Contact - December 2014-January 2015

NECC: Making the North East a success

DECEMBER 2014 - JANUARY 2015

STAR MAN

60 seconds with Kielder Observatory’s Gary Fildes

INSIDER DEALING

necc.co.uk - necontact.co.uk

✱ DIGGING DEEP Juggling the numbers with Owen Pugh’s John Dickson

The businesses run at Her Majesty’s pleasure

PROFILE

MONEY TALKS

Ann Cairns: Travelling the world with Mastercard

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Welcome...

This edition of Contact is very special – we have delivered twins!

This month we welcome a sister publication; our one-off NECC 200th anniversary special. Keep hold of this magazine throughout 2015, it includes details of all our birthday events, exhibitions and dinners.

While we think every edition of our much-loved magazine is unique, this one marks not only the end of 2014, but the beginning of NECC200.

There can’t be many organisations in the country with a history stretching back as long as ours, and there will be even fewer who have played such a key role in shaping the economic fortunes of a region.

I hope you enjoy both magazines and find something to interest you in the past, present and future of NECC and our valued membership.

Inside this edition we take you behind bars, and no, there are no cocktail making lessons.

We’re showcasing the pioneering work at

NECC president David Laws looks forward to NECC’s 200th anniversary and back at a memorable trip to India

HMP Northumberland which has seen a successful college set up inside the prison, as well as a charity and some extremely successful businesses.

This issue we also celebrate our NECC dinners and regional business award winners.

We have also launched another positive Quarterly Economic Survey, responded passionately to Nick Clegg’s Northern Futures consultation, and given the Chancellor our ambitious Autumn Statement submission, outlining what we need from Government to help our region fulfil its potential.

Now that the dust has settled on the Scottish independence referendum we are also working with our partners to prepare the region for a role in devolution consultation. As Scotland’s nearest neighbour, any economic changes will invariably have a knock-on effect and we must play a role in how powers are devolved.

On a personal level, it was fantastic to visit India as part of a trade delegation organised by NECC’s Access India programme. Anyone who doubts the potential market offered by India need only check the number of UK delegations which visited the country in October. We met three others, all making links with Indian businesses. There were many great memories from the trip and some excellent relationships forged. If I can offer one bit of advice to anyone thinking of visiting: take a huge stock of business cards. The Indian business community are the most motivated networkers on the planet!

EDITOR Jane Pikett jane@offstonepublishing.co.uk EDITORIAL TEAM Dean Bailey Liz Hands Owen McAteer Paul Robertson Contact is the magazine for NECC members. News and press releases should be sent to submissions@necc.co.uk ADVERTISING Contact our commercial team 01661 844 115 sales@offstonepublishing.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Gibson www.kgphotography.co.uk Nicky Rogerson www.nrphotography.co.uk Peter Skelton www.photo-psp.co.uk

GET IN TOUCH

01661 844 115

Follow us @NEChamber Published by

David Laws, NECC president

WHAT THEY SAY THIS ISSUE...

Offstone Publishing Unit 1, Bearl Farm, Stocksfield Northumberland, NE43 7AJ 01661 844 115 enquiries@offstonepublishing.co.uk

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

Gary Fildes

Ann Cairns

John Dickson

“What we are trying to achieve here at Kielder will set us apart from anything that has ever been attempted anywhere else.

It will establish the region and the UK as a leader in science communication.“

“I always had a lot of confidence things would work out. No matter how dark it seems, the mines can close, the shipyards can close, but something will happen, you will survive and move on.”

“We’ve worked very hard.

There are a lot of opportunities now lying ahead of us. In 10 years, I want us to be hitting the £120m turnover mark. We have a lot of work to do.”

Kielder Observatory

Mastercard

Owen Pugh

©Offstone Publishing 2014/15. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All information contained in this magazine is as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Offstone Publishing a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part. Although every care is taken, Offstone Publishing is not liable for resulting loss or damage. Offstone Publishing endeavors to respect the intellectual property of owners of copyrighted material reproduced herein. If you identify yourself as the copyright holder of material we have wrongly attributed, please contact us. Offstone Publishing does not guarantee the insertion of any particular advertisement on a specified date or at all.

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 3

Championing the region since 1815 Be part of it

For two centuries our members have stood shoulder to shoulder for the good of the region, developing ground breaking innovations, and playing key roles in industrial and economic change.

Our region’s economic and physical landscape continues to change and NECC is, and will always be, evolving with it, but our sole purpose remains the same - we will always make the prosperity of our members and the North East our number one priority. NECC is your Chamber.

Be part of it. Join us now at www.necc.co.uk/join-us or call 0300 303 6322 #GreatNE

Contents

NECC’s new website is coming soon.

Designed with a fresh look, the website will be much easier to scan, read and navigate with a responsive design meaning it looks just as good on your smart phone, tablet and desktop. www.necc.co.uk

Plus 8 INBOX Unusual goings on in

the world of business

10 PASSAGE TO INDIA NECC chief executive James

Ramsbotham reflects on a successful trade visit to India

12 QES Regional business’s verdict on the last quarter

13 THE BIG APPLE

United Airlines unveils its new daily Newcastle-New York link

15 ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Plans to upgrade the A1 north of Newcastle are welcomed

21 SKILLS

Training and apprenticeships

24 NECC POLICY

Features 06 60 SECONDS

Stargazing with Kielder Observatory’s Gary Fildes

26 INSIDER DEALING Above: Ann Cairns, Mastercard

We take a trip inside HMP Northumberland

28

NECC sets the agenda for inward investment

37 APPOINTMENTS New faces popping up in new places

46 EVENTS

NECC events to look forward to

28 PLAYING THE MASTERCARD

Money talks with Mastercard’s Ann Cairns

32 DIGGING DEEP

We talk ponies and profitability with Owen Pugh’s John Dickson

39 ACCESS TO FINANCE Who? What? Where? When?

We take a look at the vexed question of sourcing funding

50 LAST WORD

06

32

Clockwise from above: Gary Fildes, John Dickson, and Philip Bernays

With Philip Bernays of Newcastle Theatre Royal

50 DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 5

60 SECONDS

Reaching for the stars 60 Seconds: Kielder Observatory founder Gary Fildes, by Liz Hands

A

visit to Kielder convinced former bricklayer Gary Fildes that its inky skies were perfect for star gazing. After years of discussions, negotiations and fundraising, he realised his dream of opening the Kielder Observatory in 2008.

In 2013, Fildes succeeded in getting Dark Sky Status for Kielder, creating a 580sq mile dark zone around the site, which is the largest of its kind in Europe.

Now the astronomer has teamed up with North East business powerhouse Jacqui Miller, sales and marketing director of Miller International, in a bid to raise £8m to make Kielder the biggest observatory and planetarium in the world.

Q I’m meeting you for the first time, how do I recognise you?

I’m tall, athletic and skinny with long, curly hair (which is starting to go grey!), and I’m a bit curious looking. Not in the sense that I have an extra head or anything, I’m just always watching and thinking, so I look contemplative.

Q Who did you look up to a child?

My father, without a doubt. He was an honest and proud man and an inspirational dad.

Q How do you compare to you 21-year-old self?

I used to be typically young in outlook; I thought the universe was within and my mortality was some sort of illusion. I’m now more focused and wiser and have definitely found my place, among the stars.

through a telescope. That chance decision proved pivotal and life changing.

Q What’s the best job you’ve ever had?

I’m in it as founder and director of Kielder Observatory. It sure beats laying bricks on a building site!

Q What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Aim for the stars. If you miss, you may just land on the Moon. Don’t count yourself out and always try to be all you can be.

Q What do you most enjoy about your job?

Inspiring people, getting kids excited about the possibilities that lie in science and seeing their faces light up when they’re allowed to dream. We’re in a universe with all manner of discoveries just waiting to be found. That realisation is pretty exciting.

Q What would you be doing if you weren’t an astronomer?

I’d be on a building site, probably wondering what I could do to improve my life.

Q What’s the best decision you ever made?

Taking a drive up to Kielder to look

6 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

Q What’s the greatest moment of your career to date?

Being awarded an honorary Master of Science from Durham University in 2012.

Q What’s your greatest fear?

Being eaten by a lion, or a shark.

Q What does the future hold?

Dark starry skies and lots of happy moments - hopefully! What we are trying to achieve here at Kielder will set us apart from anything that has ever been attempted anywhere else. It will establish the region and the UK as a leader in science communication.

Fildes and Miller are urging people to donate at www.totalgiving.co.uk/ mypage/jacqui and businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities contact jacqui.miller@millergroundbreaking.com

❝ Aim for the

stars. If you miss, you may just land on the Moon

❝

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 7

INBOX

inbox...

Have you got something to say about the magazine or about business in general? Then inbox may be the perfect home for you.

Send your views, comment and gossip to inbox@necontact.co.uk

Tweet Tweet!

Here’s our pick of the best pictures from NECC on Twitter in October and November

BLOG IT!

Newcastle PR agency O PR was swamped with entries for its inaugural North East Blogger Awards. The North East Blogger of the Year award went to the North East Family Fun blog.

O PR MD Kari Owers (above left) says the nominations ran into the hundreds.

OH YES IT IS!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is Newcastle Theatre Royal’s fastest-selling pantomime in its 177-year history. More than 85,000 tickets were sold pre-opening and two extra shows had to be added to cater for demand.

STAN’S THE MAN

Congrats to Stan Higgins, chief exec of the North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), who has been named European Cluster Manager of the Year 2014 at an event in Brussels. NEPIC works across a broad range of inter-related chemistry-using industries.

SOUND OF SUCCESS

Sunderland’s Sun FM is celebrating after audience statistics showed a massive rise in listeners. Industry body RAJAR figures show that over a 13-week period Sun FM’s audience grew by 53%, equating to 142,000 adults.

ALL FIRED UP

Training company AIS has made a stand for equal opportunities after the first female passed its offshore fireproofing course. Ellis Matthewson, 22, from Wallsend, passed the passive fire protection (PFP) qualification. Nice work, lady!

ROYAL APPROVAL

HRH The Duke of Kent has toured Armstrong Works, now home to Reece Group’s portfolio of engineering companies. The Duke was presented with a set of steel coasters featuring the Royal Crest surface cut at the plant.

James Ramsbotham (@NECCTwiTer): Look what the most discerning tuk-tuk driver is reading in India. Thank you @OffstonePublish for #NECC Contact Mag Tom Warnock (@NECCTom): Q&A session concluded, delegates continuing discussion and forging relationships over coffee. #NECC Matthew Ord (@NECCMatthew): #ExportWeek #AccessNECC another full room at NECC HQ - de-risking your export finances. @NECCNynzi gets a great crowd

Bryn Littleton (@NECCBrynPR): #NECC Tyne & Northumberland Dinner y’all

Ross Smith (@NECCRoss): Love the stage set for #NECC member @IsosHousing Our House, Your Home event

TOP KIT

Newcastle University Women’s Rugby team has a new kit from construction company Hodgson Sayers, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary with support for local causes.

LONG SERVICE

Jeff Alexander, a board director of construction firm Surgo, has celebrated his 25th anniversary at the firm. Having joined as a quantity surveyor, he now heads Surgo’s estimating team.

8 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

THE MAGIC NUMBER

Trainees and staff from Middlesbrough-based technical training group TTE have completed the Three Peaks Challenge in support of South Cleveland Heart Fund.

James Ramsbotham (@NECCTwiTer): Below Tyne Bridge in Delhi with Richard McCallum, MD @UKIBC David Laws, @NCLairport #NECC President & @NECCNynzi

IN MY VIEW

In my view

NECC chief executive James Ramsbotham looks back on a successful trip to India and ahead to NECC’s 200th anniversary year

foreword, this is a motivated business community of passionate networkers and forward thinkers. It would be remiss not to explore this potentially enormous, fast growing export market.

The welcome we received in India was overwhelming. My ambitious stock of 200 business cards was depleted within a couple of days and I feel the relationships forged will last a lifetime.

Speaking of long-term relationships, NECC is celebrating its 200th year of championing and lobbying for North East business in 2015, so I genuinely hope you enjoy our anniversary special edition.

A great deal of work is going into a year-long programme of activities to mark this landmark year, but I must point out that it is not all about us; we want to celebrate not only our birthday, but also showcase everything that is great about North East business.

From dinners to exhibitions, world record attempts to global chamber gatherings, we want everyone to feel part of what promises to be an amazing year.

And while 2015 represents a real milestone, we must not forget what a fantastic year we’ve had in 2014.

If attendance at the recent awards

ceremonies and dinners was a barometer for business positivity, then the fact that both our Tees and Tyne and Northumberland dinners were sold out well in advance is a fantastic sign.

I mentioned this in the last edition, but it was something of a hat-trick for NECC, following one of the best Durham and Wearside dinners in years.

The Q3 Quarterly Economic Survey results were another sign of continued optimism across the private sector.

Results may not have kept pace with previous record-breaking surveys, but the vast majority of indicators are still heading in the right direction.

We have told deputy PM Nick Clegg what we need to deliver more in our response to his Northern Futures project and we have told the Chancellor, George Osborne what is required for us to fulfil our potential in our Autumn Statement submission. I hope that by the time you read this column both have delivered some good news for the region.

If not, I’m certain we will continue to show them just what we are capable of and that it will be our businesses that remain at the very forefront in driving forward our progress.

T

he global Chamber of Commerce network is totally unique. We operate in almost every country, we work within every sector of industry, we stand shoulder to shoulder with other business organisations and we lead the way in lobbying the world’s governments for a better deal for business.

We are now, through projects like our Access Programme, starting to make better use of the relationships we have around the world to provide soft landings for businesses exploring new markets.

In recent years, I have had the pleasure of visiting Japan, the UAE, Germany and most recently India.

There is a voracious appetite in India for doing business with Britain, and India boasts a wealth of labour and capacity, but in some key sectors there is a lack of technology or expertise to elevate businesses to the next level.

As David Laws alluded to in his

 The Bahai Lotus Temple, New Delhi DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 9

EXPORT

2015 BCC INTERNATIONAL TRADE COURSES Includes four days of workshops in: Day 1:Letters of Credit and Methods of Payment Day 2: Export Processes, Compliance and Documents Day 3: Import Processes, Compliance and Documents Day 4: Customs Compliance, Processes and Documents Course dates: Jan 27, Feb 10, March 5 & 26 April 28, May 5, June 9 & 25 Sept 3, 17, 29 & Oct 8 Oct 22, Nov 10, 24 & Dec 3 Prices: One day courses: £240+VAT (Global mem.) £300+VAT (Standard) Foundation Award in International Trade: £640+VAT (Global mem.) £800+VAT (Standard) Venue: NECC, Aykley Heads Durham, DH1 5TS For more information email jacqui.tulip@necc.co.uk or tel 0300 303 6322

EVENTS DIARY International Events Jan 27 - Letters of Credit and Methods of Payment. NECC Durham, 9.30am-4pm, £300.

Feb 10 - Export Processes, Compliance and Documents.

NECC Durham, 9.30am-4pm, £300.

Date TBC - Foundation Award in International Trade. NECC Durham, 9.30am-4pm, £800.

International Trade Access Brazil, India and Russia February 2 Brazil Event. Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle, time TBC, FREE. February 16-20 Russia Market Visit. Russia, one week, POA.

Banglore Tech Park

Passage to India

NECC chief executive James Ramsbotham reflects on a successful NECC trade visit to India

I

ndia is a magical place with cities of breathtaking beauty and vibrancy, jungle teeming with exotic wildlife, and an unquenchable appetite for business.

NECC president David Laws, NECC Access Programme manager and international market development executive Nynzi Maung and I joined a delegation of eight North East businesses on a trip organised by NECC’s ERDFfunded Access India programme. Nynzi worked with the UK India Business Council to devise a packed programme of B2B meetings, networking events, company visits, briefings, workshops and seminars focused on looking beyond Mumbai to do business in other regional capitals such as Bangalore and New Delhi.

We are lucky to have the Emirates route, with India a three-hour hop from Dubai, and our first port of call was Bangalore, which is growing at a supersonic speed and is home to a staggering number of IT and tech businesses. It also remains very “Indian”, however, and it’s not unusual to see a chauffer-driven car idling behind an ox and cart.

Here we met the UK India Business Council, which works with UKTI Deputy High Commission, and we met with the regional government of Karnataka, a province roughly the size of England.

10 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

The appetite for doing business with the UK is incredible here, and this was also emphasised by a meeting with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

There is a natural fit between the North East and India and North East companies offer goods, technology, services and expertise in areas India has identified as critical for economic development.

We went on to New Delhi - centre of government and a vibrant hub of industry and commerce. As fast-paced and forward thinking as New Delhi is, the old city is wonderfully chaotic. We were forced to detour away from one street blocked by a herd of goats, only to be forced back by a naked man in the middle of the next.

The UKIBC and FICCI help foreign businesses make valuable contacts on the ground, which is key to finding the right contacts and cutting through considerable red tape.

We met a great many people who were part of the global business network, many of whom were educated in Europe and America, and we also discovered that the Indian business community is made up of passionate networkers. I took 200 business cards and used every one.

The North East remains the country’s most successful export region, and India can help us to maintain that position.

NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

SINTONS SUPPORTS SCOTT HOUSE

S

The Tall Ships on the Tyne in 2005

Wear sailing

T

he North East is expecting a huge economic boost after Sunderland was named as one of the host ports for the 2018 Tall Ships Races.

Around 100 ships are expected to dock in Sunderland for the event, drawing thousands of visitors to the city as the races have

done previously in Hartlepool and Newcastle.

NECC’s head of member relations Jonathan Walker says: “The successful bid for the Tall Ships is not only another demonstration of Sunderland’s ambition as a city, but also a testament to what can be achieved when the public, businesses and the local authority work together.”

CROWD FUND BID

A Teesside University student is embarking on a £100,000 crowd-funding campaign for his software development company.

James Drew is MD of JDrew Creations and combines his studies with

running the Stockton-based company, which employs four people. He is crowd-sourcing funding for Ambix, an intuitive intranet system developed by JDrew, and hopes to raise £100,000 in return for 17% of company’s shares.

in association with

pecialist lawyers from the nationally-renowned healthcare team at law firm Sintons have enabled the new £1.9m ‘Home from Home’ at the Freeman Hospital to become a reality by completing the legal work on the development.

The new unit – named Scott House – will accommodate families whose children are receiving life-saving treatment at the Newcastle hospital’s internationally-renowned Children’s Heart Unit, providing them with free accommodation and emotional and practical support, during what can often be a lengthy period away from home.

The 18-bedroom development, a joint project between the Sick Children’s Trust (SCT) and the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF), will support up to 600 families a year.

CHUF has donated £1m towards the project, with North East businessman Graham Wylie - a passionate supporter of the unit’s work – spearheading the drive to raise the additional funds. It was officially opened recently with guests including CHUF patrons Alan Shearer and Ant and Dec. left-right: Sintons’ healthcare team advised the site’s Anthony Bailes, Newcastle upon landlord, the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, throughout the Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation project, preparing the lease and construction documentation.

Trust; Ant Sintons also has a close and long-standing McPartlin, patron of CHUF; relationship with CHUF, and has been the Sarah Parish and organisation’s legal advisor for several years.

The team for this transaction, led by Hilary Alex Rayner Parker – Head of Healthcare at Sintons – involved Associate Sarah Parish overseeing the property aspects and construction specialist solicitor Alex Rayner advising the Trust on the building and construction side.

Hilary Parker, Partner at Sintons, said: “This has been a project close to the hearts of everyone at Sintons. It is a true delight to see it become a reality.”

Sintons LLP, Barrack Road, Newcastle, NE4 6DB tel: 0191 2267878, www.sintons.co.uk DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 11

NEWS

NECC PRESIDENT’S CLUB UPDATE With Eamonn Leavey head of NECC President’s Club In association with Brewin Dolphin We’ve been busy in President’s Club in recent weeks and it was great to see a record turnout of NECC members at our lunch with international trade minister Lord Livingston, which was sponsored by Newcastle University Business School and was held at Centre for Life.

Lord Livingston pledged the on-going support of UK Trade & Investment to help North East businesses achieve their export ambitions.

I also enjoyed sitting in on the Tyne & Wear Museums senior management team meeting and hearing about the fantastic exhibitions in museums and galleries right now.

I have also visited the Percy Hedley Trust, which makes a genuine difference in the community, Elddis Transport in Consett where there is a fantastic culture within the business, and Lanchester Wines which is celebrating tremendous growth over the past few years.

Eamonn Leavey, tel 07714 845 624 email eamonn.leavey@necc.co.uk Twitter @NECCEamonn

NEWS ECO AWARD

Water treatment specialist Biochemica UK has achieved the internationally recognised standard ISO14001 in acknowledgement of its efforts towards reducing its day-today impact on the environment. The Teesside-headquartered firm first gained the certificate in 2010 and has met its strict criteria year-on-year.

Growth continues

F

Expectations for future profitability ollowing two record-breaking have risen by more than five points on quarters, the latest NECC the previous quarter and by more than Quarterly Economic Survey 12 points on a year ago. Expectations has returned dips in some for future turnover dropped by 0.1 point indicators, suggesting the on three months ago and increased by positive trend has slowed.

However, the survey also reveals that more than 10 points since 2013. The overall mood is positive, despite almost two thirds of NECC members sales falling. are recruiting, and records rises in NECC members have also businesses operating at full played an integral part in capacity. NECC policy and the British Chambers of research manager Mark “TO SUSTAIN Commerce Workforce Stephenson says: POSITIVE MOMENTUM, Survey: Contracts, Pay “Business confidence WE NEED PROGRESS ON and Working continues and growth Conditions. Findings is still strong. After KEY INFRASTRUCTURE from the survey show three incredible PROJECTS” SMEs across sectors quarters it was and firms in media and inevitable that the recordcreative services, mining and breaking figures would dip, utilities, and IT and but our businesses are recruiting telecommunications are most positive at healthy levels. about creating new jobs. It also “To sustain positive momentum, we revealed that 35% of businesses need progress on key infrastructure increased their pay above inflation last projects, and the major political parties to unveil pro-business policies. We also year while 25% increased wages with inflation. More than half say they pay all need greater devolved powers for the their employees at least the living wage.

North East.”

12 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

in association with

NEWS ARE YOU AN AWARD WINNER?

The Big Apple

The skyscraper-strewn Manhattan skyline

N

ewcastle International Airport is celebrating the announcement of its first scheduled non-stop service to New York.

The United Airlines service will launch on May 23 2015 with flights into Newark Liberty International Airport, where passengers can connect with flights to more than 300 destinations.

Flight UA159 will depart Newcastle daily (except Wednesday and Thursday) at 9.10am, arriving at New York/Newark at noon local time the same day.

The return flight, UA160, will depart New York/Newark daily (except Tuesday and Wednesday) at 7.20pm, arriving in Newcastle at 7.30am local time the next day. Flight times will be 7hrs 50mins westbound and 7hrs 10mins eastbound.

The flights will be operated by a Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a total of 169 seats 16 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 153 in United Economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats with added legroom.

Newcastle International Airport chief executive David Laws says: “We have been determined to deliver this route for the region and we have been quietly working behind the scenes with our shareholders to secure it.”

United operates flights from New York/ Newark to more than 300 destinations throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Just 25km from downtown Manhattan, the airport offers surface transfers to many parts of the city, including the AirTrain service to New York Penn Station, with a journey time of less than 30 minutes.

SET IN STONE Darlington-based Stone Technical Services (STS) has completed prestigious projects for the National Trust across the North East.

Works to protect and maintain structures at Wallington Hall near Morpeth, Cragside House in Rothbury and Penshaw Monument near Sunderland are now complete and STS recently announced its most successful quarter in its 15-year history, achieving £1m in new contracts during Q1 of 2014.

Dave Stone, Stone Technical Services

in association with

North East businesses can still enter the 2015 North East Business Awards organised by The Journal, Newcastle and The Gazette, Middlesbrough, and sponsored by NECC. The awards are the largest of their kind in the region and they begin with heats for Tyneside and Northumberland, Durham and Wearside, and Teesside ahead of the grand final at which the Company of the Year award is presented.

Award winners then have the opportunity to compete at the British Chambers of Commerce national awards.

The closing date for entries is January 6, 2015.

To enter, go to www. nebusinnessawards.co.uk

NEWS MAYORAL MANIFESTO NECC members in Middlesbrough are creating a manifesto to present to candidates ahead of the town’s mayoral election in May 2015.

The document will set out key issues for the business community and will be discussed at the NECC Middlesbrough Area Meeting on December 2.

To contribute, email rachel. anderson@necc.co.uk

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 13

NEWS

RECOGNITION

Nicola Dalzell with Peter Otter outside Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors’ Stockton offices

Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors has become the first law firm to be officially recognised by the Dementia Friendly Stockton Project, part of a national initiative to encourage communities to help people suffering from the condition.

Peter Otter, Dementia

Friendly Stockton’s communities link worker says: “There is often a need for those with dementia and their carers to seek legal services and Tilly Bailey & Irvine has trained its staff and made alterations in its offices to ensure its services are accessible.”

Is your confidential information in safe hands?

Image Credit: landmarkmedia / Shutterstock.com

When you dispose of confidential data/documents, who do you trust?

The bin men?

Your waste collection company?

DON’T! Trust the region’s leading specialists in secure data destruction.

Call us now for your free, no obligation consultation

www.riverdalepaper.plc.uk

Tel: 0191 482 42 71 Earlsway, Team Valley Trading Estate Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE11 0RQ Fax: 0191 482 4214 E-mail: info@riverdalepaper.plc.uk 14 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

THE CASE FOR GROWTH

George Osborne

NECC chief executive James Ramsbotham has submitted priorities for consideration by the Chancellor ahead of his Autumn Statement.

The submission calls for swift devolution of powers in consultation with business, with more flexible tax and spend decisions that are equitable and targeted according to local or regional

economic conditions. It also seeks increased investment in infrastructure, improving access to markets capacity.

The submission also seeks a step-change in the way people are equipped to enter the workforce and calls for more up-skilled and work-ready people to fill skills gaps.

Finally, it proposes the removal of barriers to growth and job creation and recommends pro-growth policies to create an economic core in the region.

“The North East is coming back stronger than ever and it is our businesses that are driving forward that growth,” says Ramsbotham. “More must be done to help them deliver.”

ADVERTORIAL

On the right road NECC and businesses across the region have welcomed news of plans to upgrade the A1 north of Newcastle after years of campaigning.

NECC policy and research manager Mark Stephenson says: “The North East is the closest English region to Scotland’s economic heartbeat and better links with Edinburgh can only be of benefit. Northumberland is a key part of our £3.5bn tourism offer; easing movement to and through the county can only help it deliver more to our visitor economy.

“Access to and from the ports of Blyth and Tyne, Newcastle International Airport and our key employment centres will all be more efficient with an upgraded A1.”

Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to place upgrading the A1 north of Newcastle at the heart of a £15bn “road revolution” for the country.

BETTER TOGETHER

TLW LAUNCH SPECIALIST MOTORING OFFENCES SERVICE

L

Peter McKenna, founder of MotoPro and Partner at TLW Solicitors

aw firm TLW solicitors has launched a new service and brand – MotoPro - aimed at representing people dependent on their driving licences. MotoPro offers a range of fixed fee service packages - meaning no hidden charges or unexpected bills. The team of experienced lawyers understand that losing your licence can significantly impact on both your professional and personal life and aim to remove the stress and worry you may face. Expert advice from the MotoPro legal team can help prevent the loss of your licence or ensure that you are back on the road as soon as possible.

Dealing with all motoring offences from simple speeding fixed penalty notices to more serious charges where injury or death may be involved, services include pre-trial conferences with a specialist barrister, preparation on what to expect at court and looking to recover your costs in the event of a successful defence.

‘The service is aimed at individuals and businesses where driving is essential and where losing a driving licence can be disastrous – executives, salespeople, taxi drivers, couriers.’ says MotoPro founder and TLW Solicitors Partner, Peter McKenna. ‘It offers niche expert representation with the peace of mind of fixed fees.’

A new website has just been launched which includes a detailed overview of the MotoPro packages and answers lots of FAQs. If you are facing prosecution for a motoring offence, MotoPro can help.

Fergus Ewing (left), Scottish government minister for energy, enterprise and tourism and Paul Woolston, chair of North East LEP

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is linking up with the Scottish Government on schemes to boost economic growth on both sides of the border.

North East LEP chair Paul Woolston and the Scottish Government’s minister for energy, enterprise and tourism, Fergus Ewing met recently to identify projects the North East and Scotland can work together on for mutual gain.

“Ultimately, we intend to approach the UK Government with our proposals, which we believe will achieve economic growth for the North East and Scotland,” says Woolston.

“This is about two key economic regions working together to improve economic growth prospects. We have significant common interests, and we have been realistic by looking at a small number of areas initially.” in association with

info@motoprolegal.co.uk www.motoprolegal.co.uk Tel : 0800 7562415 DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 15

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EXPANSION PLANS Ramside Hall Hotel near Durham has unveiled £18m plans for a luxury spa and 47 new rooms.

The Spa at Ramside will open in spring 2015 and will feature an outdoor balcony with infinity pool, hot plunge pool, and a Rasul mud chamber.

The spa is part of a massive investment at the four star country house hotel, which will grow to 128 bedrooms.

EVERYTHING BEING EQUAL James Ramsbotham presents the Larger Organisation Making a Difference in the Community award

The 2014 North East Equality Awards at the Marriott Gosforth Park Hotel celebrated the region’s pioneers in equality in the workplace.

Keynote speaker and NECC chief executive James Ramsbotham joined 300 guests at the ceremony and praised the work of Equality North East and Gateshead College.

NECC sponsored the Larger Organisations Making a Difference in the Community category, won by Bernicia Group.

The Northumberland-based social landlord’s Runway Programme offers a range of opportunities to disadvantaged 14-24 year olds including work experience, 12-month placements, and three-year apprenticeships.

Lean Six-Sigma Training In The North East!

Classes Start Jan 2015 IASSC Belt Certification 16 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

www.Lean6SigmaTraining.co.uk in association with

GOLDEN TICKET BAGS A BARBOUR

Left to right: Rebecca Cairney, digital marketing manager at Barbour; prize winner Isabel Hunt; Nicola Reid, senior IT recruitment consultant at Catalyst; Matthew Ord, senior account manager for international trade at NECC; Julie Griffiths, executive assistant at Atlas Cloud

Treasure hunter Isabel Hunt has won Barbour goodies worth £500 in this month’s Great North East Digital Treasure Hunt.

Isabel, a programme administrator at the University of Sunderland, was the first to solve a series of coded clues and find the winning golden ticket hidden in the grounds of St Peter’s Church in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland. She collected her prize - an outfit of her choice from Barbour’s Autumn Winter 2014 collection - at the brand’s retail outlet in South Shields.

“It was tricky, but I was really pleased when I found the ticket and realised I had won,” she says.

The tech-enabled trail

is organised by Catalyst Recruitment, NECC, and Atlas Cloud. It is open to NECC members and is running for 12 months to coincide with the run-up to NECC’s 200th anniversary and Catalyst’s 10th birthday in 2015.

The next treasure hunt prize is the Ultimate Seaham Hall Experience which includes an overnight stay for two in a junior suite with breakfast and a three-course dinner in Byron’s Bar & Grill, a 50-minute treatment and use of the spa, and a bottle of champagne on arrival. The package is worth £499.

To register for the Great North East Digital Treasure Hunt and receive the next clue, visit: www.pluscatalyst. co.uk/treasurehunt

NECC PARTNERS UPDATE With Jo Fryett, head of NECC Partners Where is the year going? It seems about two minutes since I was talking about our summer programme, and here we are with the year-end looming.

And what a year it’s been; we’ve heard from fantastic speakers from the worlds of finance, industry, and even a prospective MEP. In October, our guest speaker and host was David Harker, chief executive of Durham County Cricket Club, and DCCC academy coach John Windows. Both spoke passionately about grassroots sport and focusing on youth development. There were synergies drawn between the Education Meets Business Programme and the importance of succession planning across all sectors.

I also had the pleasure of attending the opening of the re-named Future Business Park in Shildon with NECC partner Franks the Flooring Store. Pupils from Sunnydale

Community College in Shildon came up with a new logo and name for the business park after winning a competition organised by Franks and Business Durham.

It was great to speak to the two pupils who had won the competition and hear that they had their sights firmly set on their future career plans, one as a scientist and the other as a robotics engineer.

The November Partners programme hosted regional press editors and discussions included the role of regional and local newspapers in promoting the region and highlighting jobs, business and education.

The Partners will meet for the final time in December when Darren Cumner of Hitachi will be the guest speaker. Given that I still feel like we’ve just slipped out of summer, is it too early to wish you a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year? joanne.fryett@necc.co.uk Twitter @NECCJo tel 07867 541 467

OUR PARTNERS...

SURE THING SureTrax, which helps jobseekers in the North East, has won a national award at a House of Lords event.

The firm impressed judges at awards hosted by the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs and the Small

Firms Enterprise Development Initiative.

It has developed a selfmarketing and personal enterprise programme to help learners maximise their employability and engage with employers in a professional way. in association with

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 17

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SWANS DEVELOPMENT SAILS INTO VIEW Work is about to start on a new hub for small businesses at a prime location on the banks of the Tyne.

The £1.9m project at Swans, the former Swan Hunter shipyard site in Wallsend, will transform part of an existing office block to create new and flexible business accommodation, including incubation and development space.

The hub’s position in the River Tyne North Bank Enterprise Zone (EZ) makes the development ideal for small and medium-sized companies in the advanced engineering, sub-sea, marine, oil, gas or offshore renewable energy sectors.

Elected Mayor for North Tyneside, Norma Redfearn says: “North Tyneside Council is working hard with its partners to ensure the future success of the prestigious Swans site as a business cluster location.

“This latest development will further enhance what’s on offer at Swans for small and medium-sized businesses, particularly those involved in the renewable energy and marine sectors, and add value to what North Tyneside can offer companies wishing to locate to the site.”

The work will convert two floors of a five-storey block owned by North Tyneside Council to deliver 16 units for rent, ranging from 105sqm-283sqm.

The refurbishment work is expected to be complete by late spring 2015.

The new hub is part of significant developments are already underway or about to start at Swans.

The 34-acre riverside site is set to benefit from a number of improvements over the coming months, including new internal link roads, a new bridge on Benton Way for heavy goods vehicles, dredging and quay repairs.

Judith Moran, Learning Curve Group, collecting the Susan Dobson Award

It’s ladies’ night Learning Curve Group’s Judith Moran collects the top award at the 15th North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

T

he cream of female entrepreneurial talent celebrated the achievements of the North East’s top women business leaders at the 15th annual North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in November.

The event brought together highflying women from sectors across the North East to see training and skills specialist Judith Moran claim the honour of the Susan Dobson Award for North East Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2014.

The standard of entries this year eclipsed previous events with the number of applications reaching a record high. The winner of the top award of the evening, Judith Moran, also won the North East Business Executive of the Year award for Durham and Wearside in the same week.

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in association with

Speaking at the ceremony at the Hilton NewcastleGateshead, Moran, whose company Learning Curve Group is based in Bishop Auckland, said: “I was astounded to be shortlisted and cannot believe I have won. This award is a real testament to all those on the team who have made this happen. I am absolutely delighted.”

Event organiser Nickie Gott, chair of NECC’s Women’s Advisory Board, WIN Ltd and founder of events management company She’s Gott It! said: “I’d like to congratulate all the winners who made judging this year’s event so difficult. It is a cliché to say it gets harder every year, but the calibre of entries this year was phenomenal.”

This year’s awards event was run in conjunction with the IF (Inspiring Females) Conference at Northumbria University. To see a list of winners go to www.necontact.co.uk/its-ladies-night

NEWS

A-Belco’s Bob Scott and Linda Billings - Export Achievement in International Business Award

The Bazaar Group managing directors Mark Dolder and Jayne Dolder - Small Business Award and Internet & ICT Award

JC Atkinson’s Ian Handley and Julian Atkinson Excellence in Innovation Award

Derwentside Homes’ Karen Morris and Geraldine Kay - Award for Commitment to People

Nobia’s Paul Colman - Manufacturing Award

Working lunch

A

delegation of businesses representing the region at a prestigious national awards ceremony were awarded certificates to mark their achievements at a lunch organised by the North East Chamber of Commerce.

The Bazaar Group, A-Belco, Derwentside Homes, JC Atkinson and Nobia competed for honours at the British Chambers of Commerce Awards at the end of November.

The lunch, hosted by NECC chief

Sunderland City Council has become the only local authority outside London to be shortlisted for a prestigious national planning award.

The council’s regeneration work on the seafront at Roker and Seaburn won it a place in the top three councils competing for the MIPIM UK Planning Authority of the Year Award. Croydon was overall winner.

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executive James Ramsbotham at Durham’s Bistro 21, marked their success at the North East Business Awards and saw each presented with certificates for making it through as the North East representatives at the BCC finals, one of the largest business awards ceremonies in the UK. “Once again, NECC is taking an incredibly strong showcase of North East talent to the BCC Awards and all are fantastic champions for regional business,” said Ramsbotham.

ON CALL A global firm specialising in media sales support has based its new international contact centre in Sunderland.

New Zealand-based NRS Media’s first global sales centre at Doxford International Business Park will deliver advertising telesales to SMEs. It has created 10 new jobs, which is expected to expand to around 25 over the next 12 months.

Global chief operating officer John Antunes L-R Dean Robinson, Stephen Grey, John Antunes, says: “The North East has an exceptional talent Back Gavin Fell, Esther Pedhiou. Front L-R Stephen Buzzeo, pool of sales professionals.”

Rachel Swan, Ayla Malik, Jane Hine and Daniel Hatton in association with

BESIDE THE SEASIDE

Prof Roy Sandbach

THE INNOVATORS The North East’s progress towards becoming an international centre for innovation has come under the spotlight at a major conference in Newcastle.

Prof Roy Sandbach, who leads the North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) strategic innovation strand, says: “The NELEP’s innovation strategy is all about creating a regional hub for development and commercialisation that will put the North East on the international innovation map.”

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 19

ADVERTORIAL

EXPERTS GATHER AT SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT CONFERENCE Go Smarter Masterclass addresses the importance of working with businesses to build sustainable transport policies

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Go Smarter’s SRO Nick Clennett, Head of Transport Strategy Development and Enterprise at Gateshead Council, Shiela Holdon OBE, President of The Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation, Melanie Maughan, Corporate Responsibility Manager at the NHS Business Services Authority Julian Ashworth, Business Travel Advice Manager at Transport for Greater Manchester Conrad Jones, Head of Sustainability, Centro Birmingham LSTF

xperts in the field of sustainable travel were in Newcastle on Wednesday 19 November for the first ever Go Smarter masterclass - a one-day sustainable transport conference aimed at addressing some of the biggest issues in the sector today.

Delivered by Go Smarter, Tyne and Wear’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) programme, the event focused on the latest developments in the Go Smarter programme and welcomed guest speakers from across the country who shared their knowledge, experience and learning from a range of sustainable transport initiatives Shiela Holdon OBE, President of The Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation, suggested reducing the level of risk to businesses was a key factor in increasing levels of engagement.

Identifying issues and offering clear and achievable solutions would see more organisations implement a successful sustainable transport policy.

Julian Ashworth, Business Travel Advice Manager at Transport for Greater Manchester, echoed Shiela’s comments and reinforced the need to understand an organistion’s individual needs.

Go Smarter’s work with the NHS Business Services Authority in Tyne & Wear was cited as an example of best practice in engaging businesses in sustainable travel. Melanie Maughan, Corporate Responsibility Manager at the NHS spoke to about the support it received after moving offices to a rural location.

Thanks to the involvement of Go Smarter, the NHS Business Services Authority was able to introduce compulsory home working and open up a dialogue about improving existing transport links. Melanie was keen to highlight the importance of external support in making a difference to the organisation’s sustainable transport plan. Go Smarter’s toolkit is now fully integrated in the NHS Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy and continues to deliver fantastic results. David Land, North East

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LEP board member, shared the LEP and Combined Authority’s ambitions to create a stronger transport infrastructure in the region and suggested there is no single solution to the issue, industry and the public must play a part in the debate. The afternoon session focused on access to employment and how LSTF can have a positive impact on the economy. Sara Kearney, Engagement Team Leader at Merseytravel spoke about the one to one travel training is has implemented and the 31,500 travel interventions, 30 loan to buy scooters and 30 free LSTF-funded bikes Merseytravel has introduced.Neil Tuck, Senior Sustainable Development Officer at Southampton City suggested more should be done to make public transport more affordable for job seekers.

Working with 18-24 year olds, 900 job seekers have been supported through its work with 45% of those involved in schemes like My Journey, a personalised travel planner service, finding work. Event chair, Go Smarter’s SRO Nick Clennett, Head of Transport Strategy Development and Enterprise at Gateshead Council, said: “Our Masterclass has reinforced the importance of sustainable travel in supporting the local economy and developing a more resilient workforce.

“There are some amazing initiatives making a real difference across the country and it’s inspiring to see the level of passion and commitment from the sector and the business community in driving sustainable transport forward”.

For more information about Go Smarter, visit www.gosmarter.co.uk

If you think Go Smarter could help your business, contact us via our website at www.gosmarter.co.uk

SKILLS

NEWS SHE’S THE BUSINESS

M Media & Design Ltd has appointed Hannah Blackwood, 18, as a business administration apprentice through the NECC apprenticeship programme.

“I had the opportunity to go to University after Sixth Form but felt it wasn’t the right option for me. I’m looking forward to developing new skills in the next 12 months,” says Hannah.

On a roll Frank’s the Flooring Store is teaming up with NECC to create four apprenticeships in its Newcastle and Northumberland stores.

Three of the apprentices will be working towards Level 2 qualifications in Warehousing, with the fourth apprenticeship in Business Admin.

The four will join Jamie Rowell, who is already enrolled on the Warehousing Apprenticeship at Frank’s South Shields store.

MINI ADVENTURE

Hartlepool College Foundation Degree Design students are working on a creative project with MINI Cooper Durham to promote the launch of the new MINI 5 Door.

Project leader and design lecturer Michael Thompson says: “It’s an unbelievable opportunity, working with such a high profile client like MINI UK, an opportunity which most commercial creative agencies would envy. Our students have benefited massively from this.”

NEWS ALL ABOARD

DRIVE FOR SUCCESS

Daniel Johnson, from Eaglescliffe, Stockton, is the latest apprentice to join Jennings Motor Group.

The 18-year-old will complete a oneyear apprenticeship parts adviser programme at the company’s Cargo Fleet Lane site in Middlesbrough.

“I was keen to find an apprenticeship because it gives you the opportunity to learn valuable skills, work towards additional qualifications and earn a wage,” he says.

Five young people are looking forward to a career in engineering thanks to an apprenticeship scheme from Stagecoach North East.

The company has just taken on apprentices Michael Cooper, Aidan Thomas, Peter Billyard, Charlie Marshall, and Joe Cowell to train at depots in Newcastle, Teesside, South Shields and Sunderland.

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 21

SKILLS

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SAFETY FIRST L-r: Angela Fleming, business development officer Derwentside College, Simon Howard operations manager, Pinnale Re-Tec, apprentices Samantha Johnson and Adam Panting

GIRL POWER

The only female student on her engineering course has beaten her male peers by securing a job with a leading engineering outfit.

Samantha Johnson, 18, had an interview for her apprenticeship while studying for a Level 2 qualification in Performing Engineering Operations at Derwentside College.

She’s the only female in an engineering class of 20 and has secured an apprenticeship position with Pinnacle Re-Tec in Consett.

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Amaan Ayoub with Nifco UK boss Mike Matthews (right) and IT manager John Tinkler (left)

ACE APPRENTICE Teenage apprentice Amaan Ayoub, 19, is playing a leading role in keeping Nifco UK’s IT system trouble-free.

The Middlesbrough College apprentice IT network engineer spends 90% of his working week at Nifco UK’s Eaglescliffe site in Teesside and the rest of his time in college.

ITPS apprentices with operations director Paul Anderson (see case study below)

Preparing young people for work

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national survey of businesses has revealed that many employers feel young people are not prepared for the workplace when they leave education.

NECC members formed an integral part of the British Chambers of Commerce survey, Developing the Talents of the Next Generation. It reveals 82% of North East firms report a lack of work experience as a key reason young people are unprepared for work, yet 32% of firms are unable to offer work experience to school pupils.

NECC is now staging a series of Linking Education with Business events to establish partnerships to deliver careers guidance for students and a better prepared future workforce for employers.

Key findings from the survey include: • 83% of regional businesses believe school leavers are unprepared for work • 51% of businesses say graduates are unprepared for work • 82% believe lack of work experience means young people are unprepared for work, but 32% don’t offer work experience to school pupils • 26% said that placements were too costly and time-consuming and 20% said requirements set by schools and colleges were too restrictive • 78% of firms said training was worthy of investment • The main barrier to providing training for 52% of firms was cost • 52% of firms said they offer apprenticeships for 16-24 year-olds

CASE STUDY: ITPS Gateshead-based ITPS is a £21m-turnover data centre business specialising in IT consultancy, services and support for clients across the UK and Europe.

Working in partnership with NECC, young people learn by working alongside engineers and classroom training delivered by NECC. Apprentices achieve a minimum of a Diploma in Professional Competence for IT & Telecoms Professionals and the Level 2 Award in ICT Systems and Principles, and a large

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proportion of them are offered permanent jobs with ITPS. Susan Jopling, director of corporate strategy and policy, says: “By constantly adding new talent into our staff pool we maintain the skilled and motivated workforce that supports our clients and helps us grow. NECC adds value to our apprenticeship programme through an efficient service that supports our on-the-job training and the opportunities we offer to our apprentices.”

NEWS News and views from NECC account managers Durham I’m delighted to see that Designs Unique is in the running for The Solutions Awards. It proves you don’t have to be in London to be among the best. John Mansel tel 07736 799 727 john.mansel@necc.co.uk @NECCJohn

Quality Hotel in Boldon was a great night. Well done to the organisers and all the winners.

Arthur Hodgson, tel 07980 259 991, arthur.hodgson@necc. co.uk, @NECCArthur

Newcastle/ Gateshead Welcome to UK Sustainable Energy, which provides renewable technology installations at zero Teesside A warm welcome capital cost to businesses with to new members electricity bills exceeding £2k/month. Lynsey Fairless Your Entertainer Book, North East Marketing & tel 07834 444 627 Design, Rocket Dog Creative, lynsey.fairless@necc.co.uk Peak Image Photography, and @NECCLynsey the Leaflet Distribution Co. Tom Warnock, tel 07714 845 Medium Business 617, tom.warnock@necc.co.uk We are delighted to @NECCTom welcome Hartlepool 6th Form College, Northumberland Henning Project Management, It’s been another and The Stiller Group into excellent quarter membership. Members should look out for forthcoming events for the north at CAV Aerospace and Cummins of the region. I’m looking forward to member events in Ltd, and details to come of an education and business Hexham, Cramlington plus more to come. Les Dixon, tel link project. Andrew Heavisides tel 07912 478 961 07850 740 645, les.dixon@ andrew.heavisides@necc.co.uk necc.co.uk, @NECCLes @NECCAndrewh Darlington Thank you NECC Global to Darlington A warm welcome Business Club to Vertellus for inviting us to co-host an Specialities and evening at Hall Garth Hotel.

Nixon Hire this month.

Welcome to new members Matthew Ord, tel 07717 300 35 Media Messages, Primary matthew.ord@necc.co.uk Engineer, Design & Security @NECCMatthew Services, Gregg Little Testing Centre, Resilient Business Essentials portfolio Systems, Amazing Results, manager and Harrison Lightning I’m delighted to Protection and Earthing. join NECC and look Ann Boyd, tel 07739 162 408 forward to looking after the ann.boyd@necc.co.uk Essentials membership group.

I’ll be focusing on delivering better value to members and Sunderland/ helping small businesses South Tyneside engage with NECC and fellow Congratulations members. Julie Digman, tel to all involved in the South Tyneside Business 07912 478 964, julie.digman@ necc.co.uk @NECCjuliedig awards. The final at the

in association with

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Expertise at your side

CRICKETERS GET ONLINE BOOST Plans to develop a community nursery ground close to one of the region’s most successful sporting clubs have been given a boost.

Durham County Cricket Club’s (DCCC) bid, known as First Class Futures, to raise £150,000 to develop a ground that can be used by young cricket players and women has been bolstered after a fundraising effort went live on Crowdfunder.

The Chester-le-Street based club began its efforts in the summer to raise funds to get the development underway.

More than £5,000 has been raised so far and the club needs to raise at least £50,000 from members of the public, which coupled with corporate support, would allow work to get started.

David Harker, chief executive of Durham County Cricket Club said: “A nursery ground would help us change many more lives. We have a successful programme at the moment but that outreach programme is limited by a real lack of playing fields in which young people can practice.”

There are a range of support packages available and you can also donate by logging on to www. crowdfunder.co.uk/ first-class-futures

THROUGHOUT THE NORTH EAST Hexham, Ponteland, Sunderland, Yarm, Crook, Portobello www.rowlands accountants.co.uk

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 23

NECC POLICY

A warm welcome T

Ross Smith, NECC director of policy, sets the agenda for inward investment

he Angel of the North is a symbol of industry and welcome, and when considering the many benefits of inward investment to the region, we need look no further than some of the notable success stories of 2014.

These include the launch of new models at Nissan’s Sunderland plant; Sabic’s plans to upgrade the Wilton cracker to take shale gas; and further investment to increase output at SSI’s blast furnace.

These three NECC members are clear examples of how inward investment from overseas adds to the region’s economy.

Inward investment is often judged on the number of jobs created, and on that these three score highly. Beyond that, the wider benefits include supply chain development, increased skills in the

region, and stronger connections to foreign markets.

Investors have many reasons for being in the North East, among them our skilled workforce, expertise in our universities, available land with capacity to grow at relatively low cost, and excellent connections through our ports and airports which will be enhanced in May 2015 with a new direct flight to New York from Newcastle International Airport.

But there are concerns that the potential to drive investment into the North East, and in so doing support the Government aim of rebalancing the

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❝ We must be

strategic in assessing how economic development can be balanced between regions

❝

economy, is not being maximised. This prompted NECC’s recent report with CBI, One Front Door.

The Government’s approach to inward investment has been to date through a system dubbed ‘UK First’. Previously, teams worked in regional development agencies selling the benefits of individual regions. However, the Government considered this was creating unhelpful competition between parts of the UK, and so made these agencies part of a national team. Their remit is to sell the UK as a whole and then allow potential investors to consider where to site their operations.

There are groups focused on finding suitable locations for specific industries, for example because of existing clusters, and the automotive sector in the North East is a case in point. However, there is a risk that attributes that apply across sectors may be missed. These include our capacity, costs, natural resources, and transport connections.

Targets for investments into different

regions are also missing from the system.

The country should not aim for a simplistic ‘fair share’ approach. Instead, we must be strategic in assessing how economic development can be better balanced between regions, and the part that inward investment could play in that.

There must be connections with local organisations that understand the sites available for potential investors and in Tees Valley, the local enterprise partnership (LEP), Tees Valley Unlimited, works well in this area. However, this has not been replicated by the North East LEP, and local authorities and other agencies are not yet working together effectively enough to present a coherent offer. We know some potential investors have looked elsewhere because they wanted to see a joined-up approach. One Front Door argues for a single body to do this under the LEP or Combined Authority and closer collaboration between NELEP and TVU. Local authorities worked well with private firms to showcase the region at

the recent MIPIM UK property conference, and this experience must be replicated every day, not just at special events.

One area of focus for the North East at MIPIM was on re-shoring - the notion of returning work previously done overseas to the UK. There are some excellent examples of this among NECC members, including Roman, which has repatriated a manufacturing line from China, and Rettig, which has won work within its parent group.Companies like BT and Accenture are also promoting the concept of ‘Northshoring’ in the IT sector.

The North East is in a position to be competitive on cost, and earlier this year the Government announced a ‘Reshore UK’ initiative. Meanwhile, we are pushing for more dedicated resources for this in the region.

We know that the North East is a fantastic place to do business; now we must ensure that the bodies working on our behalf sell those benefits as effectively as possible.

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 25

SUCCESS

Insider dealing Bryn Littleton meets the business community working behind the walls of one of the region’s biggest prisons

I

t may have been Ronnie Barker’s glorious sitcom Porridge or classic prison movies like The Shawshank Redemption, Escape from Alcatraz, or The Green Mile, it might even have been Prisoner Cell Block H, but I’ve always been both fascinated and terrified by life in prison.

Everything most of us know about prisons has been gleaned from TV and film, books and the internet, but few provide a true reflection of life on the inside.

On approach, HMP Northumberland presents a foreboding image. One minute you’re surrounded by Northumberland countryside, the next you’re alongside 30ft barbed wire-topped fences surrounding squat, nondescript outbuildings.

But beyond the walls of this Category C institution there is a college bestowing qualifications on studious pupils. There are factory units churning out chefs’ tunics and hardy work clothing, an engineering operation maintaining parts of the prison infrastructure, a vast and highly productive market garden, and a charitable operation providing bicycles for Third World countries.

And all of these operations is 100% manned by prisoners.

HMP Northumberland has been run by Sodexo Justice Services for almost a year.

It is home to 1,348 male offenders and, according to its website, it endeavours to “lead the way on the Government’s priority to create a working prison model”, providing prisoners with ‘real work’ opportunities.

Prison director Matt Spencer was the governor when HMP Northumberland was in public sector hands and has stayed on to develop the working prison model.

“Having a job is key to preventing re-offending,” he says. “For some, nothing in their previous lives has prepared them for the world of work.

“Some prisoners are incredibly focused.

They’re determined to gain qualifications and find work when they leave prison.

“We want our prisoners to succeed and during the working day we want them to feel like they are working in a company, not in a prison.”

This is not, he says, taking the punishment out of prison. “We’re preparing people for life outside prison,” says Spencer. “We provide them with the skills, the confidence and the contacts to have the best possible chance of finding work outside so that they don’t re-offend.”

The prison works with local and national companies to ensure the education, work and training provided here prepares men for employment outside.

Mairi Campbell, offender learning and skills sector manager, works for The Manchester College, which delivers education at HMP Northumberland.

“We are a college first,” says Campbell.

“We just happen to be inside a prison.

Learners here are treated the same as learners on the outside. Our role is the same too: we are here to prepare people to compete in the jobs market.”

The journey begins with an interview with the National Careers Service where aspirations are discussed, skills assessed

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and options presented. If necessary, prisoners are brought up to Level 2 standard in English and maths before they begin a vocational course.

Among the many NVQs on offer are hospitality, plastering, bricklaying, painting and decorating, woodwork, multi-trades, mechanics, horticulture, and textiles.

“Our hope is that when they leave us they have the skills and the confidence to apply for jobs,” adds Campbell. “80% of our learners achieve their qualifications.”

Our tour of HMP Northumberland, whose perimeter wall stretches 5km, is led by head of regimes Clair Hutchings. Never once is there a hint of threat or discomfort as she chats with prisoners working the soil in the market garden or manning sewing machines in the textile factory.

“Prisoners are trained in areas where

Posed by model

down material for companies to re-use in there are vacancies on the outside,” she other products. says. “We work with businesses and build We walk between two enormous fences relationships with them to open doors for topped with barbed wire as Hutchings people when they leave prison. We’re even points out accommodation blocks, developing skills here that will help the prison laundry where North East companies re-shore shouted instructions can just work back to the UK; our “WE’RE textiles course is a perfect DEVELOPING SKILLS be heard over the thrum of machinery, and eventually example of this.

THAT WILL HELP to a large corner of green “The average weekly COMPANIES TO that stands out like an wage here is around £11.50 RE-SHORE WORK oasis in a desert of metal and some can earn up to BACK TO THE UK“ and concrete. £20. This is important to The market garden is men who come from families managed by horticultural where they are the second or instructor Dave Huntley who oversees third generation which has the work of 23 inmates. “We have never worked.” genuinely skilled guys working in here and We pass an area where mattresses are we bring in farmers and people from being stacked in huge piles. This is the industry to help them develop,” he says. recycling centre, where inmates break

“This isn’t a hobby and it isn’t easy. We work hard and our produce either goes to market or into the prison kitchens. We’re out here in all conditions, but the prisoners will tell you that it’s worth it.”

One prisoner, David, has a privileged job driving visitors and employees around the enormous site as well as delivering meals, post and disposing of waste. “I’ve been through behavioural and basic learning courses and enjoyed them all,” he says.

“But there’s nothing like driving. It’s a great, trusted job. I love it, and while I’m doing it, I feel like I’m in a proper job.”

For David and his peers the experience of an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay is the first step on a path that could ultimately lead to a better life. Once they leave this place, no-one here wants to have to welcome them back.

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 28

PROFILE

Playing the Mastercard Liz Hands remembers Tuxedo Junction, the collapse of Lehman brothers and more with Mastercard’s Ann Cairns

A

would marry when she was nn Cairns is the 19 and he 24, went to boysembodiment of only St Cuthbert’s. the phrase “local She went to Sheffield girl done good.”

University to complete a pure With a distinct maths degree before returning Geordie twang and an to Newcastle to do a Masters infectious laugh, she in statistics. British Gas, immediately puts you at ease; which had a research station an indicator of her talent for in Killingworth, was searching people which stands her in for a statistician to design good stead in her global role. experiments. “My professor Cairns, back home sent me along and I did a very in Newcastle to deliver poor interview,” says Cairns. the keynote speech at “They’d ask me questions NECC’s annual Tyne and like ‘do you understand Northumberland Dinner stochastic processes?’ and recently, travels the world I said things like ‘I’m s***hot as president of international at that’. I didn’t have a clue markets for Mastercard. how to conduct myself in Her journey into the an interview.” Still, she got financial world is a fascinating the job and was set to work one. Born in the west end undertaking some “very cool” of Newcastle, one of her experiments. “I focused on grandfathers was a miner fracture mechanics,” she and the other a barber. explains, “looking at Her father ran his when it becomes own shoe repair “NO MATTER dangerous for a business and her WHAT HAPPENS pipe to bend or mother ran the ...YOU WILL tear to the extent suede and leather SURVIVE AND it would explode. department at the MOVE ON“ We’d hide behind old Binns store in bunkers and blow the city centre. things up.”

She went to the girlsWhen Margaret Thatcher only Sacred Heart Grammar visited, Cairns was introduced School while Jim, the boy she

28 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

“People have to be braver about entering the business world”

to her as the only woman engineer in the business.

“I was very left wing, but I still thought she was very impressive,” she says of the then Prime Minister. “She had huge charisma.”

It was a fascinating job, but Cairns, typically, still hankered for something “more exciting” and she went on to become the first woman to go offshore - after completing the mandatory survival course, of course.

“You’ve got to escape underwater from helicopters, put out kerosene fires and pilot 45-man lifeboats,” she says of the training. “They threw you in the North Sea in a survival suit which was made for men. I was two stone lighter than I am now and all the water gushed into the suit.

I nearly died of exposure, so then I had to have my own rubber suit made but I ended up leaving it on a train, along with a tin of Marvel. I had to

ring lost property and say I’d lost a bag containing a rubber suit and a tin of powdered milk. I never did get it back.”

She joined Citibank after spotting an advert in the Sunday Times for people with engineering and management skills looking to move into investment banking.

“Citibank completely retrained us,” she says. “They taught us about swaps, options and swaptions. I joined the bank on October 1st

1987, and October 19th was Black Monday and the whole industry went into a spin.”

But at no point did she regret her decision to switch jobs. “I always had a lot of confidence things would work out,” she says. “That probably came from my upbringing.

No matter how dark it seems, the mines can close, the shipyards can close, but something will happen, you will survive and move on.”

At Citibank, Cairns moved

from investment into selling products to market. It was demanding, and she worked until two days before she had her daughter, Sophie.

“My boss rang me and said ‘when are you coming back?’ I told him it may have escaped his attention, but I was on maternity leave. But he said he needed me to run the business, so we settled on me having 15 weeks off. I ended up running the European side of the transaction bank.”

When Sophie was two, Cairns realised that if she was going to make it further up the career ladder, she needed to move to America. Jim, a schoolteacher, gave up his job and the family moved to Connecticut, where Citibank’s transaction headquarters was based. “Sophie went to five different schools before she was 12, but Jim taught in all the schools she went to,” says Cairns. “They left together every morning and they were always on holiday together. People asked how I managed to get the work/life balance right and I said it was easy because it was Jim who created the balance.”

She was headhunted to join Dutch bank ABN Amro, running the global payment business and living in Holland, Chicago and London. “My husband sailed around the world in the global challenge and when I moved from Holland to Chicago, I rang him and said he’d have to come over and sort out schools. He flew from Auckland in his shorts and T-shirt and landed to temperatures of -30. I did say that as a geography teacher, he might have looked up the climate!”

Cairns stayed for a few months after Royal Bank of Scotland put together a consortium to buy ABN, then, headhunted again, she joined Alvarez and Marsal in summer 2008. That September, Lehman Brothers collapsed and Cairns led the European team managing the fallen investment bank’s estate.

“All of the knowledge from 1987 flooded back because Lehman had a huge swaps portfolio with a face value of $6 trillion,” she says. Cairns had to unwind that portfolio, working with banks and governments across the world.

“I’d just come out of a tear gas riot in Greece where I’d been talking to the Greek government and a headhunter

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 29

PROFILE

said Mastercard would like to speak to me. It was a good time to take the call.”

Working at Mastercard, which put 10% of its stock into a foundation when it IPO’d, has given her the chance to get involved in not-for-profit work. With 2.5bn people on the planet without access to electronic payments and bank accounts, Mastercard is focused on increasing financial inclusion and Cairns cites a raft of projects including working with the World Food Programme to give Syrian refugees cards to buy food, educating farmers in Latin America, training female entrepreneurs in the Middle East, creating wearable devices for Russian schoolchildren and putting benefits payments onto cards in Soweto.

With business and charity work, she clocks up more air miles than many flight attendants. “Since the middle of August,” she says. “I’ve been to Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Miami, back to London, to Shanghai, America, London again, Paris, Dubai, and back to America.”

She and Jim are based in Walton-on-Thames but are regular visitors to the North East to see Cairns’

30 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

mother in Heddon-on-theWall and Jim’s family in Morpeth. Cairns also has fond memories of nights out in Newcastle. “When I was young, they had just opened Tuxedo Junction and they had these telephones on tables.

I might have been married young, but in Newcastle you always go out with your friends on a Friday night!”

Cairns says the North East has always been vibrant and urges people to see there is opportunity out there. “If you’re choosing to live in a certain place,” she says, “you’ve got to be open to thinking what can I do, what can I create, rather than expecting someone to create something for you.

“The mines were open and there was no one working harder than the miners when I was growing up. There’s nothing wrong with the brains here and there’s nothing wrong with the work ethic.

People have to be much braver about entering the business world.”

With that, it’s time for Cairns’ next appointment; a conference call to New York which is to be taken as she looks out over the bridges spanning the River Tyne.

Local girl, done good.

Championing the region since 1815

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The difference is NECC We’ve had some frustrating experiences with engineers we’ve taken on straight from university, but it’s been quite the opposite with the apprentices we have had from NECC Jamie Marsay, Senior Manager

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PROFILE

Digging deep Liz Hands talks ponies, poo and profitability with Owen Pugh group chairman John Dickson

J

ohn Dickson is clearly a man who makes things happen. He walks into his boardroom apologising profusely for being a few minutes late, immediately asking: “Right, where do we start?”

We start, as it happens, with the photographs, so Dickson dashes back out, returning a minute later with a huge high-vis jacket “to keep you warm” and a yellow vest for our photographer.

What follows is something of a whirlwind as we march around the yard at Owen Pugh’s site in Dudley, Cramlington while Dickson poses in front of various pieces of equipment emblazoned with the construction firm’s yellow and maroon livery. When we head back inside, he makes sure my coffee is topped up before we talk about how he came to lead a management buyout at the once familyowned firm.

we owe our suppliers. We First though, we pretty have to pay our workers, our much start at the end as I pick fuel suppliers, our plant and up on a point Dickson made equipment costs. That all about the difficulties facing goes out, but some customers business as we head out take a long time to pay. of recession.

“It’s challenging.

A lack of prompt The public payment from sector needs customers is an “THE WORK LOAD to be better issue for many IS INCREASING AND at paying firms. “At this CUSTOMERS ARE TAKING promptly, stage of the MORE TIME TO PAY. YOU although the economic CAN ALMOST HEAR THE same goes cycle,” says CAPITAL BEING for big clients.

Dickson, “the SUCKED OUT. “ There needs to work load is be a programme increasing and of education about the customers are taking costs of not paying promptly. more time to pay. You can It’s not about a change in almost hear the capital being legislation because the law sucked out. already exists, but it’s too “We have a £40m-a-year cumbersome.” Dickson cites, turnover. So, if there are 200 for example, one property working days in a year, that’s developer which owes Owen £200,000 a day. If every Pugh £100,000. customer takes an extra day Another problem facing to pay, then that’s an extra the construction industry is £200,000 I’m going to have to labour costs. “We’ve been borrow. At any one time, our through the longest and customers owe us £8.5m. deepest recession for 150 “That’s a lot more than

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❝ “In 10 years, I want us to be hitting the £120m turnover mark. We have a lot of work to do.”

years and the industry has lost talent and capacity,” says Dickson. “Whereas employees might have driven a taxi for a couple of months if there wasn’t work and then come back, they’ve now been gone too long.

“So now that things have started to pick up, the labour market is very tight. Where you could have got an agency plant operator for £11 an hour three months ago, it’s now £15 an hour. So executing contracts has become much more expensive, but you might have priced up the work for the customer six months ago.

There are companies starting work on projects that were priced two years ago, so we’re in for an interesting time.”

What sets Owen Pugh apart from competitors is that it uses a very limited amount of agency labour in a deliberate policy to give the firm and its staff stability.

“We have 400 employees and we want them to have a long-term job. The plant and equipment is the same [as competitors], the materials are the same, so it’s our workforce that makes us different. We’ve grown every year, even during the recession, and that’s down to our people.”

Owen Pugh revealed impressive annual results earlier this year, with a turnover of £37.3m compared to £14.7m when Dickson took over in 2005. The number of permanent staff employed by the group has also grown from 180 to 400 in that time.

Given Dickson’s background, his success at Owen Pugh should come as no surprise. A former Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, pupil, he studied economics and engineering at Cambridge University before going on to managerial roles at BICC cable company and NEI (Reyrolle) in Hebburn.

Dickson took a career break

CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 33

❝

PROFILE aged 30 when his wife Anne’s work with the British Council took the couple to Venezuela for three years.

Coming back to the UK in 1995, he went to Rolls Royce.

After takeovers by ABB and the French multinational Alstom, he became global engineering director of Alstom Power’s boiler division, responsible for offices across the globe and a £2bn turnover.

“I had offices in Derby, Paris, Connecticut, Stuttgart and Dehli, but I was miserable,” he says. “It was the opposite of glamorous.

I’d get a flight at 4am from Mumbai, land at Heathrow and go into the office and do a full day’s work.”

He says he was “fortunate enough” to have the opportunity to return to the North East in 2005 when the sons of the company’s founder, Owen Pugh, were looking to exit the business, having run the firm since their father’s death in 1997.

“There’s no international travel and I’m home every night,” says the father of three.

“The last nine years have been fascinating. We were fortunate to have two or three years to get ourselves stabilised and get some debt under control before the recession hit.

“But there have been occasions when we’ve wondered what we’ve got ourselves into. I remember vividly in November 2009 when 2 tonnes of snow fell into the back of our lorries.

The whole of the industry came to a halt. Temperatures dropped well below zero and we had everyone sitting at home on full pay until the third week in January. We’d been sitting calculating Christmas bonuses, but we had to cancel them.

“That’s when it really hit home. I don’t want to be melodramatic, but we have

more than 400 employees.

If each of those is the main breadwinner and they are part of a family of four, that’s 1,600 people we’re looking out for.

That’s enough to keep you awake at night.

“We’ve worked very hard.

We’ve bought two businesses and set up a third along the way. We now have a wellestablished civil engineering group and there are a lot of

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opportunities now lying ahead of us.”

Dickson’s aim is to enjoy organic growth, ultimately increasing profits, reducing debt and broadening geographic reach. “Then it would be nice to make a couple of acquisitions. In 10 years, I want us to be hitting the £120m turnover mark. We have a lot of work to do.”

That work, however, no

longer takes him away from Anne, a writer, and children Thomas, 16, Carolyn, 13, and Hannah, 11.

Instead, family life fills his time. Dickson is a member of Hartburn Parochial Church Council, plays the piano and sings with the church choir.

“In the summer, my time is spent lawn-mowing and poopicking the paddock where my daughters have ponies. Then in the winter it’s chopping logs for the wood burner and poo-picking. The poo-picking remains a constant.”

He is chair of Newcastle Fencing Club and is working to create a permanent fencing centre in Newcastle. “My son was always stabbing people with sticks when he was young and as soon as he went to the Royal Grammar School he joined the fencing club. You end up getting caught up in the activities your children do, don’t you?”

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APPOINTMENTS

in association with

CALLED TO THE BAR

Ben Hunt has been appointed restaurants and bars manager at Seaham Hall Hotel. The 38-year-old joins Seaham from the five-star Luton Hoo Hotel in Bedfordshire.

ARCHITECTURALLY SPEAKING Ryder has recruited additional staff on the back of significant UK project wins coupled with international growth. Thirteen new architects have been taken across four UK offices - Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Newcastle – bringing a mix of skills in a range of sectors to support recent significant appointments including Newcastle Freeman Hospital Cardiothoracic expansion and Thames Valley Science Park.

Associate architectural technologist at Gradon Architecture, Tanja Smith, with new recruit, Ben Weymes

MODEL RECRUIT

Ryton-based Gradon Architecture has appointed Building Information Modelling (BIM) campus graduate Ben Weymes. He’s the latest graduate to join Ryton-based Gradon Architecture’s growing team which has doubled its workforce over the last 18 months.

DRAGON FOR CHANCELLOR

One of the original members of BBC’s Dragons’ Den, Doug Richard, will be the next Chancellor of Teesside University. He will take over the role from Lord Sawyer of Darlington who has been Chancellor since 2005.

LEGAL EAGLES

Jacksons Law has appointed six new staff members and promoted a further five existing employees.

Victoria Pounder has been appointed to partnership and Inderjit Gill, Julie Coward, and Erica Turner have been promoted to associates.

Solicitor Les Brown has joined the commercial litigation team and Susanne Shah has been appointed head of the matrimonial department. Newly qualified solicitor Helen McCue has joined the commercial property team and trainee solicitors Philippa Walker and Samuel Bakers have joined the litigation department.

NEW SIGNING

Sunderland Football Club’s latest signing is new assistant commercial director Matt Smith.

From South Wales, Smith has worked for Rangers and Middlesbrough FC previously.

NURTURING GRADUATE TALENT ON BOARD

NEW BOSS

Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, near Darlington, is marking its fifth anniversary with the appointment of a new chief executive.

Eamonn Elliott has worked at prestigious venues across the UK and Ireland, including eight years as general manager of the Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire.

For the last five years, he has been general manager of the Grand Jersey Hotel, leading it to become the Channel Islands’ highest-rated hotel, gaining a Michelin Star for its restaurant and AA 5* status.

Originally from Ireland, he trained as a professional footballer and played for Carlisle Utd before gaining a degree in management from the University of York.

Newcastle NE1 Ltd, the Business improvement district company for Newcastle city centre, has appointed its marketing and communications director Stephen Patterson to its board. Patterson has played a pivotal role in NE1 Ltd since its formation in 2007 and was part of the original team that established the BID.

ON BOARD GEM Partnership has strengthened its IT division with the recent appointment of Nosheen Tariq. Nosheen brings with her a wealth of experience and is looking forward to further developing GEM’s brand and presence in the IT sector.

With Lee Rankin I attended an induction session earlier this month with the University of Sunderland, where I am now a graduate mentor. Some of my industry contacts have been involved in similar programmes and have spoken very highly of the experience, and as an alumnus of Sunderland’s business school, I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge of what potential employers are looking for. Given that almost half of recent graduates are working in non-graduate level roles and the levels of graduate unemployment here are higher than most parts of the UK, it’s good to see the business community and further education cooperating on improving employability. I for one am keen to do my bit. in association with

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 37

ADVERTISEMENT

NORTH EAST INNOVATION IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT The North East is leading the way in the UK’s innovation story

T

Roy Sandbach is announced as chair of the new Innovation Board

he North East is quickly becoming a leading part of the UK’s innovation story, gaining national recognition and investment – a position the North East Local Enterprise Partnership is driving through its innovation strategy and programmes.

There have been a raft of major announcements recently, strengthening the region’s reputation as a hub for business innovation. The first was the launch of the new Digital Economy Catapult Centre, the latest in a network of seven national bodies.

The North East LEP, working with Sunderland Software City, Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU) and the region’s universities, was successful in winning the UK-wide competition to secure one of the first three regional centres, meaning the North East is now a key location that the UK Government will focus on to drive new business models in the digital sector.

The new Catapults are key investments by Government agency Innovate UK which aims to develop and commercialise innovative products and technologies. They have been championed as a key driver for future innovation in a recent report for Government by entrepreneur Herman Hauser and the Digital Catapult will be the fourth Catapult in the North East.

NORTH EAST INNOVATION BOARD A high ranking team of top business, academic and civic talent has just been unveiled as the first Innovation Board for the North East by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

The new board will be chaired by the North East LEP’s innovation champion Professor Roy Sandbach.

The private sector is represented by Dr Alan Lowdon, Neil Hemming and Dr Peter Simpson, all of whom have established international reputations.

They are joined by senior university figures, government agencies Innovate UK and Research Councils UK, two North East LEP board members, leading lawyer Gillian Hall of Watson Burton and Arnab Basu, CEO of Kromek, and representatives from the North East Combined Authority.

The Innovation Board will further develop and drive the innovation strategy as part of the enterprise

38 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

partnership’s Strategic Economic Plan. It will also support and guide LEP innovation programmes.

INNOVATION PROJECTS The North East LEP has successfully secured funding for five of its six planned innovation projects through the Government’s Local Growth Deal.

The Centre for Innovation in Formulation, led by the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and to be based at NETPark, will receive £7.4m. It will help position the North East as a centre for novel application of science in areas ranging from medicines to pharmaceuticals. £2.8m has been allocated for the Low Carbon Energy centre, to be based at Newcastle Science City; £5.6m for the Newcastle Life Sciences Incubation Hub to be based at Newcastle University; £6.8m for the NETPark Infrastructure Phase 3; and £3.5m for the Sunderland Enterprise and Innovation Hub, to be hosted at Sunderland University.

CPI is part of the Advanced Manufacturing Catapult. In addition to this and the Digital Catpult Centre, one of the first three Space Satellite Catapult regional centres of excellence is to be set up in County Durham and the Offshore Renewables Catapult has a base at Blyth.

PRIORITY PROJECTS The North East LEP is also leading progress on a range of priority projects which form part of the Strategic Economic Plan. Three immediate priorities include creating an innovation super-network to join up ideas and developments across the region, the acceleration of commercialising innovative ideas from the North East universities, and the innovation projects programme, which will be an open call for new ideas that require funding.

Find out more about how the North East LEP is driving forward innovation visit www.nelep.co.uk or follow @northeastlep

Banking on Steel

Focus

Companies are benefiting from funding initiatives from UK Steel Enterprise, discovers Dean Bailey

E

xperience on both sides of the financial fence is proving an advantage for Peter Taylor, area manager for Tees Valley, Derwentside, and West Cumbria at UK Steel Enterprise - Tata Steel’s business support subsidiary.

The organisation assists the economic regeneration of areas affected by changes in the steel industry and since 1975 it has invested more than £17m into 1,000 businesses in the North, creating 16,000 jobs.

Taylor, a chartered accountant by profession,

says: “Before I came here in 2012 I was recommending potential deals to investors such as UK Steel Enterprise; now I am assessing them from this side. The word banking may now have negative connotations, but that isn’t an accurate perspective. People working in banking and finance in the regions are an invaluable source of local knowledge and expertise, often working closely with their business customers for many years.

“A partnership approach between companies, banks, potential investors, support agencies, local authorities and

other advisers is the best way to benefit a business and the region’s economy.”

UK Steel Enterprise has a new £6m Equity Growth Fund thanks to support from round five of the Regional Growth Fund. Packages of up to £1m are available.“Part of the fund will be aimed at early-stage companies with high growth potential while established companies can apply for up to £1m,” says Taylor. Meanwhile, UK Steel Enterprise’s Regeneration Fund provides smaller amounts of finance for start-ups and firms up to 18 months old.

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 39

FOCUS

Investing in the future Newcastle-based venture capital company Northstar Ventures has been inspiring entrepreneurs with financial backing and the expertise of its experienced team since 2004, investing in more than 200 pioneering highpotential enterprises.

Having invested the £30m Co-Investment Fund, £13m Proof of Concept Fund and the £2.4m North East Creative Content Fund, Northstar Ventures is now investing the £27m Finance for Business North East Accelerator Fund and the £17m Finance for Business North East Proof of Concept Fund.

One of the companies to have received support from Northstar Ventures is Palringo - a group instant messaging

application focused on consumer entertainment and gaming.

Newcastle University graduate Martin Rosinski founded Palringo in 2006, and the company received its first funding from Northstar Ventures in 2006 when the investment team saw potential in the company.

Palringo now employs more than 40 people in four locations across Europe, and in its latest financial year generated revenues of more than £8m.

The business is growing rapidly and already has 27m users worldwide across 350,000 user-created social groups.

For more information about Northstar Ventures go to www.northstarventures.co.uk

Martin Rosinski

Building Successful High Growth Businesses Over £90m Under Management in the North East Finance for Business North East Proof of Concept Fund Finance for Business North East Accelerator Fund To access these funds or find out more, please call 0191 229 2770 or visit www.northstarventures.co.uk

Northstar Ventures Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The Palringo application

40 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

Take me to the Rivers The entrepreneurs’ fund manager Rivers Capital Partners manages two funds on behalf of the Finance for Business North East programme - the £8.5m North East Angel Fund and the £6.5m Microloan Fund.

The funds support SMEs across the North East and between them have invested some £12m into more than 400 companies in a range of sectors including digital, creative, and engineering.

Northumberland-based Eminent Engineering has received £25,000 funding towards the purchase of new plant and upgrades to machinery. It aims to increase turnover to £850,000 in 2017 and create six new jobs.

L-R Eminent Engineering’s, Matthew Jones, Peter Whitworth, Mark Langdown and Sean Potts

Meanwhile, Whitley Baybased technical development company Cogiva, which provides bespoke digital solutions to small businesses, has received £10,000 in

funding to strengthen its team, upgrade its technology and expand.

For more information on Rivers Capital Partners go to www.riverscap.com

Cogiva director Ben Drury and Rivers Capital Partners Fund Manager Nikita Bazko

micro loans to fund big ideas £1,000 to £25,000 Having trouble getting cash for your business?

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The North East Microloan Fund is managed by Rivers Loan Limited a trading subsidiary of Rivers Capital Partners Limited authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), no: 519469

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 41

FOCUS

Strength in steel support More than 1,100 businesses across the North of England have benefited from £17m of investment since UK Steel Enterprise was set up in 1975.

UKSE’s support has led to the creation of more than 16,000 jobs in the region, and an additional £12m has been invested in developing two innovation centres at Hartlepool and Kirkleatham.

Primarily a regeneration body, UKSE provides business finance, including tailored packages of up to £1m for projects which aid growth and create jobs in UKSE’s steel areas.

Martyn Edwards-Frank Ford Ltd, which is the UK’s largest manufacturer of frying ranges used in fast food outlets, has

grown with the help of two investments from UK Steel Enterprise. An initial £100,000 helped the company to develop sales of its Omega energy-efficient range in Europe.

The second £183,000 investment, made up of a £120,000 loan and grant of L-r: Stan Price of Martyn Edwards-Frank Ford Ltd, Andrew Rowe of Evolution, Sue Ellis of Martyn Edwards, Peter Taylor of UK Steel Enterprise, and Dave Atkinson of Martyn Edwards-Frank Ford £63,000 from For more information on company to purchase its UKSE’s Access UK Steel Enterprise funding factory in Redcar with plans to Finance Scheme backed by initiatives go to to double production and grow the Government’s Regional www.uksteelenterprise.co.uk its workforce further.

Growth Fund, enabled the

UKSE_N_finance_12x6_AD:Layout 1

16/12/09

15:09

Business Finance from UK Steel Enterprise

Page 1

We can help gear up your business for growth It is our job to assist growing companies in a wide range of business sectors to realise their full potential. In this way we aim to help the regeneration of your local economy.

If you have a sound plan for start up, expansion or management buy in / buy out, you could benefit from our financial support.

Investments are available up to £1mn.

For smaller projects we can provide fast track unsecured loans from £25k. For any appropriate project the government backed Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme is available for consideration.

Contact me, Peter Taylor, to informally talk through your development plans and see what we can do to help.

01642 777 888 E: north@uksteelenterprise.co.uk The Innovation Centre, Vienna Court, Kirkleatham Business Park, Redcar TS10 5SH

www.uksteelenterprise.co.uk UK STEEL ENTERPRISE LIMITED IS A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF TATA STEEL

42 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

ADVERTORIAL

650 BUSINESSES NOW SUPPORTED BY FINANCE FOR BUSINESS NORTH EAST The £142.5m Finance for Business North East (FFBNE) programme reaches significant milestone

T

Andrew Mitchell, Chief executive of North East Finance

he £142.5m Finance for Business North East (FFBNE) programme, which was launched more than four years ago to help businesses grow and create jobs, reached a significant milestone recntly when it supported its 650th business, domestic appliance parts supplier Pacifica Group.

A lot has changed since those difficult days in 2010, when the country was mired in one of the worst recessions in living memory.

Now, growth is back on the agenda. Companies are pushing forward with their investment plans, exporting their goods and services and creating jobs.

We should guard against complacency, however.

The North East still has the highest rate of unemployment in the country and some companies are still struggling to obtain affordable finance.

Thankfully, venture capital has played a major role in bridging this funding gap.

Programmes such as FFBNE have provided a platform for the growth of dozens of SMEs across the region.

In the last four years, FFBNE has provided debt and equity funding to more than 650 SMEs, creating or safeguarding around 4,000 jobs.

Managed by North East Finance, the programme has already provided more than £105m of debt and equity funding and secured more than £120m of private sector cash to support deals from venture capital firms, business angels and other investors.

Andrew Mitchell, chief executive of North East Finance, says: “Access to finance has been a pressing issue for businesses since the financial crash of 2008.

“Banks reined in their lending and viable businesses were struggling to get the cash they needed to finance their growth plans. That’s why FFBNE has been so important. It has fast-tracked the expansion of dozens of companies, created jobs and generated wealth for the local economy.”

Also known as JEREMIE, the FFBNE programme includes seven funds which cater for businesses of all sizes, and scross all sectors.

Recent beneficiaries include South Shields-based Tyneport Coatings, which received £170,000 from

the Growth Fund to assist its expansion plans.

Meanwhile, Newton Aycliffe-based Beanies The Flavour Co, which makes a range of flavoured coffees, secured £300,000 from the same fund and is using the money to develop its product portfolio.

Companies from County Durham, Tyne & Wear, Teesside and Northumberland have benefited from the fund, which is set to support more than 900 businesses by the end of 2015.

Although the programme is due to end in December 2015, talks to launch a similar investment fund in 2016 are ongoing. Although nothing has been confirmed yet, initial signs are encouraging. If it does get off the ground, a new investment programme would provide support for local businesses through to 2020 and beyond.

That would help boost business growth, create jobs, reduce unemployment and sustain the local economy in the same way that FFBNE has done.

There is still money available from the programme for a wide range of businesses. Funds include The Accelerator Fund, which invests up to £2m in high-growth early-stage businesses; and The Proof of Concept Fund, which invests at the seed stage in the technology sector – particularly in high growth sectors such as clean-tech, digital and healthcare.

Beneficiaries of the Growth Fund are mainly revenue-generating companies seeking growth capital of up to £750,000, while the Growth Plus Fund typically invests around £500,000 in each business up to a ceiling of £1.25m.

Companies can also tap into the Microloan Fund, which supports the creation of new enterprises and the growth of existing micro and small businesses. Alternatively they can access the Angel Fund, which typically invests between £10,000 and £150,000 in each business but has the ability to attract significant amounts of additional capital from co-investors.

Andrew Mitchell says: “As economic conditions have eased and confidence has returned to the market, more companies have applied for FFBNE funds to fast-track their investment plans.

“Money is still available from the fund and could provide the ideal boost for businesses that require additional investment.”

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 43

New members Visit our website for information about the companies which have recently joined NECC - the region’s largest business membership organisation.

Along with contact details, there are opportunities for announcements from new members keen to publicise their products, services and activities to other NECC members. While listings are free to all new members, editorial announcements are part of a broader package designed to promote a new member’s business to reach the readership of Contact magazine.

For further details contact the Contact advertising team, tel 01661 844 115, email sales@offstonepublishing.co.uk

Thank You

For your recent membership renewals.

Particular thanks to members supporting NECC for over 15 years 30+ YEARS! HNL Engineering Ltd NSK Bearings Europe Ltd

39 38

25-29 YEARS City & Suburban Window Cleaning H C Controls Ltd Osborne Motor Transport Ltd Pro-Ad Limited Readman Associates Reynolds Outdoor Centre Theatre Royal

25 25 25 25 25 25 25

20-24 YEARS Chemson Limited 24 Increase Computers Ltd 24 Jacobs UK Limited 24 Millfield Group 24 Newcastle University 24 W Mearns & Co Ltd 24 Copthorne Hotel Newcastle Ltd 23 Guthrie & Craig 22 Lumsdon Wood Partnership Ltd 22 Thyssenkrupp Access Ltd 22 D L I Seals Ltd 21 Brewin Dolphin 20 Eclipse Translations Limited 20 Keith Turner & Sons 20 Lingfield Warehousing Ltd 20 MMC Europe Limited 20 Mowden Controls Ltd 20 Parnaby Cyclones Limited 20 Seaward 20 statexcolourprint 20 YECC Ltd 20 15-19 YEARS HPF Energy Services Maughan Reynolds Partnership Ltd Naylors Chartered Surveyors North Tyneside Council

The contact details of all the companies which joined NECC recently are now available at www.necontact.co.uk under the ‘New Members’ link

19 19 19 19

Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College 19 Sulzer 19 Mike Lynch Advertising 18 The Roundhouse Design Consultants Ltd 18 AWS Contracts Ltd 17 Charlton & Co 17 Laminform Ltd 17 Liddles Detective Agency 17 MEH Company 17 Olivers Tree Services Ltd 17 Stenhouse Flooring Limited 17 Topside Group Ltd 17 Burns Accounting Services Ltd 16 Corepeople Recruitment Ltd 16 Crimewatch Safeguard Security Systems Ltd 16 ESP Plastics Ltd 16 Falcon Computers Ltd 16 IQMS and SAI Global 16 Isocom Ltd 16 Knowles Limited 16 Marine Engineering Pipeworks Ltd 16 On-Line Managed Offices 16 Osborne Engineering Ltd 16 R & J Bearings 16 Westray Recruitment Consultants Ltd 16 Worldfreight Ltd 16 AES Digital Solutions Ltd 15 Alpha Process Controls International Ltd 15 Billinghurst George & Partners 15 Elring Parts Ltd 15 GL Industrial Services UK Ltd t/a GL Noble Denton 15 Henry Williams Limited 15 Lanchester Wine Cellars Ltd 15 MSC Computer Training Ltd 15 Nicholsons Transport Ltd 15 Park Electrical Distributors Limited 15 Perry Process Equipment Ltd 15 Qualitysolicitors John Donkin 15 S W Durham Training Ltd 15 The Endeavour Partnership LLP 15

This is businesses that have been members for 15 years or more and renewed their membership in September and October 2014.

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE: LUNCH NO.19 AT CLOSE HOUSE

DABBAWAL

HOTEL DU VIN

MARCO PIERRE WHITE STEAKHOUSE BAR & GRILL

No.19 is a place where comforting home-cooked food is served in a contemporary environment.

Whether you are grabbing a quick bite after a round of golf, enjoying dinner in No.19 or a light lunch on the terrace, you can relax in stunning surroundings in the heart of the Northumberland countryside while tasting the best of Northumberland’s local produce. No.19 also offers a restaurant and function room able to cater for parties up to 140.

Dabbawal, street food pioneer of the North East, brings the amazing tastes of the street to its two restaurants in Newcastle, featuring unique tapasstyle plates for sharing and classic dishes with a twist. A favourite spot for business Christmas parties, client lunches and dinners, Dabbawal’s Christmas menu features a superb range of festive street food favourites unique to the city. Perfect for an informal business lunch and for entertaining clients or your team.

Bistro du Vin is at the heart of the hotel in Newcastle’s vibrant Ouseburn district. Experience an elegant and informal setting for lunch and dinner. At Bistro du Vin Newcastle, dishes rely heavily on fresh, seasonal, locally sourced and, wherever possible, organic produce. It’s about enjoying moderately priced à la carte dining in a down-to-earth, warm and relaxing setting.

The Steakhouse Bar and Grill Express lunch is £18 and includes two-courses and a glass of wine (quote NECC).

If you haven’t got much time out of the office try the Marco in Minutes express lunch two courses and a glass of wine - and you should be back at your desk within the hour.

If a leisurely lunch is more your thing, that’s always available, too.

LOCATION: Close House, Heddon on the Wall, Newcastle, NE15 0HT Tel: 01661 852 255 www.closehouse.com

LOCATION: 69-75 High Bridge, Newcastle, NE1 6BX Tel: 0191 2325133. Brentwood Mews, Jesmond, NE2 3DG Tel: 0191 281 3434 www.dabbawal.com

LOCATION: Hotel du Vin, City Road, Newcastle, NE1 2BE Tel: 0191 2292200 www.hotelduvin.com

LOCATION: Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill, 2-8 Fenkle Street, Newcastle NE1 5XN Tel: 0191 300 9222 www.mpwsteakhousenewcastle.co.uk

NATIONAL GLASS CENTRE BRASSERIE

PEACE & LOAF

RENDEZ VOUS AT THE COUNTY HOTEL

SACHINS

Eating at the Brasserie is as much about the atmosphere and stunning surroundings as it is about the food. Having undergone a stylish transformation, from the décor down to the tableware, the Brasserie stands out as one of the most attractive restaurants in the North East. Echoing the philosophy of National Glass Centre, the menu showcases heritage and innovation, delivered with creativity and passion. Open daily: 10am–5pm

The latest addition to the North East’s fine dining scene, Peace & Loaf boasts a chic and stylish venue alongside an entirely original and unique dining experience.

Indulge in the meticulously crafted three course business lunch for just £19.95, showcasing the skills of the dedicated team and highlighting fresh, locally sourced produce. The menu is inspired by traditional British cuisine and will excite even the most discerning of palates.

Located directly opposite Newcastle Central Station in the heart of the city, the County Hotel is the perfect location for a light midday snack, drinks after work with friends or a relaxing lunch or dinner. The Rendez Vous Restaurant, lounge and bar are open daily. The County Hotel also has 11 meeting and event rooms from 1:1 interviews to a conference for 220 delegates.

Celebrating 30 years in Newcastle, the award-winning restaurant Sachins on Forth Banks has been delighting diners with its signature, meticulously crafted menu since opening its doors.

Using only the freshest, locally sourced ingredients, chef and proprietor Bob Arora offers the discerning diner a unique opportunity to sample the very finest Punjabi food in a fresh and exciting environment.

LOCATION: National Glass Centre Brasserie, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL Tel: 0191 515 5555 www.nationalglasscentre.com

LOCATION: Peace & Loaf 217 Jesmond Road, Jesmond NE2 1LA Tel: 0191 281 5222 www.peaceandloaf.co.uk

LOCATION: The County Hotel by Thistle, Neville Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5DF Tel: 0191 2322471 www.thistle.com/newcastle

LOCATION: Sachins, Forth Banks, Newcastle, NE1 3SG Tel: 0191 261 90 35 www.sachins.co.uk

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 45

EVENTS

TEES AND TYNE & NORTHUMBERLAND DINNERS 2014 Two gala dinners attracted the great and good of North East business.

The North East Chamber of Commerce Tees Dinner and Tyne and Northumberland Dinners showcased the very best of regional businesses and attracted two top speakers in Ann Cairns, president of International Markets for MasterCard, and BBC business presenter Steph McGovern.

Cairns was born in Newcastle and attended Newcastle University, where she gained an MSc in Statistics before receiving a BSc. in Pure Mathematics at Sheffield University. She said: “There is something very special about coming home to Newcastle, particularly as I have the opportunity to meet with and speak to some of the region’s most successful business leaders. In my role at Mastercard, I visit a different country every other week, but there is nothing like coming home. Newcastle has changed much in recent years and is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. The economic make-up of the North East has evolved enormously, but the warmth of the people remains the same.”

McGovern, from Middlesbrough, is the face of business for BBC Breakfast. She spoke about life in front of the camera and behind it, having worked as lead producer on the BBC’s 1pm, 6pm and 10pm news. She said: “I am incredibly proud of where I come from so it is great to come back to home.

“Whenever there is an opportunity to speak about the good work being done in the North East or cover positive news about the region I seize on it and I never let anyone talk the region down.”

Gateshead College and Newcastle International Airport sponsored the Tyne and Northumberland Dinner, while Middlesbrough College sponsored the Tees Valley event.

46 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

NECC Tees Valley Annual Dinner (sponsored by Middlesbrough College) September 25, Thistle Middlesbrough

 Robert Hough, Zoe Lewis, Steph McGovern, Kiersten Avery, James Ramsbotham

 Zoe Lewis, Middlesbrough College

 Guests at this year’s Tees Dinner

 Patrick Masheder, Results Marketing; Robert Hough; James Grant; and Kate Stow, Peel Airports

 John Irwin, NECC past president and Julie Underwood, NECC

 Steph McGovern, BBC

 Kiersten Avery, Tees Valley Committee NECC

 Professor Eileen Martin, Teeside University, and Sandy Anderson, TVU

NECC Tyne & Northumberland Annual Dinner

NECC President’s Club (in association with Brewin Dolphin) sponsored by Newcastle University Business School October 2, International Centre for Life, Newcastle

(sponsored by Gateshead College and Newcastle International Airport) November 6, Newcastle Civic Centre

 Ann Cairns, MasterCard

 Major Graham Heron and Ian Johnson  James Ramsbotham, NECC; Lord Livingston; Joanna Berry, Newcastle University Business School; and David Laws, Newcastle Int Airport

 James Ramsbotham, NECC; Judith Doyle, Gateshead College; David Laws, Newcastle Int Airport; and Ann Cairns, MasterCard

 Peter Walls, Gentoo

 Brit School Performers

 David Laws, Newcastle Int Airport  Graeme Mason Newcastle Airport

 Chi Onwurah MP

 Lord Livingston of Parkhead Minister of State International Trade & Investment

 Joanna Berry, Newcastle Uni Business School presenting to the room DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 47

EVENTS

FLAGSHIP

NETWORKING DEC

The NECC networking events programme prompts members to engage and share ideas and experiences. With events throughout the region, the programme ranges from largescale round table networking to smaller presentation‑focused events and localised informal networking.

03 JAN

NECC Christmas Exchange 11:00-14:00 Copthorne Newcastle

22

NECC Local

JAN

Coffee & Connections

29 FEB

05

17:00-18:30 Durham Cathedral 10:30-12:30 Ellisbates Group, Newcastle

Stand Up and Be Counted NE BIC, Sunderland

JAN

FREE

05

FREE

FEB

FREE FREE

24 FEB

26 MAR

03 MAR

NECC Local Durham Cathedral 5.00pm – 6.30pm Thursday January 22 2015 FREE Join your local NECC membership adviser, meet businesses in your area, find out more about the benefits of membership and taking advantage of belonging to the NECC network.

DEC

04 JAN

07 FEB

10

Sponsored by Durham Cathedral:

02

For information about corporate memberships please contact Kate Hunter on 0191 374 4581 or email kate.hunter@durhamcathedral. co.uk

Interviewing for Success 13:15-15:30 NECC Durham

Quarterly Economic Briefing 08:00:10.00 NECC Durham

Linking Business with Education

08:30-12:00 TBC

MAR

12 FREE

Middlesbrough Area Meeting

08:15-10.00 Thistle Hotel,Middlesbrough

DEC

Hartlepool Area Meeting

DEC

Darlington Area Meeting

JAN

Northumberland Area Meeting

10 11 14

16:00-17.30 Gus Robinson Developments, Hartlepool

08:15-10:00 Henry Williams, Darlington

16:00-18:00 TBC

JAN

Durham Area Meeting

JAN

North Tyneside Area Meeting

16 23 JAN

27

08:30:10:00 Durham Police Headquarters, Aykley Heads

08:00-09:30 TBC

Sunderland Area Meeting 16:00-17:30 Sunderland Stadium of Light

48 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

MAR

17 MAR

FREE

26

FREE

JUN

09 SEPT

17

AREA MEETINGS / COMMITTEES DEC

The Open Treasure is the Cathedral’s major £10million development project to display the Cathedral’s treasures as well as a varied programme of education and outreach activities. This has been generously supported by local businesses through the 995 club; a membership for businesses to donate £99.50 for four years.

10

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION NETWORK

NECC200 Anniversary Celebrations PM; See Website Sage Gateshead

NECC200 Tees Valley Annual Review & AGM

11:30-14:00 Preston Park Museum, Eaglescliffe

Tyneside & Northumberland Business Awards

The Marriot Hotel, Gosforth

NECC 200 Durham Review & AGM 11:30-14:00 Lumley Castle

NECC 200 Tyne & Wear Review & AGM 11:30-14:00 Discovery Museum

Durham & Wearside Business Awards

Ramside Hall, Durham

NECC 200 Northumberland Review & AGM 11:30-14:00 Horton Grange

Teesside Business Awards

The Olympia Building, Teesside University.

NECC 21st Annual General Meeting & Chamber History 10:45-16:00 Ramside Hall, Durham

FREE FREE £90 FREE FREE £90 FREE £90 FREE

NECC 200th Anniversary Gala Dinner

Durham World Heritage Site

FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

For details of NECC’s 200th anniversary events programme look in the commemorative issue or go online to www.necc.co.uk/events

To book, tel 0300 303 6322 email events@necc.co.uk www.necc.co.uk/events *NECC Member Price. (+VAT)

MEMBER 2 MEMBER

Member2Member

Make more of your NECC membership with these great member offers and many more on the NECC website

www.necc.co.uk/member2member HOTEL, SPA, LEISURE & HOSPITALITY, FINE DINING SEAHAM HALL LTD

Day delegate rate of £35, normally £45 (based on a minimum of 10 people).

24-hour delegate rate £175, normally £195 (based on a minimum of six rooms).

Offer runs January 1-March 31 2015, subject to availability at time of booking.

WORK PLACE MASSAGE KIRAN A SINGH

Offer Code: WSM01 40% off workplace seated massage for employers and employees suffering from aches and pains brought on by working at computers, machinery and/or by lifting and carrying.

TAILORED MARKETING SOLUTIONS CADENCE CREATIVE WORKS (C/O WATERSTONS LIMITED)

Offer Code: CAD2210141 For just £250 we will provide you with a day of marketing consultancy. The outcomes of this day will be: • A high level 360 degree go-to market plan • A brand house, mapping your external messaging • A detailed conversion funnel illustrating key customer touch points • The outline plan for your first holistic marketing activation

MARKETING / BRANDING / WEBSITE DESIGN

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & MENTORING TIMCAIN LEADERSHIP

Offer Code: TCL1115 This is a unique opportunity to hold your own Values-Based Leadership Workshop Taster to enhance the performance and wellbeing of yourself and your team. The cost of this taster session to NECC leaders is only £70 per delegate, with a minimum of four and up to a maximum of 20 delegates.

ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTANTS

12 months hosting, support and maintenance of our FIRsT software for the price of nine months. Also 10 days free implementation consultancy or training.

ENERGY CONSULTANTS INSPIRED ENERGY PLC

Offer Code: NECC001 Our unique online portal gives you access to all your energy requirements and can assist in any energy topics of conversation. Up to 35% reduction on your existing and new energy budget.

SPECIALIST EXPRESS CAR & LIGHT VAN MOT/ SERVICE & VALETING IN’N’OUT CENTRES LTD

ANDREW AND PETE

Offer Code: atomicnecc Atomic membership (usually £15/month) for only £9.99/ month for life.

For all NECC members if signed up before end of January.

Limited offer. T&Cs apply

INSULATION & SUPPLY OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS SERVICING REVOLUTION POWER LTD

Offer Code: energy advice Revolution Power offer a free desk-top energy survey for all NECC members to include looking at your building to see if its suitable for PV (solar electric panels) which will help you reduce your electricity costs.

CLEANING SERVICES MEL’S CLEANING

Offer Code: NECC14 10% discount on all bookings with Mels’s Cleaning. A very special offer only for our fellow members of the NECC. We are delighted to be able to offer you an impressive 10% off all bookings. Why clean for yourself when we can do it for you?

PLANARCH DESIGN LTD

Offer Code: FREE 30-minute One hour free consultancy for planning or architectural advice.

HOTEL - NEW BOUTIQUE STYLE

SANDMAN SIGNATURE HOTEL

Offer Code: Saturday Stay the Saturday and get either the Friday or Sunday up to 50% off.

CRM SOFTWARE CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE BESPOKE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ORCUMA LTD

Offer Code: NECCOCT

£25 MOT or £50 Service Exclusive NECC Offer.

The special offer is a £50* Service (on any make or model of car) ot a £25 MOT (including re-test). If your car requires a MOT and a Service at the same time, the most cost effective way to do this is to take the £50 Service offer (Usually £99, a saving of £49) and pay the standard £49 for the MOT (a £25 saving using the offer), this way you can have a Service and a MOT together for only £99. The offer is also available to your partner and children.

Entry into the Member2Member section is not an endorsement by NECC DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 49

GUEST COLUMNIST

Last Word With Theatre Royal chief executive Philip Bernays

W

hen I sat my geography A Level more years ago than I care to remember, we were taught that golf courses were an important part of industrial relocation. I was taught that the provision of a “playground” for managers was a key factor in deciding where to place a business.

In some respects, little has changed.

Quality of life is fundamental to a successful business operation and what one does outside the office or shop floor is critical to what one does inside. An employee who lives a full and interesting life is going to be more innovative and more productive.

What has changed, and for the better, is that this view now encompasses all employees, not just the managers.

Furthermore, culture, in the broadest sense of the word, is accepted as a fundamental ingredient in the mix of life experiences that make us good workers, as well as rounded and interesting people.

Coming to Newcastle nine years ago, I was excited by the national reputation the city had for recognising that investment in culture was a key part of regeneration.

Over the past 20 years, some £250m has been spent developing the cultural infrastructure in Newcastle and Gateshead and we now boast enviable facilities with reputations that spread far beyond the region. We produce and present an incredible range of cultural activities and experiences that contribute

to quality of life and make this a great place to work and play.

Culture itself is also big business. The 10 principal building-based arts organisations in Newcastle and Gateshead (Baltic, Dance City, the Centre for Life, Live Theatre, Northern Stage, Sage Gateshead, Seven Stories, the Theatre Royal, Tyne & Wear Archive and Museums, and Tyneside Cinema) have a combined turnover of £57.5m (2013/14).

They also directly employ 1,231 FTE staff and attract 3.8m attendances to an incredibly diverse range of activities including plays, concerts, exhibitions, screenings and much more. They provide a staggering 872,797 learning and participation engagements, of which more than half a million are with young people.

The economic contribution of all this work in 2013/14 was £78.4m. That means that for every £1 of subsidy invested, £3.63 was returned to the local economy.

In the last five years this group of 10 organisations has collaborated and shared

50 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / DEC 2014 - JAN 2015

best practice between one another and nationally on all aspects of our work from developing audiences to cleaning the windows. We work together to achieve more than we could individually; our mission is to maximise the cultural, social and economic impact of the cultural sector on the North East.

We do this against an economic backdrop where subsidy is declining.

From April 2015 the Theatre Royal will be entirely unfunded. We have all had to become smarter and work with our partners and stakeholders to be mutually supportive. It is not always easy but we are thriving, as the figures above show.

So culture isn’t a pantomime, it is something without which the world, and all of us, would be poorer.

Though if you want your spirits lifted this Christmas, come to Snow White at the Theatre Royal; that is a pantomime, and we think it’s the finest in the country – after all, 95,000 people can’t be wrong!

The Ultimate Matchday Experience Sunderland’s Stadium of Light is one of the most iconic sporting venues in the country.

From as little as ÂŁ50 per match, you and your guests will be at the heart of the action, taking advantage of some of the finest hospitality in football. Panoramic pitch views with access to private executive boxes, stunning suites and contemporary bars are all complemented by our award-winning service and sumptuous dining choices - at a price to suit any budget.

Man City December 3rd

West Ham December 13th

Hull City December 26th

Liverpool January 10th

Burnley January 31st

To book or for more information call 0871 911 1555, email hospitality@safc.com or visit safc.com/hospitality Hospitality for all fixtures is available to book now 0800

Enjoy 64 reg offers on 12 great car brands.

Every relationship is a journey. It’s about discovering new and enjoyable experiences. It’s about connecting with people who you trust. It’s about choosing what’s right for you.

Enjoy great 64 reg offers on new cars at Benfield, with 12 brands at over 30 showrooms across the North.

To find out more about our new 64 reg offers or to discuss your fleet requirements visit www.drivebenfield.com or call 0845 148 3010.