in the parishes of St Nicholas and St John.

Over 300 years on, the ethos that lies at the heart of the school remains intact, with Dame Allan’s helping students who would otherwise not be able to afford a private education, with 10 per cent of its pupils on a 100 per cent bursary.

Its longevity is arguably one of the school’s key successes, and it lays claim to founding the eighth oldest girls’ school in England.

Dame Allan’s also has a number of notable alumni – from BBC TV and radio presenter Marian Foster to Dr Richard Laws, head of the British Antarctic Survey.

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A balancing act Behind the school walls, it isn’t all work and no play at Dame Allan’s – extra-curricular activities are perceived as important, too, and run in parallel to the academic curriculum.

Dr Hind explains: “Such activities encourage students’ interpersonal skills and also challenge them to perform in areas outside of their comfort zone. It is vital that our students are exposed to these situations while in a supportive environment.”

Extra-curricular activities also extend in to the local community, which isn’t that much of a surprise considering the school’s rich heritage and strong presence in the locality.

Dame Allan’s has, for example, links with local primary schools and holds master classes throughout the year to introduce children to a variety of subjects and technologies. Staff and pupils also take part in local community based work and have forged a link with their neighbour, St Mary Magdalene’s care home in Spital Tongues.

A diamond approach Dame Allan’s describes itself as a diamond school (citing itself as the first of its kind in the country) which means its Junior School is mixed for both boys and girls, with the Senior School then split into separate Boys’ and Girls’ Schools. When students reach the age of 16, they are brought together again and enter the co-educational Sixth Form.

Dr Hind says that the advantages are two-fold: “First is the fact that boys and girls mature at different speeds. The model also allows teachers to play against the obvious gender stereotypes.

“Provided we resist any temptation to generalise and recognise that individuals have traits which are not solely gender based, there is enough common ground in the ways boys and girls learn to make the diamond model an attractive one.”

He continues: “Secondly, and equally important, the diamond model allows us to model our pastoral care on the separate needs of boys and girls. Not only does this mean that pastoral staff appreciate the different challenges faced by boys and girls, it also means they get to know their pupils much better given the smaller size of the separate schools.”

Future-proofing It may date back to the 1700s, but that doesn’t mean Dame Allan’s Schools is entrenched in the past – it has many forward-thinking plans in the pipeline that will continue to build on, and broaden, the educational experience on offer to its pupils.

Exciting ventures include the development of its design and technology provision; building links with schools in China; and appointing a new development director and a director of sport. Last month, School Sport Magazine placed Dame Allan’s as the 12th best independent school in the country for sporting success, and these two new appointments will look to build on this achievement.

Having achieved so much success through the years and, undoubtedly, with much more to come, where does Dr Hind see Dame Allan’s in ten years’ time?

He says: “Essentially where we’ve been for the last 300 years, central to the life of the city and providing first class education for boys and girls. We will continue to help our young people to be the best they can be. However, all this will be against the backdrop of moving with the times and continuing to explore new opportunities for our students.”

As a final thought, Dr Hind reaffirms that Dame Allan’s is so much more than just a place to gain qualifications; it’s also about friendships. The school has a thriving alumni association – the Allanian Society – and leavers are encouraged to join so they can keep in touch and share their success stories.

Dr Hind concludes: “I hope that our students leave with happy memories of their time at the Schools and that they have a sense of pride in their education, whilst understanding that education is about more than just grades.”

The ‘outside world’ The diamond approach has proven a successful one, but regardless of how carefully the school crafts an environment that’s in tune with its pupils’ needs, there will always be factors that impact on it, out of its control.

Dr Hind acknowledges that significant changes have taken place in recent years, often as a result of new governments and education ministers.

“Thankfully, as an independent school we are protected from the speed of change to some extent as we do not have to follow every new initiative,” he explains.

“That is not to say that we are averse to change – aspects of the latest reforms of the examination system, for example, are to be applauded – but too often changes are rushed through with little notice and limited time for proper preparation by schools.”

For more information about Dame Allan’s Schools, visit: dameallans.co.uk

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EDUCATION

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EDUCATION

Educational brilliance Set within an area of outstanding natural beauty, Barnard Castle School combines this magical rural location with an educational experience that’s anything but ordinary for its pupils. Here, headmaster Alan Stevens shares his account of school-life at ‘Barney’.

The school’s origins lie in the medieval Hospital of St John which was a 13th century community established near the present site by John de Baliol (of Baliol College, Oxford fame). Much later, a Victorian philanthropist called Benjamin Flounders bequeathed a generous sum to build a new school on the lands. We have been building ever since!

One aspect of our Sixth Form Programme is guest lectures. We are indebted to our speakers who share their experience and insights with our boys and girls. We draw from a very diverse range and recently had a very senior military officer, an academic and a high-profile businessman. Our aim in Sixth Form is to prepare our children not just for university, but for life. We teach them to pass qualifications which will help them to access university courses, but we also nurture and promote a range of soft skills which we believe will enable them to succeed in their careers, contribute to their communities and enjoy fulfilled lives.

It sounds like trite PR to say that it is a magical place, but it is special and everyone who visits me comments on how distinctive it feels, how children and staff are invariably smiling and engaging, how accessible and unpretentious it is.

Our boys and girls come from a fantastic range of backgrounds and this diversity helps create our enriching community feel where no one matters more than anyone else and senses of altruism and mutual respect are paramount. We have 700 children aged from 4 to 18 years, 200 of whom are in our excellent adjacent Prep School and 200 of whom board with us. Our day pupils travel up to an hour from every direction to reach us. Our boarders are mainly British children whose parents’ jobs have taken them to distant lands or require frequent relocations, so Barney provides them with stability, lasting friendships and a first class education. We have a small number of overseas boarders who currently represent 18, mainly European, nationalities.

We are fortunate in that Barney is in a stunningly beautiful location. According to the Home Office, it is one of the safest places

in the country. Compared to schools which look more like prisons, we don’t have high fences and buzzers. It is very much a country school, perfectly located on the edge of a charming and thriving town community. It is reassuring for me, as both headmaster and father, to know that our boys and girls can walk into town and be completely safe.

Integral to our curriculum is plenty of time for sport and for our unrivalled range of activities – we offer over 100 clubs and societies every week from music, mountainclimbing, and computing to kayaking, shooting and debating. There are opportunities for everyone to build skills, confidence and a sense of self. Although we have high-profile success in numerous areas, notably sport and music, to some children, our model railway club or writing for the school newsletter is just as important and we must cherish those things.

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Our Barney Friends group is one of our greatest assets – a group of parents who are generous with their time and astonishingly supportive of the school at every opportunity.

Their remit is essentially a social one: they run quiz nights, wine-tastings and barn dances. However, they also provide refreshments of tempting quality on sports day and other high-profile occasions and they manage our extremely popular Michaelmas Fair, which takes place before Christmas.

When our boys and girls leave, we are sad to see them go but we know that they are ready to move on and they leave us with an understanding of the value of hard work, friendship and integrity.

For more information, visit www.barnardcastleschool.org.uk

EVENT

Alan Shearer Foundation Ball Hilton Newcastle Gateshead hosted last month’s Alan Shearer Foundation Ball, starring Take That singer, Gary Barlow.

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he glitzy fundraiser attracted a number of guests from the football fraternity, including Robbie Savage, Rob Lee, Alan Thompson and Lee Clark, along with local business leaders from Sage, Collingwood Insurance and Utilitywise.

The event included an auction featuring a range of money-can’t-buy items such as a signed Brazil World Cup football shirt and tickets to the Britain’s Got Talent final.

In return for the audience’s generosity, they were treated to a special performance from Gary Barlow; a gig by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers; and a short set by Alan’s daughter, Hollie. www.alanshearerfoundation.org.uk

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ARTS

Figuratively speaking ALEXIS FORSYTH VISITS THE LIT & PHIL, NEWCASTLE, TO CHAT TO ITS PRESIDENT, ALEXANDER ARMSTRONG, AND BRITISH PORTRAIT ARTIST JONATHAN YEO, FOLLOWING THE PAIR’S EXCLUSIVE ‘IN CONVERSATION WITH’ EVENT.

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onight’s event has attracted close to 80 members from the Literary & Philosophical Society, otherwise known as the Lit & Phil, to hear from renowned portrait artist Jonathan Yeo. It’s been a busy day for Jonathan. He’s visited The Laing Art Gallery to give the Duchess of Cornwall a guided tour of his exhibition and now, as it approaches six o’clock, he is in the quaint surroundings of the Lit & Phil – which is home to over 150,000 books – to be interviewed by TV quizmaster and friend, Alexander Armstrong.

The on-stage conversation lasts almost an hour and afterwards, the pair mingle with members, chatting in a relaxed, jovial fashion. It’s then my cue to head upstairs to the music room – a majestic backdrop etched with the Lit & Phil’s distinctive aura of grandeur – to interview the pair.

Alexander is chatty from the outset; he takes a seat beside the imposing wooden table in the room, a glass of Prosecco in hand, before quizzing the origins of my Scottish accent. We soon digress onto castles and weddings before I ask the Pointless presenter to reveal the origins of something else – his friendship with Jonathan.

“We met about 20 years ago,” Jonathan recounts with a smile. “A great mutual friend of ours used to run a club every Wednesday night.

He was a great impresario – still is – and he would bring all sorts of people together on stage.

“It’s worth stating, the pianist of the house band was Guy Chambers, and Robbie Williams was a regular performer. After a gig one night, he and Robbie decided that they would meet up – and then they wrote all those blooming songs!

“It was one of those wonderful places where people met and did good things together; all sorts of collaborations were formed there and great friendships were made. Myself and Jonny, along with a handful of others are still really close friends 20 years later.”

To many, Alexander is the front man of game show Pointless, but the TV personality, actor and comedian has another, perhaps lesser known, string to his bow – he is the president of the Lit & Phil, the largest independent library outside of London. The Lit & Phil dates back to the late 1700s, with many notable figures walking through its doors through the years, including engineer Robert Stevenson, Prime Minister Charles, 2nd Earl Grey, and writer Oscar Wilde.

Alexander’s role isn’t too out of the ordinary, though, considering his links with the North East – he was born in Rothbury and educated at Durham School and two of his ancestors were, in fact, presidents of the Lit and Phil. Now, Alexander stands in their shoes.

Talking about his role as president, Alexander enthuses: “They insisted that when I was presented with it, I should look at it as a nominal thing and that I didn’t have to participate, but I was never going to be happy with that.”

There is no arguing about the Lit and Phil’s poignancy over the past 200 years or so, but does it still have a place in modern society, I ask?

“Most definitely,” Alexander replies. “I think that libraries have a huge role to play going forward, even just as depositories of knowledge and beautiful books. David Almond, the children’s author, comes here and if I lived even within 40 miles, I would come here to do my writing. It has an easy air of academe; it wears it very lightly, but it is unmistakably there. I think it is a wonderful place.”

As for his friendship with Jonathan and his unique position as an observer of the artist’s flourishing career, Alexander says: “The only reason he has achieved this [success] is because it’s been done very quietly and very diligently through absolute focus on quality. It’s just been lovely to see.”

A humble smile from Jonathan, joined by a subtle glance towards Alexander through his dark-rimmed spectacles, is my invitation to shift the interview’s focus on to him.

Jonathan’s accomplished talent can be traced back to his school days, when he acquired kudos from his classmates for doodling caricatures of his teachers. It wasn’t until his early 20s, though, while recovering from Hodgkins Lymphona, that he taught himself to paint, and in the years that followed he carved a niche for himself in the arts world.

His repertoire of work is a who’s who of modern day famous faces, from Helena Bonham Carter and Nicole Kidman to HRH Duke of Edinburgh, Tony Blair and the late Richard Attenborough, to name a few.

When asked if these stellar personalities are, in reality, guarded during the portrait painting process (which can take anywhere between four and 12 sittings over a few months or even years) and whether it is even necessary for them to ‘let go’, Jonathan replies: “On the whole, people aren’t totally closed up, or they wouldn’t be there in the first place. At the same time, there’s definitely an amount of pretense with almost everyone – it’s a question of how much they try and maintain that. Ultimately, you can’t be completely sure unless you’re dealing with a very sophisticated actor or politician – although I suppose they’re both the same thing, you know, putting on a complex performance.”

Jonathan then recounts the time Dennis Hopper invited him to stay at his house in Venice Beach, which was an opportunity for Jonathan to see Hopper ‘out of character’ while painting his portrait: “After the third morning of having breakfast with his sunglasses on, and drawing him in the kitchen, I still to this day don’t know if it was an act.”

Jonathan’s portraits of Lily Cole and Kevin Spacey explore this idea of identity in greater detail. He painted both ‘in character’, as Helen of Troy and Richard III, respectively. Both paintings have been well received and as Jonathan concedes, could lead onto a series of paintings along a similar vein.

Throughout his career, Jonathan has exhibited his work at a number of respected galleries in the UK and internationally, too, including the National Portrait Gallery and The Lowry, and most recently, the North East’s very own Laing Art Gallery.

So, what does he hope visitors will take away with them, after seeing his work? “Hopefully, some fridge magnets!” he jokes, before regaining composure. “Hopefully, it will make some of them want to paint. If I could get students, kids and people who’ve said ‘I used to paint, but after seeing your work it made me want to try it again’. Well, I can’t get any better than that.”

For more information about The Lit and Phil, visit www.litandphil.org.uk. To find out more about Jonathan Yeo’s work and upcoming exhibitions, visit jonathanyeo.com.

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President of the the Lit & Phil, Alexander Armstrong and portrait artist Jonathan Yeo

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WELL-BEING

Happy birthday BeFit Michael Pellegrino, director and owner of BeFit, reflects on the company’s journey so far. en years have gone by so fast! Christmas 2003, I was working as a freelance trainer in health clubs, the park, the beach, people’s houses and offices, but found I was getting so busy I was spending something like four or five hours a day driving from client to client.

I had realised over the first ten years of my career that there were many things wrong with the fitness industry – health clubs regarded members as numbers and were only really interested in the monthly subscriptions, and the clients’ results were not priority. I was also realising that there was only so much that could be done while training a client at home with limited equipment, a coffee table and a dining room chair.

Something had to be done to solve these problems.

I remember sitting around the dinner table, enjoying Christmas lunch, discussing this with the family and what I planned to do about it. As soon as the festivities were out of the way, I looked for a property. What was needed was a direct cross between the privacy of people’s homes (which they love) and the facilities of a health club.

After a couple of months I found a property that would be perfect – an old Jewish deli in Gosforth. It would certainly take a lot of work

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to transform the place, but I could see that it was going to be awesome!

I got the keys in June 2004 and having no money and only a very small loan from the bank, the transformation began.

Every night after work, the whole family helped to demolish, clean, re-wire, construct and paint. It took slightly longer than it would have done if we could have afforded contractors, but the effort and love that was put into the re-fit was amazing. The premises consisted of two private studios (offering the privacy of a living room with the facilities of a gym), two treatment rooms for massage, rehabilitation etc, private shower/dressing rooms and a great reception and waiting area.

The doors finally opened in February 2005 and BeFit body management was born – and we have been flying ever since.

By 2007, we were attracting athletes, Newcastle United footballers and players from the Newcastle Falcons team, plus other pros from around the region. Although our original studios were well equipped, they were not perfect for the professional athletes.

Fortunately, at this time, the properties above BeFit came up for sale. We acquired them, and over the following few months created a fully equipped performance centre for athletes. This new space featured all the toys needed to give

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them the precision in training that they needed, from oversized bars to improve the grip and hand strength of rugby players and drivers, to a range of strongman equipment to enhance ‘on the field power’ of the athletes.

BeFit Athletic Performance very quickly became known as one of the most elite centres for performance conditioning in Europe, thanks to the quality of its equipment and coaches.

Over the years, we have worked with thousands of clients from across the country and we are very proud to say that we still have many of our original clients from ten years ago.

The reputation of BeFit has attracted the most amazing group of clients, to whom we are eternally grateful. Our success would be much less without the dedication and commitment of our wonderful clients, some of whom came to us to prevent surgery, some to rehabilitate after surgery, and we have changed the body composition and improved the quality of life for many, many people.

I personally would like to thank everyone for their continuing support and we look forward to delivering the outstanding service for which we are renowned, for many more years to come.

For more information, visit www.be-fit.co.uk

WELL-BEING Glen Rae, specialist physiotherapist in lower limb problems

Running shoes at the ready…

Taking part in this year’s Great North Run? Experts from Spire Washington Hospital share their top tips on how to prepare for the renowned half marathon. he Great North Run is just six months away and professional and amateur athletes will be starting their training schedules ready for the big day. But it is important to remember that running a half marathon can have some major effects on your body.

Spire Washington Hospital’s Sports Medicine specialist and current England U20 team doctor Glen Rae, and specialist physiotherapist in lower limb problems, Andrew Appleyard, talk us through some valuable hints and tips.

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What preparation should a runner do before attempting the Great North Run? GR: Exercise is a great way to lose weight (or keep it off) as well as helping to prevent chronic health problems in the future. Running a half marathon, however, is no small feat, especially if you aren’t already particularly active. I would initially suggest an appointment with a doctor for a health check prior to starting training.

An appointment with a sports medicine doctor and physiotherapist may be able to provide a more focused assessment and if you are already aware of a specific problem then it is definitely worthwhile getting it checked before you start training. Prevention is often easier than cure!

Many training plans exist and well organised runs may provide such a plan. Steadily building up your mileage will prevent suffering injuries

early in your training and perhaps even start out by walking if needs be, before gradually increasing your running distance.

One of the good things about running is the lack of equipment you need to start. It is, however, worthwhile investing in a good pair of running shoes because they will become invaluable once the miles add up.

What should people look out for when training?

GR: You will feel some shortness of breath and muscular aches (the latter being more common up to two days after running). Most will settle themselves and become less common as you become more conditioned to the new exercise but don’t ignore persistent niggles – you don’t want to miss two weeks from training as the big day looms and even worse, you don’t want to miss the actual race itself.

What injuries are most common when preparing for a half marathon?

AA: Running is a fun thing to do and often people (especially amateurs) don’t pay too much attention to potential problems, but anyone can end up with injuries. We see a variety of problems from pelvic pain, ITB syndrome (a common runner’s injury that affects the side of the thigh) to back of the knee pain, shin splints, Achilles tendon problems and

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plantar fasciitis which affects the fascia that runs under the foot.

GR: A sensible training programme will help keep these types of injuries to a minimum.

Ankle and knee tendon problems and a knee problem called “Runner’s Knee” are common but input from a sports injury clinic will be able to provide you with treatment and specific strengthening exercises that can be done, in addition to your running, to reduce any effect on your training and enjoyment of the big day.

Is there any advice you can give runners to help prevent future injuries?

AA: If you intend to continue with regular running, we can definitely help by reviewing your training habits and making adjustments to your programme. We would also aim to do a general overview of your conditioning and function of the joints in the lower limb, to help identify any factors which may increase your risk of injury.

Our job is to make people aware that we are here if they do need any advice about their training or help to recover from injury. All the advice we give is evidence based and personalised to the individual.

For more information, visit www.spirewashington.com or tel (0191) 418 8687

MOTORS

Behind the wheel by Jessica Laing.

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PORSCHE 911 TARGA 4 GTS ffering need-for-speed drivers increased power, enhanced performance and, what Porsche describes as a ‘particularly exquisite’ specification, the new 911 Targa 4 GTS possesses race car genes and sets a new benchmark in the sports car segment.

Externally, the new, two-seater model possesses the aesthetics that make quality sports cars special, including a sports exhaust and a seven-speed manual gearbox as standard, BiXenon main headlights, SportDesign exterior mirrors and clever cornering lights that swivel towards the insides of bends, and excellent aerodynamics thanks to an optimised front spoiler and large air intakes.

The model combines a high level of performance with optimum power transmission thanks to Porsche Traction Management (PTM) - an active all-wheel-drive system that provides power distribution that adapts to varying road and

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F.Y.I. Power: 430 hp at 7,500 Acceleration: 0 - 62mph in: 4.7 seconds Top speed: 187 mph Fuel consumption: 28.3mpg CO2 emissions: 237g/km Max torque: 440 Nm Price: £104, 385

weather conditions. Employed to ensure greater safety, the model offers exceptional traction, especially when cornering, as the front wheels only ever receive as much drive force as is necessary to maintain optimum lateral stability.

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Creating the driving feel of an open-top Porsche, another characteristic feature of the Targa 4 GTS is its stylish revolutionary roof concept – a silver Targa roll bar, which opens and closes automatically in just 20 seconds. The model is also equipped with 20-inch Turbo S wheels in satin black and sports Carmine Red paintwork – an option available for Porsche’s 911 models for the very first time.

Inside, the model’s sporty persona is exemplified through a host of state-of-the-art materials and equipment that breathe motorsport. Most notably, drivers will discover a 4.6-inch, high-resolution colour screen, which provides a continuous stream of crucial data, a nifty instrument cluster, an a SportDesign steering wheel, adorned with luxurious Alcantara, which features two alloy gearshift paddles, and leather sports seats that come equipped with electric seat height and backrest adjustment.

MOTORS Benfield has invested £1m in the Railway Street site

Benfield’s significant investment in Skoda brand Benfield unveils its all-new Skoda showroom in Newcastle. ne of the North East’s largest motor groups, Benfield, has continued its programme of capital investment with the opening of a new-look Skoda showroom on Railway Street, Newcastle.

The opening of the contemporary car showroom has created a huge wow factor for Benfield’s Skoda customers and follows a sustained period of growth in Skoda cars sales and popularity of the brand.

Forming part of a £1 million investment by Benfield on the popular Railway Street site, the Skoda dealership is also benefiting from an improved used car area and more workshop space.

David Roberts, general manager, Benfield Skoda, says: “We have seen a significant growth in Skoda car sales and popularity of the brand in recent years.

“The low running costs, high residual values and product range are now attracting high numbers of cost conscious motorists and it is important, therefore, that we keep offering our customers the highest levels of customer service and facilities.

“We are delighted with the new showroom and its advanced customer service facilities, which will allow us to keep pace with the growth of the Skoda brand and products and help us provide the highest levels of customer service going forward and long into the future.”

He adds: “2015 has already started well with the launch of the award-winning Fabia, and with

the Skoda Superb due for launch later this year, there is growing excitement around the brand and a lot for our customers to look forward to.”

Talking about the programme of capital investment from Benfield, area sales manager for Skoda, Heath Munro, comments: “We are delighted that a family business like Benfield has shown further commitment to our brand in the North East region with this significant investment. I wish to praise all the fantastic efforts of everyone involved in the delivery of the new showroom and facilities which will help provide further opportunities for future growth and success of the Skoda brand in the region.”

The new nine car showroom has been re-built from the ground up over the past six months and now includes improved customer services facilities, new car configurator, new waiting area and a new workshop facility.

The development work has also allowed Benfield to release a large open space for a new improved dedicated used car sales area at the dealership.

Benfield now has a total of 30 dealerships across the North East of England, Yorkshire, Cumbria and South West Scotland. The Benfield Group has a turnover in excess of £500 million, employs over 1500 staff and represents a total of 12 different franchises.

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For more information visit www.drivebenfield.com

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MOTORS

Sales manager, Barry Fearon, at Jennings Ford’s dealership in Gateshead

New ‘15’ registration plate change steers sales success at Jennings Motor Group The arrival of the March registration plate change has further boosted new car and commercial sales for award-winning Jennings Motor Group. he group’s Ford retail dealerships and Ford Transit Centres, in addition to the company’s Kia, Mazda, SEAT and Mitsubishi branches – spanning an area from Tyneside to Teesside – have recorded another exceptional month for new car and commercial sales as customers continue to take advantage of competitively-priced, high quality products available across each marque.

Nas Khan, managing director of Jennings Motor Group, says: “We are extremely encouraged by the increase in new car and commercial vehicle sales, which reflects both an upswing in the regional economy and the current health of the local motor industry.

“Customers have been taking advantage of a range of substantial discounts and savings, in addition to a variety of low rate finance packages being available.”

The multi award-winning Ford Fiesta continues to be the number one choice at the group’s Ford dealerships located in Gateshead, Stockton and Middlesbrough, as scores of customers get ready to take delivery of their brand new Ford Fiesta ’15’ plate models throughout this month.

Combining a contemporary style with stateof-the-art technology, the Ford Fiesta model ensures a safe, comfortable, entertaining and fun driving experience.

Advanced technology, including Ford SYNC, allows customers to select a music track from USB or MP3/iPod, or stream from a mobile via Bluetooth connectivity. The system

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also allows the driver to make and receive calls using simple voice commands. Ford SYNC also has the facility to read text messages aloud and respond by using pre-selected commands.

From an economical point of view, customers can also take advantage of the Ford Fiesta’s award-winning EcoBoost petrol engine, which combines satisfying power with exceptional fuel-efficiency of up to 65.7 mpg.

Meanwhile, commercial vehicle sales at Jennings Ford’s Transit Centres located in Middlesbrough and Gateshead have also reflected a positive upturn in the commercial vehicle market in the region.

Customers have been taking advantage of the all-new Ford Transit Courier model that received the top accolade in the What Van? Awards, by scooping ‘Van of the Year 2015’, in addition to also picking up the ‘Small Van of the Year’ award.

Sales are expected to be boosted further following the imminent completion of a new purpose-built, state-of-the-art Transit Centre at the Eslington Park site in Gateshead, where customers will be able to take advantage of a five-vehicle showroom, in addition to adequate car parking space to accommodate the entire Ford commercial vehicle range.

At the group’s Kia branches, sales increased as customers took advantage of the launch of the new special edition SR7 models, including the Kia Rio, Venga, c’eed and Carens, offering value for money, low rate finance, in addition to Kia’s market-leading seven-year warranty

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package and Care3 service package available from only £99.

Customers of Jennings Mazda continued to take advantage of low rate finance packages, including 0 per cent Personal Contract Purchase through Mazda contract hire, in addition to a £500 deposit allowance on selected models across the range.

A new addition to the high-selling Leon range, the new four-wheeled drive X-PERIENCE, took centre stage at Jennings SEAT in Middlesbrough where customers placed orders for the new lifestyle estate compact SUV. Available in two trim levels, including ‘SE’ and ‘SE Technology’, the new X-PERIENCE includes rear parking sensors and twin exhaust tailpipes, 17-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels, black roof rails, chrome loading sill and dark tinted rear windows.

And at Jennings Mitsubishi customers have been taking advantage of a number of substantial savings across the range, in addition to a new five-year warranty package.

Jennings Motor Group is also able to cater for customers’ after sales needs with service, MOT, bodyshop and parts departments across the region.

For more information about the range of products and services available at Jennings Ford, Kia, Mazda, SEAT and Mitsubishi dealerships, visit www.jenningsmotorgroup.co.uk

MOTORS

Mazda6 Combining Mazda’s most advanced safety features, improved driving dynamics and exceptional fuel consumption, the Mazda6 provides functional and environmental excellence, without comprising the excitement of powerful driving. esigned to celebrate the joy of driving, the Mazda6 is the second of Mazda’s new generation of cars to feature its full range of SKYACTIV Technology, bringing together a mix of power, responsiveness and aerodynamics that ensure a smooth, comfortable and controlled drive.

Whichever version you opt for, be it the refined, direct-injection petrol SKYACTIV-G 2.0-litre engine or the SKYACTIV-D 2.2-litre diesel engine, which offers nimble acceleration and the world’s lowest compression ratio among diesel engines, the saloon enables drivers to enjoy a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.

Available with either 150 PS or 170 PS, both versions offer excellent fuel economy and performance and comply with Euro 5 and 6 emissions standards.

Externally, ultra-high tensile steel reinforcements improve the model’s rigidity by 30 per cent, allowing for strong, sporty, muscular flair. This, combined with the same light body shell that all new generation Mazda models possess, results in improved driving dynamics, greater agility and more

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responsive road handling.

Other notable features include KODO design signature wings, which run along the bottom of the upper grille, a deeply contoured front face and angled head and rear lights.

To further enhance the model’s sporty and dynamic good looks, precision cast Mazda alloy wheels also come as standard (the SE and SE-L models receive 17-inch wheels, while the Sport model’s are 19-inches). The high performance wheels are an ideal bonus for speed enthusiasts; engineered to ensure maximum grip and control, especially around sharp bends and corners.

The saloon’s luxurious interior offers ergonomic design, with a close focus to detail. Compact and uncluttered, the saloon’s leather seats are perfectly positioned, allowing drivers to control their phone, navigation, audio and cruise control without having to remove their hands from the steering wheel.

In-car equipment includes an enhanced stereo system, which incorporates six speakers, Bluetooth connectivity and USB connection for playing music from a phone or iPod, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a

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Multi Commander – a nifty control that allows drivers to control their audio system, car settings, hands-free phone and navigation from one safe and convenient place. The model also offers drivers with backlit information display (enabling drivers to receive real-time data), an integrated 5.8-inch touchscreen and the opportunity to have their texts read out to them.

Safety-wise, the Mazda6 is equipped with Mazda’s award-winning Rear Vehicle Monitoring system (two radar sensors on the car’s rear corners of that measure the speed and distance of vehicles approaching from behind), Smart City Break Support technology (which uses a radar laser system to monitors traffic in front of the car and pre-fills the breaks in the fear of a collision) and i-stop Technology.

The world’s only start-stop system to use combustion energy to restart, i-stop Technology improves the vehicle’s environmental performance by discreetly switching off the engine when the driver is inactive in traffic. www.hodgsons-newcastle.co.uk

INTERVIEW

Get to know me ...

Carol Meredith Head of Tiny Lives

When I was growing up, my father was in higher education and I knew it was what he wanted me to do. So,

I'm inspired by the many focused, considered, and talented women I have the privilege of calling my friends. This region has such a wealth of

perversely, I chose to work in IT with machines but quickly realised I was a people person, not a programmer.

female talent across all sectors.

My first job was delivering newspapers. I soon progressed to working

My greatest achievement has to be my wider world of family and friends. Life really is about trying to be in

in the newsagent’s shop surrounded by chocolate, and subsequently on Boots’ makeup counter. Both became lifelong addictions, alongside workaholic tendencies.

I'd tell my 18-year-old self that all you really need is confidence. Remember that what everyone sees first is your attitude.

Get yourself a mentor and surround yourself with likeminded people who have passion for what they do.

Roy. Its combination of simply beautiful lyrical writing and important messages make it a joy to read. I now lose myself in audio books, driving two hours a day into work from north Northumberland.

In my spare time I pretend to be a country girl walking my dog and riding. But as a city girl at heart, it's hard to

the moment with those who matter, as often as you can.

resist the lure of town, so shopping, theatre and restaurants also feature heavily in my downtime.

When I need a helping hand I turn to my IT expert husband who fixes the PC and then cooks my supper. I

In five years time I hope that I will have made Tiny Lives the charity of choice for everyone in the North East

am truly blessed!

One of my favourite novels is The God of Small Things by Arundhati

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looking to fundraise and support local families at a critical time in their lives. www.tinylives.org.uk