NEWS
SPRING 14
Mark Sherwood
>> New contracts strengthen team A County Durham specialist building repair company has added to its team of lightning protection engineers after winning more contracts. STS Lightning Protection division, part of Darlington-based Stone Technical Services Group, has secured several new contracts including designing and installing systems for York Park and Ride, on the outskirts of the city, and for the Bonding Warehouse development in York, which has undergone a multi-million re-development to turn the 19th century listed building into executive apartments. In addition, following the completion of a range of restoration works at Todmorden Town Hall for Calderdale Council, STS is returning to the grade I-listed building to install a suitable lightning protection network. To help with the increased workload, STS has recruited another specialist, Mark Sherwood, to add to its 15-strong team. Managing director Dave Stone, said: “Lightning protection installation is so niche and the industry is desperate for not only new recruits but also highly-skilled experts. Our team has a combined experience of more than 100 years in this field and it’s great to be able to train new apprentices whilst attracting such incredible experience.” The company, based in Kellaw Road in Darlington, provides specialist lightning protection installation to help prevent damage to buildings caused by lightning strikes and also to ensure that systems are compliant for insurance purposes. The company employs a team of 40 and has offices in Edinburgh, Middlesex, Central London and Cheshire.
>> Synergi aims high North East businessman Peter Joynson has set up a new company to drive the next generation of IT business technology tools. He and a team of technology specialists have established Synergi Software Solutions in Gateshead to introduce regional and national companies to the full range of new specially designed business applications (apps) and Microsoft technologies, such as SharePoint
SPECIAL REPORT | SPRING 14
East. Before that he and his brother Mark ran Team Valley based financial software business, Joynson, which was acquired by TSG more than 10 years ago. “The timing felt right for a change,” he said. “Changes in IT and an evolution in business focussed technology solutions coincided with a desire to do things myself again – to rebuild a culture where we all enjoy being part of a smaller family-style business. “We want an agility that a fresh and focussed business gives us. We want to establish a culture that’s a great place to work and where we are regarded by others as great to deal with; easier to deal with; where there is a real can-do attitude.” Joynson is joined at Synergi by director David Kaye, who was also a former director at TSG where he held the posts of regional sales director and managing director of ERP. David Charlton has also joined the team as a senior consultant. He was previously at TSG and was a director at Joynson more than 10 years ago. Another Synergi director is Martyn Cuthbert who, through his own Tyneside business Ontrac, holds a stake in the company. Ontrac designs, builds and maintains information management systems for a national range of clients from local SMEs to international bluechip groups, such as Network Rail.
We want an agility that a fresh and focused business gives us >> New IoD head revealed
and Office 365. By promoting Microsoft business technologies, Synergi also aims to exploit the growing opportunity for SMEs to use cloud based software solutions. Synergi, which aims for an annual turnover of £2m in under three years, is currently recruiting skilled technical and sales people. Joynson was a director and former managing director of IT support companies TSG North
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Graham Robb has been appointed chairman of the Institute of Directors North East. Robb, owner of Recognition Marketing and PR, succeeds Alastair Thomson, Dean of the Business School at Teesside University, who has completed his four-year term as chairman. Robb has served on the board of the IoD North East for several years and is on the board of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum. He founded his company in 1990 after
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