Contact Magazine August - September 2017

contact Together We Grow Stronger

August - September 2017

ALAN LAING: SAGE UK & IRELAND

Making business add up

Plus RIDING HIGH ONE COMPANY WITH THE BIT BETWEEN ITS TEETH PEOPLE POWER THE GENDER POLITICS SHAPING TOMORROW'S WORKFORCE SPECIAL FOCUS FORE-CASTING: THE BUSINESS OF GOLF

Corporate & Commercial Employment Construction IPR & IT Dispute Resolution Commercial & Residential Property Wills, Trusts & Tax Planning Family Clinical Negligence Healthcare Charities Agriculture

www.hay-kilner.co.uk 0191 232 8345

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Welcome...

Chamber president John McCabe Twitter: @John_fusionPR

Welcome to this edition of Contact and my first as Chamber president.

My time in the role has started with almost as many changing circumstances as my predecessor Mike Matthews experienced over his two years. The danger of this uncertainty is that it may set back important work on issues that matter to us all even further. It is vital our national government and local politicians concentrate on delivering policies to help our businesses grow and create jobs. Politics with a small ‘p’ should not get in the way of effective politics for the country as a whole.

The Chamber is a proud advocate of companies working together for mutual benefit. During my presidency this is one of three distinct ways I want to play my part in helping to build our region’s economic success.

Chamber members large and small could, and should, be doing more business with each other.

My second aspiration is to see more of us working more closely with the huge future talent pool being nurtured in our region. Through the Great Reasons to Build Your Career in North East England campaign with our partner member Nifco, and support of partner member Esh Group’s Building My Skills programme, we are enabling members to link more closely with education. We know there are skill shortages in key sectors and we need businesses to inspire and develop a new generation.

My third priority is how we support our own colleagues and staff. I am sure many of us are becoming more aware of the challenges of mental health and we need to keep talented people supported in our businesses when they face mental health issues. The Chamber has an important role to play in raising awareness of how best to support colleagues in such trying times.

I look forward to meeting many Chamber members during my presidency. Whatever your business, large or small, you have my full support and that of your Chamber.

John McCabe, Chamber president EDITOR Jane Pikett jane@offstonepublishing.co.uk EDITORIAL TEAM Dean Bailey Liz Hands Owen McAteer Paul Robertson Rosie Waller

Offstone Publishing Unit 1, Bearl Farm, Stocksfield Northumberland, NE43 7AJ

Contact is the magazine for North East England Chamber members. News and press releases should be sent to submissions@neechamber.co.uk

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ADVERTISING Contact Colin Rutherford T 01661 844115 or email colin@offstonepublishing.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Gibson www.kgphotography.co.uk Nicky Rogerson www.nrphotography.co.uk

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“For businesses like us, and for small businesses, to grow, we need the right skills” Alan Laing, Sage UK

36 Fore-casting: The business of golf

Last Word: Sarah Ralph and Fionnuala Doran

Profile: Sage UK's Alan Laing

Contents

06 60 Seconds

36 Profile

With new Chamber president John McCabe

Sage UK's Alan Laing

10 In my view

40 Profile

With James Ramsbotham

Richard McAlister of Brewin Dolphin

13 Inbox

44 Special focus

News and views from the world of business

The region's best corporate golf destinations

14-22 News

53 Fab 5

The latest from Chamber members including the Queen's Birthday Honours, a transatlantic partnership and more

Your greatest sporting moments

28 Success A company with the bit between its teeth

34 Policy Rachel Anderson reflects on the changing political landscape in the Tees Valley www.neechamber.co.uk

54 People Movers and shakers across the region

57 Motoring Volvo's commitment to green motoring

64 Last word Popular culture's effect on the skills agenda contact 5

60 Seconds

6

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www.neechamber.co.uk

“Good jobs for good people, that's what we're about” New North East England Chamber of Commerce president John McCabe tells Dean Bailey about his career in corporate communications, working with Tony Blair, his love of Liverpool Football Club and what he hopes to achieve in his new role

As soon as he walked into the communications department of Northumbrian Water more than 27 years ago as a trainee, John McCabe knew in which arena he would forge a career – though the route to today has never been well planned.

Roles with some of the North East’s biggest employers followed - Robson Brown, Newcastle Building Society and Alcan (later bought by Rio Tinto Alcan - owner of Lynemouth power station and aluminum smelter) to name a few. In 12 years with Rio Tinto Alcan, John’s work in communications would take him from lobbying Tony Blair’s government to his first role with the Chamber as part of its council. Then, he was part of the team which managed the closure of the Lynemouth plant.

A spell of consultancy which was never meant to last more than a year followed before he found another “proper” job, setting up Fusion PR in 2013.

Based at Blyth Workspace in Northumberland, Fusion employs seven people with more set to join the team this year and has a growing client list which includes Northumberland National Park, AkzoNobel, Soil Machine Dynamics, Northumbria University and Omega Plastics.

Married to Kate for 22 years, John is a huge Liverpool Football Club fan – a passion instilled in him by his father and one he is passing on to his children Emily, 20, Harry, 18 and Josephine, 11.

But what of his professional life? We know the next two years will be dominated by his presidency of North East England Chamber of Commerce, and here is a little more about the man himself…

Q How would you describe yourself?

Husband of one, dad of three and a lifelong Liverpool fan who is not afraid of hard work. www.neechamber.co.uk

Q Who did you look up to as a child?

Apart from Liverpool players, from which I’d have to pick Kenny Dalglish if I only got one, it was always my parents. They taught me to work hard – something they did their whole lives.

Q Who has inspired you?

Professionally, people who decide to set up their own businesses; it is a huge step and takes a lot of bravery. People who have experienced career setbacks, like those experienced by more than 530 people at Lynemouth, who are resilient and get on with what comes next also inspire me. More than 40 from Lynemouth went on to set up their own businesses and more than 90% found employment within six months. Personally, I’ve always been inspired by John F Kennedy – his career, his motivations and what could have been of his presidency. I’ve also been inspired by the work and resilience of the families of the Hillsborough victims and their drive to uncover the truth.

Q What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current job?

Apart from playing professional football, which I haven’t given up on at the age of 45, I would have loved to have worked in American politics and run a big political campaign.

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

I had some amazing opportunities at Alcan, working on lobbying government in London and Brussels, and meeting some incredible people.

Q What do you enjoy most about your job?

Creating good jobs for good people. contact 7

60 Seconds incredibly risk averse, so to have a free pass to create more jobs would be fantastic.

Q What scares you most?

Letting people down. It goes right back to what my parents taught me about doing each job to the best of your ability.

Q Who would play you in a film of your life?

“I love The West Wing so I’d pick Martin Sheen to play a Josiah Bartlet-inspired take on the role of Chamber president.

Q How do you fit business, family and taking on the presidency in?

I have a great team at Fusion and a great team at home. Kate is the most level-headed person I’ve ever met and she’s the best support I could have.

Q How do you spend a day off?

We walk in Northumberland and along the coast, and I have my Liverpool season ticket. Kate and I love to eat out as neither of us likes spending too long in the kitchen. We’ve got our favourites close to home - The Staith House in North Shields, Omni Café in Monkseaton and Kaltur in Newcastle.

Q The most expensive thing you’ve bought?

For the amount I use them these days, I’d have to say my golf clubs. I was really keen a few years ago and got to a decent standard, but I've fallen out of it having discovered the frustration of trying to get down to a single figure handicap.

Q Your best decision?

Sticking with Fusion and employing people rather than going back to working in-house.

Q The greatest moment of your career to date?

Meeting with Tony Blair when he was setting up his sports foundation, having stepped down as Prime Minister just a couple of weeks earlier, was a surreal experience. I’d met him before through Alcan, but this was different. I was invited to his constituency home in Trimdon and ended up having a drink with Sir Bobby Robson and some of the most important businesspeople in the region with Blair standing there with a bottle of real ale. I remember thinking, ‘How does John from Shields end up here?’.

Q If I were to tell you that you couldn’t fail, what would you do?

Hire more people before we need them. I’m 8

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Q Who would be at your dream dinner party?

We’d serve food from The Staith House and I’d invite JFK, the Queen, to hear about her experiences and her opinion of the world around her, Michelle Obama because she’s an incredible role model and Bob Paisley, Liverpool manager when I was a kid.

Q What’s it like taking on the role of Chamber president?

It’s a brilliant time to be the Chamber president with some huge changes coming with Brexit, two-speed devolution with Tees Valley and the North East Combined Authority, and a minority Government. We face some uncertain times and I’ve found already that businesses are not hiding. They are taking on the challenges, accepting that uncertainty is the only certainty we have at the moment and getting on with the job in hand. The Chamber has to support these businesses to support growth. www.neechamber.co.uk

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In my view

Chamber chief executive James Ramsbotham welcomes positive news for the region's economy

Chamber chief executive James Ramsbotham Twitter: @NEEChamberJames

After the uncertainties and concerns raised by the general election result, I'm delighted to start this column with positive news.

Our latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) shows we are performing well on many fronts in the North East, following the same positive trend we saw three months ago. All our key indicators are going in the right direction and paint a picture of us having a robust economy at present.

In the last quarter the results showed domestic sales and orders making the biggest contribution to business performance, and it is great to report that in the past three months our export figures have recovered strongly, to levels not seen for two years.

In terms of employment, the regional labour market is also showing positive results with the future workforce prediction at its highest rate since 2007. We can all give ourselves a pat on the back for the hard work that has produced these figures in what have often been challenging market conditions.

It would have been excellent if the Queen’s speech had given us some indication of Government funding and a route of travel that could have enabled us to have proper support to build upon these achievements. Unfortunately, the speech was instead like the curate’s egg - only good in parts with some glaring omissions.

“We know transport funding can be a powerful enabler when it is correctly targeted”

10 contact

We do welcome the continued commitment to implement an industrial strategy as we all know that unique economic conditions exist in different parts of the country. Indeed, they vary even within our own region. However, the final strategy must be developed in partnership with the business community to ensure their influence on its final shape.

One of the most worrying omissions was a lack of information on what is happening with Heathrow’s new runway proposals, something we have long campaigned for.

Government silence is not an option on this vital transport hub.

There was good news on infrastructure, followed by the transport investment strategy announcement in early July.

We know transport funding can be a powerful enabler of our economy when it is correctly targeted. The Government’s plan to focus investment where it has the biggest likely impact on growth and productivity, helping to rebalance the UK’s economy, is positive for our region.

Having campaigned for many years for improvements to the Western by-pass, (now delivered), I know only too well the importance of local interventions as well as major road schemes. Our business journeys, no matter their length, need attention and funding to make them competitive and effective.

The issue of being competitive is at the forefront of our campaign to get a level playing field on Air Passenger Duty (APD).

I have written to the Prime Minister urging her to address the current situation. The www.neechamber.co.uk

Political uncertainty is unhelpful for business coming to terms with Brexit

Scottish Parliament has approved plans to replace APD, making it substantially cheaper to fly from Scottish airports from April 2018. Airports just across the border in the north of England will find the additional APD harms their ability to compete for both exports and passengers.

Our strong export record is clearly shown in the QES results and exporters have to travel to deliver these contracts, so we don't want anything to damage their success. We need Government action to tackle this disparity now.

Our members’ views on Brexit make for interesting reading. A snap poll was carried out straight after the general election and showed clearly that businesses want no change to the existing arrangements. The clear desire is to remain in the Single Market and Custom Union in some form and we will play our part in ensuring the Government takes heed of these ambitions. www.neechamber.co.uk

It would be very remiss of me to not conclude this column without a heartfelt thank you and a warm welcome. Firstly, a great many thanks to Mike Matthews for his excellent contribution to our work during his two years as Chamber president. I also congratulate him on Nifco’s recent 50th anniversary. His company’s success is great testimony to a first class workforce and outstanding productivity for many blue chip clients.

Secondly, I extend congratulations and welcome our new president, John McCabe. He has been supportive of the Chamber for many years and his time as President comes as we all face challenges with Brexit negotiations on-going and wavering political leadership. I welcome his determination to urge us all to work together more closely. This memberto-member relationship is a great opportunity for everyone to grow their companies and develop new partnerships. contact 11

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Inbox Have you got something to say about Contact magazine or about business in general? Then this page is the place.

Email your news, views, comment and gossip to submissions@neechamber.co.uk

Thousands raised for water in Madagascar Employees, partners and customers of Northumbrian Water have helped to save the lives of some 17,500 people living in Madagascar, raising £210,000 for its international charity partner WaterAid in the last year.

The charity, which works in 37 countries worldwide, provides clean water, safe toilets and hygiene education. The money will go towards Northumbrian Water’s five-year goal of raising £1m for WaterAid projects in Madagascar by 2020, where currently, 2,100 children die every year from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and sanitation. Northumbrian Water held charity events throughout the year, funds were donated by individuals and Northumbrian WaterAid partners including ESH Group, and customers raised £6,596 by responding to an appeal included in Northumbrian Water’s bills.

TWEET TWEET

Our pick of recent events across the region on Twitter Ross Smith (@NEEChamberRoss): Mood re Brexit: businesses massively frustrated with how politicians handling it but getting on with what they can control #NEEChamberevents Durham Cathedral (@durhamcathedral): We bid a fond farewell to James Lancelot today, after 32 years as Master of the Choristers and Organist at @durhamcathedral John Mowbray (@jdmow): #Sunderland is taking Twitter by storm to celebrate being shortlisted in @DCMS #UKCityofCulture2021 21 (@21Newcastle): Exciting news for #NE1RestaurantWeek We & all our sister venues are taking part including the new @PorterhouseNcl John McCabe (@John_FusionPR): Thank you @PortofBlyth for the tour of your hugely impressive facilities.

Our ports are vitally important to the #NorthEast economy

l-r Charlie Nettle of AV Dawson, Mandy Shields of Middlesbrough & Teesside Philanthropic Society, David Johnson of A V Dawson, Kev Adlam, Branch Line Society

Train travel

A charity rail event organised by AV Dawson to celebrate the growth of its Teesside freight terminal has raised more than £6,800 for local charities. More than 200 people joined a train tour of AV Dawson’s 100-acre site, promoted by the Branch Line Society. Rail and rolling stock enthusiasts experienced a one-hour return trip around the terminal and the tour was extended onto AV Dawson’s quayside site - the first time this section of track has carried passengers since 1830. www.neechamber.co.uk

NissanUK (@NissanUK): We've started the production of the new #NissanQashqai in Sunderland, U.K. The Chamber (@NEEChamber): Congrats to @kpmguk won each of the 4 categories it entered at the 2017 NE Accountancy Awards

Winners on the day, from left to right Nevil Dickinson, Robyn Smith, Calum MacLeod, Mark Brunton and Franco Graziani, with from left to right, Janice Harvey (marketing co-ordinator, ITPS), Michael Jopling (financial director, ITPS) and Mike Bowers (managing director, Cellular Solutions).

Charity drive

Charity was the winner at the ITPS Cellular Solutions Masters at Close House, which saw 80 golfers from across the North East’s business community and beyond put their skills to the test in aid of The Percy Hedley Foundation and The Chronicle Sunshine Fund.

The two companies have collaborated on a number of major charity events for the two charities in the past, and co-host an annual race day at Newcastle Racecourse.

HTL Group MD Paul Storey and Trevor Robson

Pedal power A Cramlington company, inspired by the bravery of a teenager who died from a rare form of cancer, has raised more than £4,500 for Jessica’s Sarcoma Awareness charity.

More than 30 employees of the HTL group and supporters of the charity including Jessica Robson’s dad Trevor cycled 100 miles over two days from the company’s HQ to Alnwick and back. Jessica was 18 when she died three years ago. She started the charity to help other youngsters affected by cancer. contact 13

News

Partners update I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

Since my last column we've heard from Lewis Lukens, Chargé d’Affaires from the United States Embassy - the keynote speaker at the Summer President’s Club lunch at Washington Old Town Hall. My thanks to Northern, Sunderland Council and The National Trust for their support with this Chamber event.

It was great to visit the Formica plant in North Tyneside and hear Peter Rush, Formica’s European President, talk about investment in the plant and opportunities for future growth.

My thanks to Ben Gutteridge, Brewin Dolphin’s head of fund research, who spoke at the Brewin Dolphin private lunch and gave his views on the economy.

The President’s Club Golf Day enjoyed sunshine at Rockliffe Hall and my thanks to the team there for looking after us so well.

I also had the opportunity to visit the new Akzo Nobel paint plant in Ashington and it is fantastic to see this investment in the region.

Brewin Dolphin offers the chamber’s President’s Club members a free, no obligation financial planning review. Contact gary.fawcett@brewin.co.uk 14 contact

With Jennifer Rycroft, Chamber partnerships manager Chamber Partners form an exclusive group from a range of sectors across the region, working closely with us to maximise their impact on our region…

In June we welcomed newly elected Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Andrew Lewis from Tees Valley Combined Authority to our monthly Partner Member Lunch hosted by Teesside University. Ben gave an insight into his new role and his plans working alongside the five Tees Valley councils.

Partner members also attended a private briefing with Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe and contributed to a round table discussion with newly elected Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry.

Newcastle International Airport hosted a meeting with Transport for the North chief executive David Brown to discuss the Strategic Transport Plan for the North, due to be drafted in the autumn; while Brendan Flattery, CEO of Utilitywise, offered a unique insight into one of the region’s most recognisable brands and its development.

We also held our Summer Partner Event at Tactical Training Centre - a purpose built PFI initiative which provides bespoke Police firearms, command and critical decisionmaking training. Members got to tour the centre and take part in judgemental training scenarios involving handling firearms.

Finally, we are delighted to have commercial law firm Square One Law join us as a Partner member. Square One Law’s entrepreneurial approach to legal services has seen it achieve a year-on-year growth of 35% and build an enviable client base. We are looking forward to working with them on projects and campaigns.

For information about Chamber Partners contact Jennifer: Jennifer.Rycroft@neechamber.co.uk, tel 0191 374 6461, Twitter: @NEEChamberJen

OUR PARTNERS

www.neechamber.co.uk

Commercial Profile

Three top tips for keeping your affairs in order l-r Professor Jane Turner OBE and Louise Hunter MBE

Birthday honours for region's leaders Several of the region’s high profile names have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Professor Jane Turner, pro vice-chancellor (enterprise and business engagement) at Teesside University receives an OBE for outstanding services to business engagement.

Louise Hunter, Northumbrian Water’s director of corporate affairs, receives an MBE for services to business and corporate social responsibility.

Retired harbour master of Teesport Jerry Drewitt receives an MBE for services to the welfare of seafarers on Teesside, while cosmologist Professor Carlos Frenk, director of Durham University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology, receives a CBE for his work on the origins of the Universe and engaging the public in science. Professor Roy Sandbach, director of the National Innovation Centre for Ageing at Newcastle University, is awarded an OBE for services to science, innovation and skills, while Professor Erica Haimes, emeritus professor of sociology and founding executive director at the Policy, Ethics and Life Sciences Research Centre, Newcastle University is awarded an OBE for services to social science.

Tom Hurst, Sunderland City Council’s chief investment officer, receives an OBE for services to local government and economic prosperity and Barbara Gubbins, chief executive, County Durham Community Foundation, is awarded a CBE for services to the voluntary and community sectors.

l-r Professor Roy Sandbach OBE and Jerry Drewitt MBE www.neechamber.co.uk

Cliff Veitch, Partner, David Gray Solicitors

Let’s face it we all work hard for our pay check each month, few of us would work if we didn’t get that payday feeling at the end of the month!

Yet, it is quite surprising how people often oversee the longer term implications of financial planning, here are 3 ways you can futureproof your finances now:

1. MAKING A WILL is the single most important step every adult should take. It can be simple, straightforward and may cost less than you think. In a will, you can deal with your finances, appoint executors, create trusts and even appoint Guardian for your children. However, it is essential you keep your will up to date.

2. TAKE TAX PLANNING ADVICE. Many people misunderstand how inheritance tax will affect them. It is important to take comprehensive advice that informs your will and management of your finances to ensure that any tax allowances or exemptions are fully utilised. From April this year new rules apply to the taxation of family homes and your will may need redrafting to take account of these changes.

3. A POWER OF ATTORNEY comes into operation if you are incapacitated perhaps by having a stroke or developing dementia. It is important to plan ahead and have a properly drafted and effective Lasting Power of Attorney (“LPA”) in place as “insurance” in case the worst happens. In that event, attorneys you trust and have chosen will have power to deal with your assets in a way you want.

For advice and support contact Cliff Veitch and his team at David Gray Solicitors on: Tel: 0191 232 9547 Email: lawyers@davidgray.co.uk Web: www.davidgray.co.uk Twitter: @DavidGrayLLP contact 15

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Property and energy firm The Banks Group has posted an operating profit of £11m for the financial year to October 2, 2016.

The Co Durham-headquartered company, which has interests across the north of England and Scotland in onshore wind farms, property schemes and surface mines, achieved overall group revenues of £74m, a fall from £101m recorded in 2015’s accounts, which had benefited from strong coal sales stemming from coal generators building stocks in 2015 in advance of increased taxes on coal use.

The family-owned firm's property division performed well with its growing portfolio of residential and commercial schemes, and its renewable energy division grew to encompass seven new operational onshore wind farms.

Earlier this year, Banks Renewables secured a transformational £210m investment package to support the construction of its next three onshore wind farms - Moor House near Darlington and Middle Muir and Kype Muir in South Lanarkshire. All are scheduled to be generating green electricity by the start of 2019.

The company also successfully completed its Lambs Hill wind farm near Stockton.

Transatlantic partnership The partners of Newcastleheadquartered Bond Dickinson LLP and US-based Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP have voted to combine as equal members in a new entity under the name Womble Bond Dickinson.

Jonathan Blair, managing partner Effective from October 2017, Bond Dickinson and Betty Temple, chair and CEO Womble Carlyle Womble Bond Dickinson will have more than 420 partners and 1,000 lawyers across offices in the UK and the US. The combination will put Womble Bond Dickinson in the UK’s top 20 and in the top 80 in the US listings, with combined revenues in excess of US$410m or £340m.

Four members of each firm will be appointed to the board which will be co-chaired by Betty Temple, chair and CEO of Womble Carlyle, and Jonathan Blair, managing partner of Bond Dickinson. www.neechamber.co.uk

Shipshape CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn has visited the Port of Tyne to discuss its plans for continued development.

Port chief exec and CBI regional chair Andrew Moffat says: “I was delighted to invite Carolyn to visit the Port of Tyne and see developments which are part of a £100m construction project to sustain renewable energy, create jobs CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn with Andrew Moffat, chief executive at the Port of Tyne and further strengthen our business, it was estimated that around ability to win new business.” £51m is added to the regional GVA due The Port of Tyne is also in the midst to a combination of visitor spend and of another packed schedule of summer cruise calls and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines supply chain logistics.

The port’s business development continues to make the port one of the director Nolan Gray says: “The port’s home ports for its flagship Balmoral, cruise business continues to grow with the largest of its fleet. over 50 calls this year and this success In a recent Economic Impact is testament to how well our region is Assessment of the Port of Tyne’s connected in terms of transport links.” contribution from its cruise and ferry

David Elliott, office senior partner at KPMG in Newcastle

Fab four Professional services firm KPMG won each of the four categories it entered at the 2017 North East Accountancy Awards, including the prestigious National Accountancy Firm of the Year.

The accountancy and advisory firm, which is based on Newcastle’s Quayside in this region, also claimed the titles of Tax Team of the Year, Corporate Finance Deal of the Year and Accountant of the Year.

This quadruple win reflects the commitment to, and achievements on behalf of clients, from KPMG’s 160-strong team.

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contact 17

News In the picture

Engineering excellence

l-r, the Digitalab team Susan Stephenson, Alex Ingram, Jeff Heads, Geoff Wood, Christine Fountain, Daniel McGill, Jill Roe, James Fortune, Andy Denham-Smith, Alex Philip, Richard Twizell

Digitalab, a family-run professional photo lab based in Newcastle, has won a major award at the prestigious Newborn Photography Show, the largest show of its kind in Europe, held in Fillongley, Warwickshire.

The competitive Large Trader of the Year category is voted for by photographers and includes many of the best professional photography services from across Europe.

Jill Roe, owner and granddaughter of company founder Bob Fountain, says: “This is Digitalab’s first industry award and a huge achievement for the entire team.

The printing market has changed a lot in recent years and we have adapted with it to meet our customers’ changing needs.”

More than £1m is being ploughed into the School of Engineering at the University of Sunderland.

The university’s engineering department will benefit from additional capacity and improved teaching spaces in the David Goldman building at the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s.

Developments will include a dedicated mechanical lab, a fluid lab, demonstration space for hands-on teaching and a new manufacturing lab, each bringing students closer to the real-world work environment.

Industry-standard digital equipment including laser cutters and 3D printers will complement traditional engineering tools, ensuring students are taught engineering through problem-based learning methods using the latest techniques.

Academic dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Dr Rebecca Chandy says: “We want to be a stepping stone for students pursuing a career in engineering, giving them a great experience on campus, raising their aspirations and helping them move forward to the next stage."

You don’t need a degree in marketing to progress in the industry YOU

+

NESMA

+

QUALS

=

POWER TO CHOOSE

But you do need the right skills to compete in the industry Marketing has changed so much in the last decade it requires a commitment to continuing professional development for every marketer at every level.

Actively pursuing new skills, information and qualifications are not only good for business but will help individuals to move their careers forward. Whether it’s working on your current skill set or exploring a new area of expertise nesma has all your marketing and communication know-how covered.

We are now taking applications to study with us in September 2017. nesma delivers courses in the North East, Cumbria, Scotland, and in-house UK wide.

WWW.NESMA.CO.UK 18 contact

Talk to us about what you want to achieve.

T: 07900 223721 E: hello@nesma.co.uk

www.neechamber.co.uk

Say hola to your International Trade Adviser Whether you’re a new or experienced exporter, Department for International Trade can provide you with the knowledge and expertise of highly experienced international trade specialists who will support your entry into new markets with confidence.

Call the Department for International Trade North East on 0345 136 0169 or email northeast@mobile.trade.gov.uk

Grow your

Network Grow your Knowledge Grow your

Influence

Grow your

Reach

If you’re ready to grow, get in touch. We’d love to help.

Call 0300 303 6322 Visit neechamber.co.uk Connect @neechamber

News Trump card

Airport’s fresh plea on APD

Crathorne Hall Hotel

Following the general election, Newcastle International Airport is now once again urging the Government to announce measures to support English regional airports from the impacts of Air Passenger Duty (APD) devolution to Scotland.

With Scotland having now introduced its Air Departure Tax Bill as a replacement for APD and committed to reducing it from 2018, Newcastle Airport says the Government should undertake to at least match any reductions in Scotland across the UK. The North East’s largest airport notes that politicians and political parties from various parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland, are in favour of abolishing APD.

Security hardware manufactured by radiation detection technology company Kromek was deployed during President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Brussels. The Durham company’s standalone radiation detector D3S-ID was deployed by the European Commission Counter Terrorism Unit of Directorate General for Home Affairs during the NATO Security Summit.

PREFERRED PARTNER ACCOMMODATION RATES We are pleased to offer specially discounted hotel rates and preferential booking terms to local businesses and corporate clients. If you would like further information about our corporate rates, our sales teams will be happy to assist you. Contact our team on 01642 700398 Why Crathorne Hall? · 37 bedrooms including feature rooms and suites · Recent £4m refurbishment of the Hall’s East Wing including 17 bedrooms · Easily accessible from the A19 (less than 1 mile) · 6 miles from Durham Tees Valley Airport and 15 miles from Darlington railway station · 45 miles south of Newcastle and 40 miles north of York

01642 700398 handpickedhotels.co.uk/crathornehall Crathorne Hall Hotel Crathorne, Yarm, North Yorkshire TS15 0AR

www.neechamber.co.uk

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· Complimentary Parking tes foes al ra · Free Wi-Fi throughout the speci business l hotel and bedrooms loca · 4 Red Stars and 2 Rosettes · Fine dining restaurant · Friendly and welcoming team · Lounge, Room and Restaurant Service dining options

HOTELS B U I L T

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News Good deal Newcastle-based Ryecroft Glenton Corporate Finance has advised The Ryecroft Glenton Corporate Finance Team international renewable energy consulting firm Taylor Hopkinson Associates on growth capital investment by Londonbased private investment firm SEA Equity.

Taylor Hopkinson Associates specialises in the renewable and clean energy sectors, providing senior contractors, permanent staff and executives globally. Taylor Hopkinson is SEA Equity’s fourth investment.

CONTACT YOUR RELATIONSHIP MANAGER TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP Essentials Portfolio - Julie Digman tel 07912 478 964 julie.digman@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberJules Teesside - Tom Warnock tel 07714 845 617 tom.warnock@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberTom Darlington and West Durham - Susan Anderson tel 07736 799 727 susan.anderson@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberSusan Northumberland - Clare McCabe tel 0191 374 6487 clare.mccabe@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberClare Medium Business - Andrew Heavisides tel 07912 478 961 andrew.heavisides@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberAndy Newcastle/Gateshead - Lynsey Fairless tel 07834 444 627 lynsey.fairless@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberLyns International - Les Dixon tel 07850 740 645 les.dixon@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberLes Medium Business: Tyne & Wear and Northumberland - Anthony Stringer tel 07739 162 408 anthony.stringer@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberAnthS Sunderland and Durham - Julie Charlton tel 07980 259 991 julie.charlton@neechamber.co.uk Twitter @NEEChamberjac1 22 contact

l-r Zulfiqur Ali of Teesside University, Graham Miller of Business Durham, Daniel Roe of Concision, Michael Lawrence of Deimos, Chris Jones of NBU, Nigel Cameron of aXenic, Laurent Dala of Northumbria University, Christopher Newman of the University of Sunderland, Peter Holt of Concision, and Trevor Hardcastle of Frontier at the launch of STEPHANIE

Space age

An innovation project has been launched to help companies tapping into the thriving space industry to scale up faster.

STEPHANIE, delivered in Co Durham by Business Durham, is a five-year EU-funded Interreg programme to help promote research and innovation in the space and photonics industry.

The project will be based at the North East Technology Park (NETPark) in Sedgefield, home to cutting-edge companies including Kromek, a leading developer of radiation detection solutions, and PolyPhotonix, creator of a sleep mask which uses light to combat diabetic retinopathy. Ambitious expansion plans over the next decade will see hundreds of jobs created on the science park and in the local supply chain.

Catherine Johns, innovation director at Business Durham, says: “It’s about bringing people together who would never normally interact and sharing knowledge across disciplines and sectors. As a result, the North East is fast becoming a hub for developing and applying space technology and satellite data to solve fundamental social problems.”

Business Durham has also secured an additional three years’ funding for the North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence from the Satellite Applications Catapult and the UK Space Agency.

There’s an app for that

Technology company Excelpoint has helped one of Britain’s biggest NHS trusts to dramatically improve the health of its workforce with a new app.

The Co Durham-based company created the app for Belfast Health and Social Care Trust to help 22,500 staff lead a healthier lifestyle.

Excelpoint’s unique technology helps businesses create software solutions without the need for bespoke code and its team worked with the trust’s healthcare professionals to create the app.

Brendan McConaghy, the trust’s lead physiotherapist occupational health ergonomics team manager, worked alongside Excelpoint to develop the application. www.neechamber.co.uk

www.neechamber.co.uk

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Commercial property

l-r The Cento Clothing team, Colin Butt, Anna Moutafis and Lauren Grice

BIC the perfect fit A growing clothing manufacturing agent has moved into larger business premises at the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC).

Cento Clothing Ltd, owned

by Anna Moutafis and Colin Butt, helps fashion brands with everything from design, sourcing and sampling through to production. It provides designs, production and everything in between, including import duty and VAT, dealing direct with factories overseas.

Action stations

GVA has been instructed to offer boutique hotel and leisure operators the Grade IIlisted former fire and police stations in the heart of Newcastle City Centre.

The prominent corner site, which is in sole ownership, is situated within the East Pilgrim Street Masterplan Area. It is anticipated that the site will accommodate circa 100,000sqft to provide a boutique hotel and dining, and a destination fine dining restaurant.

Ray Minto, director of land and development at GVA Newcastle, says: “The development forms part of a programme of regeneration on Pilgrim Street extending from the Swan House roundabout to Northumberland Street. This scheme marks one phase of the wider East Pilgrim Street development with further projects due to be announced in the autumn.”

Property posts l-r Charlotte McMurchie, Jennifer Pearson, Deborah Lazenby, Jonathan Combe

Muckle LLP has strengthened its award-winning Real Estate team with two new appointments.

Senior associate Deborah Lazenby and associate Jennifer Pearson have joined Muckle following an increase in regional and national clients.

l-r The Banks project team, John Ruddick, Marie-Louise Milliken Paul Langley and Lewis Stokes

Yes to plan

Durham County Council's planning committee has been minded to approve plans put forward by The Banks Group for new student accommodation in the northern part of the Mount Oswald site in Durham city.

The Co Durham-headquartered firm put forward a planning application to establish the principle of developing student accommodation on the site.

It means Banks can move quickly once a detailed scheme is ready to be put forward. www.neechamber.co.uk

To be Frank…

Commercial property specialist Naylors has completed the letting of more than 19,000sqft of office space in Newcastle to Frank Recruitment Group (FRG).

The international technology recruitment business has moved more than 300 staff into the new offices which span two floors of St. Nicholas Building.

An 11-year lease has been agreed and Naylors is now close to completing a £1m refurbishment project at the building. In the past six months St Nicholas Building has also attracted new tenants Sir Robert McAlpine and Lichfields.. contact 25

Commercial property

l-r Simon Goon of Business Durham, Coun Carl Marshall, Coun Simon Henig, leader Durham County Council, Hans Moller of North East LEP, Steve Conn of Esh Group, and Coun Bill Kellett, chairman Durham County Council, mark the start of infrastructure works at NETPark in Sedgefield

Road to £12.6m expansion

Infrastructure works at the heart of major expansion plans at a North East science park have begun.

Representatives from Durham County Council and the North East LEP were among those who gathered to mark the construction of a 1km road to access a further 26 acres of development land at the North East Technology Park (NETPark) in Sedgefield, Co Durham.

The infrastructure works were made possible thanks to a £5m grant from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Local Growth Fund (LGF) as part of the North East Growth Deal.

Naylors new recruit

Newcastle-based commercial property specialist Naylors has announced a new appointment within its award-winning industrial agency department.

Duncan Christie has joined the firm as an industrial agency surveyor after completing a Real Estate master’s degree at Northumbria University.

Hexham-born Christie was first introduced to Naylors when he undertook a work experience programme earlier this year.

Sun shines on Para-Sols Paraplanning company Para-Sols has more than doubled its Darlington office space with 2,500sqft offices in the Beehive building at Lingfield Point.

Para-Sols’ new offices have also been fitted out with the ‘Para-Pub’, a social area for staff to relax.

Double deal Newcastle-based HTA Real Estate has completed the sale of two industrial investments on behalf of Wishtower, an industrial property joint venture, to clients of Naylors for £2.35m.

Naylors’ investment agency team acted on behalf of Yorkshire-based investment company Leven Estates and the properties are located at Boldon Business Park, South Tyneside and Balliol Business Park, Longbenton, Newcastle.

The 19,000sqft Boldon Business Park unit is let to Immunodiagnostic Systems 26 contact

Sarah Thorpe, area manager, UK Steel Enterprise, with Shaun Muir of Kevin Edward Associates.

At the double

(IDS) on a 15-year lease from July 2015 at £90,000 per annum.The 17,000sqft Balliol Business unit is let to NHS Direct for 15 years from January 2012 at £79,000 per annum.

Recruitment consultants who opened a North East office on Teesside less than a year ago have doubled their office space to accommodate a growing team.

Kevin Edward Associates are now occupying larger premises at UK Steel Enterprise’s Innovation Centre on the Kirkleatham Business Park in Redcar. www.neechamber.co.uk

Commercial Profile

NETPark Explorer – the perfect place to grow for science and tech companies ONE OF the difficulties when growing a company is finding the right premises for scale up. Moving sites to find bigger manufacturing facilities or larger offices can be a logistical headache when you want to focus on business. Fortunately, for IBEX Innovations, being based at the North East Technology Park (NETPark) in Sedgefield, County Durham, has meant they’ve been able to concentrate on what they do best – being a global leader in the world of X-ray technology.

IBEX started its journey as a virtual member of NETPark before moving to its Incubator and then later the 2,000 sq ft of office and lab space in NETPark’s Discovery building.

Now, the company has 17 employees and will become the first tenant of the science park’s new £12.6m Explorer development when it’s completed later this year. Explorer will offer bespoke laboratory, clean room/office spaces ranging from 3,500ft to 5,000ft.

Completed to client requirements, Explorer units will provide grow on space for graduating incubation companies as well as established businesses which are looking for room to expand.

High-tech tenants are among like minded peers at NETPark with fellow tenants including PolyPhotonix, which is on target to save the NHS a billion pounds a year with its pioneering Noctura 400 sleep mask which treats diabetic retinopathy.

Durham University’s Centre for Advanced Instrumentation is also at NETPark with two of the Government’s Catapult centres - the North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence and High Value Manufacturing, and four national technology centres: Printable Electronics, Formulation, Graphene Applications and Healthcare Photonics, all managed by the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI).

Simon Goon, managing director of Business Durham, which runs NETPark, on behalf of Durham County Council, said: “NETPark is uniquely placed to offer a dynamic and supportive environment to accelerate growth into global markets.

“It brings a like-minded community together in an exceptional environment, with links to a readymade manufacturing supply chain and a talented workforce, as IBEX has discovered.”

IBEX is looking forward to moving into Explorer early next year. The company is commercialising a patented www.neechamber.co.uk

X-ray detector technology that offers the potential for improved medical X-ray imaging at lower patient dose and earlier diagnosis of osteoporosis. The firm has received VC funding for its technology, which is being used in medical and industrial imaging markets.

Dr Neil Loxley, Chief Executive at IBEX, said: “NETPark has proven to be a great environment for a technology start-up such as IBEX, providing high quality facilities that have been well-matched to our changing needs at different points in our growth.

“However, it is the quality of support and the friendly can-do attitude of NETPark staff that really sets NETPark apart from other business parks. We are really looking forward to our move into one of the new Explorer units, which will provide us with the space and facilities to accommodate our next stage of development."

Find out more about NETPark Explorer on our website www.northeasttechnologypark.com/explorer contact 27

Success

Riding the export wave Kay Wilson talks business with those holding the reins of international horse bit leader Neue Schule

Safraz Miam

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From one of the most picturesque office settings in the region with views over the Cleveland Hills, a global leader in equestrian hardware is developing ground-breaking products, including what they believe is a world first.

Stokesley-based Neue Schule’s latest innovations are part of a number of successes, including a recent move into what was the flagship office development of Yorkshire Forward.

Set up by equestrian expert Heather HydeSaddington in the 1990s on the back of her existing horse bit rental business, the Neue Schule brand (translated as New School) was born out of a desire to improve horse welfare.

Neue Schule CEO Sarfraz Mian BEM is building on that tradition, as he explains: “Heather had vast experience of horsemanship and realised through her customers that the traditional bit was uncomfortable and jarring to a horse’s mouth, which didn't help the rider get either the best control or optimum performance.

“As a result, she designed a revolutionary product which has evolved into the range of high quality horse bits we now produce. The mouthpiece of our bits is manufactured using a soft metal alloy which doesn’t feel freezing cold in the mouth as it is made up of a material with

high thermal conductivity. This means it quickly becomes the same temperature as the horse’s own body, making it less of a shock.

“The softness of the metal has been developed so that it doesn’t damage the enamel of the horse’s teeth. Also, it is an inert material, which means it is not leaking metal ions into the mouth.

“As you can imagine, if you had metal clanking in your own mouth the sound would reverberate around your head, so the soft metal also helps with acoustic dampening. Careful analysis of horse mouth anatomy and the forces that operate during riding has resulted in the creation of mouthpiece designs that are revolutionary and sit ergonomically in the horse’s mouth during riding.”

The company’s products have been so welcomed by the sector, its sales have been driven by recommendations and its client list reads like a who’s who of the equestrian world. including the UK and USA Olympic equestrian teams.

Sarfraz Mian and innovative engineer and Durham University senior lecturer, Dr Graham Cross, joined the business in 2009 following the development of its own biosensor company, part of the Farfield Group, which was one of the first tenants at NETPark, Sedgefield, Co Durham.

The new products currently being brought to market build on their experience of scientific innovation and harness this to Neue Schule’s existing range.

Sarfraz Mian says: “Our bits are based on good science, not myths about what is best for a horse and for a rider to have good control. We have now created what we believe is the world’s first set of reins, being brought to the market by Neue Schule Group company, Avansce Ltd, with built-in sensors which can record the forces that a rider applies through the reins under riding conditions, feeding that information into an app and uploading it to www.neechamber.co.uk

the cloud for subsequent analysis. The benefits of this innovation for equestrian performance will be huge. It will show clearly to a rider how they are interacting with their horse through the reins under actual riding conditions. For elite equestrian sports this will improve performance, but this is also invaluable for all amateur riders.”

The product is currently under production and will be available to buy in the next few months.

Neue Schule's success story has been the result, in a major part, of a key decision to export in 2010.

Sarfraz Mian always believed there was potential for overseas sales but wasn't sure of the right route.

As a result, he linked up with the Department for International Trade and through two programmes - Passport to Export and Going for Global Growth - the company now has a global network selling thousands of products around the word, including www.neechamber.co.uk

to Africa, Canada, the USA and New Zealand.

“From a standing start, exporting now accounts for around 50% of our business, a figure we can only see growing and at a pretty substantial rate,” he says.

The importance of horse welfare, which is the foundation of the business, has also resulted in diversification and the establishment of the Neue Schule Academy. In addition to undertaking research into the operation of the bit, the Neue Schule Academy has developed a series of training courses designed to educate riders and instructors in all aspects of bitting. These courses are delivered as part of Equine Studies degree courses and also via online training with qualifications certified by the awarding body, Lantra.

The future, it seems, is bright for Neue Schule - a business with the bit between its teeth. contact 29

Skills

Global recognition Teesside University has been listed among the world’s best institutions for its teaching.

Teesside is one of only a handful of UK universities shortlisted for the first Global Teaching Excellence Awards (GTEA) which recognise outstanding leadership, teaching and student support.

Just 27 worldwide universities have been shortlisted for the award, run in partnership between the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and Times Higher Education.

In June, the university was awarded a Silver rating in the Government’s new Teaching Excellence Framework

and rated 60th in the Times Higher Education rankings, one of the highest performing TEF Silver institutions in the country.

Vice chancellor and chief executive Prof Paul Croney says: “It is further recognition of the university’s achievements in this area and reflects the dedication, excellence and expertise of our staff."

The university has invested more than a quarter of a billion pounds in its campus in recent years and continues to invest in staff development.

The overall winner of the Global Teaching Excellence Awards will be announced in London in September.

30 contact

Girl Power Newcastle High School for Girls hosted a VIP business networking event for sixth formers to mix with business leaders and industry heads to discuss careers and post A level opportunities. Representatives from across the North East business community attended the event and offered advice and guidance on skills, experience and training opportunities post A level, as well as discussing routes into different careers.

Among the guests were representatives from Cundall Engineering, JP Morgan, Accenture and others.

Education award

Yes, chef !

Newcastle Gateshead Marriott Metrocentre Hotel head chef Chris Wells is inspiring the young chefs of tomorrow with skills classes and work experience for catering students at Gateshead College.

He also works with Down’s Syndrome North East, organises culinary events for the cancer support charity FACT, and school holiday cookery sessions for local youngsters in conjunction with a local Methodist church.

As a result, he has been presented

l-r Hannah Brooker of Cundall with Year 12 student Sidra Ansari

Chris with youngsters from the Blaydon Methodist holiday scheme

with the North East Hoteliers Association’s coveted Community Award.

Construction firm Esh Group has taken the Award for Education at the Prince of Wales’ Responsible Business Awards.

Esh Group, which employs 1,200 people, was shortlisted alongside major names for the award, which recognises business school programmes designed to build life chances for young people.

The firm’s pioneering Get into STEM scheme was chosen by judges for its work in helping to introduce young people to STEM skills and associated careers. www.neechamber.co.uk

NEWS IN BRIEF

Gateshead College principal and chief executive Judith Doyle

A* performer

Gateshead College has been ranked the best performing college in the North East and fourth in England.

Figures from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) show an overall achievement rate of 90.4% - 8% above the national average and 5.5% above the average rate of all other local college providers.

This is the third year running Gateshead College has been ranked in the top 10 best colleges in England and is an improvement on last year’s ranking of 6th place.

College principal and CEO Judith Doyle says: “We have worked hard to establish ourselves as a resilient, sustainable and agile organisation. We invest wisely in our partnerships with employers, our resources and our people to be able to create a dynamic curriculum that adapts to the changing needs of our economy and gives our students the skills they need to be successful.”

High flyer A high-flying chemistry student has received a national award after impressing judges for two years in a row.

Megan Todd, 22, was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry Industry Technician of the Year award, which recognises an outstanding contribution made by an individual in a technical role in industry. She was also shortlisted for the award last year.

Megan, from Ingleby Barwick, is completing her BSc (Hons) Chemistry degree part-time at Teesside University, while working as an experimental scientist for DuPont Teijin Films at the Wilton Centre near Redcar. www.neechamber.co.uk

RECOGNITION Final year engineering students have helped a large oil and gas operations company to improve safety procedures. Ethan Hill and Phil Manley, both set to graduate from Teesside University in BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering, completed work for the Wood Group Operated CATS Terminal in Seal Sands.

PICK THEIR BRAINS Entrepreneurs looking to grow and scale their business are being sought for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership's (LEP) Growth through Mentoring programme.

Six months after launching, experienced North East business leaders are ready to act as mentors for business owners keen to learn from others’ experiences.

IN THE PICTURE Students at New College Durham have been taking their first steps towards becoming designers by working on a live brief for an innovative dance company.

Over 30 students studying Level 3 Graphic Design and the Foundation Degree in Graphic Design at New College designed promotional materials for Southpaw Dance Company.

Members of Whitley Bay Colf Club at the Business Clinic

Join the clubs Allendale and Whitely Bay golf clubs have teamed up with business students from Northumbria University in a bid to maintain and increase membership levels.

Both called on the support of the Business Clinic initiative at Newcastle Business School - an education scheme where a group of business students form a ‘consultancy firm’ to provide free advice for clients.

The Business Clinic’s consultancy services are available to all types of businesses from SMEs and multinationals through to not-for-profit organisations.

Apprentice awards Apprentices and employers are celebrating after a prize-giving event at Sunderland College.

The college’s inaugural Apprenticeship Awards were launched to recognise the outstanding achievements of apprentices and the commitment of the businesses and organisations which have supported them.

Accolades were handed out to eight apprentices and three employers at the ceremony at City Campus, the college’s new dedicated hub for professional and technical courses. contact 31

Export

Export's big cheese James Thwaites and Lee Willmott of CMR

Power ahead

The Prima Cheese team, North East Exporters Awards winners 2017

Prima Cheese picked up the Exporter of the Year prize to lead the winners at the North East Exporters Awards.

Seaham-based Prima took the biggest award of the night at Ramside Hall, Co Durham, having also won Medium and Large Exporter of the Year, following a rapid growth in overall exports and strengthening its relationships with international customers.

Chamber chief executive James Ramsbotham said: “Prima is a success story par excellence.

“The team shows tenacity in abundance and overcome any barriers in their way. The team has the ability to build long-lasting relationships in all corners of the world and these close ties really reap rewards.

“We have worked with them since their first overseas sale and continue to be

both supportive and in awe of their many achievements.

“All the winners are exemplary in their field and have an increasingly important part to play in our region’s ambitious plans to grow our economy.”

Meanwhile, P C Henderson (SME Exporter of the Year), Drager (Export Team of the Year), Kontainers (Supporting Export), Solarglide (Conquering New Markets), Double Concentrate (New Exporter) collected prizes, while Emirates was awarded a special recognition award to mark its role in supporting North East exports having opened the Newcastle to Dubai route in 2007.

Prima Cheese will now head to London as part of the North East delegation for the British Chambers of Commerce Awards in November.

Newcastle’s CMR Group has won funding from Innovate UK for a new electrical wiring harness being developed for industrial diesel and gas engines used in harsh environments.

The firm, which specialises in marine control instrumentation and electrical engineering, will invest the sum in designing and developing a new generation of harnesses. The harness is the backbone of an electronic engine, connecting the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) to important parts such as sensors, actuators, injectors and ignition control. High horsepower industrial engines are used in construction, mining, power generation, oil and gas, and marine environments.

X-ray global markets

Smart move Co Durham-based Martel Instruments has developed a new smart IoT (Internet of Things) enabled compact device in the US and across Europe, with support from North East Business and Innovation Centre’s (BIC) SME Innovation Programme.

The device will enhance healthcare, automotive, analytical, monitoring and measurement equipment products.

The company is a global supplier to OEM device manufacturers, and for the last 20 years has manufactured and supplied compact printers that embed and connect to other products, giving them a printing capability.

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Martel’s Keith Walker and Colin Proudfoot with Innovation Programme manager Elizabeth Shaw

It has now launched VIDA 4.0, of which Martel MD Keith Walker says: “It not only gives the power of print to an existing device but it will also provide additional features without the need to change products and incur costs.”

One of the North East’s brightest young businesses is set to take its X-ray expertise overseas thanks to support from the Department for International Trade North East.

IBEX Innovations, based in Sedgefield, Co Durham, was able to attend the European Congress of Radiology in Vienna and is now planning to break into the export market with potential customers in the USA, Japan and Europe. www.neechamber.co.uk

Focus: Export expertise Katrina Tan, Julie Underwood, Mark Stangroom and John Evans

Bean it

Darlington flavoured coffee business Beanies the Flavour Co is growing with new contracts, two senior appointments and an innovative new product range.

Mark Stangroom has joined the company as commercial director and John Spurr has been appointed non-executive finance director, while founder Mark Porteous has taken up the position of operations director.

Previously Mark Stangroom was marketing director at Perfetti Van Melle UK, the UK subsidiary of a £3bn turnover international confectionery company and John Spurr has held a variety of senior financial positions including at Deloitte.

Beanies is now exporting to nearly 20 countries, including South Africa, India and Dubai. Julie Underwood, Chamber international trade director, says: “Beanies is a tremendous ambassador for exporting and the advantages it can bring to an ambitious business.”

Magic carpets UK Heritage Rugs is rolling out the red carpet for overseas clients thanks to Department for International Trade support.

UK Heritage Rugs has been creating and distributing high-end silk and wool rugs from its hub in Frosterley, Co Durham for over a decade.

Founded in 2005 by designer Brian Sales (pictured) it is one of the leading manufacturers of heritage rugs, securing sole licences from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the Victoria & Albert Museum and The British Museum. The company is launching its British Museum Rug Collection after securing European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) . The collection, aimed at the export market, features four unique designs by 19th Century Japanese designer Katsushika Hokusai, considered one of the greatest figures in Japanese art. www.neechamber.co.uk

Keith Robe and Jacqui Tulip, Chamber International Team

With Brexit negotiations and the UK’s relationship with the EU changing there has never been so much discussion about exporting in the North East as at present.

The Chamber has experts to help businesses trade overseas, and two of the key people in this team are Jacqui Tulip and Keith Robe. Jacqui works exclusively with international businesses, helping them understand and navigate complexities specific to working in overseas markets.

Keith’s role is predominately focused on helping Chamber members achieve Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status which has value to a growing number of international traders, and is seen by government ministers and others as a key way to remove friction from trade.

Jacqui, who worked for Lloyds Bank’s International Team before joining the Chamber, said: “While there is support available for businesses to develop international markets, there is really only the Chamber national network which provides impartial, objective advice on the means of actually executing the all-important trade facilitation piece. Working with hundreds of clients on a range of issues including payment methods, international commercial terms (Incoterms, used globally in trade contracts) allows us all in the international trade team to learn from a breadth of perspective not available to many other organisations. In these times of uncertainty around the UK's trading position, that's as important as ever, although we've been helping to facilitate trade since the 1800s.”

Keith has 30 years' experience with HMRC and had supported Chamber members on his specialist AEO field for the last 10 years before joining them as a member of the team. He said: “Companies operating internationally must be given every support to ensure they're efficient, and most importantly compliant with global rules. My role is to help members ensure they're operating as effectively as possible.” contact 33

Policy

Into the valley Rachel Anderson, the Chamber's head of policy and representation, assesses the effect of political change on the Tees Valley

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www.neechamber.co.uk

We’ve had some pretty seismic political changes both at the general election and the Tees Valley mayoral election. The result did come as something of a surprise, probably even to the new mayor himself, and we now have an elected Conservative mayor in charge of economic development.

Ben Houchen was elected on a bold and, some would say, unlikely platform including the development and potential purchase of Durham Tees Valley Airport; which will require skill, ideological gymnastics and a lot of funding to deliver. Such a bold programme will require buy-in not only from the electorate but also the private sector and existing politicians. The structure underneath the mayor is such that there will be the requirement to work together to continue delivering growth and that is going to involve some difficult conversations. The Tees Valley has come a very long way economically over the past few years, despite some significant setbacks, and that progress must not be de-railed by party political manoeuvring.

Sensible compromise and keeping an eye on the prize of seeing this area fulfil its enormous potential must be the goal everyone subscribes to.

The new mayor has demonstrated to members that one of his overriding priorities is to forge international links with inward investors and use the office of mayor as an internationally recognisable title to provide a point of access – someone to pick the phone up to in the Tees Valley.

Given the enormous potential for the development of new industries in the area in energy generation, chemicals, biotechnology and digital, this will be vital over the coming years. Prior to the election, the Chamber, on behalf of its Tees Valley members, presented all candidates with a seven-point list of actions we would wish to see from the mayor; many of them featuring the mayor’s role as a figurehead and the need to connect with the many multinational companies in the area.

Chamber members therefore welcome this open approach.

Other matters in the mayor’s immediate in-tray include the development of the Northern Powerhouse and Tees Valley’s place in it. Being the smallest LEP area within the Northern Powerhouse, the Tees Valley will www.neechamber.co.uk

need to speak with a disproportionately loud voice, especially in terms of transport infrastructure, research and development and industrial development. Being a win in a non-traditional heartland and one of the few bright spots of spring for the Conservative Party, it is clear the mayor currently has the ear of ministers and will have some help to deliver his programme. However, that window will close as other priorities take precedence and the Tees Valley fades from the political spotlight, so it is up to the mayor and all the players in the Tees Valley to use this opportunity to our advantage.

Education and skills development is another area. Arguably, it is not the extra funds which are the prize of devolution, but autonomy taken from Whitehall in how existing funds are spent. The adult education budget is sizeable, but can probably be spent more effectively to address some issues prevalent in the Tees Valley. These include the disconnect between employers and education and retraining for older workers whose previous industries have disappeared or who need to update their skills. Where the prescribed national funds were not available previously, autonomy means they should be now.

The private sector will have a huge part to play in this. The unique structure of the Tees Valley Combined Authority provides a top-level forum to ensure that politicians and wealth creators come together to identify key sectors, opportunities and our ask from Government, and to date, on the whole, this has been a successful partnership and members would love to see it continue that way. However, the business community will begin to lose faith if the agenda gets unnecessarily bogged down and doesn’t keep economic development as its key focus.

So, it’s with a spirit of optimism and cooperation we begin a new devolved chapter in the Tees Valley. Whatever the politics, we're very upbeat about it, believing we can really achieve something special here - and for the first time we have a defined figurehead to champion our cause.

“We have a defined figurehead to champion our cause”

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Profile

It all adds up Alan Laing, the new UK and Ireland MD at Sage talks business and numbers with Liz Hands

36 contact

www.neechamber.co.uk

❝This is the most exciting thing I've done since the early days❞

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contact 37

Profile "The agenda for small business is not being adequately addressed

by Government or local authorities" "You make contacts throughout your business career and it’s interesting how they sometimes come back,” says Alan Laing, the new UK and Ireland MD at Sage.

Laing is now working under Sage CEO Stephen Kelly, who he says was the catalyst for him making a switch from law to technology.

Growing up in North East Scotland, Laing studied law in Edinburgh and practised there for a few years before living and working across the world, spending time in Hong Kong, China, the Netherlands and the US. Heading up the legal department of major American hardware firm Digital Equipment Corporation in Hong Kong, Laing was sent to China to facilitate a deal to import equipment. “The only way the Chinese would do business was ‘if you buy my stuff, I’ll buy your stuff’,” he says. “I was the schmuck lawyer sent to China to negotiate for technology patents that were never going to see the light of day. It was part of the Chinese thing of saving face. I’m thinking ‘hang on, the sales guy over there is having great fun and making all the money, and I’m just being paid to chug along’. That was my light bulb moment.” That sales guy was Kelly, who was working at tech firm Oracle Corporation.

“I went on to negotiate a contract for Oracle with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Race day in Hong Kong is the biggest event. The Chinese love to gamble so the computing power they needed and the security necessary is phenomenal, so we did this partnership with Oracle and they asked if I’d thought about joining the software business.” Laing ran the legal department for

“It's a dynamic market which is moving very quickly”

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Oracle in London, taking a decade to “ditch the legal thing”. He became vice president of operations at Oracle, before moving to business communications firm Avaya and then to Sage as executive vice president for global strategic partnerships and alliances.

He stepped up to UK MD when Jacqueline de Rojas left after seven months in post.

Laing says Sage is now moving forward at pace. “It’s a dynamic market which is moving very quickly and, while at the start of the company, it was all about innovation, we lost that a bit along the way. But we’re reinventing ourselves and we’ve brought more innovation to the market in the last two years than in a considerable period before that, all focused on the golden triangle of accounting solutions, payments and payrolls.

“This is the most exciting thing I’ve done since those early days at Oracle. Stephen is the most charismatic, passionate CEO and I’ve been brought in to do for the UK what he is doing for Sage as a whole.”

The Sage story is well known, particularly in the North East. Founded by Graham Wylie, David Goldman and Paul Muller in 1981, the firm stemmed from accounting software written by Wylie. It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. In its interim results published to March 31 this year, Sage revealed a 6.4% year-on-year growth in organic revenue to £838m and said it was “very confident” of exceeding full-year guidance of 6% revenue growth.

“It’s a privilege to be here because you’ve got this fantastic company that’s grown up with its roots in the North East, which has been phenomenally successful, going public and making a lot of people very happy and very rich during that period. But our huge customer base is what is important. We have more than 3m customers, from startup businesses through to scale-ups and enterprise, so we’re unique in the market.”

Sage is particularly focused on starts ups and SMEs, and feels a responsibility to speak up for their interests.

“The agenda for small business is not being adequately addressed by Government or local authorities,” says Laing. “The marketplace small businesses are operating in is core to the health of the economy. It’s not about large PLCs. Most jobs are created by SMEs and we need a dynamic environment for those companies. Around 60% of start-ups www.neechamber.co.uk

Alan Laing discusses his vision for Sage UK

www.neechamber.co.uk

in the UK fail in the first five years and a lot of that is down to managing their business, their cash flow and their operational effectiveness.”

Sage is providing the technology and services to support them to do that with a “lofty but doable” aim of removing all admin from business by 2020. The firm has released a raft of cloud innovations over the past 18 months as well as accounting’s first chatbot, Pegg. “You’d be surprised at the amount of businesses still doing their accounts at the weekend out of a shoebox with an Excel spreadsheet,” he says.

But Sage is going further than its own solutions for business, lobbying Government to ensure SMEs’ needs are factored into policy decisions.

“They’re all worried about red tape, business rates and Making Tax Digital,” says Laing. “If the Government pursues the digital agenda, which is the intent, it will be easier for these companies to start, to flourish and to thrive.” Sage is also pushing on the issue of late payments to small business, with a drive to see all SMEs paid within 30 days.

“There is also a huge lack of skills in the UK,” adds Laing. “For companies like us and for small businesses to grow, we need the right skills. We don’t have a position on Brexit, but we do want to make sure the agenda

around that is clear.” Sage is playing its part in plugging the skills gap by recruiting its biggest intake of apprentices to date. “We’ll have about 170 apprentices this year through the Government’s apprenticeship initiative,” he says. “We’ve had enormous success in bringing apprentices in, giving them access to various parts of the business and training them. We have an 80% retention rate.”

As well as an increase in staff numbers, Sage is also continuing to grow organically through its customers-for-life policy. It is also continuing to look at new acquisitions, provided they fit the business model, following its acquisition of HR management system Fairsail, now branded Sage People.

“We have the UK’s largest public company in the FTSE having acquired the country’s fastest-growing technology company. That’s been a great acquisition and we’ll probably do more.”

Sage is also continuing to grow its partner base and relationships with accountants. Currently there are around 14,000 accountants in the UK using and recommending Sage.

But it’s not just about growing the business, Laing wants to ensure Sage does business in the right way. Part of that is practising what it preaches in helping small business and paying within 30 days. But it is also about the work it does through Sage Foundation.

“We take our responsibility in the community very seriously,” says Laing. “We believe in doing business the right way, which is to pay your tax and operate effectively in the communities you are present in.”

The Sage Foundation is established on a model of 2+2+2; employees are able to spend 2% of their time on not-for-profit activity, 2% of Sage’s free cash flow is donated to the charity and 2% of its product is donated to charities or not-for-profit organisations. Last year, Laing spent his 2% of time in Nepal at an orphanage, but is looking to do something closer to home this time.

Outside work, he can be found spending as much time golfing, skiing and hiking with his 16-year-old son as he can.

“We’ve had people want to join us because of the Foundation, so there are spin-off benefits that we didn’t actually set out to achieve,” says Laing. “We’ve become a more attractive employer because we don’t just talk about the company’s culture. We live it.” contact 39

Profile

The science of money It might seem like a bit of a jump to move from chemistry to wealth management, but as Richard MacAlister, divisional director at Brewin Dolphin, tells Liz Hands, “investment is more science than art” Northumberland-born Richard MacAlister was brought up in Stocksfield and educated at Newcastle’s Royal Grammar School before reading chemistry at Oxford.

“I really enjoyed chemistry before I went to Oxford, but when I got there, I became bored of it,” he says. “I got a 2:1 so I did alright at university. You did three years until your finals and then a year of research in the chemistry lab, which wasn’t the hardest year I ever had. I did enough, played a lot of sport, made a lot of very good friends and ended up back in the North East.”

Still a keen sportsman, MacAlister plays water polo and is a member of Jesmond Dene Real Tennis Club.

Although he had job offers in the City, home was calling and he took a job temping at what was then Wise Speke, before a Brewin Dolphin acquisition. “I was really openminded about what career to follow,” he says.

“I did tests to see what I would be most suited to and they suggested finance.” They were right, and MacAlister’s aptitude for finance was soon clear to see.

With the City going through the Big Bang, the sudden deregulation of the financial markets that was one of the cornerstones of the Thatcher government’s reform programme, investment firms were taking on extra graduate trainees.

MacAlister started as a temp at Brewin Dolphin, earning £4 an hour, “working a lot harder and enjoying it a lot more” than he had his university degree, and he was soon taken on as a graduate trainee.

Fast forward 31 years and MacAlister has 40 contact

held a series of roles at Brewin Dolphin after being made director in 1993, and taking leadership of the institutional fund management and charities team in 1998.

He’s also a member of the main strategy committee within Brewin Dolphin which sets strategy for the whole group, led on a project on how to manage portfolios with regard to risk and suitability and he chairs the investment committee for the firm’s managed portfolio service. He’s also the director responsible for investment management in Newcastle, specialising in large final salary pension schemes.

Final salary pensions are never out of the headlines. The BHS scandal showed only too clearly how a pension fund can sink a company, while PwC research released recently showed final salary pension schemes across the country are in the weakest state than at any time since the recession.

So, how do you ensure that companies and consumers alike have confidence in them?

“The pensions side is very technical,” says MacAlister. “When I first started, it was more investing to make money, whereas now, there is much closer analysis of the profile of the members and retired members.

“You have at least part of the portfolio matching those liabilities because if you know when someone is going to retire, you can invest for that maturity. Once they retire, you can invest in something else which matches their requirements. You get a defined profile and that dictates the way you invest, depending on the wishes of the trustees.

Nowadays, a company has to disclose a www.neechamber.co.uk

❝People who have sat with money in their bank have got very little ❞

lot more of the situation with regards to pensions when it announces results and accounts, so pensions have more of an effect on the strategy and strength of a company.”

MacAlister has a team of five, managing funds of around half a billion pounds, of which £270m are pension schemes.

“We’ve evolved as pensions fund management has changed,” he says. “We’ve kept pace and made sure we have the technical knowledge needed, although the current investment climate is extremely unusual, to say the least.

“After the financial crisis of 2007, 2008 and 2009, the climate changed completely.

Interest rates were cut sharply to unheard of levels when they went below 2% in 2009.

That was the lowest they had ever been in 320 years of the Bank of England. Now they’re at 0.25% That, and all the quantitative easing www.neechamber.co.uk

means to get any sort of returns, you have to take risk and people who have been able to take risk have been rewarded.

“People who have sat with their money in the bank have got very little. Managing that risk has been a challenge and making sure clients understand the risk they are taking has been very important, but it’s been very rewarding for our clients, who have got some very good returns, particularly in the last year.”

The first time MacAlister heard the term “sub prime” was in early 2007, more than a year before the wider market was hit. He remembers being called while on holiday in the Loire Valley by his team who were concerned about Northern Rock and wanted to sell the few shares they still had in the building society. They had

“We've evolved as pensions fund management has changed”

>> contact 41

Profile bought at the right time, done very well out of them and only had a few remaining.

“We got out of Northern Rock completely before they went under. After that, our investment strategy was cautious. Like everybody, our clients inevitably lost money over the next year or two and we took our property exposure and got rid of that completely before the bottom fell out of the property market. We went into Government stock that did very well for the next few years, so our strategy was good, but no-one expected the crisis to be anything like as bad as it was.”

The markets hit the bottom with the FTSE 100 sitting at the 3,400 mark, but Britain’s benchmark share index is now trading at record levels of above the 7,000 level. “In that period, it’s more than doubled and paid out a lot of income, so if you got in at the right time, you’ve done exceptionally well.”

MacAlister’s team has done particularly well for clients following a set of interesting votes.

“We’ve seen some very unusual results from Brexit,” he says, “with the referendum taking everyone by surprise. Then, Donald Trump getting elected was a surprise, particularly to people over here, and the recent election result was a surprise. We’ve had a series of anti-establishment voting, challenging the status quo. Our approach is international and the UK stock market is international. It’s dominated by large international companies, whether in mining or oil, pharmaceuticals, telecoms or banks. So, when we had the Brexit vote, the biggest issue we faced immediately was Sterling fell in value.

“That’s not good for inflation because oil prices are in dollars and immediately go up, and holidays get more expensive. But if you are invested in an international company and in overseas investment markets, the value of those assets rises in Sterling terms.

“In the past year, we’ve seen returns of 20, 30 and even 40% from the markets. That’s partly the stock market, the global economy and the UK economy doing well, but more than half of that is down to currency. It’s been a fantastic year for our clients.”

MacAlister is now predicting a further two years of progress, albeit with no promise of the same level of returns as over the past year, but he is ever watchful and always looking 42 contact

for any signs of a downturn. It is always about managing risk and new clients are taken through the risk of investing. If they go to Brewin Dolphin with cash held for some time, MacAlister doesn’t advise piling into the stock market in one go, but investing gradually over months.

Brewin Dolphin is experiencing a surge in interest in investing from corporate, charity and personal clients. With inflation close to 3%, many are realising there is no gain to be made on cash. Also, there has been a move away from investing in buy-to-let properties following an increase in Stamp Duty on additional homes and no longer being able to offset interest. “People have turned to the stock market and that will continue if the Chancellor’s policies continue in the same vein.” As for MacAlister’s own strategy, he says: “I always take a lot less risk with other people’s money than if I was investing for myself and that’s how it should be. I’m much more comfortable in the stock market but that’s because I’ve been dealing with it for 30 years, although we do have a buy-to-let as well. It’s all about not putting all your eggs in one basket.”

Richard MacAlister

“It's all about not putting all your eggs in one basket”

www.neechamber.co.uk

Chamber Annual Dinners 2017 The Chamber has a proud 200-year history of delivering the most engaging, well attended and prestigious business dinners, our dinners are an excellent opportunity to entertain colleagues and clients while networking with a broad mix of businesses from across the region.

Tees Valley Annual Dinner 2017 Thursday 28 September 2017; 18:00-00:00 Jury’s Inn Middlesbrough Hotel Ju Special Guest Speaker: Olly Smith £800+VAT per table of ten; £80+VAT per individual ticket

Headline Sponsor

Drinks Reception Sponsor

Northumbria & Durham Annual Dinner 2017 Thursday 2 November 2017; 18:00-00:00 Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Special Guest Speaker: The Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable Spea £1000+VAT per table of ten; £100+VAT per individual ticket

Headline Sponsors

To book your place email events@neechamber.co.uk or visit www.neechamber.co.uk/events Partners receive a 20% discount and President’s Club receive a 10% discount from bookings.

Focus

Close House 44 contact

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Combining business and an afternoon on the golf course - is there a better way to work?

Golf, like business, is about people and there are few better ways to get to know a person than walking the fairways.

Looking to combine the two? Try these…

www.neechamber.co.uk

contact 45

The great escape

With an 18 hole championship golf course and an award-winning luxury hotel, Rockliffe Hall is the ultimate golfing venue.

Talk to the dedicated golf team about a bespoke golf day experience that meets all of your requirements and ensures your guests enjoy their day.

Rockliffe Hall... get away from it all.

www.rockliffehall.com Hurworth-on-Tees Darlington County Durham DL2 2DU +44 (0)1325 729999 enquiries@rockliffehall.com

Focus

Close House With a corporate membership featuring 45 of the North East’s biggest and brightest companies, there are few better places to meet, work and relax than Close House.

Few people turn down an invitation for a round on the Lee Westwood Colt Course, host venue for this season’s British Masters in September and the region’s only course ranked in Great Britain and Ireland’s Top 100 by Golf World magazine.

As well as being home to former world number one Lee Westwood, Close House is a great place to work – the spacious No.19 clubhouse featuring the 140-seat Westwood Suite and the private British Masters Suite for breakfast meetings before a day on the course. Food at No.19 adds the overall experience, as does accommodation in the Courtyard, to create one of the UK’s finest golfing experiences within 15 minutes of Newcastle city centre and Newcastle International Airport.

Away from the clubhouse, the Filly Course adds to the golfing

“Close House ticked all the boxes.”

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Rockliffe Hall experience, while the North’s only PGA Academy is the hub of the practice facilities which also include professional tuition, a driving range and the Yearling par three course.

Corporate partner Lee Hartley, chief executive of the UK’s largest chartered financial planning firm Fairstone, says: “We were looking for a way to enhance what we do for our clients and partners, and Close House ticked all the boxes. It’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made. There are no stuffy rules, you can have a relaxed chat or a serious business discussion – it just works.”

With two levels of membership available, Corporate Partnership and Associate Partnership, there is a package to suit every business.

As well regular on-course days, monthly off-course networking events bring together the corporate membership at Close House for top sporting events and to build business connections. Corporate membership, as well as individual membership and golf day bookings, are available.

Close House, Heddon-on-the-Wall Newcastle, NE15 0HT, tel 01661 85 22 55, www.closehouse.com

The five-star Rockliffe Hall resort mixes on-course fun with off-course luxury.

The championship-hosting golf course, which has been a venue for the European Seniors Tour as well as some of the region’s biggest amateur and professional tournaments, is a golfing challenge which can test the very best players while remaining accessible for players of all abilities.

Off the course, the 61-bedroom five-star accommodation in the elegant Rockliffe Hall is perfect for those travelling to the North East, while the award-winning Orangery restaurant and spa are the perfect places to relax for non-golfers or following a day in the conference room or on the golf course.

A range of conference and events packages are available from 24-170 guests with Rockliffe’s dedicated events team on-hand to create the perfect mix of work and relaxation incorporating golf, teambuilding and spaces for meetings, conferences and networking.

Rockliffe Hall, Hurworth-on-Tees Darlington, DL2 2DU, tel 01325 729 999, www.rockliffehall.com contact 47

Focus

Slaley Hall With a reputation for hosting some of the North East’s best golf days and two stunning golf courses set in the Northumberland countryside, Slaley Hall is an ideal location for golf and business.

The Hunting and the Priestman courses at Slaley Hall are ranked among the very best in the North East with a string of European, Senior Tour and PGA events staged

here in recent years. Designed by Dave Thomas, the lush sweeping fairways, rolling moorland, streams and lakes, towering trees and banks of rhododendrons combine to provide an air of peace and tranquillity and a golfing experience you’ll never forget.

Set in more than 1,000 acres of Northumberland moorland and forest, the championship golf

courses sit alongside a number of teambuilding activities while the award-winning hotel and restaurants are available to guests and delegates to relax between the conference suite and the golf course.

Slaley Hall, Slaley, Hexham Northumberland, NE47 0BX tel 01434 673 350 www.qhotels.co.uk/slaley-hall

the best corporate golf experience in the North East of England

Slaley Hall provides the perfect environment for your colleagues and clients to build long lasting relationships and to enjoy each others company. Relax and enjoy outstanding golf, breathtaking scenery and fantastic food.

Golf packages include

Delicious bacon/sausage sandwiches on arrival Corporate gift pack 18 holes on either The Hunting or the Priestman Three course dinner Complimentary nearest pin and longest drive markers Dedicated event co-ordinator Free on-site parking 48 contact

Call 01434 676 525 for more information slaleygolf@QHotels.co.uk www.neechamber.co.uk

JOIN THE NORTH EAST ’S TOP BUSINE SSE S AT CLOSE HOUSE Doing business on the golf course? There’s no better place than Close House with a corporate membership including 45 of the North East’s biggest companies, the region’s biggest corporate golf days taking place here, and monthly corporate partner networking events bringing together key decision makers from across the business landscape.

For more information on membership contact craig.wright@closehouse.co.uk or tel 01661 85 22 55

CORPORATE HOSPITALITY SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 1

Limited number of hospitality packages available from £275* Contact craig.wright@closehouse.co.uk for more information Packages include: VIP admission ticket to the course and Colt Pavilion; unreserved seating in a contemporary environment; morning coffee and light breakfast; contemporary buffet lunch; bar serving complimentary beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks from 11am–6pm; afternoon tea; official programme; reserved VIP parking. *Price excludes VAT.

CLOSE HOUSE, HEDDON ON THE WALL, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE15 0HT Tel: 01661 85 22 55, Email: enquiries@closehouse.co.uk, www.closehouse.com

Success

Saving the world one mushroom at a time

With animal agriculture blamed for up to 90% of rainforest destruction, former farmer Mike Botha introduces the joy of mushroom alternatives

Mike Botha

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Many years’ experience as a South African mushroom farmer taught Mike Botha the nutritional benefits of his crop, and set him thinking about uses for the stalks which are often thrown away.

Fast forward to today and he is now based in the North East, with a thriving business in Morton Park, Darlington, manufacturing a range of meat-free products made from mushroom stalks. He founded Hooba Foods with Jay Croslegh in June 2016, looking for the best use for oyster mushrooms’ big, woody stems, which are free of fat, gluten and cholesterol, and full of protein and fibre. “The beauty of this mushroom product is its adaptability and low cost,” says Botha. “The stalks are much cheaper than mushroom caps, and in South Africa the Zulus refer to the stem as meat, because it is so full of protein. They don't discriminate between it and animal produce.

“I don't think there is anyone else in the world using oyster mushroom stalks as the basis for such a range of food products. I don't understand why, as it is brilliant and versatile.

We started off making sausage rolls, which are very popular with our wholesale and online

customers. The unique blend of mushrooms and other ingredients creates a product which looks and tastes exactly like a meat one. In fact, as we can also make sausages with a skin, like a meat version, these products are helping us blaze a trail in the vegetarian food market.

“Our product range has now expanded to include a wide range of meat-free food including burgers, mince, mushroom wellington and turkey crowns. However, I have one challenge - the holy grail of my product innovation - meat-free pepperoni and bacon. When I have worked out how to make them I have cracked the most difficult product I can think of.”

Botha says Hooba products are timely as public interest in healthy eating and the vast environmental destruction caused by meat production grows. Hooba Foods’ customers include Durham and Newcastle universities and the company is in discussion with major food suppliers. It makes good business sense, offering a rapid return rather than the traditionally slower return from products sold into supermarkets, where they take time to sell and generate income.

The business partners plan to develop the business incrementally, raising awareness via digital and food service industry channels, and they have set up a Community Interest Company (CIC) to help disadvantaged people to learn new skills while contributing to the business by growing mushrooms.

Botha says: “We were looking where we could grow mushrooms and became aware of the need for members of the community, such as young people out of paid employment and ex-offenders, to get their lives on track. This led to our CIC. These www.neechamber.co.uk

young people now collect waste coffee grounds from coffee shops which, mixed with cardboard, makes perfect growing material for mushrooms. By encouraging them to go into coffee shops to collect the grounds, they have to talk about healthy eating and our product. They learn how to represent a business and develop professional connections.

This, in turn, gives them confidence and the skills to find permanent jobs.”

The project has support from Jamie Sadler, whose social enterprise business Food Nation emphasises healthy cooking and eating. He is arranging cookery sessions for the coffee grounds collectors to help them develop their skills and understand the benefits of a balanced diet.

The project is also making use of disused urban spaces with the support of Virgin Trains, which is allowing the CIC to use vacant premises in Orchard Street, Newcastle for mushroom poly tunnels.

Hooba is set to turnover £1.2m in the next 12 months with the potential to double this by the end www.neechamber.co.uk

of 2018, creating around 30 jobs. Botha says: “The NHS recommends that an adult eats no more than 70 grams of red or processed meat per day to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and even cancer. I’m so pleased we can help people eat more healthily and play our part in reducing these risks.

“Animal agriculture consumes one third of all the planet’s fresh water, 45% of the Earth’s land is used for farm animal grazing and 91% of rainforest destruction is due to clearance for grazing land and growing crops for animal feed.

Reducing meat consumption is not only good for us, it’s good for the planet too.”

And where did the business name come from?

Hooba (or ‘huba’) means ‘mushroom’ in Slovakian.

Don’t say we never tell you anything…

“I am so pleased we can help people eat more healthily”

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Leaflets Exclusive Chamber member offer Only £100 per 1,000

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Coming soon in the October - November issue An in-depth focus on Corporate Hospitality and Conferencing.

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Contact us to find out more about our multimedia offering: Colin Rutherford t: 01661 844 115 m: 07780 450 473 e: colin@offstonepublishing.co.uk

@NE_Contact

Fab Tariq Albassam Head of operations NE1 Ltd

Donning the Scotland rugby shirt in my youth - playing U18-20 . I toured New Zealand, France and Italy and played against Dan Carter, who holds the record for the highest ever international points scored. I taught him a thing or two (mainly how not to play!), but unfortunately, after a few injuries and no growth spurt , I hung up the boots. Last year I donned boxing gloves and raised over £1,000 for Cancer Research, but it won't be repeated!

5 THE QUESTION

What is your greatest sporting achievement?

David Blakey Director Echo-U

Playing alongside Alan Shearer for Newcastle Boys. I was also lucky enough to be awarded a soccer scholarship at the University of California and ended up playing, studying and living there for eight years. I still have a keen interest in football and I'm on the committee at Wallsend Boys Club where my son plays for the Under 10s.

While my football days are well behind me, I enjoy golf and I’m a member at Ponteland.

Lucy Oliver

David Stroud

Paul Shields

Officiating at Wembley Stadium for the 2016 SSE Women’s FA Cup Final between Chelsea Ladies and Arsenal Ladies.

There is a magic about Wembley that inspires and captivates football lovers across the world and it certainly lived up to what I had dreamt it would be. The feeling of standing on the pitch while the national anthem played and looking up to see my parents in the Royal Box will stay with me forever.

Running a marathon in under three hours. I had tried several times, including a 03:00:03 finish!

It bugged me day and night for such a long time. Having switched over to triathlons and focused on learning how to swim and ride a bike, I thought my best chance had passed me by.

I entered a marathon in York as part of training for a triathlon, did a lot less training…and crossed the line in under three hours.

Becoming first team captain at Whitburn Cricket Club and captaining my dad!

I was only 19, still lived at home and didn’t have my own car. There were several flash points across the season between us and it took dad a few games to come to terms with taking instruction from me. There were plenty of quiet car journeys but we managed to get through it and are still speaking today...just.

Sports dev. officer, Sunderland College and FA WSL referee

www.neechamber.co.uk

Chief operating officer Future Energy

Associate partner Tait Walker

contact 53

People

l-r Partner Karen Pratt and former Army major and solicitor Lois Lloyd

Joanne Marcin and Anu

Former Army major Lois Lloyd has joined BHP Law’s Court of Protection team to support clients who have been awarded significant damages following loss of capacity due to critical brain damage. Led by partner Karen Pratt, BHP Law has a specialist team to manage financial settlements following an award by the court.

Hospitality and leisure group Malhotra Group PLC has made three senior appointments. Barrister Anu Kaura joins as head of HR, Marcin Szmycinski as operations manager and Joanne Padgett as project manager.

Back on parade

Leisure time

Sold!

TTE Technical Training Group has appointed sales manager Rupert Summerfield to drive forward the commercial side of its operation in the domestic and international markets. He joins Middlesbrough-based TTE from Stockton Riverside College and training provider NETA.

l-r MMC MD Natasha McDonough and Rachel Whitley

Market growth Property matters Property Webmasters has appointed Simon Meek as digital marketer, Jade Brown in administration and Sam Tait as website developer. The new appointments follow the firm's relocation to an office in Hartlepool.

Sunderland Software Centrebased McDonough Marketing Communications (MMC) has welcomed Rachel Whitley as an account executive.

Super six Six lawyers have been promoted to the position of Associate at law firm Ward Hadaway. Nathan Bilton, Nick Gholkar, Ashleigh Lavender, Flora Mewies, Steph Rodgers and Neil Williamson are now all associate solicitors at the firm, which has offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester.

l-r Synovis Recruitment partner Tony Roxburgh, James Hunt, and Eldon director Gemma Siddle

In the money

l-r Trevor Gay, Jennifer Beadle, and managing partner Kathryn Taylor with Louise Ottaway

Talented trio Gordon Brown Law Firm (GBLF) has made a number of new appointments and an internal promotion. It has promoted Louise Ottaway to associate within its residential conveyancing team, while Trevor Gay and Jennifer Beadle join as solicitors in the family and commercial teams respectively.

54 contact

Eldon Financial Planning of Co Durham has recruited paraplanner James Hunt with help from Synovis Recruitment.

Bridging the gap  Student Chris Glover secured a permanent part-time job after a short work placement on the site of the New Wear Crossing.

l-r Partner Peter Glenton, Michael Parry and managing partner Chris Robson

Promotion for rising star

Ryecroft Glenton has promoted an award-winning young accountant to a senior position following his work on a number of major accounts.

Michael Parry, 29, has been appointed senior manager in the Business and Assurance Services team. www.neechamber.co.uk

l-r Matt Boyle and Dave Sidlow

Good neighbours l-r Chamber chief executive James Ramsbotham, Chamber president John McCabe, Chamber chair Lucy Winskell, AGM guest speaker Gary Dawson of AV Dawson, and outgoing president Mike Matthews MBE

Let's get together

John McCabe, MD of Northumberland-based Fusion PR, has taken up the post of president of North East England Chamber of Commerce at its AGM at St James’ Park, Newcastle.

He set out his vision at the event attended by more than 300 of the region’s business leaders, urging Chamber members to grow stronger by working more closely together.

Outlining a two-year plan for his presidency, he also spoke of his desire to see members work more closely with the future talent pool and do more to support colleagues, in particular with challenges of mental health.

Handing over the presidency, Mike Matthews MBE said: “It has been a tremendous honour to be president during the Chamber’s 200th anniversary and to be part of its ambitious campaigns. With the support of John, I expect to see our Chamber achieve more and continue to provide a bigger and louder voice for our region."

On the buses

Paul Edwards

The region’s biggest bus company, Go North East has welcomed Paul Edwards as its new finance director, where he will help to shape the strategic direction of the business and oversee the company’s substantial ongoing investment programme.

Paul, who hails from Ryton, joins Go North East following the retirement of Colin McPherson, who had the role for almost two decades before stepping down in April.

Wealth of experience Bond Dickinson Wealth has expanded its Private Wealth team following the appointment of David Simpson and Damien Slattery.

Simpson and Slattery will join Bond Dickinson's Newcastle office and will be supporting clients across the region as well as providing support to the firm's offices across the UK. Simpson has joined as a wealth consultant, while Slattery joins as a senior analyst. www.neechamber.co.uk

After scouring the globe for a new MD, Sevcon president and CEO Matt Boyle found the ideal man a two-minute walk from its Gateshead base.

Dave Sidlow has joined the fast-growing low-carbon vehicle company from fellow Team Valley business Palintest.

In his 10 years as MD of the water testing and analysis company, sales more than doubled from £7m to £15m and profitability trebled.

Sidlow’s appointment allows Boyle to concentrate on driving forward his strategic vision for the world-leading motor control and battery charging business.

Boyle says: “We employed leading head hunters and scoured the world. We interviewed people from France, Italy and Greece and then we found someone with all the attributes on our doorstep.”

Outgoing CEO Dr Stan Higgins with newly appointed CEO Iain Wright and NEPIC chair Ian Swales

Successful process

l-r David Simpson, MD David Dale and Damien Slattery

NEPIC, the North East Process Industry Cluster, has selected Iain Wright as its new chief executive.

The former Labour MP for Hartlepool over the past 13 years and most recently chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee, he will focus on representing member firms, championing the region’s process industries and identifying growth opportunities. contact 55

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Motoring First ever MINI hybrid arrives in Newcastle VW Golf tops leader board

The first-ever MINI plug-in hybrid has made its debut in Newcastle as part of a special event at Lloyd MINI Newcastle.

One of the most innovative cars ever from MINI, the Countryman S E ALL4 offers emissions-free driving in a crossover body with the added dependability of a small petrol motor. According to MINI statistics, 90% of its buyers drive only 30 to 40 miles

per day, making the latest hybrid MINI a compelling prospect.

The launch of the S E ALL 4 in Newcastle follows a successful electric car roll-out from BMW, including the i8 electric supercar and its compact counterpart the i3. BMW has also launched the new hybrid 530e, the only 5 Series which can be plugged in.

More than 40 years since its launch, VW’s iconic Golf has overtaken the Ford Fiesta to become Britain’s best-selling car in June.

The new Golf, which debuted in March, features new engines, more technology, improved connectivity and revised styling.

It is also claimed by VW to be on average priced around £650 lower than the previous model.

The broad range starts with the Golf S at £17,765 (OTR RRP), or £19,470 (OTR RRP) in estate form.

The new Golf includes a system that safely slows the car to a standstill if a pedestrian steps out ahead, and radar to monitor the gap to the car in front to brake if a collision is imminent.

Bear necessity

BMW to launch i8 Roadster BMW has announced that its new i8 Roadster will launch next year, bringing with it virtually silent driving and zero local emissions in a futuristic coupe.

BMW has released a video teasing the final design of the much-anticipated model, which retains its trademark gullwww.neechamber.co.uk

wing doors and loses its back seats to make way for the convertible roof.

The much talked-about model is still largely shrouded in mystery, and will be fully revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The price will exceed the current i8's £105,000.

Motor retailer Lookers has announced plans to raise £1m for BBC Children in Need.

The group, which operates 160 franchised motor dealerships across the UK and the North East, plans a series of initiatives including inviting customers to enter a twice yearly competition to win a car up to the value of £25,000.

Pudsey the bear will also be visiting Lookers dealerships. contact 57

Motoring

Our friends electric Jane Pikett considers Volvo’s gamechanging decision to make every car fully electric or hybrid from 2019

Håkan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Car Group

58 contact

In a move guaranteed to change the way we travel for ever, Volvo has become the first global car maker to announce that it intends to phase out the internal combustion engine.

In what is by a long way the most significant move yet by a major car maker to embrace electrification and lead the world into motoring's next 100 years, Volvo, which has built its name on safety, has pledged that from 2019 every new model will be either hybrid or fully electric.

And where Volvo leads, others must surely follow, inspired by mounting pressure over urban air quality, huge strides in the performance of hybrid models, and the the soaring cost of producing diesel vehicles capable of staying below increasingly stringent pollution regulations.

Volvo, and other makers who are watching its efforts with interest, will doubtless be encouraged by rapid growth in demand, illustrated in the UK by 59,000 green car sales over the last 12 months - a healthy increase of 27.5%. However, the issue for drivers in the UK - and for Volvo - is a relative lack of charging infrastructure, which, in the face of the boldest commitment yet to measures to combat urban pollution, surely must improve, driven by increasing pressure from car makers.

The brains behind Volvo's bold move belong to Volvo’s president and chief executive Håkan Samuelsson - one of the smartest men in world manufacturing, listed by Forbes as a global game

changer, and committed to making Volvo a dynamic world leader in pioneering manufacturing and technology. And while this may appear to some an impossibly risky move in terms of technological development and business resilience, Samuelsson, and Volvo, are anything but reckless. Indeed, Samuelsson played down the technological and business imperatives when he announced the decision, stating simply that, “people increasingly demand electrified cars, and we want to respond to our customers’ needs."

He is also unafraid to admit a change in direction.

“Yes, we were a sceptic [about electric cars] because of the cost of batteries and the lack of charging infrastructure. But customer demand is increasing, battery costs have come down and there has been movement on infrastructure. The technology is right and the price is right. This announcement marks the www.neechamber.co.uk

The twin engine T8 Volvo S90

end of the solely combustion engine-powered car.”

Thus, Volvo will introduce a electrified cars across its entire model range, embracing fully electric cars, plug-in hybrid models and mild-hybrid vehicles which use kinetic energy to charge their battery, similar to a Toyota Prius.

The maker forecasts that it will sell 1m electric or hybrid vehicles by 2025 and it will launch five fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021, three of them wearing the Volvo badge and two of them high-performance models from Polestar, Volvo’s performance car arm.

The five will be supplemented by petrol and diesel plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid models, which means that there will be no Volvo cars without an electric motor. Volvo also aims to have climate-neutral manufacturing operations by 2025, while Polestar is to be turned into a new separately www.neechamber.co.uk

branded electrified high-performance marque.

No doubt Volvo's owner has had a say in all of this. For while the brand remains based in Sweden, it is owned by Geely Automobile Holdings of China, which already produces battery-powered cars for the Chinese market. Indeed, China is the world's largest market for electric vehicles and Geely's well-documented focus on its home market must have had some bearing on the move.

Put simply, “this announcement marks the end of the solely combustion engine-powered car,” Samuelsson has said, adding that while the strategy may appear risky, it would be “a much bigger risk to stick with internal combustion engines.” For Volvo's sake, he'd better be on to something.

“The technology is right and the price is right”

contact 59

Events Chamber Exchange

Chamber AGM & Member Showcase June 21, St James' Park, sponsored by Pulsant

August 10, Middlesbrough Football Club, 11:00-14:00, FREE The Chamber's flagship round-table networking event with two table changes, the Chamber Exchange is held on the second Thursday of each month.

These events offer a chance to share challenges, success stories, experiences, ideas and offers with members and chamber staff.

James Ramsbotham (Chamber), John McCabe (Fusion PR), Lucy Winskell (Northumbria University), Gary Dawson (AV Dawson) and Mike Matthews MBE (Nifco)

The Member Showcase Exhibition

Venue sponsor

Chamber Exchange

John McCabe (Fusion PR) meeting members of the Pulsant team

Mark Howling (Pulsant)

Paul Harrison (Berber Leather)

James Ramsbotham (Chamber)

Mike Matthews MBE (Nifco)

Neil Barker (emBark Architecture) and George Sanger (Pulsant)

September 14, Beamish Hall, 11:00-14:00, FREE

Gary Dawson (AV Dawson)

Lee Finan and Debbie Foster (Instore Radio)

Venue sponsor

Sponsor

Patricia Boynton (Butterwick Hospice)

President’s Club Golf Day June 14, Rockliffe Hall, sponsored by Emirates, supported by European Golf Challenge The winning team: Ian Gilthorpe (Square One LLP), Stephen Bell (Changing Lives), David Storey (Brewin Dolphin) and Andrew Fox (Slaley Hall)

Chamber Exchange in conjunction with Darlington Business Week September 21, Rockliffe Hall, 11:00-14:00, FREE Venue sponsor

60 contact

Members at the President's Club Golf Day Second place Shaun Woods (DTV Airport), Jon Bromley (Vodafone), Ian Kelsall (Deloitte), Neil Wilson (Marsh)

Steve Keppie (Brewin Dolphin) and Eamonn Leavey (Chamber)

www.neechamber.co.uk

Chamber Exchange May 11, hosted and sponsored by Ramside Hall, in association with Durham Business Group

Craig Foster and Claire Foster (MAC Security) Alison Gittins (Durham Business Group) and Ashley Thirlwell (Ramside Hall)

Debbie Foster and Lee Finan (Instore Radio) and Amanda Dixon (North East Social Media)

Sarah Lamb (Esh Group)

Darush Dodds (Esh Group)

Lianne Marston (Gateshead College)

Inspiring Females Conference June 29, hosted and sponsored by Sage UK

Kerry Sinclair (Sage UK)

Angela Davies and Dionne Wightman (CSI Training and Events) Jackie Barnett (Jackie Barnett Consulting), Nickie Gott (She's Gott It!) and Yvonne Gale (NEL Fund Managers)

Nickie Gott (Chair of Women’s Advisory Board)

Laura Mack (Change and Transformation)

www.neechamber.co.uk

Melissa Thompson (KMS Partners)

Amy Stabler (Northumbria University)

contact 61

Events Diary FEATURED EVENT

FEATURED EVENT

FEATURED EVENT

AUGUST 10

SEPTEMBER 14

SEPTEMBER 28

Chamber Exchange, 11:00-14:00 Middlesbrough Football Club FREE

Chamber Exchange, 11:00-14:00 Beamish Hall, Stanley FREE

Tees Valley Annual Dinner 18:00-00:00, Jury’s Inn Middlesbrough Hotel, £80*

TO BOOK

www.neechamber.co.uk/events

Networking AUG 01 - CHAMBER LOCAL (TEAM VALLEY MONTHLY)

08:30-10:30 • AREA NORTH, TEAM VALLEY

FREE

AUG 17 - STAND UP AND BE COUNTED

10:00-12:00 • THIRSK RACECOURSE

FREE

0300 303 6322

NOV 02 - NORTHUMBRIA & DURHAM ANNUAL DINNER

18:00-00:00 • CIVIC CENTRE, NEWCASTLE

£100*

NOV 08 - CHAMBER SHOWCASE @ NORTH EAST EXPO

09:00-16:00 • NEWCASTLE FALCONS, KINGSTON PARK

£150* STAND

AUG 31 - CHAMBER LOCAL

Skills, Knowledge and Information Network

FREE

SEPT 08 - MAXIMISING YOUR MEMBERSHIP

10:00-12:00 • THE LORD CREWE ARMS, BLANCHLAND

SEPT 05 - CHAMBER LOCAL (TEAM VALLEY MONTHLY)

08:00-10:00 • NEWCASTLE GATESHEAD MARRIOTT METROCENTRE

FREE

SEPT 08 - HEATHROW BUSINESS SUMMIT: CONNECTING NE SMES WITH THE HEATHROW SUPPLY CHAIN

08:30-10:30 • AREA NORTH, TEAM VALLEY

SEPT 20 - CHAMBER LOCAL

09:00-11:00 • WEARSIDE FARM

FREE

SEPT 21 - CHAMBER EXCHANGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH DARLINGTON BUSINESS WEEK

11:00-14:00 • ROCKLIFFE HALL, DARLINGTON

FREE

10:00-14:30 • NEWCASTLE GATESHEAD MARRIOTT METROCENTRE

FREE

SEPT 26 - PR & MEDIA SKILLS FOR SMES

08:00-10:00 • LUMLEY CASTLE, CHESTER-LE-STREET

FREE

FREE

SEPT 26 - CHAMBER LOCAL

Area Meetings

FREE

SEPT 05 - NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD AREA MEETING

08:30-10:00 • BIZHUB, BILLINGHAM

SEPT 27 - CHAMBER LOCAL

10:00-12:00 • THE HASTINGS, SEATON DELAVAL

FREE

Flagship OCT 27 - NORTH EAST BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS

18:30-01:00 • HILTON NEWCASTLE GATESHEAD

£85*

62 contact

events@neechamber.co.uk

International SEPT 07 - EXPORT PROCESSES, COMPLIANCE AND DOCUMENTS 09:00-16:00 • TBC • £300** SEPT 13 - AEO/UCC AUTHORISED ECONOMIC OPERATOR/ UNION CUSTOMS CODE 1-2-1 APPOINTMENTS

09:00-12:00 • AYKLEY HEADS, DURHAM

FREE GLOBAL

SEPT 19 - CUSTOMS COMPLIANCE, PROCESSES AND DOCUMENTS 09:00-16:00 • TBC • £300** OCT 03 - AEO/UCC AUTHORISED ECONOMIC OPERATOR/ UNION CUSTOMS CODE EVENT 09:00-12:00 • TBC • FREE OCT 05 - INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT METHODS AND LETTER OF CREDIT 09:00-16:00 • TBC • £300**

Department for International Trade Events SEPT 05 - INTRODUCTION TO EXPORTING

11:00-17:00 • FUSION HIVE, STOCKTON

FREE

SEPT 12 - GO DIGITAL – BOOST YOUR INTERNATIONAL SALES ONLINE

16:00-18:00 • 3P PEAK PERFORMANCE PARTNERSHIP, TEAM VALLEY

09:00-12:30 • SLALEY HALL, NORTHUMBERLAND

FREE

FREE

SEPT 22 - DURHAM AREA MEETING

SEPT 13 - INTRODUCTION TO EXPORTING

08:15-10:00 • ST CUTHBERT’S HOSPICE, DURHAM

FREE

SEPT 27 - NORTHUMBERLAND AREA MEETING

16:00-18:00 • TBC

FREE

11:00-17:00 • ST JAMES PARK, NEWCASTLE

FREE

* Chamber Member Price+VAT ** Global member price £240+VAT Foundation Award in International Trade - contact the Chamber events team for more information.

www.neechamber.co.uk

8 November, 09:00 - 16:00 Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park There will be more than 200 companies exhibiting and around 1,500 delegates in attendance.

Chamber members can exhibit on level 2 from £150 or attend the event as a delegate completely free.

For more information about the event and to book your stand or free place visit www.northeastexpo.co.uk/chamber-showcase

in association with

Have you thought about sponsoring a Chamber event?

Our flagship networking Exchange events have 80-120 members in attendance Exchange Event Sponsor £600+VAT If you would like to find out more about upcoming opportunities, please email jennifer.rycroft@neechamber.co.uk or call 078867 541 467

www.neechamber.co.uk

contact 63

Last word

Power to all the people Wonder Woman is a big screen hit, a woman is to play Dr Who, the Advertising Standards Authority has banned gender stereotyping in adverts, and the BBC is under pressure to close its gender pay gap. How does all this inspire tomorrow's workforce?

Sarah Ralph, lecturer in Media & Cultural Studies, Northumbria University

The division of public opinion over the new Dr Who is exactly what I expected, but it’s incorrect to suggest that it’s new to cast a woman in a role written initially for a man. We’ve already had precedent in the iconic Ellen Ripley in Alien, who was originally written as a male character.

The more recent equivalent is the Ghostbusters remake where there was a similar backlash towards recasting the roles as female. The discourse was almost identical to that of Doctor Who. It’s fantastic to see the reaction of young girls on social media and it’s important for little girls to grow up with a female Doctor Who and role models such as Wonder Woman. As the old adage goes, you can’t be what you can’t see, and girls watch, observe and listen to female role models.

Clearly, Doctor Who is totally disconnected from the real world, but it is often relevant in terms of political and social discourse on gender, race and religion. Because it’s not based on real life, it can avoid the stereotypes that are often reinforced to create dramatic tension.

Following characters like Ellen

"Play and pretending to be your favourite TV character is an important part of how we perceive our place in the world"

64 contact

Ripley and Sarah Connor in the 80s, the 90s was defined as a post-feminist era, with women often cast in more traditional gender roles like in Sex and the City. That’s not to say they weren’t strong roles, but they were a different representation of femininity.

Now we have learned that only a third of BBC stars making more than £150,000 a year are female, though it has been confirmed that Jodie Whittaker will be paid the same as Peter Capaldi for the Doctor role.

Meanwhile, The Advertising Standards Agency is right to ban gender stereotyping in adverts. This not just about girls, it’s about gender equality.

Men should not be seen as incapable of looking after their own children, and women shouldn’t be the ones with the laundry basket.

Play and pretending to be your favourite TV character is an important part of how we perceive our place in the world, and now girls can dress up as Ghostbusters, Wonder Woman, or Doctor Who. During a time of change, it might seem as if we’ve stepped over a chasm, but if the same happens a few years down the line, there likely won’t be the same reaction. The BBC has been criticised for being risk averse, but the risk has been taken now, and I think it will pay off. www.neechamber.co.uk

Actor Gal Gadot at the Los Angeles Premiere of Wonder Woman

Fionnuala Doran, senior lecturer, BA Comics, Graphic Novels and Sequential Art, Teesside University

www.neechamber.co.uk

I was pleasantly surprised when the BBC announced Jodie Whittaker will play Dr Who, though much of the public reaction has been depressingly predictable.

This isn’t just a women’s issue - we see the same reaction to a man at the top of an industry traditionally gendered as female, such as nursing. In this case, there is an assumption that Dr Who is a human male (the character is actually an alien from the planet Gallifrey), and his companion is female. Any other representation is instantly controversial.

This is the latest in a series of powerful female role models, including the new Wonder Woman movie. Wonder Woman debuted in 1941 and her portrayal has changed through the decades, reflecting attitudes, including being a secretary for her superhero team, the JLA. It’s great to see girls’ reaction to the film, dressing up and getting to play the hero.

But Rey, the female hero of the recent Star Wars reboot, was left out of many toy

sets, the assumption being that only boys wanted those toys, and they wouldn’t want a female figure.

It’s difficult getting people away from default assumptions and we need a greater public understanding of gender to change presumptions about what a hero looks like.

Warner Brothers’ recent Fantastic Beasts presented an atypical male lead. He didn’t search for trouble, he just wanted to care for his animals, giving boys a chance to see that they don’t have to be tough to be a hero.

Children should feel they can be whatever and whoever they want to be. The Advertising Standards Agency’s new move against adverts that reinforce stereotypes is an important step forward. But we’ve had strong female characters before like Ellen Ripley in Alien and Sarah Connor in Terminator, followed by decades of women as the love interest until the most recent Star Wars. We have a female Dr Who, but we shouldn’t assume these roles will keep coming. contact 65

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