TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD THURSDAY 10TH MAY CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL, NEWCASTLE
Sponsored by:
Conference brochure sponsored by:
#NEentrepreneurs
ONE OF THE LARGEST CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNING FIRMS IN THE UK A full service financial advisory house redefining the UK wealth management market.
OUR MANAGED PORTFOLIOS HAVE BEEN 5-STAR DEFAQTO RATED FOR 3 YEARS RUNNING OVERSEEING £8 BILLION OF CLIENT ASSETS OFFERING FINANCIAL PLANNING, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ESTATE PLANNING WHOLE OF MARKET CHOICE NO LOWER WEALTH LIMITS, NO EXIT PENALTIES 60% LOWER COST* THAN THE MARKET LEADER
financial portfolio to assess costs, performance and suitability. This no obligation initial consultation is available to all Entrepreneurs’ Forum members. To book your appointment with a Fairstone adviser email
fairstone.co.uk
/fairstonegroup
@FairstoneGroup
/fairstonegroup
Fairstone Financial Management Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – FRN: 475973 Part of the Fairstone Group. Registered in England. Company No: 05574120. Fairstone Private Wealth Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 457558) 2
#NEENTREPRENEURS
WELCOME WELCOME TO WHAT PROMISES TO BE ANOTHER GREAT DAY OF INSPIRATION FOR NORTH EAST ENTREPRENEURS.
CHAIRMAN
I’ve been to a lot of Entrepreneurs’ Forum conferences over the years, but this is my first time as chairman and I’m really looking forward to hearing how some truly amazing people have achieved their dreams and grown their businesses.
As my business grew and became more successful, I became more confident in my own capability and started to look backwards; striving for a better worklife balance and the opportunity to give back in the same way people had done for me.
As entrepreneurs, we all start out with a vision and ambition to make life better for ourselves, our families and the wider world. We go through highs and lows, face tough and challenging times but, despite it all, remain resilient and optimistic about the opportunities ahead.
In what is often an overly complicated business world, this simple idea has proven to be genuinely transformative for thousands of North East businesses over the last 15 years and will hopefully help thousands more in the years to come.
Every one of you in the room today has this in common and, given time is our most precious commodity, I’d like to thank you for sparing yours to come together with over 300 like-minded souls. I know Sir Peter Vardy is in the audience today and it was his foresight that put the foundations in place to build our network of peers. He understood how lonely being an entrepreneur can be, and brought together a group of founders who wanted to grow their businesses and develop as leaders by learning from the experience of those that have done it all before. I’ve been a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum since 2003 and in the early days this ethos not only helped me to look forward and gain confidence, but also to understand how I was doing in comparison to others in the region. I also got access to people I could aspire to emulate and wasn’t frightened to approach for help and advice.
In truth, there are very few business problems that someone hasn’t already faced and, more than likely, overcome. The Entrepreneurs’ Forum is a unique network not only in our region, but nationally. Quite why that’s the case I’m not sure, but being able to meet and share experience with like-minded people is so important for entrepreneurs that we all need to treasure days like today. So here’s my challenge to you: take notes, ask questions and get new ideas from our speakers that will help you grow your business faster, but also push yourself out of your comfort zone and talk to as many new people as possible. Everybody here can teach us all something, so go ahead and learn as much as you can. Together we can take on the world!
James Robson MBE Entrepreneurs’ Forum Chairman 3
TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD
TODAY’S PROGRAMME SPONSORED BY 9AM - WELCOME
12 NOON
James Robson MBE Entrepreneurs’ Forum chairman
Mark Beaumont Athlete & Adventurer @MrMarkBeaumont
9.10AM - OUR HOST Alfie Joey Half of the Mimic Men, half of the BBC Newcastle breakfast show and more than half decent artist, writer, comic, actor, impressionist, singer and presenter. @alfiejoey
In partnership with
1PM Lunch
2.15PM
9.20AM - A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR
Angus Thirlwell Hotel Chocolat @AngusThirlwell
Lee Hartley Fairstone Group
3.20PM
In partnership with
Comfort break
9.30AM Mica McNeill Team GB Bobsleigh @MicaMcNeill
10.15AM Sir John Timpson Timpson @Timpson_News
11.15AM Coffee, cookies and time to chat 4
3.45PM Julian Leighton Orange Bus @orangebus
In partnership with
4.30PM - SUMMARY Alfie Joey & James Robson MBE
5PM Drinks reception
In partnership with
#NEENTREPRENEURS
Today’s Programme
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Sir JohnTimpson, Timpson
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pg. Mica McNeill, Team GB Bobsleigh
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Mark Beaumont, Athlete & Adventurer
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Angus Thirlwell, Hotel Chocolat
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Julian Leighton, Orange Bus 5
TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD
A BIG THANK YOU! WE WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE ANY OF THE THINGS WE DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF GENEROUS PEOPLE LIKE OUR SPEAKERS, SPONSORS AND PARTNERS. Sharing our ambition to make the region stronger and our belief that small and medium sized businesses are the lifeblood of the economy, each of our partners is an expert in their field and cares deeply about the North East and the people that live and work here. They all want to help business owners who are in pursuit of growth and you can meet with the leaders of each of these organisations here today, amongst the audience and at their exhibition stands.
EVENT SPONSOR
ASSOCIATE PARTNERS
FAIRSTONE GROUP
BUSINESS DURHAM
Launched in 2008, Fairstone is a national financial advisory and wealth management firm that combines market knowledge, specialist expertise and the very latest technology to produce the highest quality outcomes for their clients in a cost-effective manner. One of the UK’s largest Chartered Financial Planning firms, Fairstone‘s head office is in Newcastle and, with 36 regional locations and management hubs, they have a truly national presence. Across the UK they now have over 400 financial advisers servicing 41,000 clients who collectively hold over £8bn in investment and pension assets.
Business Durham is the economic development organisation for County Durham, working on behalf of Durham County Council to deliver the environment for business and economic growth. It is a knowledgeable and trusted guide, which connects businesses with the right funding, advice, and networks they need to grow and thrive. Business Durham works closely with partners to encourage an enterprise culture, helping entrepreneurs to turn bright ideas into successful reality. The organisation manages a portfolio of business property and excels in finding the right space for businesses to grow.
@FairstoneGroup fairstonegroup.co.uk
@_BusinessDurham businessdurham.co.uk
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#NEENTREPRENEURS
Event production & AV provided by
NORTH EAST GROWTH HUB The North East Growth Hub is a crucial part of the region’s business support infrastructure. Business growth and access to finance are key drivers to help create more and better jobs for the region. If you’re planning for growth, the North East Growth Hub can help you achieve it. Visit the online platform which gives you access to the region’s biggest database of finance and funding support, business support programmes and a directory of business events, seminars, training and networking opportunities to help you grow your business.
A Big Thank You!
CONFERENCE BROCHURE & NETWORKING PARTNER NORTH EAST FUND The North East Fund Limited (TNEFL) is the holding fund manager appointed to govern the North East Fund (NEF). The team has now been responsible for over £300m of investment funds, over the past 14 years, including the £159.5m Finance for Business North East Fund (JEREMIE), and has been responsible for supporting over 1,000 North East businesses.
@GrowthHubNE northeastgrowthhub.co.uk
@NorthEastFund northeastfund.org
VIRGIN TRAINS
AUTOMOTIVE PARTNER
Virgin know getting to your customers for a faceto-face is crucial, so they’ve created a new, free, online service aimed at businesses to make booking and managing your GB business train trips as straightforward as possible. Say hello to Railblazers. Hassle-free booking? Check. The best deals for trains? Check. Quick and easy payment? Check and check. What are you waiting for? Take control of your train travel today by setting up a free account for your company. @Virgin_TrainsEC railblazers.co.uk/EastCoast
LEXUS NEWCASTLE Lexus Newcastle is a state-of-the-art Lexus Centre, designed to offer you the opportunity to experience amazing. Each member of the Lexus team is knowledgeable, friendly and highly trained, so you’ll always get a warm welcome. Call in or get in touch and enjoy the complete Lexus experience, from the award-winning service using genuine parts, to the extraordinary Lexus self-charging hybrid range. @Lancaster_Lexus lexus.co.uk/centres/Newcastle
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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD
EXHIBITORS OPPORTUNITY IS CREATED WHEN YOU MEET PEOPLE YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED TO MEET; PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES OUT OF YOUR DAY TO SPEAK TO EACH OF OUR EXHIBITORS AND FIND OUT HOW THEY ARE ALREADY HELPING NORTH EAST ENTREPRENEURS TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES. WHO KNOWS WHERE IT MIGHT LEAD!
BARCLAYS EAGLE LABS
CROWNE PLAZA NEWCASTLE
Empowering ambitious entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses to scale by bringing together academics, industry experts, investors and business groups to help them accelerate.
Newcastle’s most luxurious and contemporary hotel, they are dedicated to ensuring you succeed in business when travelling. DELOITTE
BREWIN DOLPHIN One of the UK’s leading providers of personalised, discretionary wealth management services.
Providing insights and solutions to help address the unique set of challenges faced by entrepreneurs throughout the business life cycle, they can help you to unlock the potential for growth and innovation.
BUSINESS DURHAM The economic development organisation for County Durham, they work on behalf of Durham County Council to deliver the environment for business and economic growth. CASCADE CASH MANAGEMENT An independent and unbiased cash solution for businesses who want a unique and optimised way of administering their cash portfolio.
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DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DIT) The Department for International Trade offers expert guidance and advice on growing internationally. Their ERDF project can help eligible businesses achieve their international aspirations. DIAMOND GROUP Recognising ICT, telecoms, copying technology and people make the world go round, they can help support your business world by developing cost effective tailored solutions that make a real difference.
#NEENTREPRENEURS
Exhibitors
ELANDERS UK
NEWCASTLE UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
A global business with a North East base, specialising in printing and packaging, supply chain solutions and logistics; working with customers to deliver their strategic goals.
Known for a combination of top-class facilities, outstanding catering and service which ensures they remain at the pinnacle of Premier League hospitality. NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
FAIRSTONE GROUP One of the UK’s largest chartered financial planning firms. GATESHEAD COLLEGE A trusted training partner delivering apprenticeships, funded workforce development and work ready students with an employment edge. LEXUS NEWCASTLE Lexus Newcastle is a state-of-the-art Lexus Centre, offering you the opportunity to experience amazing, from award-winning service using genuine parts, to the extraordinary Lexus self-charging hybrid range.
Providing a range of specialist services and facilities to support your business needs, the University can harness their people, research excellence and infrastructure, to help you find innovative solutions to real-world challenges. NORTH EAST FUND The holding fund manager appointed to govern the North East Fund (NEF); a new ÂŁ120m investment programme available to SMEs across Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear designed to drive economic growth. NORTH EAST LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP Delivering programmes aimed at helping businesses scale and grow. This includes northeastgrowthhub. co.uk, the digital home for North East business support and finance. 9
TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD
Exhibitors
NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND
Unlocking value in a way that is unique to your business, Northumbria University can help you to identify and implement new business opportunities, develop your staff and your business proposition.
Whether you are looking for business advice, new employees, training for your workforce or access to world-class technical facilities and expertise, the University’s enterprise and innovation team can assist.
SAGE Leading a revolution in invisible accounting and giving business builders a competitive advantage through next generation cloud solutions. TEES VALLEY BUSINESS COMPASS Helping ambitious businesses realise their growth potential by offering access to a range of practical services, information and unlocking finance schemes. TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY One of the UK’s leading modern universities, Teesside University received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Excellence in Higher Education for its work in the field of enterprise and business engagement. TOC PROPERTY BACKED LENDING TRUST Giving entrepreneurs access to the fast growing market of direct lending, through a UK onshore, close-ended investment trust with a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange.
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UNWRITTEN CREATIVE Developing personas to define customer pains, aims and purchasing habits, allowing Unwritten to build brands, websites and marketing collateral that deliver positive financial impact. VIRGIN TRAINS Say hello to Railblazers, a free, online service aimed at businesses to make booking and managing your GB business train trips as straightforward as possible. WARD HADAWAY One of the UK’s Top 100 law firms, helping entrepreneurs achieve their ambitions.
SCALE-UP LEADER’S ACADEMY
JOIN THE SCALE-UP LEADER’S ACADEMY GREAT ENTREPRENEURS ARE NOT GREAT BECAUSE THEY STARTED A COMPANY; THEY’RE GREAT BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO SCALE IT. The Scale-up Leader’s Academy combines practical workshops, scale-up coaching, inspirational events and the opportunity to learn from those who have been there and done it before, helping you to build a blueprint that will accelerate your growth sustainably.
THE FACTS INTAKE
15 entrepreneurs
DATES
September 2018 to February 2019
LOCATION
Across North East England
PARTICIPANT PROFILE
Founders of fast-growing North East businesses, with at least 10 members of staff
COST
£2,000 +VAT for Entrepreneurs’ Forum members
“The Scale-up Leader’s Academy came along at just the right time for me and has really opened my eyes. The group sharing has been hugely valuable, both receiving advice and offering help to others. The coaching sessions have given me a lot to think about and, although I haven’t used everything I’ve learnt yet, even the little tweaks I’ve already made are proving to be invaluable.” Raman Sehgal, ramarketing
Apply to join the Scale-up Leader’s Academy and find out more visit entrepreneursforum.net/scale-up
TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD
MICA MCNEILL Team GB Bobsleigh
Sponsored by
@MicaMcNeill
Mica was part of the duo that achieved Britain’s best ever result in the women’s bobsleigh at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games, more than punching above their weight to finish 8th less than six months after their funding was controversially pulled. Mica, the pilot, had to go cap in hand to the public when her funding was cut off. #PoweredByThePeople, she crowdfunded the money to complete her season needing only six days to reach the £30,000 target that would cover the team’s running costs. The sum swelled to beyond £40,000 and paid off handsomely when they came in only 1.62 seconds behind Gold medallists Germany, outstripping Britain’s previous best 9th place finish back in 2006. After coming tantalisingly close to a fairy-tale podium, Mica is already looking ahead to the next Winter Games in Beijing 2022, with plans to “absolutely smash it” and be among the medals.
WHAT IS THE THING YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? It has to be making British history at the Olympic Games in February and that I’d done everything I could to get my team there! When it got tough I never gave up fighting. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? The funding cut and dealing with politics within my sport. I had to raise the funding to go on with our season, but also manage the money and organise a whole winter in two weeks. This was everything from travel, accommodation, training and sled freight from October to February. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? I’d like to have an Olympic medal and be able to look back and say I’ve had a fantastic career so far!
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#NEENTREPRENEURS
Our Speakers
GREAT IDEAS
“ Focus on the process and the outcome will take care of itself. This is something that was in my head leading up to the Olympics, during the Olympics and I think will stick with me for the rest of my career.” WHO, DEAD OR ALIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH? When I am out on the road all I want to do is have dinner with my family. WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION? For inspiration I always look to my family. They will always be my biggest support.
BOOKS TO READ
USEFUL WEBSITES
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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD
SIR JOHN TIMPSON Timpson
Sponsored by
@Timpson_News
Founded by Sir John’s great grandfather in the 1860’s, Timpson was taken over in 1973 but 10 years later Sir John led a £42m management buyout. In 1987 he sold the shoe shops and concentrated on building the shoe repairing and key cutting business, which has diversified into engraving, watch repairs, dry cleaning and photo processing. Timpson now has over 1,900 branches nationwide, including the Max Spielmann, Johnsons the Cleaners and Snappy Snaps brands. The Group has a turnover of over £200m and profits of over £20m. It is a private business wholly owned by Sir John Timpson and his family. Recognised for his creative approach to employee engagement and innovative work helping ex-offenders back into employment, Sir John wrote the book ‘Dear James,’ in 2000, which passes on the lessons he learned during 25 years as a chief executive to his son. He went on to describe his business philosophy in ‘How to Ride a Giraffe’, ‘Upside Down Management’ and ‘Ask John’. ‘High Street Heroes’ was published in 2015 and his latest book, ‘Keys to Success’, gives 50 tips from a true management maverick.
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DESCRIBE YOUR COMPANY IN ONE SENTENCE: Great service by great people. WHAT IS THE THING YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? The way we recruit people from prison. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Creating a culture of ‘upside down management’. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR COMPANY IN FIVE YEARS? More shops within supermarkets, less in the high street. Same culture as today.
#NEENTREPRENEURS
Our Speakers
GREAT IDEAS
“ We are proud of our customer service but it only works with the right people. They need great personalities.” WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER HAD? Check your bank balance every day against the same day last year. WHO, DEAD OR ALIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH? Sir Charles Clore. WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION? My late wife, Alex.
BOOKS TO READ
USEFUL WEBSITES
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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD
MARK BEAUMONT Athlete & Adventurer
In partnership with
@MrMarkBeaumont
Mark has become a household name through his documentaries about ultra-endurance and adventure which have taken viewers to over 100 countries. He had his first taste of adventure at the age of 11 when he decided to cycle across Scotland, and first made fame aged 23 for an 18,000 mile round-the-world bike race; where he shattered the previous circumnavigation cycling World Record by a staggering 82 days! In 2015 Mark rode the length of Africa at a pace of 160 miles a day, taking 18 days off the previous best. Off the bike, he has ocean rowed through the high Arctic and survived after capsizing whilst rowing the Atlantic. In 2017 he completed a second global circumnavigation, similar to his first 10 years earlier, smashing the World Record again. He now holds this title in a time of 78 days and 14 hours, averaging 240 miles a day! Mark was named ‘Top Scot’ in 2011 and has received an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Dundee, where he is also Rector.
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WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Surviving capsized in the middle of the Atlantic. This is the only time I have clearly thought ‘I am going to die’ - so to fight on and help save the lives of the six man team I was responsible for was incredibly stressful, dangerous and difficult. It took 14 hours for us to be rescued. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? I’ve never been a fan of five year plans; they can limit your potential. I’ve lived my career in a series of major projects lasting a year or two at a time. Some of the best opportunities come from being open and flexible, whilst always furiously busy with what is in front of you.
#NEENTREPRENEURS
Our Speakers
GREAT IDEAS
“ If you were to write the Haynes manual for what I’ve done, it would include training, aerodynamics, logistics, equipment. All those factors are important, but the X-factor is grit.” WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER HAD? Work hard to be valued for who you are, rather than just what you do. WHO, DEAD OR ALIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH? Barack Obama. WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION? My family.
BOOKS TO READ
USEFUL WEBSITES
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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD
ANGUS THIRLWELL Hotel Chocolat
In partnership with
@AngusThirlwell
Angus counts himself as one of the luckiest people around - to work every day in a business that lives by his fixations for chocolate, true creativity and honest ingredients. To say that he is passionate about chocolate would be an understatement because, as he willingly admits, it’s more of an obsession. Together with his business partner, Peter Harris, he founded Hotel Chocolat in 2004 with three guiding principles that remain central to the brand’s success today: authenticity, originality and ethics. Angus religiously eats chocolate every day, tastes and approves every single recipe, and is as much at home in the development kitchen as he is in the boardroom or amongst the cocoa trees. With its Rabot Estate cocoa plantation in Saint Lucia and a boutique hotel in the grounds, a chocolate manufacturing facility in Cambridgeshire, a London cocoa cuisine restaurant, stores across the UK and three in Denmark, Hotel Chocolat occupies a unique space, being able to link all aspects of chocolate from the tree to the consumer.
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DESCRIBE YOUR COMPANY IN ONE SENTENCE: An original, authentic and ethical new-wave British chocolate brand. WHAT IS THE THING YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? Being able to make lots of people happy everyday. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Being patient while we built up the brand. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR COMPANY IN FIVE YEARS? Stonger and better.
#NEENTREPRENEURS
Our Speakers
GREAT IDEAS
“ There are a million reasons to eat dark chocolate; it boosts your cognitive facilities, awakens the body and keeps you happy and focused.” WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER HAD? Don’t chase money. WHO, DEAD OR ALIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH? Winston. WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION? The power of imagination.
BOOKS TO READ
USEFUL WEBSITES
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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD
JULIAN LEIGHTON Orange Bus
In partnership with
@orangebus
Julian discovered his entrepreneurial spirit at university, though not in the lecture halls, but in the deprived areas of Bradford during the early rave scene of the 1990s. Initial success (and some rather scary situations) led a somewhat cockier version of Julian to the highpressure arena of importing and selling meat, where he was soon sacked for standing by his fierce principles. Bruised from missing out on his dream job as a field sales rep with adidas, he moved on to a highly successful stint with IBM, but ultimately the conformity of the ‘regulation length hair and blue suit culture’ proved too challenging. Despite having little interest in technology, a chance meeting with Doug Richards (Dragon’s Den) led to the founding of Orange Bus - a pioneering interaction design agency that has allowed Julian to pursue his love of engineering, his passion for understanding problems, researching broken things and creating solutions to re-build them for success. Skills largely honed, it has to be said, by the labour of love that comes with being a Lambretta-loving Mod... Julian’s journey is one of individualism, repeated risk-taking, getting shafted, learning to do things you don’t like doing and finding strength in the face of adversity. It’s one of endurance – the highs and lows from a non-conformist teenager to multi-million pound acquisition success. 20
DESCRIBE YOUR COMPANY IN ONE SENTENCE: We design and build the interactions between users and technology, be they a traditional web experience, mobile device or perhaps a voice assistant like Alexa. WHAT IS THE THING YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? Creating this from nothing, it’s hard starting with a blank sheet of paper and an idea. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Almost certainly cash flow in the past, it’s really hard to scale-up a service business without funding and Orange Bus was started with nothing.
#NEENTREPRENEURS
Our Speakers
“ We’re now owned by Capita and Orange Bus is engaged with some huge clients as a result, we’re spearheading a number of large contracts for the group now and I can see us continuing to grow into this type of role providing a highly skilled, consultancy led service to global clients.”
GREAT IDEAS
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER HAD? If you have to make a difficult decision, imagine you could write your thoughts on a note and stick it on the canteen wall for everyone who could be affected to read, then imagine how they would react. WHO, DEAD OR ALIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH? It would be a long list, but pretty much anyone who has achieved things against all odds, from engineers to sports people or entrepreneurs. I find people who won’t accept “no” to be the most interesting. WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION? I find anyone with a positive attitude inspirational regardless of what they’re actually doing.
BOOKS TO READ
USEFUL WEBSITES
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
INSPIRATIONAL EVENTS INVEST IN YOURSELF WITH AMAZING SPEAKERS AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES THAT WILL SPARK NEW IDEAS FOR YOUR BUSINESS. WITH EVENTS COMING IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO CATCH UP WITH YOUR PEERS BEFORE THE SUMMER.
2018 MAY ANDY RUBIN, PENTLAND BRANDS Member Event 22 / 05 / 2018 Berghaus HQ, Sunderland.
JUNE MENTORING DROP-IN SURGERY
JULY LIANNE WALKER, WALKER FILTRATION
SUCCESSION OR SALE
Member Event
03 / 07 / 2018 Barclays, Newcastle.
13 / 06 / 2018 Walker Filtration, Washington.
DEAN BENSON, VISUALSOFT Focus Dinner
05 / 06 / 2018 Deloitte, Newcastle.
20 / 06 / 2018 Wynyard Hall, Wynyard.
BUILDING A CUSTOMERCENTRIC BUSINESS
PD PORTS
Exchange Event
28 / 06 / 2018 Teesport, Middlesbrough.
07 / 06 / 2018 Newcastle Falcons, Kingston Park.
Sathvee te da
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Round Table
SUMMER DRINKS Social Event 05 / 07 / 2018 NBS, The Old Post Office, Newcastle.
On-site Visit
NORTH EAST ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS
FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE CONFERENCE
6pm - until midnight 28 / 09 / 18 Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel.
8am - 5pm 08 / 11 / 18 Wynyard Hall Marquee, Wynyard Hall.
entrepreneursforum.net/events
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TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD
THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM Linda Edworthy Tees Valley Combined Authority
Jennifer Bernard Bernard Interiors
Andrew Brook Dobson Brook-Dobson Brear
Catherine Coulter BeaconHouse Events
Simon Bibby Pure Conceirge Cleaning
Maureen Brown Sullivan Brown Resourcing Partners
Emily Cox Virgin Money
David Black Black and Banton
Iam Burn University of Sunderland
Simon Crosby Department for International Trade
Julie Blackie Pink Boutique
John Burns Diamond Group
Simon Crowe Niven Architects
Gary Fawcett Brewin Dolphin
James Blackwell Ronald James
Hazel Burns Diamond Group
Hilary Currie Business Durham
Charlie Fielding Square One Law
Kyle Blackwell Ronald James
Neil Capstick Executive Compass
Derek Curtis Cellular Solutions
Dan Foskett Connection Flooring
David Blair BMC Recruitment
Dawn Carhart Barclays
Samantha Davidson Horizonworks Marketing
Daniel Fraser Jackson RDFJ Graphic Design
Julia Austin Tyne Bank Brewery
Melanie Bolton Sullivan Brown Resourcing Partners
Diane Carney Gentoo Group
Penny Davison Penny Print
Anne Ganley Thompson Waste
Alfie Bailey Advice4Business
Adam Boothby Elanders
John Cave Biddible Media
Gary Dinsdale Welcome Vending
Chey Garland Ergo3
Andrew Barratt Digital Allies
Charlotte Bottomley First AV
Gary Chaplin Business Durham
Michael Dixon Entrepreneurs’ Forum
Ian Batchelor Analox
Nick Bradley Restaurant Design Associates
Adrian Cheesman Demob Job
David Dixon Teesside University
Andreas Giazitzoglu Newcastle University Business School
Dionne Clark Arch Group
Joe Dixon JD Joinery & Building Services
Neil Addyman Restaurant Design Associates Brian Aitken Newcastle United Football Club Paul Alexander Elite: Together Abu Ali Baldwins Suhail Aslam Teesside University Marc Atkinson National Safety Passport Steve Attwell RTC North
Mark Beaumont Debbie Beck Lexus Newcastle Chris Bell PPD
Paul Branton Analox Jeff Breen Cornerstone Fundraising & Development
Colin Bell North East LEP
Toby Bridges NBT Integrated Services
Yvonne Bell
Andy Briggs IA Growth
David Bennett O’Brien Waste Recycling Solutions
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Anne Bromley Travel Bureau
David Cliff Gedanken Nola Collinson Crowne Plaza Hotel Jamie Collis Recognition Marketing & PR Sarah Cooper Barclays Sean Costigan AlphaGraphics North East
Lorraine Ellison Simply Additions Iain Farrell Analox
Steve Gibson Entrepreneurs’ Forum Bryony Gibson Bryony Gibson Consulting
Dawn Dunn North East Fund
Ben Gibson Micro Scooters
John Duns North East Times Magazine
Kirsty Gowans Drilcorp
Lee Durham durhamlane
Mairi Graham Entrepreneurial Scotland
Lisa Eaton Unwritten Creative
Steve Grant The TTE Technical Training Group
Stacey Edmondson Entrepreneurs’ Forum
James Gray Taopix
#NEENTREPRENEURS
The People in the Room
Hayley Gray Taopix
Richard Hopper Northumbria University
Kirsty Lawrenson EYPS
Alice Hall Pink Boutique
Maddy Houghton Unwritten Creative
Stephen Lawrenson EYPS
Stephen Hall Deloitte
Nadine Hudspeth Gateshead College
Mark Lazenby Square One Law
Gill Hall Square One Law
Lilian Hughes Retox Digital
Helen Lee North East LEP
Eve Halliday Sage (UK)
Stephen Huntley Geoff Huntley Plant
Jordan Lee HiUp App
Emma Harbottle Analox
Angela Huntley Geoff Huntley Plant
Julian Leighton Orange Bus
Chris Harker Second Skin
Holly Hutchinson Hollathans Group
David Lewis Collectables Retail
Michael Harriott Business Durham
Alex Ingham MI Supplies
Mark Lewis Analox
Michelle Harrison Lignum Bespoke
Stephen Irish Hyperdrive Innovation
Philip Lewis Collectables Retail
Nick Hart Hart Door Systems
Dinah Jackson North East LEP
Linda Lowther Advice4Business
Jayne Hart The HR Dept Newcastle
Vikki Jackson-Smith J&B Recycling
John Hartley QAIC Packaging
Victoria McCartney Cool Blue Brand Communications Rachel McDermott Ben Johnson Lisa McFarlane Unwritten Creative Matt McGough Ithica Films Paul McGowan Collingwood Legal Neil McGregor N McGregor Property Services Steve McNicol Ward Hadaway Mica McNeill Team GB Bobsleigh Chris McPhillips Whitewash Laboratories
David Nixon Ryecroft Glenton Christine Nugent Business Travel Kevin O’Hare Sycamore Aviation Anthony O’Neill The TV Agency Peter Oram NBT Integrated Services Kari Owers O PR Robin Owers O PR Tim Pain University of Sunderland Robin Palmer Robin Palmer PR Steven Parker Digital Allies
Rachel Lynch The Community Network
Sarah Medcalf Newcastle United Football Club
Emma Parker Horizonworks Marketing
Brian Jobling Atom Bank
Andrew Mackay Coleman James
Sarah Melling Ringtons
Roisin Patton Square One Law
Lee Hartley Fairstone Group
Alfie Joey BBC Radio Newcastle
John MacWhirter Leda Transport Solutions
Kim Miljus Global Radio
Nigel Pearson University of Sunderland
Katherine Hay-Heddle Ward Hadaway
John Jones Diamond Group
Lucy Malarkey Gentoo Group
Nina Miljus
Irena Peel NBS
Brendon Hayward OSBIT
Shwetlana Katkar Geoff Huntley Plant
Gillian Marshall Entrepreneurs’ Forum
Chris Henderson Climb Creative
Martyn Kimber Elanders
Dan Martin Elmtronics
Vivien Herrera-Lee Properties Unique
Ian Kinnery Team Massive Results
Rob Mathieson ION
Simon Herring Pipers Crisps
Kathryn Kirk Ryecroft Glenton
Sean Mattimore Elanders
Colin Hewitt Ward Hadaway
Harry Laidler Laidlers Foodservices
David Hicks Deloitte
Noel Lambert Spark Ecommerce Group
Nynzi Maung Department for International Trade
Cath Hindle NGI
Richard Lane durhamlane
Jason Hobbs North East Fund
John Lawler Madventure International
Scott Hopkinson Fairstone Group
Andrew Lawrence Barclays
Matt Mavir Last Night of Freedom Kerry Mc Cabe Unwritten Creative Charlotte McBride Newcastle University Dawn McCartie Newcastle University
David Miller The TV Agency Douglas Montgomerie Brewin Dolphin Caroline Moody Moody Logistics & Storage Lesley Mort The Community Network Samantha Mowat Newcastle United Football Club Simon Newsham Baldwins Charlotte Nichols Harvey & Hugo David Nicholson The Nicholson Group Joe Nicholson J.N. Rusticus
Lesley Pender Newcastle University Business School Pamela Petty Entreprenising Rob Phillips IGNIFI Vicky Pigg Analox Ruby Pino Virgin Trains Mark Plowright Virgin Trains John Porrett Unique Magazines Stephen Prior Forest Carbon Jon Proud Smart IT
25
TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD
The People in the Room
Alan Purvis NBT Integrated Services Ben Quaintrell My Property Box Fiona Raglan Dipsticks Research Michael Rankin Brewin Dolphin Steven Rawlingson Samuel Knight International Samantha Read APM Cleaning Michaela Reaney Gradvert Dennis Reed Fairstone Group Ben Ridgway Intelligent Services Group Stacey Ridley Fairstone Group Tom Riley Whitewash Laboratories Alan Riseborough Northumbria University Graham Robb Recognition Marketing & PR James Robson Alexander Jewitt & Co. Andrew Robson Perfect Image Andrew Robson Gateshead College Vincent Robson Northumbria University Gary Rodgers Diamond Group Steven Roper Ward Hadaway Ken Ross CCL Accountants Jon Routledge Ryecroft Glenton Julie Routledge Retox Digital
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Kirstie Royce Vivid Promotional Marketing Jessica Rutherford Newcastle United Football Club Paul Sample Lola Jeans John Savage Flame Heating Spares Emma Seheult Vivid Promotional Marketing
Richard Steele Barclays Patrick Stephens The Shred Centre Andy Stephenson Weekend Box Neil Stephenson Stephenson Ventures Andrew Stevenson Ardmore Craig Elaine Stroud Entrepreneurs’ Forum
Gavin Sewell Honcho Markets
Mike Swan Lexus Newcastle
Matt Sharpe Baldwins
Carl Swansbury Ryecroft Glenton
Helen Short Absolute Quality Consultancy & Training
Christine Taylor Contact Field Marketing
Nicola Short Gradvert
Christian Taylor Sage (UK)
Jane Sinnamon Collingwood Legal
Phil Teasdale Enterprise Made Simple
Rob Sisson Virtual Tailor
Sarah Thackray BeaconHouse Events
Jane Skilbeck Parsons Containers
Angus Thirlwell Hotel Chocolat
Sarah Slaven Business Durham
Ralph Thompson Silvermoor Equestrian Haylage
Sir Peter Vardy The Vardy Group of Companies
Maureen Wright Westray Recruitment Consultants
Jackie Wade Winning Sales
Ashleigh Wright Westray Recruitment Consultants
Joanna Wake RAW Digital Training Caroline Wallace Gentoo Group Tim Ward Bid and Reseach Development Paula Warnes Elanders David Watson IGNIFI Karen Weir Weir Insurance Brokers Marcus Welch Futureplumb Gary Welford Brewin Dolphin Simon Whiteside Ryecroft Glenton Helen Whitfield NBS Jessica Williams Just Williams Consultancy
Susie Thompson Gentoo Group
Andrew Willson Absolute Quality Consultancy & Training
Graham Sleep IA Growth
Melanie Thompson-Glen Gateshead College
Tony Wilson Smart IT
Andy Smith Perfect Image
Sir John Timpson Timpson
Paul Wilson EDM Zone
Craig Smith The Printed Bag Shop
Chris Toon Gateshead College
Mark Wilson Analox
Andy Smith Intimation Creative
Andy Trafford MacDonald Martin
Lyndsay Wind Sign Design (GB)
Daniel Smith Ringtons
Jackie Trafford MacDonald Martin
Jeff Winn On Medical
Gill Southern Wessington Cryogenics
Nevil Tynemouth New Results
Haley Woodman Crowne Plaza Hotel
Pete Southern Clockwork Espresso
Paul Upton Virgin Trains
Johnny Woods Thrive Marketing
Peter Slee Spark Ecommerce Group
Janette Young Newcastle University Business School
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