Contact - April-May 2014 by North East Chamber of Commerce

NECC: Making the North East a success

APRIL - MAY 2014

TUNNEL VISION

TT2’s Rachel Turnbull on getting the region moving

GEM OF AN IDEA

Emerald Biogas, fuelling the economy with food waste

necc.co.uk - necontact.co.uk

✱

THE FAMILY WAY The perks and the perils of running the family firm

INSIGHT

A TRUE IT GIRL

Sexism, sales techniques, and celebrating every employee’s birthday with IT boss Sally Waterston TAXI! KEEN TO CUT CARBS? CALL A GREEN CAB...

Scan this code with your mobile device to access the latest news on our website

Your route to a successful career with New College Durham No matter what stage you are at in your journey, New College Durham can help you progress your career through part-time higher education and professional qualifications.

Affordable study

More choices

Our part-time degree programmes cost just ÂŁ2,400 per year and you can complete a full honours programme in just over 3 years.

50 different education routes including degrees, higher national certificates and professional qualifications.

r part-time or mature out about students. Find study via stfunding your loans, and udent and career programm talk to our e leaders.

www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk

New College Durham

Welcome...

Much has happened since our last edition of Contact, much of it captured among the pages you’re about to read, and one thing has really stuck in my mind above all others. I know that the North East Chamber of Commerce affects positive change for our members and regional business generally, and I like to think that we have played a leading role in helping to shape national policy, enjoying significant clout when it comes to bending the ears of key decision makers. However, it is a rare occurrence when an NECC event can impact upon the value of sterling, but that is what happened at the last President’s Club Lunch. I was honoured to host another wonderful event, this time at Rockliffe Hall near Darlington, where we welcomed the deputy governor of the Bank of England, Charlie Bean, as speaker.

NECC president David Laws on NECC’s work to affect positive change

In half an hour Mr Bean took us on a journey around and through the UK economy, stopping at points to assess growth, potential barriers to further development, the Eurozone, and the strategies used by the Bank of England to support the recovery. His comments were widely reported in the national newspapers with the outcome impacting on the value of our currency, which is certainly a first for an NECC function. The Chamber has also staged its sub-regional AGMs over the last month, and these were incredibly well attended and featured speakers from a range of sectors, from biotechnology to Beamish Museum. It was great to hear reports of rising optimism, progress across the private sector and a genuine sense of things improving for business across the region. Everyone knows we have faced some challenging times in the last five or six years, and while we are not out of the woods yet, we can certainly see the path that will lead us out. As ever, there are some uplifting tales of business success within these pages. Contact magazine is all about championing the great work being done by NECC and our valued members. Let’s all make sure we have plenty to shout about throughout 2014.

EDITOR Jane Pikett jane@offstonepublishing.co.uk EDITORIAL TEAM Dean Bailey Alastair Gilmour Liz Hands Owen McAteer Paul Robertson Contact is the magazine for NECC members. News and press releases should be sent to submissions@necc.co.uk ADVERTISING Contact our commercial team 01661 844115 sales@offstonepublishing.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Gibson www.kgphotography.co.uk Nicky Rogerson www.nrphotography.co.uk Peter Skelton www.photo-psp.co.uk

GET IN TOUCH

01661 844115

We are tweeting. Follow us @NEChamber Published by

David Laws, NECC president

WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY THIS ISSUE... Offstone Publishing, Unit 1, Bearl Farm, Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7AJ 01661 844 115 enquiries@offstonepublishing.co.uk

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

Duncan Fisher

Sally Waterston

Rachel Turnbull

“It’s hard to get it right in this game. In a pub, you can give someone a cocktail that isn’t quite to their taste and they’re still going to come back. But at a place like Newton Hall, if the food isn’t right it’s much harder to win that person back.”

“When people work for you, you should realise they are doing you a favour. There’s no assumption that you are doing them a favour by giving them a job, so it’s logical that you should understand if they have a domestic crisis.”

“Without infrastructure, I don’t think we can progress as a region. We are the only English region with a positive export balance and yet we have the worst infrastructure. We don’t have a motorway that connects us to the rest of the UK.”

Apartment Group

Waterstons

TT2

©Offstone Publishing 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All information contained in this magazine is as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Offstone Publishing a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part. Although every care is taken, Offstone Publishing is not liable for resulting loss or damage. Offstone Publishing endeavors to respect the intellectual property of owners of copyrighted material reproduced herein. If you identify yourself as the copyright holder of material we have wrongly attributed, please contact us. Offstone Publishing does not guarantee the insertion of any particular advertisement on a specified date or at all.

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 3

Championing the region since 1815

NECC

ANNUAL DINNERS

2014 Join us for one of the key events in the North East business calendar - the Tees Valley and the Tyne & Northumberland Annual Dinners, celebrating North East business. Take your place at these prestigious events to network and entertain among some of the most influential names in North East business.

TEES VALLEY ANNUAL DINNER

TYNE & NORTHUMBERLAND ANNUAL DINNER

18:30-00:00 Thursday, 25 September, 2014

18:30-00:00 Thursday, 6 November, 2014

T H I S T L E H OT E L M I D D L E S B R O U G H

NEWCASTLE CIVIC CENTRE

Member Table of ten: £650 + VAT Individual: £65 + VAT Non-member Table of ten: £900 + VAT Individual: £90 + VAT

Member Table of ten: £900 + VAT Individual: £90 + VAT Non-member Table of ten: £1250 + VAT Individual: £125 + VAT

Sponsored by

EARLY BIRD BOOKING DISCOUNTS: NECC President’s Club (in association with Brewin Dolphin) Members – 20% booking discount, All NECC Membership Grades – 10% booking discount NECC Members of all grades can enjoy the early bird booking discounts on all tickets booked before 5.00pm on Thursday, May 1, 2014.

For tickets email events@necc.co.uk or telephone 0300 303 6322 or visit www.necc.co.uk/events NECC AV supporter 2014

Contents

To keep up to date with all the latest NECC and member news download the NECC app by searching for NECC in the Apple app store and on Google Play

Plus 10 HIGH FLYERS Brussels sprouts new air connection to the Toon

14 NECC PARTNERS Law firm Watson Burton joins NECC Partners

16 PROBLEM SHARED Bright sparks at Haskel cut

costs through ideas-sharing

40 FAB FIVE The best invite ever! 44 SKILLS National Apprenticeship Week 2014 in focus

46 EXPORT NECC backs a bid to double

the number of UK exporters

58 HI! TECH Free software and the

Features 06 60 SECONDS

Gazza, professional poker and Star Wars with Ian Keltie

26 COOK’S TOURS Entrepreneur Sally Waterston, above, talks sexism, sales techniques, and singing on page 34

The world according to Nigel Cook of Elddis Transport

best of the web

65 DOUBLE TAKE Two heads of leading family businesses

66 LAST WORD From the new NECC chair Lucy Winskill

28 NECC VIEW

The Budget in focus

30 TAXIS V TAXES

Phoenix Taxis MD Alex Hurst on his firm’s eco revolution

32 Tunnel vision

TT2 CEO Rachel Turnbull on building interactivity for the region

38 LUNCH

Apartment Group’s Duncan Fisher

42 FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Recycling for fuel with Emerald Biogas’ Adam and Antony Warren

49 SPECIAL FOCUS

38 30 66

Clockwise from above, Alex Hurst of Phoenix Taxis, Duncan Fisher of the Apartment Group, and the Last Word from Lucy Winskill

Events and hospitality

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 5

60 SECONDS

Off the shelf 60 seconds: Ian Keltie, graphic designer, illustrator, and one half of KeltieCochrane Q How do you compare to your 21-year-old self? I’m a lot hairier, a lot older, and a lot fatter. I was a bit of a tearaway as a kid. I’m a lot calmer now, a bit more relaxed, a bit more mature. At 21 I didn’t give a monkey’s. I wasn’t worried about a career or anything like that, I just wanted to play football with my mates. At 22 I really grew up ahead of the arrival my daughter. I would say reality struck and I realised that I had to go and get a proper job. Q How would you describe yourself now? Happy-go-lucky, friendly, honest

an Keltie has come a long way in 15 years. The 37-year-old has gone from stacking shelves to working on campaigns and illustrations for international brands including Lucas Film, Philips and the BBC. Keltie is one half of design supremo KeltieCochrane, based at the Toffee Factory in Ouseburn, Newcastle. The firm has worked with clients including Sage, Newcastle College and Gateshead Council in the last seven years. Q Who did you look up to as a child? Paul Gascoigne was my hero when I was a kid; like most young Newcastle fans I wanted to be Gazza more than anything. Family-wise, I really looked up to my nanna. She was really important to me growing up; any time I had an opportunity to go and see her I would, she was someone I really looked up to as a kid.

Q What’s the best job you’ve ever had, and why? When I was about 23 I worked for a company called Aim Publishing in London and we produced basketball and football magazines. The people were amazing and it’s probably my finest memories of working with people, apart from here. Before that I was stacking shelves so it was definitely a big improvement for me. Q What do you enjoy most about your job? I really enjoy being creative. I like nothing better than getting a brief in, coming up with an idea and producing it. I just like to get in there and just get it done. Whether it’s a logo, an illustration, a brochure, whatever, I just like being creative, that’s the bit I’m good at. Q What would you be doing if you weren’t an illustrator? I’d want to be a professional poker player. That’s a serious answer. I’ve got a big interest in photography but if I’m honest

6 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

the only thing I would swap what I’m doing now for is professional poker. Q The best decision you’ve made, and why? Quitting stacking shelves when I was 22. I had finished university, we’d just had a baby, we had no money, no job apart from working there and I quit because I wanted to be a designer. I knew if I took a full-time job there I would never have a career. I’d probably still be stacking shelves now if I hadn’t quit. Q If I were to tell you that you couldn’t fail, what would you do? I’d buy into the World Series of Poker. I’d love to have the chance to play in it; it’s like playing for England in the World Cup. I’d also love to cycle across America, just to see the whole country. Q Who has inspired you in your life? Sir Alex Ferguson, because no matter how much he won, it was all put behind him straight away. I’ve always tried to do that with everything I do, whether it’s Star Wars books or movie posters. They’re amazing opportunities, but to me it’s all in the past, I want the next big thing. When you become satisfied you stop wanting it as much, that was what I took from Alex Ferguson’s career. Q What scares you most? Failure – not achieving what I set out to do. Q Who would play you in a film of your life? Alan from the Hangover movies. Not the actor [Zach Galifianakis] but the character. Apparently, I look quite like him.

â?? When you

become satisfied, you stop wanting it as much

â??

INBOX

inbox...

Have you got something to say about the magazine or about business in general? Then inbox may be the perfect home for you. Send your views, comment and gossip to inbox@necontact.co.uk HEAD FOR HEIGHTS

Feeling brave? Heel & Toe children’s charity is urging the more intrepid among us to join its charity skydive. Participants will jump 13,000ft from a plane in a tandem skydive on April 26. For those who don’t fancy a skydive, there is a zipslide from the top of the BALTIC Gateshead. More information on these, and other events, is available from debora@heelandtoe.org.uk or tel 0191 386 8606. Ah go on, go on… you know you want to…

FULL OF ADMIRATION

Law firm Bond Dickinson, which has offices in Newcastle and Stockton, has been named one of the most admired companies in the UK. The firm was included in the list by Private Client Practitioner. The publication’s Top 25 Most Admired Companies is made up of firms across the fields of law, accountancy, trust and financial planning. The list is compiled following an open call for nominations.

HOME GOAL

Nice work by Dale & Valley Homes, which has been named one of the top three firms to work for in the country for the second year running. Dale & Valley Homes came third in the prestigious not-forprofit section of the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For awards in 2013 and 2014. Meanwhile Changing Lives was named 13th best organisation to work for in the same category. The Gatesheadbased charity provides support to 5,000 vulnerable people.

MONEY TALK

Some of the Newcastle Racecourse team warming up for the EnduRun24 Corporate Challenge. (l to r) – Emma McQueen, Faye Drummond and Emily McGowan.

GEE UP

Newcastle Racecourse is challenging the North East business community to get into the starting gates for an endurance contest. The course is organising a 24hour race through the grounds of High Gosforth Park. Designed for runners of all fitness levels (really!), the

corporate challenge is a fundraising and teambuilding opportunity for businesses across the region. EnduRun24 is part of the wider Endu24 event, which is open to solo runners and groups of eight who will take on the challenge of completing as many laps of the 10k track as possible on May 3.

TOP SALESMAN

ALL HEART

Congratulations to Mike Lever, director of New Results Training in Houghton le Spring, who has been crowned national sales trainer of the year in the annual British Excellence in Sales and Marketing awards run by the Institute of Sales and Marketing. Mike was one of only eight UK-based nominees shortlisted and the only one in the North East. He beat trainers from national and international organisations, such as Sterling Chase and AXA Corporate Centre to the award.

8 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

Pupils at Darlington’s Polam Hall School have taken to the catwalk for a worthy cause. The school raised more than £1,000 for the British Heart Foundation with its Ramp Up the Red-themed show, organised by pupils and backed by local businesses including Barclays Bank. Pupils chose the charity after hearing from one student, who lost a parent to heart disease. Headmaster John Moreland also has a strong affinity with the charity after his son had a heart transplant nine years ago.

Most students getting ready for university probably have one main funding stream in mind: the bank of Mum and Dad. So a course run by Five Lamps’ MyBnk project may come as a relief to parents. The Hermitage Academy & Sixth Form in Chester-le-Street brought in the enterprise charity to deliver Uni Dosh sessions. The workshops covered money coming in such as loans, grants, bursaries, scholarships and part-time work, along with cash going out. After the workshops, 93% of students said they would budget their money more regularly (honest, mum…).

HOME COMFORTS

They do say that too much time alone when running your business from home can prompt a certain stir-craziness. Hence, an organisation which connects homebased business owners with ‘colleagues’ at offices across the North East is expanding. Colleagues on Tap was founded in 2010 by business coach Jayne Graham to provide occasional office-based days for people running businesses from home. Graham, who runs her firm from home in Gateshead, is recruiting more hosts across the region.

IN MY VIEW

In my view

NECC chief executive James Ramsbotham on learning the ropes as an apprentice for the day

the maintenance crew at Newcastle International Airport. However, this year it was my turn and I had the pleasure of learning the apprenticeship ropes, quite literally. I spent the day with Advanced Industrial Solutions (AIS) apprentice Adam Donaldson at the company’s rope access facility on North Tyneside. This basically entailed me hanging from a rope 30ft above the ground trussed up in a harness and helmet while Adam talked me through the role of an offshore insulation fitter. Not quite as physically challenging, but just as rewarding was my day spent with apprentices at Labman, in Seamer in the Tees Valley. This company specialises in bespoke, automated solutions - or robots to the layman. I was shown how this company encourages its apprentices to be involved in the creation of these incredible inventions from the concept stage, through the design phase, construction and testing – an all-round experience that’s probably unrivalled for most robotic engineers. Becoming Tarzan for the day and assisting in the rise of the machines weren’t exactly on my bucket list, but I can’t describe how fulfilling it was to experience the enthusiasm and passion of the apprentices and also these two businesses that were so committed to

developing the next generation of our regional workforce. We also marked another key five days with National Export Week. I should have this written on a T-shirt for the amount of times I say it, but it remains a tremendous source of pride that our region remains the only one in the country with a positive balance of trade. Our export performance is excellent, and it could be much better. We have a relatively small number of large-scale exporters that skew our figures, and it is our aim to get more of our SME network selling abroad. As such, our International Trade team offers an unparalleled level of support to members exploring overseas markets alongside our partners at UKTI. We are making links with foreign chambers and other business networks to encourage soft landings for our members dipping their toes into the world of export. We want to become the exemplar for other regions - the one all our neighbours want to emulate, whether that’s for exports, apprenticeships, skills development or private sector growth. For our aim, like the businesses we represent, is to make the North East successful. See what I mean? I’ve run out of space and I haven’t even mentioned our Durham and Wearside Dinner, Committee AGM meetings or the Budget!

olumn writing can be a genuine challenge sometimes. It’s not that I struggle for things to include in these bi‑monthly editorials, it’s just that I always face a real dilemma about what to leave out. My aim is to provide a whistle-stop tour through the last two months of NECC business - progress made, barriers overcome, and a reflection of the big stories that affect North East business. However, so much has occurred in the last few weeks that I face a real challenge boiling everything down to 500 words. First, there was Apprenticeship Week. Each year we throw down the challenge to someone in business or politics to try their hand at an apprenticeship for the day. In the past few years we’ve had MPs shadowing machinists, editors working on the printing press, and radio presenters putting in a shift on

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 9

NEWS

Butterfly effect A Tees Valley valve company which completed £1m of business in the first month of 2014 alone is set for further growth with the help of a second investment from UK Steel Enterprise. Evolution Valves, which was founded just four years ago, has established a strong worldwide reputation for its customised butterfly valves which meet the rigorous safety and performance standards demanded by heavy industries including the oil and gas, chemical, pharmaceutical, power and marine sectors. Recent orders have come from the Middle East, North and South America and Africa as well as from across Europe, Scotland and the North East itself. A move into new premises on the St Ann’s Industrial Estate in Stockton offers the factory space to move some manufacturing in-house. UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel business support subsidiary, backed the company with a loan of £50,000 in 2011. Now the company has secured a second financial package of £74,750, made up of a £45,000 loan and a grant of £29,750 from UKSE’s Access to Finance Scheme, set up with backing from the government’s Regional Growth Fund. Evolution Valves has recently taken on a design manager and IT specialist and it expects its current seven-strong team to grow into double figures in the near future.

The BMI Regional and Newcastle Airport teams

Brussels sprouts new flights to Toon

MI Regional has launched a new service from Newcastle International Airport to Brussels - the only direct flight to link the two cities. The route is operated by a 49-seater Embraer jet twice daily Monday to Friday and Sunday afternoons, reaching the Belgian capital in just 75 minutes. Coun Iain Malcolm, leader of South Tyneside Council and of airport shareholder LA7, says: “The connectivity provided by this route will help many regional businesses expand their reach to Belgium and beyond.” Prof Chris Day, pro vice chancellor for

the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University, who was at the launch of the service, said the route will make it easier to establish research links with other leading academics. Meanwhile, Newcastle International Airport has been voted the third best airport in the UK by readers of Wanderlust magazine. At the end of 2013 Wanderlust asked its readers to vote on various categories, including destinations, airlines, travel gadgets – and airports. The results show that Newcastle Airport has moved up one in the rankings to enter the top three.

FLEETS AHEAD Eastern Airways, which operates scheduled flights from Newcastle International Airport, is introducing extra aircraft. The regional airline is adding a new 50-seater Saab 2000 to its fleet. With a cruising speed of 425mph, the latest addition will provide charter services for the oil and gas industry. This includes a contract for BP which flies between Aberdeen and Sumburgh in the

10 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

Shetland Isles. The airline has been operating flights from Newcastle for more than 11

years and currently provides a choice of daily services to Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff and Stavanger.

News and views from NECC membership advisers Durham Tamsin Harrison of Heartland Design wanted to promote a project and seek work in Mexico. We arranged a presentation to our Newcastle Committee and since then she has been to South America and Mexico on a trade mission. John Mansel tel 07736 799 727 john.mansel@necc.co.uk Twitter @NECCJohn Teesside New members include Stripe4, Espresso Web Design, Enable Care Group, and Street League Tees Valley. Well done to The Stottie Company, Evolution Forwarding, and C&A Pumps for their successes at the Tees Valley Best New Business Awards. Tom Warnock tel 07714 845 617 tom.warnock@necc.co.uk Twitter @NECCTom

Sunderland/ South Tyneside Congratulations to businesses who have recently scooped awards, including BMS Electrical, Lasercutouts, and Phoenix ABC. A great story for Wearside. Arthur Hodgson tel 07980 259 991 arthur.hodgson@necc.co.uk Twitter @NECCArthur Newcastle/ Gateshead The start to the year has been very positive and we’ve enjoyed some fantastic member events, including Coffee & Connections at Hoults Yard and NECC Local at Revolution Bar. Lynsey Fairless tel 07834 444 627 lynsey.fairless@necc.co.uk Twitter @NECCLynsey

Medium Business Our member The Theatre Royal has hosted a wonderful maths inspiration programme for 1,000 teenagers and our new Northumberland/ member The Lakes Distillery is working up to opening a new North Tyneside visitor centre. A fantastic Andrew Heavisides start to 2014. tel 07912 478 961 It amazes me how many andrew.heavisides@necc.co.uk amazing businesses we Twitter @NECCAndrewh have in our region, from fashion boutiques to Solar Technologies to Park International Trade designers. International Les Dixon, tel 07850 740 645 success stories les.dixon@necc.co.uk for 2014 already Twitter @NECCLes include Solarglide and Ecco Finishing Supplies, both of them travelling the world and Darlington bringing international business I am new to to Teesside. International NECC and have Innovative Technologies is a been meeting great business and has secured members including Multifunding to expand its sales team Tal /Railway Restorations in Shildon. I’ll be meeting all my worldwide. members soon, starting with Matthew Ord tel 07717 300 351 Zine in Barnard Castle. Ann Boyd, tel 07739 162 408 matthew.ord@necc.co.uk Twitter @NECCMatthew ann.boyd@necc.co.uk

Does your product contain a polymer or plastic? Do you want to innovate & improve your products functions & performance? Develop & cost-optimise their production? No available internal expertise? Head-count capped perhaps? With over 30 years polymer, plastic and chemical experience, we provide a credible, well proven polymer expertise outsourcing service. Our extensive industry knowledge will benefit your business, providing you with a flexible, practical, reliable & solutions-focussed external polymer expertise option. Initial consultation meetings are confidential, held at your offices - no obligations, no fees. Contact: Dr Tony A. Whitfield Tel: 07941 601 588 Email: tony@tawhitfieldpolymers.co.uk Web: www.tawhitfieldpolymers.co.uk

T.A. Whitﬁeld Polymers Ltd (Polymer Consultants)

Is your confidential information in safe hands? When you dispose of confidential data/documents, who do you trust? The bin men? Your waste collection company? DON’T! Trust the region’s leading specialists in secure data destruction. Call us now for your free, no obligation consultation

www.riverdalepaper.plc.uk

Tel: 0191 482 42 71 Earlsway, Team Valley Trading Estate Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE11 0RQ Fax: 0191 482 4214 E-mail: info@riverdalepaper.plc.uk

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 11

NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

DID AN INTEREST RATE SWAP AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS?

Rachel Burns, TLW Solicitors

ince 2001, thousands of SMEs in the UK were mis-sold interest rate hedging products, a complex financial instrument intended to protect against rises in interest rates. In 2012 the FSA ordered the banks to undertake a large scale review of all IRHP sales post December 2001 to businesses that fit the eligibility criteria. At the beginning of the review out of the 30,000 businesses invited to participate only 125 had initially received an offer of compensation. Whether or not those offers are reasonable and fully compensate the business for their losses is not known. There are strict criteria for the type of business which is included in the review. Instructing a specialist ﬁrm such as TLW with the knowledge and expertise to negotiate with the banks on your behalf can help make sure businesses receive every penny they are entitled to. Instructing a specialist solicitor who can help fully calculate not only your direct losses from the mis-sale but also consequential business losses you may have suffered as a result of the IRHP. Handling IRHP claims Rachel Burns, specialist Lawyer at TLW advises; ‘If you have received an IRHP letter from the bank inviting you to participate in the review, we would advise that you respond and act swiftly. Many businesses will miss out if they delay in responding to the bank Rachel Burns added; ‘TLW can also help to recover greater losses resulting from the impact of the interest rate swap and we can help recover maximum compensation. We can also assist those ﬁrms who have not been included in the review and see if they have any entitlement to redress.’ There are strict time limits which can apply to claims so it is important to seek advice as soon as possible.

For more information on how to claim for a mis-sold IRHP and how we can help you please call 0800 169 5925 or email info@tlwsolicitors.co.uk 12 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

James Ramsbotham, Charlie Bean and David Laws

Bean counting

housing investment,” he said. he deputy “For the recovery to be both governor of the sustained and sustainable, Bank of England however, we want to see three has outlined the things - business investment challenges faced needs to pick up, a revival in by the recovering UK productivity growth, and an economy on a visit to expansion in net exports.” the region. He said that the five hard Charlie Bean addressed the years since the Bank Rate bosses of some 170 of was cut to its historic the region’s largest low of 0.5% and the businesses “THE RECOVERY asset purchase at NECC’s HAS BEEN ON programme was President’s Club THE BACK OF launched would gathering at have been Rockliffe Hall CONSUMER tougher without near Darlington. SPENDING” the measures. Bean outlined “The MPC will be measures necessary doing its utmost to ensure that to sustain the economic recovery is not nipped in the recovery and explained how bud,” he said. “When the time the Bank’s Monetary Policy does come for us to start Committee (MPC) is raising Bank Rate, we should supporting it. celebrate that as a welcome “Much of the recovery has sign that the economy is finally been on the back of higher back on the road to normality.” consumer spending and

ON THE RAILS The North East LEP has welcomed the decision by Hitachi Rail to move its global rail business to Newton Aycliffe. NELEP board lead for trade and productivity Gill Southern says: “This reaffirms the importance of the relationship between the North East and Japan and the role of inward

investment in our economy. The LEP was already prioritising the development of land around Hitachi as a supply chain park in the forthcoming bid to the Government’s £2bn Local Growth Fund. Surely the Government must now look at this project as an essential investment in the future.”

NEWS SPOTLIGHT ON SICKNESS

Productivity on the up

he North East’s labour productivity is growing at the fastest rate in the UK, according to newly published figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The official data, focusing on Gross Added Value (GVA) and hours worked, also shows the region is performing at its best level since the ONS started producing comparisons based on this economic indicator in 2004. Calculations showed that productivity in the North East Local Enterprise Partnership area grew by 14% between 2009 and 2012. North East LEP chief economist Mauricio Armellini says: “Employment is a measure of quantity but GVA adds the wages paid and the profits made, so GVA is telling a much more interesting economic

story. It’s a more comprehensive measure of the economy.” The latest figures, for 2012, show the region was ahead of the national average growth, with a 1.7% expansion compared to the 1.6% UK average. Overall, North East GVA growth was the third highest of the UK regions in 2012 and expanded at double the rate of London and the West Midlands. “It’s not just a blip,” adds Armellini. “The GVA growth shows our area is producing more; the productivity growth shows we are producing more with less.” The LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan is currently being prepared to present to Government. It sets out a vision that, by 2030, the North East will be a globally competitive economy, with “more and better jobs created through making, trading and innovating.”

VIDEO OF THE MONTH

BUY LOW, SELL HIGH

http://goo.gl/WCyMPP

Depending on your point of view, this is 12.32 mins of inspiration, education, or distraction from work (assuming you can ignore the irritating commentary). You could be completely sad and memorise a couple of these speeches and trot them out at opportune moments, or, like our esteemed editor, just keep pausing and re-playing the bits with Daniel Craig in Layer Cake. Enjoy…

A new study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals some interesting facts around sickness absence; the second most popular subject raised by NECC members who call Croner employment advice lines. The report, Sickness Absence in the Labour Market, reveals the main cause for working days lost in 2013 was musculoskeletal conditions such as back and neck pain, which led to 31m days lost. Minor illnesses such as coughs and colds came second with 27m days lost, followed by stress, anxiety or depression at 15m days lost. The report also reveals: • 131m days were lost due to sickness absences in the UK in 2013 • The largest workforces report highest sickness levels • Sickness absence rates are lowest for managers, directors and senior officials • Despite fewer workers taking time off sick, more were away due to stress, depression and anxiety, which accounted for 15.2m lost days — up from 11.8m in 2010 The employment team at Croner recommend that employers maintain detailed records of absence and ensure all periods of absence are accounted for on a return-to-work form or self‑certificate. As a member of NECC, you have access to Croner-i Business Essentials and advice lines. For more information visit the member area at ww.necc.co.uk

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 13

NEWS

PARTNERS UPDATE With Jo Fryett, head of NECC Partners We’ve already had a flying start to 2014 with our NECC president and chief executive of Newcastle Airport David Laws speaking to members at our first Partner event. As an added bonus, we were able to take a group of Partners on a tour of the airport fire station and air traffic control tower. The airport even managed to hold the Emirates flight so we could see it take off (or maybe it was just good timing?). In February we hosted both Local Enterprise Partnerships for the North East at our Partners lunch at Durham County Cricket Club, which is also an NECC Partner. The Club has been supported through the NELEP via the Regional Growth Fund - a great example of connecting the public and private sectors for regional benefit. NECC also welcomed law firm Watson Burton as a new Partner and we’re looking

forward to working with them on a house building project. A specialist team headed by Duncan Reid of Watson Burton will be working with NECC to develop the project for 2014. We also have five Partners working on a new Innovation project, each leading on a key theme. They include Teesside University, which was recently awarded the Queens Anniversary Prize Award for outstanding contributions in further and higher education and its work in supporting enterprise and entrepreneurship. These projects are designed to complement the on-going work of Partners and the NECC policy team, which is working on behalf of the wider NECC membership to ensure that we showcase the very best of the region and its business community for the good of the area. Jo Fryett, tel 07867 541 467,email joanne.fryett@necc.co.uk Twitter @NECCJo

OUR PARTNERS...

14 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

From left to right - Duncan Reid, Ross Smith of NECC, and Jo Fryett

New partnership

aw firm Watson Burton has joined the North East Chamber of Commerce’s Partners programme. NECC Partners boasts a host of experienced industry leaders and influencers who help to shape the organisation’s policy agenda. Duncan Reid, head of Corporate at Watson Burton, says: “NECC raises the profile of the region as a hub for business growth. “We are delighted to be involved and are very much looking forward to working with regional businesses in doing our bit to help to shape the policy agenda.” It is almost seven years since the Partners programme was introduced, and membership now stands at 22.

NECC head of partners Jo Fryett says: “I’m delighted to welcome Watson Burton into Partners. The firm is dedicated to helping North East business develop and grow and will bring a keen legal focus to the group, particularly to areas such as removing barriers to growth. “Partners include some of the largest employers in the region, whose contribution to the growth in private sector jobs and business investment is immense and it is great to have Watson Burton as part of our team.” Partners are selected to represent businesses from a range of sectors and are part of an exclusive group of members working with NECC to influence and shape its agenda.

ADVERTORIAL

SINTONS PARTNER APPOINTED FIRST FEMALE CHAIR OF ASPD

O The Wearmouth Bridge

City Deal all set to boost jobs

he North East Chamber of Commerce has praised the ‘hard work and innovation’ put into securing a deal set to create thousands of jobs. Sunderland and South Tyneside councils now have a multi-million pound City Deal designed to strengthen the foundations of their economic growth. The deal will lead to the long-awaited redevelopment of Sunderland’s Vaux Brewery site and a major new advanced manufacturing park for the automotive supply chain, offshore industry and other

hi-tech firms. Both councils have put in cash to get the scheme off the ground and have been backed by £5m of Government money, with more than £80m set to follow for a new road bridge over the Wear. NECC chief executive James Ramsbotham says: “This is the right project at the right time in the right area and another boost to an economy that has stabilised and is showing signs of growth.” An advanced manufacturing park to the west of the A19 is expected to be completed by 2027, creating 5,200 new manufacturing jobs and 3,700 are expected to be created by 2031 with the Vaux site plans.

SMALL, AND PERFECTLY FORMED Sunderland has been named a top small European city for investment. It was named in the top four small European cities and eighth top Northern European city for foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy in a study by fDi magazine, a Financial Times publication. Sunderland City Council’s business investment team has

Coun Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council

worked closely with the private sector to help secure 14,500 jobs and £2.5bn of capital investment to the city over the last decade.

Amanda Maskery, Sintons

ne of the country’s leading dental lawyers has become the first woman to chair the Association of Specialist Providers to Dentists (ASPD). Amanda Maskery, partner at Newcastle-based law firm Sintons, has been elected to the top position in the ASPD, an esteemed national network of legal, business and financial professionals who provide services to dentists. Amanda, hailed by Legal 500 as, “A top dental sector specialist”, is part of Sintons’ nationally regarded healthcare team. She takes over at the helm from Steve Pratt, senior healthcare banking consultant at Lloyds Bank who is based in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. Amanda - also trustee of Tyne Gateway Trust and governor of Newcastle High School for Girls – combines her dental specialism with work in the wider healthcare sector, and advises on mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, partnerships and LLPs for individuals and organisations both regionally and nationally. Amanda said: “Through combining expertise from across the UK, the ASPD is recognised as a mark of endorsement for providers to dentists, and is one of the main places for dentists to source their legal and financial services. “I am hugely proud to become chair after two years as vice chair, and it is an honour to become the first woman to take on this role. Working with ASPD members from across the country, I look forward to taking the organisation forward and on to even greater successes.” Outgoing chair Steve Pratt said: “I am delighted that Amanda will be taking on the chair of ASPD. She has provided invaluable support to me personally during my two years as chair, and her undoubted expertise, enthusiasm and humour will continue to be a real asset to ASPD. I look forward to supporting her over her two year tenure.”

Sintons LLP, Barrack Road, Newcastle, NE4 6DB tel: 0191 2267878, www.sintons.co.uk APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 15

NEWS

PRESIDENT’S CLUB UPDATE With Eamonn Leavey, head of NECC President’s Club March saw the ninth NECC President’s Club lunch for key senior North East business leaders from all the sectors across the region. More than 150 attendees heard Charlie Bean, deputy governor of The Bank of England, give his views on the economy and answer questions from the business leaders. NECC President’s Club, which is for large corporate and influential North East businesses, has grown considerably since its inception in late 2010. We now have nearly 250 businesses engaged at this higher level of NECC membership. This year Brewin Dolphin became the inaugural sponsor of the President’s Club and it is fantastic to have this great North East business associated with NECC. NECC President’s Club has proved to be a powerful connector for the region’s key business leaders and it is great to have this very influential group of members engaged with what the NECC is driving forward for the region in terms of policy and representation. Eamonn Leavey, tel 07714 845 624, email eamonn.leavey@necc.co.uk Twitter @NECCEamonn

Mark Pemberton and Gary Lamb on the shop floor of the Sunderland-based engineering firm Haskel

Bright sparks cut costs at Haskel Idea-sharing scheme set to save £100,000

HEALTHY BUSINESS Adoption of the Chamber Healthcare Plan has increased dramatically as companies look for affordable ways to provide employee healthcare. Westfield Health is the official partner of the British Chamber of Commerce and offers health cover through the Chamber Primary Health Plan. Sue Han, business development consultant for Westfield Health, says: “The Plan offers a valuable, low-cost employee benefit and with cover starting at £1.10 per employee, per week, you can keep your workforce happy and healthy at work.”

16 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

£96,000 via a holistic approach to value ngineering firm Haskel engineering, bringing departments from expects to make nearly finance to stores, purchasing to fitters £100,000 in savings this to the shop floor to examine every year thanks to an ideaaspect of the design and manufacture sharing scheme with staff. of a product. The Sunderland-based company, During 2013, three product which is a world leader in the ranges went through the design and manufacture of “WE PROMOTE process and Haskel plans high-pressure pumps and THE PRINCIPLE to value engineer a further valves for the defence, THAT THERE’S six this year. energy, and oil and gas Operations manager sectors, has boosted NO SUCH THING Gary Lamb says: “We productivity, profitability AS A BAD IDEA” strongly promote the and competitiveness principle of ‘there is no such through its ‘value thing as a bad idea’. engineering’ process. “We don’t action them all, but the Last year, Haskel saved £30,000 vast majority of ideas are explored and through the scheme, and this year it changes made.” expects to make further savings of

NEW BEGINNINGS Hartlepool-based C&A Pumps and Engineering is celebrating winning a prestigious business award and expanding its fleet of vehicles. The firm, set up in 2012, won the manufacturing category in the Tees Valley Best New Business Awards. It has also invested £60,000 towards two new vans as it continues to secure

engineering installation and maintenance contracts across the region. C&A has also been shortlisted in the Heart of the Community Awards in recognition of its work with school and college leavers and its commitment to providing work for former armed forces personnel.

NEWS

TESTING TIMES

AWARD STARS Ten of the region’s stars of the hospitality industry have been recognised at a gala awards ceremony. The North East Hotels Association Excellence Awards at the Marriott Newcastle Gosforth Park Hotel attracted hundreds of entries from across the region. Award winners included staff from Matfen Hall, Durham and Newcastle Marriotts, Staybridge Suites, Beamish Hall, Rockliffe Hall, Close House, Ramside Hall, Holiday Inn, and Wynyard Hall.

Lynn Waterman, sales director at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, named Best Sales Person of the Year at the Hilton awards ceremony and conference

Owen Pugh Group has ploughed £100,000 into moving and extending its on-site materials testing laboratory at its Marsden Quarry site in Whitburn. It has also bought new equipment, eliminating the need to subcontract some of its work. The investment means the materials testing facility has moved into 1,000sqft of lab space and the expanded scope of work includes aggregate testing and concrete sampling. The five-strong lab team is set to increase to seven to meet the new workload.

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 17

NEWS

Money talks Plans to speed up payments between businesses are being backed by the North East Chamber of Commerce. NECC responded to the Government’s late payment consultation, which outlines plans to mandate prompt payment all the way down public procurement supply chains. The organisation also believes this must be accompanied with enforcement and oversight mechanisms to ensure payment terms are not lengthier further down the supply chain, as well as action to address late payment in the private sector more broadly.

NEWS

Taxi touchscreens Commercial law firm Muckle LLP has advised on a project to bring interactive screens into Newcastle taxis. The eight-inch 3G multimedia screens are being introduced to taxis in Newcastle through The City Portal scheme, created by Newcastle-based entrepreneur Richard Baker. It was funded by North East venture capital firm Rivers Capital Partners, which manages the North East Angel Fund, part of Finance for Business North East. Muckle acted for Rivers Capital. Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle City Hall and the O2 Academy plan to integrate with the portal.

The number of cruise ships docking at Port of Tyne has risen in recent years and will number at least 31 during 2014

Port in cruise control

executives will gather to discuss the state ort of Tyne is heading to Miami of the industry and to begin planning future in a bid to attract more visiting cruise ship schedules. cruise ships. Already, 31 cruise calls are Last year, the port’s expected at Port of Tyne during passenger terminal ALREADY, 31 2014, including two new cruise welcomed more than 623,000 CRUISE CALLS companies, Portuscale Cruises cruise and ferry passengers ARE EXPECTED with the MV Azores and on some of the world’s AT PORT OF V-Ships with the MV Artania. biggest cruise ships. TYNE IN 2014 The German cruise line Peter The port will be among Deilmann is returning with the MV hundreds of ports and cities Deutschland, along with Hapag from around the globe at the Lloyd’s inaugural call of the Hanseatic and world’s biggest cruise shipping business Swan Hellenic is revisiting with Minerva. convention in Miami. Leading cruise

VIDEO OF THE MONTH

SLAM DUNK

http://goo.gl/dBntGE

18 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

Office banter inspired by our feature about Duncan Fisher (page 38) led us to look up the great basketball coach John Wooden (1910-2010), whose inspiring words inspired generations of business leaders and sportsmen during his long life. In this TED talk, he redefines success and urges us all to pursue the best in ourselves. Inspiring stuff!

ADVERTORIAL

SHOULD DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS BE RECORDED? Covert recording of private discussions at disciplinary and grievance hearings admissible in employment tribunal proceedings

Lee Betchley, solicitor and head of employment at Clarke Mairs LLP

mployers often ask me whether or not they should allow an employee to record a disciplinary or grievance hearing. I always say no, and advise employers that their disciplinary and grievance policies should contain an express prohibition against the recording of disciplinary and grievance hearings unless consent is given by the employer. An interesting case caught my eye recently which concerned the secret recording of disciplinary and grievance hearings. The question was whether or not such recordings can be admitted as evidence in employment tribunal proceedings. An employment tribunal has a wide discretion when deciding whether or not a particular piece of evidence can be admitted in proceedings. If the particular piece of evidence is relevant to the issues to be determined, then it will normally be admissible, unless there is a good reason for its exclusion. In this recent case, the employee was employed by a bank and prior to the employee’s resignation, she had attended disciplinary and grievance hearings with her employer. The employee had secretly recorded the hearings, including the private deliberations of the managers responsible for deciding the various matters. The employee subsequently made several complaints to an employment tribunal, including allegations of discrimination. As a part of the case management process, the employee disclosed the secret recordings to her former employer. It, quite understandably, objected to the admissibility of the private deliberations of managers, which ran to approximately 30 seconds at the disciplinary hearing and approximately 15 minutes at the grievance hearing. One of the comments made during the private deliberations concerning the grievance hearing included the bank’s managing director giving an instruction to dismiss the employee. Not helpful to the bank. An employment tribunal judge held that the recordings of both the private and public conversations/deliberations were admissible as

evidence at the forthcoming final hearing of the employee’s various complaints. The bank appealed this decision, but its appeal was unsuccessful. The appeal court held that the recordings were indeed admissible as evidence at the final hearing and that it would be for the employment tribunal to decide on the weight to be given to the recordings and their impact (if any) on the issues which it must determine. The next time I am asked by an employer whether or not they should allow a grievance or disciplinary hearing to be recorded by the employee, when saying no I will also advise that the panel dealing with the hearing should ensure that the employee is not permitted to bring into the hearing any items other than the necessary paperwork and seek confirmation at the outset from the employee and his/her companion that the hearing is not being secretly recorded. In addition, panel members would be wise to ensure that no items are left in the hearing room while they conduct their private deliberations.

Lee Betchley is a barrister (non-practising), solicitor and head of employment at Clarke Mairs LLP T: 0191 2454817 E: leb@clarkemairs.com

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 19

NEWS

BUILDING

Appliance of science

Colin Easton

Safety first A family-run Teesside engineering business is establishing a new company to cope with overseas demand. ProSalus is one of the UK’s only independent technical safety consultancies, specialising in the implementation and compliance of safety standards for the likes of the oil and gas, petrochemical and pharmaceutical sectors. Now, thanks to increasing worldwide demand for its training services, the team has established Easton Functional Safety Training and Services (EFSTAS). ProSalus was established by husbandand-wife team Colin and Carol Easton and now employs a team of six technical consultants and two support staff at its Stokesley Business Park headquarters as well as a number of associates who deliver courses across the world.

Newcastle University has taken a major step forward in its plans to create a £50m “living lab” at the former home of Scottish and Newcastle Brewery. Based at Science City’s Science Central site, the university aims to build a pioneering research centre specialising in urban sustainability. Now, it has announced the appointment of London-based architecture practice Hawkins/Brown, in conjuction with Buro Happold and BD Landscapes, to design the lab, following an invited design competition with advice from the Royal Institute of British Architects. The contest called for teams to design a “distinct and recognisable building which would underpin the university’s core theme of digitally‑enabled urban sustainability environments”. Measuring 10,000sqm, the lab will be the first independent Newcastle University building on Science Central, and is expected to open at the beginning of the academic year in 2017. The 24-acre Science Central site is expected to attract cutting-edge science and technology organisations to a mixed new community encompassing a variety of educational, business, residential and leisure uses.

PRESSING AHEAD A North East marketing communications business has undergone a management buyout on the back of a successful 10-year growth plan. Founded in 2004, Sunderland-based Press Ahead, now led by MD Kieron Goldsborough (pictured), has 12 employees. Company founder Russell Borthwick has left Press Ahead to become MD of the North East division of newspaper group Trinity Mirror, having previously worked for the group in a variety of positions. Goldsborough, who has been with the company for two years in the role of creative director, was supported in the MBO

20 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

by Rob Phillips, head of corporate at Muckle LLP and assistant solicitor Adam Rayner of Muckle LLP together with Mark Batty, chartered surveyor of MB Consulting.

NEWS CUTTING THE RISKS Law firm Hay and Kilner has launched a new HR management development service to help businesses effectively manage their workforce. HR Showcase has been designed by the employment team at Hay and Kilner, based on the needs of their clients. It provides practical guidance for making stronger decisions and helps to minimise the risks inherent in managing a workforce.

NEWS

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE BRICKS AND MORTAR

Thirteen Group’s Cath Purdy (left), chief operating officer designate and Alison Thain, chief executive designate

Tees Valley’s two largest housing groups have been given approval to merge. Fabrick Housing Group and Vela Group officially revealed Thirteen Group, the name for the new organisation when they form a new group structure in April. The two, which together own more than 32,000 homes from North

Tyneside to York, were given approval to merge by the Homes and Communities Agency. With a turnover of around £140m a year, Thirteen Group will be the largest registered housing provider in the North East and in the top 25 nationally. It will also be one of the ten largest employers in the North East.

Story Homes is building a second development of family homes in the North East. Kingsbrook Wood at Stainsby Hall Farm in Middlesbrough is a development of 126 properties, which is part of a larger 339-home build on the site. With one development in Co Durham already well under way and many more potential projects in the pipeline, Story Homes is making a name for itself in the North East.

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 21

NEWS

GROWTH

Exclusive expansion Recruitment and HR consultancy Exclusive has taken on North East headquarters two and a half times the size of its former premises and doubled the size of its global team as it looks to grow both divisions of its rapidly expanding business. Exclusive has more than doubled the size of its head office, from 580sqft to 1,500sqft at Prestwick Park near Newcastle International Airport. The firm, which also has offices in Leeds, Scotland and the US, is confident the move will give it room for further expansion. Named Business of the Year at the recent Culture for Success Awards, Exclusive puts its growth down to its ‘human approach to customer service’.

Exclusive Recruitment & HR Consultancy managing director Mark Ions with Prestwick Park Business Park manager Julie Elliott outside Exclusive’s new premises in the Grey building.

MOVING DAY The purpose-built £6.6m Washington Business Centre has been handed over to Sunderland City Council by developers and is opening its doors to its first tenants. Construction of the centre, built by the Wilton Developments and Clugston Estates joint venture Barmston Developments and contractor GMI Construction, started in July last year and was completed in mid-February. Based at Turbine Business Park, Washington Business Centre is expected to create or sustain more than 200 job for up to 40 new or growing firms, with office space, hybrid units, workshops and meeting rooms.

22 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

Coun Harry Trueman, deputy leader of Sunderland City Council, and Arun Mistry of Barmston Developments at Washington Business Centre

ADVERTORIAL

Image: 1000 Words / Shutterstock.com

SECURITY STANDARDS

A GAINFULLY EMPLOYED

he region continues to show an improving picture in terms of employment. The latest headline figures show employment in the North East stands at 1,192,000 or 68.2% – a rise of 14,000 over the quarter and 25,000 over the year. This compares to a rate of 72.3% nationally. North East unemployment stands at 125,000 or 9.5% – a fall of 8,000 over the quarter and 2,000 over the year. This compares to a rate of 7.2% nationally. The claimant count stands at 70,300 (fall of 1,700 between January and February) or 5.7% in the North East, compared to 3.5% nationally. NECC manager of policy and research Mark Stephenson

says: “The North East has improved on all measures within the labour market between November 2013 and January 2014, which is to be welcomed. “The increase in the yearon-year figure for employment added to the reduction in the year-on-year unemployment figure are particularly welcome. “However, the North East unemployment rate is still the highest in the country, which has to be a focus for policy makers moving forward. Even so, with the North East total number of unemployed at its lowest since mid-2012, these figures must be welcomed. They illustrate the growing optimism we are seeing among our members, as reflected through our Quarterly Economic Survey.”

GOING FOR GROWTH Altec Engineering has announced a £1.5m expansion programme for the company’s Bowburn facility in Co Durham. The investment is a key part of Altec’s five-year strategy for growth, which will see floor space increase by 75%, the recruitment of additional staff, and the purchase of new plant

and equipment. Once completed, the 7,500sqft extension will allow Altec to double capacity and turnover while increasing profitability. An additional 18 skilled engineering jobs will be created, five of which will be apprentices, bringing the total employed by the company to 80.

s the UK’s principal expert on digital evidence to ISO/IEC, and editor or co-editor of four new standards for information security investigations, I have to attend two international committee meetings each year - so I’m off to Hong Kong soon! Nobody pays me to do this. Nobody covers my expenses except my own company. And, more worryingly, nobody seems to be paying attention to the standards we have been drafting. Unlike the more conventional information security standards, the group that I’m responsible for are all about what to do when things go wrong. They don’t tell you how to stop intrusions and data theft, they tell you how to prepare for and conduct an investigation. These new standards cover every aspect of digital investigation, from first discovery of an incident, right through to production of reports and, now encompass the emerging technology and techniques of eDiscovery and eDisclosure for everyone at board-level down. The methods that the standards describe have been designed to be easy to understand and apply, and to be compatible with the accepted European standards for law-enforcement forensic sciences so that we can be sure that, if the very worst does happen, a company’s own actions don’t result in evidence being compromised before a criminal investigation commences. Moreover, by applying the standards early, an organisation can ensure that it maximises its own ability to learn from incidents without compromising ability to bring systems back online as quickly as possible. None of it is rocket-surgery, but it does require a change in the way that staff think about incidents and how they work together. Given the benefits that can be achieved, why is nobody really considering these innovations and how they can help their businesses? The few organisations we’ve trained have found it beneficial. I’d love to hear your views. Please do share them with me.

Angus Marshall is a director of n-gate ltd., a firm which specialises in solving “interesting” forensic science problems. He is also a registered expert adviser to law enforcement agencies and the UK’s principal expert on digital evidence to the ISO Information Security committee. Tel : 0870 1998 506 email: contact@n-gate.net APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 23

NEWS

Keynote speaker for NECC AGM

in the company picking up the eading entrepreneur titles of North East Business Bryan Bunn, head of Awards Newcomer of the Year one of the North Award 2013 and National East’s greatest Chamber Award for Most business success Promising New Business 2013. stories of recent years, has Bunn, an engineer with been confirmed as the substantial experience on an keynote speaker at NECC’s international scale in the oil forthcoming AGM. and gas, petrochemical, The meeting in Durham in chemical, nuclear and iron and June is a landmark event in steel sectors, established the North East business Nortech in 2011. calendar, and will also A rapidly this year include the expanding unveiling of plans PLANS TO engineering for a year-long CELEBRATE design and celebration of 200TH project NECC’s 200th ANNIVERSARY management anniversary company, it serves in 2015. the offshore and It will also onshore oil and gas represent one of the few sectors as well as the annual opportunities for chemical process and steel businesses owners, managers industries, providing a fully and influencers from every integrated technical service sector to gather to share through the life cycle of a insights and assess the project from concept business and to completion. economic landscape. Based at Wynyard, near In his address, Bunn will Stockton, the company has share the inspiring story of had an incredible first two Nortech Group’s rapid years, during which turnover strategic expansion, resulting

has increased three-fold and the team has grown from four to 78. Bunn, 51, who started out as an apprentice mechanical engineer at ICI Billingham, heads a hand-picked team with an extensive range of engineering skills and expertise producing worldclass results for a wide spectrum of blue-chip companies across the globe.

NEW TEAM CONSTRUCTED Law firm Sintons has formed a unique partnership to offer construction expertise. Newcastle-based Sintons is collaborating with niche London-based construction law firm Davies & Davies Associates to advise on complex construction matters around the world. Sintons’ construction team, including partners Hilary Parker and Graeme Ritzema with solicitor Alex Rayner, will work closely with Davies & Davies. This follows the high-profile addition of house building development specialist Alan Harkness to the Sintons team.

24 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

The combined teams

Meanwhile, Bunn is a passionate ambassador for the North East, on record as believing that the region’s people are one of its greatest exports and that the region’s engineering skills help to power companies all over the world. NEEC AGM 2014, 11.45am2pm, June 10, Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham. Book at www.necc.co.uk/events

ADVERTORIAL

HAY & KILNER LAUNCHES NEW TRAINING SERVICE FOR EMPLOYERS North East law firm Hay & Kilner has launched a new HR management development service to help businesses effectively manage their workforce.

Sarah Hall of Hay & Kilner, Paul Turbitt of Faltec, Sarah Furness and Neil Dwyer of Hay & Kilner, and Faltec’s managing director, Chris Pennison

R Showcase has been designed by the employment team at Hay & Kilner, based on the needs of their clients. It provides practical guidance for making stronger decisions and helps to minimise the risks inherent in managing a workforce. Among the first companies to take advantage of the HR Showcase service is Faltec Europe Ltd, a global supplier to automotive manufacturers. Chris Pennison, Managing Director of Faltec Europe Ltd commented: “The bespoke training we received was designed and delivered beyond our expectations. The training was absolutely value for money - anything that keeps me out of the Employment Tribunal is more than value for money.” The HR Showcase team comprises experienced lawyers who are knowledgeable, down to earth and skilled presenters. They offer a range of different training styles including seminars with interactive scenario based role plays, covering all HR related topics for groups of managers and for personal individual development. Some of their popular sessions include dealing with investigation and reporting, conducting disciplinary and grievance hearings, addressing the challenges of social media, and effective performance and absence management. Neil Dwyer, partner and head of employment at Hay & Kilner commented: “Prevention is better than cure. We train managers to handle all aspects of any HR process better so their decisions stand the test, which usually means less claims or appeals are made. In the long run that saves management time and legal costs. We empathise with the managers as we all have years of legal experience dealing with these matters. Each HR Showcase programme is developed to meet the goals, budgets and time constraints of each business. We tailor sessions to meet requirements.” HR Showcase is one of two new additional services Hay & Kilner has to offer their employer clients. The firm also recently launched their HR Key service. HR Key is a fixed price employment law service, backed by insurance protection. It provides a solution to the

headaches faced by employers of all sizes when dealing with the complexities of employment law and the ever-increasing burden of compliance. Alongside telephone support, and access to scores of useful documents related to employment issues, HR Key comes with the added beneﬁts of an annual audit to review contracts and staff handbooks, regular email updates and invitations to HR events.

The next event the Hay & Kilner employment team are proudly presenting is Columbo Investigates – “Just one more thing…” on Thursday, May 8, 2014 at the Centre for Life in Newcastle from 8:30am – 10:45am. This performance will show: by means of a role play, how to carry out a reasonable and effective disciplinary investigation to establish a bedrock for a fair dismissal; and where bribery is discovered, ways to prevent against criminal liability. To reserve your free place, contact Roya Babadi. Tel 0191 232 8345 or email roya.babadi@hay-kilner.co.uk For further information on HR Showcase or HR Key, contact Mike O’Beirne. Tel 0191 232 8345 or email mike.obeirne@hay-kilner.co.uk Visit www.hay-kilner.co.uk

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 25

SUCCESS

Cook’s tours Nigel Cook, head of the 2013 UK Haulier of the Year, charity marathon runner, and entrepreneur shares his vision with Bryn Littleton

igel Cook is a master at playing the long game long-term planning, long-haul journeys and (incredibly) long vehicles. Which is apt for the MD of a company that has been around for a very long time. Like many of the North East’s business ‘elders’, Elddis Transport, which specialises in freight distribution and warehousing, combines cuttingedge practices with traditional values dating back to the late 1800s, when Cook’s great grandfather Thomas Cook made deliveries in and around Consett with his horse and cart. It’s a far cry from the 455 vehicles and trailers operated by Elddis, but the principles of customer service, staff satisfaction and continuous development remain. “One of the main benefits of Elddis being a family business is not only our ability to make decisions and act on them quickly, but also that we can make decisions for the long term,” says Cook. “We don’t just look for shortterm profit; we ensure everything we do and every decision we make will help take the business forward long into the future. Fuel consumption is an incredibly important area for us. We

insulate ourselves. As well as monitor the way our drivers closely monitoring our drivers operate their vehicles, taking into we also worked with an account engine idling time, aerodynamicist to design acceleration and braking, and spoilers for the tucks to improve how the weather impacts on the aerodynamics and reduce fuel amount of fuel used. A windy consumption.” day can cost us half a mile per Elddis Transport’s distinctive gallon across the whole fleet. yellow and white livery has been Fuel is our biggest cost and we a regular on UK roads for spend more on fuel than we do decades. Great grandfather on wages. Improving mpg is at Thomas Cook may have started the top of our agenda.” with a horse and cart, but by the Elddis spent £8m on diesel time his son Siddle Cook took last year - almost £22,000 a day over in 1942 the firm was - and it has trucks on the road operating a fleet of heavy every day bar Christmas Day. haulage vehicles. “It’s vital that we remain Then, Siddle C cost-conscious and Cook Transport efficient,” says “IT CAN BE was sold in 1964, Cook. “For an THE SMALL and Nigel Cook’s industry with low INNOVATIONS father Geoffrey margins it can be the small THAT MAKE A REAL established Elddis Transport innovations that DIFFERENCE” in 1971. Between make a real times, the family also difference.” started and sold two It was recently caravan firms, Elddis Caravans estimated by an industry and Compass Caravans. publication that the average “We’ve always adapted,” says profit margin for transport Cook. “Consett Steelworks was companies is less than 1%. “Fuel our largest customer and when it prices and the recession did closed in 1980 it hit us hard, but affect us and we had to make we survived and kept building some difficult decisions, but I’m the business. We now have nine proud that we still managed to operating centres in Lancashire, give our workforce pay rises and Yorkshire, and the North East keep the business profitable,” and we deliver throughout says Cook. “We saw what was mainland UK. As a family firm, coming and took measures to

26 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

“We take our responsibility to the community very seriously”

we have a family ethos and we have incredibly loyal employees. We have two drivers in their 70s and they’ve been here since 1971. This loyalty is reflected in our customers too; three of our top five have been with us since 1971.” All Elddis’ HGVs are Mercedes Benz and the firm has established close links with the German manufacturer, which has led to Elddis carrying out on-road trials for it. Elddis also runs the largest trailer in the UK – 15.65 metres as opposed to the usual 13.6. “A normal high cube trailer will accommodate 52 pallets, but this one takes 90,” says Cook. “It saves 250,000kg of carbon emissions per year.” In addition to developing existing markets and managing an extensive property investment portfolio, the business has a car MOT and service garage, a caravan storage operation and a pallet repair business, collectively increasing turnover and diluting its exposure to one market. The company is also opening its own Authorised Testing Facility (ATF), which will allow it to MOT its own and other HGVs. Elddis claimed the Environmental and Sustainability Award at the North East Business Awards 2013, it won the Newcastle Building Society Cornerstone of the Community honour, and was named 2013’s UK Haulier of the Year. Elddis has also raised more than £120,000 for Lanchester’s Willowburn Hospice, and Cook did 10 half marathons in eight months for the hospice, of which he is now a trustee. “We take our responsibility to the community very seriously,” he says. “Nobody wants large trucks trundling past their doors every day, we understand that. So we see it as our responsibility to give something back.” CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 27

NECC POLICY

An angel for the north? NECC director of policy Ross Smith takes a look at what the Chancellor’s 2014 Budget speech means for North East business

his year’s Budget was a more comfortable experience for George Osborne than any he had delivered previously. With economic growth finally accelerating and labour market figures improving, the Chancellor was spared the pressure that has weighed on previous speeches. But the UK’s fiscal problems are far from solved. At 74.5% of GDP, debt is still unsustainably high and is due to rise for two further years. While there may be debates about the speed and manner in which the deficit is tackled, the necessity of wideranging cuts for several years ahead is accepted by both Government and Opposition.

Economic growth and falling unemployment mean the pain of this process is being eased thanks to the strong performance of businesses, including NECC’s members. Nevertheless, the process goes on – which meant Mr Osborne did not have the freedom to offer big giveaways, even with an election looming. He therefore needed to take measures that were sensible and targeted, and not the gimmicks, like the ‘pasty tax’, that have got him into trouble previously. He said his Budget was for “makers, doers and savers” – and it was the last of these that got most of the attention after some far-reaching reforms to pensions were announced.

28 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

But for the “makers and doers” that constitute NECC’s membership, there were also some important measures. The most eye-catching was a package of support to assist energy-intensive industries hit hard by the cost of power and environmental measures which have imposed charges well beyond competitor economies. Due to the nature of our industrial base – including chemicals and steelmaking in Tees Valley – the North East is the most energy-intensive region in the country, and therefore most affected by these measures. A cap on the carbon price support rate, extensions to compensation schemes and a new exemption for combined heat and power plants could

have a combined benefit of £60m in the region in 2018-19. It has come too late to save the Alcan plant in Northumberland, but hopefully in time it will ensure investment continues elsewhere. The increase in the Annual Investment Allowance to £500,000 to the end of 2015 could be an important stimulus, with increasing business investment crucial to a sustained recovery. NECC’s Quarterly Economic Survey has shown many more firms planning investments, which is matched by the experience of North East banks. This extra incentive – one Mr Osborne had reduced in earlier budgets – could be the catalyst needed to bring more

of these plans to fruition. It is widely recognised that exporting is one of the biggest strengths of the North East economy.This is the only region with a consistently positive balance of trade and exports have a bigger share of our economy than any other in the country. Increasing support available through UK Export Finance therefore stands to make a bigger impact here than anywhere else. However, for this measure to have geniune impact – just like other positive initiatives like extensions to R&D tax credits – more effort needs to go into ensuring businesses are better informed of how to take advantage. The Help to Buy scheme for new-build homes has

with us to help identify the been extended to 2020. top priorities for members, With greater capacity for and several elements of development than almost our submission have been anywhere else and a need addressed. Others remain to attract and retain skilled outstanding, including workers, this policy must be following through matched by a positive on planned attitude to housing infrastructure by planning “AMID MANY investments authorities in DIFFICULT CHOICES, and business the North East. THE PRIVATE rates reform. Skills issues SECTOR HAS THE We judged this, were also BEST ENVIRONMENT however, to be a addressed by TO THRIVE” sensible Budget an extension to which imrpoves the Apprenticeship conditions for doing Grant for Employers. business in the North East. While this is welcome, there The impact of are still concerns that it members’ comments was may be undermined for acknowledged at NECC’s some SMEs by reforms post-Budget briefing by being considered in funding Hexham’s Conservative MP for training. Guy Opperman and Catherine Once again, NECC Partner McKinnell, Labour MP for member KPMG worked

Newcastle North. Both made clear the value they place on hearing businesses’ priorities through NECC, which helps them to represent local firms effectively in Westminster. Those messages will become more important in the next few years, given the scale of deficit reduction still to come. Amid many difficult choices, the private sector has the best possible environment to thrive if economic growth is to be maintained. It is the role of organisations like NECC to explain how that can be achieved. If that environment isn’t provided, then Mr Osborne will find future budgets uncomfortable again.

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 29

PROFILE

Taxis drive tax debate

Cutting your business’ carbon footprint is not only important for the sake of the environment, it can also make a big difference to your bottom line, as Alex Hurst, MD of Phoenix Taxis explains to Dean Bailey

hen was the last time you really thought about the way your business uses taxis? Perhaps it was when you blanched at the sight of the bill and wondered for about the hundredth time if anyone takes the bus anymore. But what if your firm’s use of taxis actually results in the gathering of those tax-cutting eco points every company is now expected to collect? What if you are actually doing your bit for the environment by using taxis, and making a hole in your tax bill at the same time? Larger companies, says green taxi operator Alex Hurst, can regularly save in excess of 500kg of carbon dioxide each month by travelling in green taxis compared to standard diesel cars. That’s the equivalent of a flight from London to New York, and not only does that make you feel

good, it’s also good business sense. For as the cost of ‘green taxes’ continues to rise, every business has to take seriously the job of reducing its environmental impact, and a number of the North East’s biggest companies are looking to Blyth-based Phoenix Taxis to help them to do just that. Clients including Accenture, Balfour Beatty, Bond Dickinson and more use Phoenix, MD Alex Hurst believes, primarily because of its green credentials. “Everyone is keen to cut their carbon footprint, whether it’s a small business with 20 employees or a multi-national which has to cut its environmental impact around the world. The carbon cost of taxis can be a big part of that,” says Hurst. “We’re able to show our clients on a monthly basis how much carbon they’re saving by using us instead of a conventional operator, and

30 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

that’s important because they have to demonstrate that they are actively reducing their carbon footprint.” Phoenix Taxis, which was founded by Hurst’s father Hugh in 1990, began introducing LPG vehicles in the mid-1990s. Now, a quarter of the 170-strong Phoenix fleet is electric or hybrid and the green fleet is growing. Hurst is committed to eventually running an entirely carbon-free fleet. The company markets itself on its eco credentials, while its website proudly carries the tagline, ‘the green, clean, taxi company’. The company has also managed to cut its own carbon footprint by a third since 2010, despite almost doubling turnover and dramatically increasing its fleet size. The Phoenix fleet includes 30 hybrid vehicles and a further 10 will join the fleet this summer. There are also 15 Nissan LEAFs making up the biggest fleet of electric taxis

in Europe. “We have a great relationship with Nissan, and they have supported us with the installation of two rapidcharge points,” says Hurst. “We now also offer advice to a number of other taxi companies and we’ve had businesses from London, Falkirk, Dundee and Cornwall, to name a few, getting in contact with us about the cars. “Everyone seems to be very impressed with what we’re doing, and they’re taking our practices and applying them to their local area. I think the title of the largest electric fleet in Europe could go elsewhere very soon.”

compared to £100-£200 in The drivers of these hybrid fuel. That’s a serious saving.” and electric taxis also benefit The future, says Hurst, is from the firm’s green strategy. “The savings for the drivers are undoubtedly green. “An all-electric vehicle fleet is huge,” says Hurst. “On a definitely the future hybrid taxi, a driver of the taxi can expect to industry; save in the “£18 A WEEK possibly the region of £30 TO CHARGE AN motor vehicle per week on ELECTRIC CAR industry as a fuel, which IS A SERIOUS whole. We makes for a SAVING” would like to serious saving think that by 2018 over a year. we will have a full fleet “On an electric of electric vehicles.” vehicle the savings are even He has also implemented greater, with the drivers saving in the region of £5,000 per year environmentally friendly practices throughout the in fuel costs. It’s £18 a week to company, including working charge the electric car,

with the Woodland Trust on a tree-planting initiative. For every £1,000 spent with Phoenix by clients, the firm is planting 10 trees on their behalf. “With a turnover in the region of £4m, that’s a lot of trees,” says Hurst. Phoenix is also helping to support the electric car infrastructure in Newcastle, teaming up with Newcastle University to install the city’s first rapid-charge point in April. “Our business is being copied up and down the country and that will have a big impact on the environment, as well as spreading our reputation. It’s a win-win.”

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 31

PROFILE

Tunnel vision TT2 Limited CEO Rachel Turnbull shares her drive for regional success with Owen McAteer

aving been dubious when she was asked to become involved in the management of a pair of mile-long road tunnels, Rachel Turnbull has since discovered that her job also influences the prosperity of communities the length of a 70-mile stretch of A-road. The chief executive of Tyne Tunnel operator TT2 is a voice on issues including infrastructure, tourism, and employability skills; all of them important in ensuring that the tunnel remains a successful business. She is tasked with delivering returns not only for the public sector Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority, but also for the private investors behind the second Tyne Tunnel, who raised £117m towards the cost of the tunnel while £243m came from the public sector. Returns have to be delivered to the private investors over a 30-year period to 2037. Toll prices are capped and tunnel management is not allowed to use special offers

to drive traffic, so when tasked with delivering those returns, Turnbull, an accountant by profession, realised she had to change perceptions to drive business. Anyone who lived in the region prior to the opening of the second tunnel in 2012 will have been used to the extended delays which typified journeys through its forerunner. “Then, literally overnight,” says Turnbull, “the traffic was moving. Not only had we dealt with the existing congestion, we also had an immediate 15% increase in traffic.” Marketing the improvements in an area where people had been reluctant to live on the “wrong” side of the tunnel or seek work requiring a daily commute through it was a challenge. “We used general marketing to say ‘both tunnels are open and there’s no congestion’ and then we looked at more strategic marketing, at how people moved around the region,” she says. “We spoke to estate agents and recruitment agencies and they came on board, for

32 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

“Not only had we dealt with the existing congestion, we had an immediate 15% increase in traffic”

example by recruitment agents recommending a position in Sunderland to someone living to the north of the tunnel. Now people are moving through the north/south divide. They know the tunnel is reliable. It opens up the region at a time of increased opportunity along the A19 corridor. The tunnel is key to economic development and to attracting inward investment.” Ensuring that the region has the right infrastructure

to attract this investment is a passion. “Without infrastructure, I don’t think we can progress as a region. We are the only English region with a positive export balance and yet we have the worst infrastructure. We don’t have a motorway that connects us to the rest of the UK. The LEPs talk about education, housing, upskilling workers and bringing more jobs, and these are all vital, but they are not possible without the infrastructure to

support them.” Turnbull is keen that campaigns to improve the A1 do not result in the A19 becoming a poor relation. “I support the A1, but don’t forget the A19, because that will get the inward investment. The A19 is a business artery and it needs support. Most of the current inward investment is along the A19 and if I were a business looking to invest I would look at connectivity and infrastructure. The A1 needs a review and I support that, but

we can’t just look at one side of the region.” Turnbull admits that when she was first headhunted to become involved in the project at the age of 28, her initial instinct was not an immediate yes. “Infrastructure wasn’t something I particularly set out to do,” she reveals. “I was head hunted to start the project in 2007 based on my financial experience rather than in a chief executive role.

I was brought in on a sixmonth contract to set up the company, the processes, the contracts, IT infrastructure, everything related to a limited company. “When it was completed they asked me to stay on to look after the financial side and support the chief executive. Then in 2011 they asked me to take over the whole project. I was officially appointed in July 2012 when the Queen came here to

officially open the tunnels.” Success brings its challenges, and over-ambitious Initial revenue estimates meant a new business plan had to be put in place. Since the new company was formed to run the tunnels in 2007, staff numbers have been reduced from 108 to 55, as much down to advances in technology as finances. “The financial model at the start of the project couldn’t sustain the revenue growth, and this impacted on the operational cost model,” says Turnbull. “We had to manage a cost base relevant to income, and technology supports that by enabling manpower planning to become more directed rather than having staff on the ground continuously monitoring.” Being chief executive of a major project at the age of 35 doesn’t faze her. “I come from a mining village in Doncaster and my ambitions were always beyond what that could offer me. I don’t see it as age-related. If you are capable of achieving something I don’t see why age should play a role.” Having previously worked across the country for The Post Office, followed by a short stint at The Home Group, Turnbull now sits on the board of the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative as well as being involved with the Community Foundation and the local Education Business Partnership. And what do her daughters, aged four and seven, think when they go through the tunnels? “They say ‘this is mummy’s’ or ‘my mummy is the boss of the tunnels’. I think they’re quite proud, as I am. It’s a fantastic achievement and that’s down to everyone who has worked hard to make it a success. “For me, it’s not just a job. It’s part of my life.”

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 33

PROFILE

IT girl Liz Hands talks sexism, sales techniques and singing along to Chumbawumba with Waterston’s owner Sally Waterston

ally Waterston sounds like the perfect boss. Annual leave is unlimited at her IT company and you can work hours to suit you. On top of that, Waterston is understanding when it comes to domestic blips like sick children needing to be picked up from school and she buys every employee a birthday present. And this business philosophy clearly works, engendering a fierce loyalty among her staff and a strong work ethic. “There are very few people who come to work who don’t want to do a good job,” says Waterston, who founded her eponymous IT firm along with her husband Mike 20 years ago. “And if you get someone who isn’t motivated or doesn’t do a good job, then you have to just deal with that person. Fire them if you need to, but don’t change your approach to everyone else. It’s a source of total amazement to me that some companies don’t realise that if you don’t treat people well, they will have no incentive to treat your customers well.” Waterston now has 85 people working from two buildings on Durham’s Belmont Business Park and the firm’s London base. It’s come a long way since the company was set up in the basement of her home with a team of three which included her husband. They quickly outgrew their workspace, moving into offices offered by one of their clients before finding a permanent home in Durham. Now the firm has a string of high-profile clients, including Newcastle International Airport, Vopak,

34 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

Quorn Foods and Home Group. In its first year 20 years ago, Waterstons had a turnover of £120,000. It is now £6m, and 19 new employees have been taken on in the last 12 months. It’s not hard to see why jobseekers turn to the firm, although Waterston says she sees it as a privilege when people want to work for her. “This sounds cheesy,” she says, “but when people come and work for you, you should realise they are doing you a favour. There’s no assumption that you are doing them a favour by giving them a job, so it’s logical that you should understand if they have a domestic crisis and be there for them. “But it’s a two-way street. One of our customers had a problem over a weekend and one of our developers dropped everything and sorted it out. I told him to put a claim in, but he said he wasn’t going to because when his wife was pregnant and when his kids were ill, he was always able to have time off. That’s not why we do it, though. I didn’t want him to work the weekend without being paid; it’s about respect and trust.” That mutual respect allows an annual leave system, which may appear crazy, to work. “You can take as much holiday as you want, but you have to negotiate with your colleagues who have to cover you and you can never let your customers down,” explains Waterston. “It’s peer pressure as much as anything and you are measured on the amount of income you produce in a year. If you’ve been on holiday all the time, you’re not going to get a pay rise because we measure people by their

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 35

PROFILE

achievements and their performance. We don’t have cost-of-living rises.” As well as good relationships with staff, Waterston puts the company’s success down to strong links with clients. She has employed sales staff in the past, but has decided that is no longer the way forward in forming relationships. “It’s really difficult for sales people to understand what we do,” she says. “We realised we needed to grow because of what we know rather than having people going out and flogging us. “There’s a book by David Maister called The Trusted Advisor, and that’s what we are. We’re our customers’ trusted adviser and that’s how you get work, because people recommend you but also because you are thought leaders. We do loads of white papers, send out articles and do seminars every fortnight which customers are invited to, and they’re not selling exercises at all. They’re just knowledge sharing.” Waterston describes the firm’s toughest year as 2002 when she says: “We’d just moved here, it was after 9/11 and the bottom had dropped out of the world.” But the recovery from that year led to one of Waterston’s best moments in

the business. “We’d had to cancel a party because we didn’t have enough money. Then things started looking up so we had a really modest party at Hardwick Hall. A song by Chumbawamba came on - I Get Knocked Down, But I Get Up Again. Every single person in the business got up on the dance floor. We’ve never had a year like that again, but everyone pulled together when it mattered.” Waterston’s determination to create an environment of support came after she fell into the IT industry almost by accident. “In the early 1970s, Mike was doing a PhD and I took a temporary job earning £10 a week at the gas board,” she says. She then went for a job in the department dealing with efficiency savings. “Life, in my experience, is punctuated by random people who make a huge difference who you’ll probably never meet again. The guy who interviewed me asked if I’d ever thought about going into programming. Because I was desperate for a job, I said ‘well, it’s funny you should say that’, not having any idea what it was. I was terrified, because I knew nothing about it at first, but it was brilliant - absolutely the right job for me.”

“WE ARE OUR CUSTOMERS’ TRUSTED ADVISER, AND THAT’S HOW YOU GET WORK”

36 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

Waterston has, however, faced sexism as she climbed the ladder. “When I became a programmer in 1971, half the programmers were women. People think it’s always been male-dominated, but that’s not the case, though in the mid-70s sexism was alive and well. “One guy said he liked to have women operators because they could do the cooking on the night shift. Another said, ‘the problem with women like you is you expect us to hold the door open for you, but you still expect equal pay’. I said, ‘if you hold the door open for me, I won’t let it slam in your face, but if you’re asking me to choose between having the door opened for me and equal pay, which would you take?’” She doesn’t, however, believe in organising separate networks or courses for women to encourage them into IT. “I come across courses just for women and I think, ‘no, no, no’. Why would you cut yourself off and have your own little clique? It’s a shame there aren’t more women in the industry because IT offers fantastic opportunities and it’s something women can be brilliantly good at.” Waterstons has ambitious expansion plans, moving into bigger premises in London and replicating what it is doing there in other parts of the UK. There could soon be a lot more birthday presents to buy.

DRIVE THE STUNNING XC60 FROM ONLY £298 PER MONTH

WITH £1,999 DEPOSIT

CREDIT EXAMPLE Mill Price Deposit Manufacturer Deposit Contribution Amount of Credit Interest Interest rate (Fixed) 48 months at 1 Final Payment

(Guaranteed Future Value)

Total Amount Payable Duration Annual Mileage APR Representative

£25,999.00 £1,999.00 £750.00 £23,250.00 £4,320.32 3.04% £298.09 £13,262.00 £30,319.32 49 Months 6,000 miles

5.9%

VOLVO CARS NORTH EAST Mill Newcastle

Mill Sunderland

Mill Stockton

Mill Harrogate

Scotswood Road, Newcastle NE15 6BZ

Wessington Way, Sunderland SR5 3HR

Preston Farm Business Park, Stockton TS18 3SG

St James Retail Park, Knaresborough HG5 8PY

@millvolvo millvolvo

www.millvolvo.co.uk

Tel: 0800 612 4715

The price is based on a XC60 D4 SE FWD Manual FUEL CONSUMPTION IN MPG (L/100km) Urban 57.6/4.9 Extra Urban 65.7/4.3 Combined 62.8/4.5 Emissions 117g/km. Finance subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Personal Contract Purchase based on customer deposit of £1,999.00, followed by 48monthly payments of £298.09. Annual mileage of 6,000 miles, excessive mileage cost of 14.9p per mile applies. Applicant must be 18 or over. Guarantees/indemnities may be required. At the end of the Personal Contract Purchase there are three options: (1) Part exchange the vehicle, where equity is available (2) Pay the GFV (Guaranteed Future Value) to own the vehicle or (3) Return the vehicle. Further charges may be made subject to the condition of the vehicle. Santander Consumer (UK) plc T/A Volvo Car Credit RH1 1SR. Car featured for illustration purposes only. Ends 31/5/2014.

OUT TO LUNCH

Taste the difference Liz Hands lunches with Duncan Fisher, the hospitality group head who specialises in offering a taste of the unusual and the unique

merican basketball and the North East hospitality industry may not, at first glance, appear to have much in common. But John Wooden, the legendary US basketball coach whose words inspired generations of high achievers in sport and business, could have been talking about Duncan Fisher’s philosophy when he famously said: “Little details are vital. Little things make big things happen.” Fisher’s Apartment Group has certainly grown to be a big thing in the region’s hospitality scene, so we meet at Newton Hall - a luxury country house for hire on the Northumberland coast - before heading for lunch at the Joiners Arms down the lane in Newton village. They are two members of the extended Apartment Group family, which also includes some of Newcastle’s best-known bars and restaurants. Madame Koo, As You Like It, Florita’s and Nancy’s Bordello were joined most recently by House of Smith in the city. Meanwhile, in Sunderland, where Fisher grew up, he has opened Liberty

Brown and Dr Feelgood just outside the city centre. As Fisher gives us a tour of Newton Hall, undoubtedly the grandest property in his portfolio, it’s obvious that one of the keys to his success is his attention to detail. From stopping to fuss over the closing mechanism on the bi-fold doors leading to the hall’s impressive gardens, to discussing in detail the stain which should be used on the rustic wooden tables, there’s no area where Fisher will settle for ‘that’ll do’. Perhaps no wonder then that Newton Hall has weddings booked back-to-back for the coming season and that the Joiners Arms has recently received five-star coaching inn status. “We see the Joiners Arms as part of what we’re doing at Newton Hall,” says Fisher. “We call it the pub at the bottom of the garden. We do food at Newton Hall of course, but it’s nice to walk down here to eat aswell. We’ve had people in high heels in the hotel saying, ‘you mean we’ve got to put wellies on?’ but we want to encourage that. If you want a city-style escape, then

38 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

❝

We have everything from three courses to a nine-course feast

this place probably isn’t for you.” For someone best known for creating quirky city centre venues, there’s more than a hint of the country gent about Fisher these days. He has four horses stabled at his home in Felton, Northumberland for him, his two daughters, and partner Amanda to ride, and wherever he goes his working cocker spaniel Libby isn’t far behind. “I was never a dog person,” he says. “We got her for the girls, but now I can’t imagine being without her”. Libby seems to have landed on her paws as the Fisher household pet, quietly sitting under our table in the pub patiently waiting for little pieces of fish to make their way under the table, indicative of the relaxed ambience at the Joiners, where dogs are welcome and stone-flagged floors and wooden tables mix with quirky touches like vintage lampshades hanging over the bar. The décor at his venues tends towards the eccentric, exemplifying Fisher’s desire to offer his customers something uniquely different. “Lots of places feel corporate and samey and you feel like you could be anywhere,” he says. “We do things differently. We had the Virgin board fly up to stay at Newton Hall recently. They loved the atmosphere, the quirky interior design, the fantastic coastal location, and walking down to have meals here in the pub.” That desire to be different extends not just to the interiors but to the food. “It’s hard to get it right in this game,” he says, slipping Libby a piece of salmon. “In a pub, you can give someone a cocktail that isn’t quite to their taste and they’re still going to come back 10 minutes later and ask for a different drink. But at a place like Newton Hall, if the food isn’t right, the plate isn’t warm or the service isn’t up to scratch, it’s much harder to win that person back. But, it’s also much more rewarding and you get the longevity with it.” Fisher has just taken on a new chef to add more creativity to his venues’ cuisine and is aiming to encourage couples to be more adventurous in their menu choices when they book a wedding at Newton Hall. “I understand why people want to play it safe because they have to keep everyone happy, but we have everything from three courses to a nine-course feast. It’s all about having fun.”

BY THE SEASIDE

We’re eating early on Tuesday lunchtime so it’s quiet, but the atmosphere still exudes a certain warmth. We order one main and a few dishes from the light menu and share, tapas-style. Tempura king prawns come with an Asian coleslaw with just the right mix of chilli kick, sweet and sour (£8.50). They’re so delicious, we immediately order another plate. The black pudding is served atop a cherry tomato vinaigrette (£5.95) and it comes with bacon, again enjoyed by Libby the dog. Given that the chowder is dubbed ‘world-famous’ and it’s the dish Fisher usually orders from the menu, it would be rude not to try it. And it doesn’t disappoint. Locally smoked fish, mussels and clams combined in a delicately flavoured creamy broth (7.95). The naturally sweet flavours of butternut squash marry with salty stock and woody roasted sage in our starter-size risotto (£5.95). The baked salmon main course is a hearty portion served on crushed new potatoes with clams and a creamed leek sauce (£14.95). The bill is a reasonable £45.85. No wonder the Northumberland coast is such a gastro destination. The Joiners Arms, Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, NE66 3EA, tel 01665 576 112

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 39

❝

FAB 5

Fab 5 What a night!

How many of the invitations which land in your inbox do you take up? Read these recollections of some great events, and you might accept a few more…

Caroline Highfield

Karen Simms

Hannah Davies

Richard Swart

John Glendinning

I’ve been to everything from corporate lunches to football matches at Old Trafford, but the invites I enjoy most have to be days at the races. We do it a lot less now, but I love having the chance to get dressed up for the day and enjoy good food, champagne and the best seats. And it’s always better if someone else is paying! If I had to pick one I like to go to most it would have to be Ladies’ Day at York. It’s fantastic.

My trip to Twickenham for England’s match against Wales in this year’s Six Nations was undoubtedly the best hospitality event I have been to. We supped champagne and savoured canapés in the balmy spring sunshine as our host Mark Cueto regaled us with stories from his career, while Ben Cohen humoured us with tales from his time on Strictly Come Dancing. The highlight of the day was England’s 29-18 victory.

The best corporate hospitality I’ve had was the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation (MTPF) Ball in 2012. Cool Blue’s MD Tanya Garland is a founding member of the charity and I attended along with my colleagues to support MTPF and the fantastic work it does across Teesside. I’m a big fan of the comedian Patrick Monahan who was hilarious, and tens of thousands of pounds was raised.

Years of refusing to acquire a taste for Guinness were happily compromised while I was a guest of theirs at the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Paris, for England v South Africa in the quarter finals. I was considered a reasonably good player in my youth, despite an inability to catch a high ball, but this day I caught the ball soaring high into the crowd. It was the moment I finally recognised the true power of Guinness.

I’ve been lucky enough to be a guest at a number of professional golf tournaments all over the world. One of the best I’ve ever been to was last year’s BMW PGA at Wentworth. I was a guest in the main BMW hospitality tent and they pulled out all the stops. The highlight was being right on the side of the 18th green as Matteo Manassero holed the final putt to beat Simon Khan and Marc Warren in the play-off.

Director Reefstream telephone systems

Partner and head of Corporate and Commercial Sintons law firm

40 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

Senior account manager Cool Blue brand communications

Global operations director Berger Closures ring manufacturer

General manager Close House golf resort

ADVERTORIAL

SKILLS PILOT OFFERS NEW FUTURE FOR LOCAL SKILLS PROVISION An innovative approach to skills development funding is one step closer to leading the way in the future of skills provision.

Andrew Hodgson, North East Local Enterprise Partnership Vice Chair and Skills Board Chair

he North East Skills pilot, which is set to begin in September 2014 will help the North East Local Enterprise Partnership address the local skills challenge. Though financial incentives it will encourage colleges and local training providers to make sure skills provision meets needs of businesses. Focusing on job outcomes, higher skill levels and training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, (STEM), it will help create more and better jobs for the area. Since it was announced last summer, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership has been working with the Skills Funding Agency and local partners to develop the pilot. The pilot will introduce a new model for skills funding which is decided locally rather than by central Government. It will also play a significant role in shaping the Government’s policy on skills for young people and adults. Through financial incentives, the pilot will value colleges and training organisations for the added value that they generate. It will also enable the Enterprise Partnership to identify, and where necessary impose, financial penalties on colleges and training organisations which fail to align their training offer to the current and future skills needs of employers in the area. By doing so it will help support unemployed people back into work, increase the number of people with “STEM” skills and qualifications and encourage people to gain higher level skills. Andrew Hodgson, North East Local Enterprise Partnership Board Member said: “The pilot is a great opportunity for us to develop a model that really works for the North East. It helps ensure that training provision is meeting the skills needs of local business. At the Enterprise Partnership we have put the focus firmly on skills from the outsetoutset. The new model is hugely important to developing skills at every level, encouraging development of individuals and supporting economic growth. Effective skills and training programmes tailored to fit our area’s key sectors, for

all ages of workers, answer the immediate needs of employers as well as the future demands of our local economy.” The Enterprise Partnership recognises that the pilot alone can’t address all of the North East’s issues when it comes to skills. The area has an ageing workforce, which will create an anticipated 360,000 vacancies over 10 years. Most of these vacancies will require skilled individuals to fill them. Public funding is only a small proportion of the resources that are needed to drive up the levels of participation and achievement in education. Through the North East Strategic Economic Plan - which is due to be submitted to the Government at the end of the month - the Enterprise Partnership sets out a robust and comprehensive programme of activity. Alongside the pilot are number of investments in the area’s training facilities, particularly ones that focus on training in key sectors, and proposals to significantly increase the number of apprenticeship opportunities and improve the quality and scope of careers advisory services. Together the pilot and the plan’s proposals will improve the area’s skills offer and play a significant role in “creating more and better jobs” for the area. However, for the area to realise its potential its businesses and individuals must also invest in learning and development.

North East LEP 0191 222 3180 info@nelep.co.uk www.nelep.co.uk @northeastlep To sign up for North East LEP updates please visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/northeastlep

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 41

PROFILE

Food for thought

Liz Hands discovers the value of the food we generally throw away, thanks to the brains behind Emerald Biogas

o discreet is the 50,000 tonnes of leftover food turn-off to John are collected from businesses Warren ABP – a around the region, including large food waste Vale of Mowbray, Greencore, collection and and SK Chilled Foods, before animal by-product recycling being recycled by Emerald firm - that we miss it and have Biogas using anaerobic to double back on ourselves digestion technology to create after asking a local farmer energy and fertiliser. for directions. John Warren ABP manages But easy as it is to miss, the collection for Emerald down a tiny country Biogas through its lane in the picturefood disposal “OUR BUSINESS postcard pretty service at WAS ALWAYS scenery of Hamsterley, ABOUT Hamsterley, Co while the Durham, this is bio-fertiliser COLLECTING THE the birthplace derived from STUFF NO ONE of one of the waste ELSE WANTS” the region’s treatment process most innovative is supplied to land business ideas. owners within a ten-mile Brothers Adam and Antony radius of the plant Warren, who own the through Agricore. business, have just seen that Adam and Antony are the idea come to fruition with the third generation to run their opening of the Emerald Biogas firm, which was started by plant in Newton Aycliffe. their grandfather Ralph and The plant, brainchild of the later passed to their parents Warren brothers and Ian John and Elizabeth. “Our Bainbridge of Agricore – a business was always about farming, land, and resource collecting waste from farms,” management business based Adam explains. “The stuff that near Darlington - recycles no one else wants - the dead food waste to create animals, the animals that renewable energy. Around don’t make it, waste from

42 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

butchers shops and abattoir waste, fats and bones. “They used to get processed down to go into animal and pet feed, but with BSE and Foot and Mouth all those markets closed down and it now goes through a rendering process which gives you oil for biodiesel. All the proteins that would have gone into animal feed now go into power stations as a coal substitute. “From there, it was a natural move for us to go into food waste. There’s a lot of responsibility on food manufacturers to get this waste out of landfill and we’re offering a solution.” The £8m Emerald Biogas plant has taken years of planning. The partners first bought a 20-acre site on the Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate, a move they acknowledge was a gamble because they took it on the understanding they would get planning permission, but they didn’t know if funding would follow. Permission to build came in 2010, but it took a further two and a half years to raise the funding they needed. In the event, they won a £1.8m

regional development grant, put in the same amount themselves, secured a loan of £850,000 and finally sourced £3.3m funding from HSBC. “We must have done the same presentation at least 20 times,” says Antony. “We answered every question every time and each time we thought we’d cracked it. We’d get excited and then not hear anything. Our accountants hadn’t thought we’d have a problem getting funding, but it was at a time when banks weren’t lending money. Then

HSBC stepped in.” Suddenly the family business Adam and Antony have seen grow from just half a dozen employees to around 50 had become an operation with a multi-million pound turnover. It’s been a huge step for the family firm Adam, now 42, joined straight from school. “All I wanted to do was leave school as quickly as I could and be involved in the family business,” he says. “I stayed on and took my A-levels but even that was under duress. I joined as a labourer and worked my way through every aspect of the company. You get to know your customers that way and you’re not asking staff to do something you haven’t done yourself.” Adam has been general manager since the late 1990s, while Antony, 35, cut his teeth elsewhere before joining the business. “When I left school, it was a funny time in the industry because it was around the time of the furore over BSE. As a company, we didn’t know what the future held, so I did an engineering apprenticeship at Fujitsu before moving to Panasonic, going back to university and then deciding it was time to join.” The firm had also faced uncertainty through the Foot and Mouth crisis. “It was horrible,” says Adam, “seeing people who’d had cattle for generations forced to put them down. We got involved with the slaughter and transport of the animals, basing ourselves in Cumbria, and we also did a bit of haulage to keep ourselves busy rather than have to lay anyone off.” The brothers are also spreading the message about minimising food waste to local schools and in future they hope to turn household waste into energy. It seems Emerald Biogas will turn out to be the business gem the brothers have dreamt of. APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 43

SKILLS

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

APPRENTICESHIP WEEK

Joe Nicholson

A young apprentice is following in his father’s footsteps by joining the family firm. Joe Nicholson was offered a route into work-based training after joining Billingham-based Nicholson’s Transport last summer, where his dad David Nicholson is MD. The 17-year-old is on course to complete a BTEC in business administration via day release at Darlington College and is already looking ahead to a career in management. “When I left school after my GCSEs a lot of my friends were going straight onto college and university. But I knew I wanted to go into work because I’m much more of a practical person,” says Joe. He was already a familiar face at the depot, having completed work experience before starting his apprenticeship. Nicholson’s Transport’s focus on skills and training was recognised last year when the firm was highly commended in the Culture for Success Awards.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR

To receive news and information of NECC’s courses in your inbox To subscribe email: training@necc.co.uk

Apprentice Adam Donaldson, NECC chief executive James Ramsbotham and AIS instructor Mark Mann

Chief executive learns the ropes

National Apprenticeship Week 2014 got off to a flying start when the head of NECC turned apprentice When the boss of the region’s largest business membership organisation said he wanted to learn the ropes as an apprentice, he didn’t expect to be taken literally. James Ramsbotham spent the day hanging around at offshore training specialist Advanced Industrial Solution’s (AIS) rope access facility, learning what it takes to be an apprentice working in the offshore industry. The CEO, who took up the challenge to highlight the diverse apprenticeships on offer across the North East as part of NECC’s Apprenticeship Week activities, shadowed 18-yearold Adam Donaldson of Washington, who is six months into a three-year apprenticeship with AIS as a pipe insulation fitter. Instructors put him through his paces and soon had him dangling

44 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

from a rope 30ft above as well as the many they the ground, a common train from other companies, occurrence for offshore heat is infectious.” insulation engineers. Adam, who began his “Apprenticeships are a apprenticship on leaving vital part of the educational school last year, aims to offer available to young become an offshore heating people who face many insulation engineer. important decisions when He says: “I’d recommend they leave school,” says apprenticeships to anyone. Ramsbotham. The experience I have been “The range of able to secure while apprenticeships learning the theory that are has helped me “IT WAS available is progress quickly CHALLENGING, staggering, and I’ve enjoyed BUT INCREDIBLY from rope every minute. REWARDING” access “My aim is engineers to work in the to butchers, offshore oil and gas robotic electricians sector and I feel like I’m to dental nurses, there well on my way to achieving is an apprenticeship to that, and earning at the same suit everyone. time is great, too.” “Spending a day in the AIS is an award-winning rope access facility with manufacturer and service Adam and his colleagues provider to the offshore, wind at AIS was challenging, energy and industrial sectors. but incredibly rewarding It employs three apprentices and the enthusiasm of the - Adam, Jake Cosgrove and firm’s three apprentices, Hollie Appleby.

YOUNG TALENT

BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS Labman creates bespoke robots NECC’s James Ramsbotham also spent for industrial, laboratory and medical a day surrounded by cutting-edge applications. With customers worldwide, technology, state-of-the-art robots and the company produces world-class some of the region’s brightest brains automated solutions, many of which to learn what it takes to become an are completely unique and tailored to apprentice robotic engineer. customer specifications. He shadowed 16-year-old Liam Liam, who began his apprenticeship McLaughlin, of Stokesley, who is on leaving Stokesley School last six months into a three-year year, says: “I would recommend apprenticeship with Labman “THEY ARE apprenticeships to anyone (Laboratory Automation FRESH FROM deciding on their next step.” Custom Robotics), in Seamer, SCHOOL, BUT Labman currently has as a robotic engineer. ALREADY EQUIPPED five NECC apprentices “My day at Labman with WITH SKILLS” Liam, Amy Dixon, 20, of Liam and his colleagues was Middlesbrough, Shane Marsden, an eye-opener,” he says. “These 18, of Seamer, Jonny Hill, 26, from young people are fresh from Danby, and Bradley Aldus, 21, from school, but are already being equipped Middlesbrough. The firm also has two with the skills that will help them play an posts for Stokesley School pupils to start important part in the creation of these in September. amazing, bespoke robots.”

SOUND MOVE The seventh National Apprenticeship Week took place in March, and early indications are the event was even more succceful than it was in 2013. The 2013 event saw • North East apprenticeship applications up 60% on the previous year • 33,430 applications made between August and October - the greatest number - 12,430 were made in the

Business, Administration and Law sector • At the end of the contract year 2012/13, there were a total of 1,174 apprentices placed by NECC • NECC has also seen a rise in the number of successful apprenticeship completions, 77% for 2013/14 • Vacancies for higher apprenticeships grew 41%, while vacancies for advanced apprenticeships rose 32%

Port of Tyne has just completed its largest apprentice recruitment drive in its history. Geoff Gillon, director of human resources, says: “People are at the heart of every thriving company and as a major North East employer we have made bringing young people into our business a key priority. “Developing the capability of our workforce is crucial to our economic competitiveness and apprenticeships are good for business. They provide individuals with the first step on a career and the business with future employees and growth, in turn bolstering the economy.” The Port has created apprenticeship roles in more areas of the business than ever before, including accountancy, marketing, port operations, security and warehousing. There are 16 apprentices employed in the business and the Port is planning to develop the current programme and make apprentices an even bigger part of its recruitment policy by taking on a further nine apprentices in 2014.

SEARCH FOR FORMER APPRENTICES During National Apprenticeship Week NECC launched a hunt for business leaders in the region that began their careers as apprentices. NECC is trying to track down 200 member stories that will be profiled during its 200th anniversary to promote the success of apprenticeships. If you are interested in being included as one of NECC’s 200 Apprentices email charlie.nettle@necc.co.uk

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 45

EXPORT

©Image: cleanfotos / Shutterstock.com

NISSAN LEAF RACES TO 1BN KM

Drivers of the Sunderlandmade Nissan LEAF - the world’s best-selling electric car - are racing towards the 1bn kilometre mark as the car is shipped all over the world from the North East. It is estimated that the 1bn km mark will be passed by January 2015. Rising sales - the 100,000th LEAF was sold in January this year - and a rapidly expanding quick-charge network mean the target might be beaten even earlier. Nissan has created a series of animated stories to celebrate the race to 1bn electric kilometres, featuring LEAF owners. The first features LEAF driver Roberto San Jose, the first taxi driver in Spain to buy one of the cars. Thanks to Nissan LEAF’s innovative CarWings telemetry, an accurate log of the total distance covered by every car has been recorded since LEAF was launched in 2010. As more milestones are reached throughout 2014, further animated stories will be revealed featuring drivers from all over the world. Visit experience.nissan.co. uk/leaf-billion-km-racing to watch the animation.

Global network is the business

NECC rising to the challenge to double the number of UK exporters by the year 2020

and UK-based chambers, these business he region’s largest business centres will provide services from hot membership organisation is desking to PR and discounted advice from rising to the Government’s experts across 40 high growth markets challenge to double annual including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand exports to £1 trillion and and Poland. increase the number of UK exporters by NECC international trade manager 100,000 by the year 2020. Brian Dakers is urging firms looking to The North East Chamber of Commerce open lucrative export markets to take full is working with the British Chambers of advantage of this new drive. “The markets Commerce and UK Trade & Investment selected have been prioritised as high (UKTI) to develop a global network of growth markets, but they are often business-led organisations to seen by our SMEs as difficult to support UK-based exporters. THE ONLY access, so it makes sense to The North East is the UK REGION provide more B2B support in only region in the UK which WITH A POSITIVE these countries,” he says. “In has a positive balance of BALANCE time, this will help to position trade in exports, and NECC OF TRADE IN UK businesses at the forefront has appointed a regional EXPORTS of global growth opportunities.” coordinator, Gary Roe, to link Gary Roe says: “The North East North East businesses with has an enviable export record however, overseas networks. we currently have a small number of largeHe will play a key role in creating a scale exporters and we need to encourage global B2B network by connecting the new more of our SMEs to explore these overseas British Business Networks to potentially lucrative overseas markets, NECC and other UK chambers. which will be my key focus. The creation of The Prime Minister recently launched this integrated overseas business network an £8m programme to enhance these will deliver quality services and maintain overseas business networks, designed high quality customer relations so that to provide SMEs with practical spaces in companies can see solid and sustained which to get started in overseas markets. progress in their overseas markets”. In addition to support offered by UKTI

46 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

MARINE TESTING

PASSAGE TO INDIA

 Andrew Shaw, right, with members of the GMT team Teesside company named the North East Exporter of the Year for 2013 is backing an innovative scheme offering £4,000 of support for companies looking to break into new markets. Guardian Marine Testing (GMT) managing director, Andrew Shaw is helping to select successful candidates as part of a Get Set to Export competition aimed at SMEs in Redcar and Cleveland. GMT, which employs 40 staff at the Wilton Centre, offers fuel testing services to the shipping industry

The winners will join and has recently pioneered UKTI’s flagship Passport to a revolutionary system Export programme and gain for detecting chemical access to more than £4,000 contamination in fuel. Its of support to help their turnover has grown more business expand and than ten-fold in the prosper overseas. last year, a large The winners proportion of CASH SUPPORT will also receive which was NOW AVAILABLE expert business exports. TO WINNING advice from a The COMPANIES local international competition trade adviser, aims to support through encourage UKTI’s overseas businesses in the teams, access to an Export area with innovative export ideas and is being supported Communications Review and grants for visiting overseas by the Wilton Centre, Redcar markets. For details, email and Cleveland Borough enquiries@uktinortheast. Council and UK Trade & org.uk Investment (UKTI).

BRICS LAID BARE A free one-day event for North East SMEs looking to do business in the BRIC economies comes to Gateshead in May. The event hosted by the ERDF-funded NECC Access Programme will provide business owners and leaders with the opportunity to consult experts in trading with Brazil, Russia, India and China. Issues covered will include protecting IP, finding a partner, market entry strategies, tax, and customs requirements. The event will feature one-to-one surgeries plus presentations covering common issues to all four markets. These will include BRIC-proofing your website, ensuring you have the right legal contracts, shipping your goods, researching your markets, and getting paid. Experts from a number of key organisations

 Nynzi Maung will be present, including the UK India Business Council, Russo British Chamber of Commerce, China British Business Council, Albion Overseas, UKTI, Santander, HSBC and RTC North. Access programme leader Nynzi Maung says: “This is a great opportunity for local companies to benefit from the type of industry advice which can be time-consuming to research and identify.”

BRIC Markets Event, May 1, Marriot Hotel Gateshead, 9am-4.10pm. The event is free and spaces are limited. To register email gemma.bainbridge@necc.co.uk

Process industry cluster body NEPIC is urging companies to look to India following its most successful trade mission in the country to date. Representatives of 16 North East companies enjoyed a fruitful 10-day trade mission led by NEPIC and UKTI. However, organisers were disappointed by a lack of North East engineering companies in attendance. NEPIC CEO Dr Stan Higgins says: “There is a presumption that companies in emerging economies won’t pay the same rates as in the West, yet 1,000 engineers from the south were involved in the Reliance Jaguar Project in India, but North East companies were nowhere to be seen.”

EXPORT LANDMARK

SSI UK has celebrated a major milestone, having exported 5m tonnes of steel slab through Teesport. The 5millionth tonne was part of a 68,000 tonne shipment destined for SSI in Thailand. Jerry Hopkinson, PD Ports MD of Bulks and Port Services (above, with Cornelius Louwrens, UK business director and chief operating officer for SSI UK), says: “Since the blast furnace reopened almost two years ago the relationship between PD Ports and SSI UK has grown stronger, which enables milestones like this to be achieved.”

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 47

ADVERTORIAL

GO SMARTER HELPS MUCKLE GO GREENER TO WORK Muckle’s Let’s Think Green Team helps its people make journeys to work that are greener, healthier and cheaper by working with Go Smarter

n Tyne & Wear, four key employment areas particularly contribute to the congestion on the A1 Western Bypass. These are the Team Valley, Washington, the Metrocentre, Newcastle and Gateshead city centres. Congestion on the A1 Western Bypass is a key barrier to business and employment growth, one of the biggest challenges for the region, with travel delays and unreliable journey times posing a major threat to the local economy. That’s where Go Smarter can help businesses reduce costs, improve efﬁciency and help the region’s economy, by working with businesses to explore travel plans and Go Smarter measures, many of which are fully funded. Muckle LLP, did just that. Muckle LLP is actively involved in Go Smarter to Work, giving the Newcastle-based law ﬁrm the opportunity to take action on climate change and put their environmental responsibility into action. Muckle’s Let’s Think Green Team is working with Go Smarter to help its people consider their options for getting to work. This includes personalised travel planning,

public transport taster tickets and driver training. Go Smarter has also provided training to the company’s high mileage business drivers; aimed at improving fuel efﬁciency and safety. This can save money, contribute to health and safety targets, and reduce carbon emissions. Following attendance at a Smarter Working seminar, hosted by Go Smarter, Muckle is applying for Go Smarter matched funding to increase its tele-conferencing facilities. Go Smarter is also participating in Muckle’s annual Healthy Living Week, delivering active travel events including cycle training and nordic walking as well as a competitive pedometer challenge. Debbie McCormack, of Muckle’s Let’s Think Green Team, is delighted to be working with Go Smarter, “By encouraging our people to think about how they get to work we hope to introduce a gradual change in travel choices and attitudes. The range of initiatives provided by Go Smarter means there is something for everyone. I would thoroughly recommend businesses get involved.”

If you think Go Smarter could help your business, contact us via our website at www.gosmarter.co.uk MUCKLE GOES GREEN: Muckle LLP helps its staff consider greener travel options

48 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

FOCUS

On the map

Dean Bailey assesses the significant impact of conferencing and events on the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 49

FOCUS

onsider some of the North East’s landmark events over the last year or so, and chances are that images of packed stadia will come to mind. A cool 100,000 people over two days gathered at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light for 2013’s North East Live concert. A record-breaking 17,000 enjoyed watching England beat Australia and win the Ashes at Durham Emirates International Cricket Ground last summer. And in recent years the region’s reputation for drawing major events like these has grown exponentially. Big name stadium tours with the likes of Rhianna and Take That have made their mark, as have party political conferences at The Sage Gateshead. Events of this calibre impact significantly on the region’s economy. In 2012 (the most recent figures available), the visitor economy for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership area was £3.6bn, of which business tourism made up a significant part. In NewcastleGateshead alone the visitor economy was worth an estimated £1.3bn - an increase of 2% on 2011. A key part of attracting national and international events is the way the region is presented as venue and host. Paul Szomoru, head of business tourism at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, says: “We know NewcastleGateshead is a vibrant place, and that when people come here on business 86% say they want to come back again as leisure visitors. “This is down to the variety of experiences unique to North East England. We’ve spent the last year promoting the area to inspire events organisers to inject some fun into their delegate programmes while

◂ Popstar Rihanna (Picture courtesy of landmarkmedia / Shutterstock.com)

supplying key information on venues and service providers.” The Convention Bureau plays an important role in attracting many of these big events. “We are focusing on attracting major conferences and events in three target sectors - offshore and marine energy; creative and digital; and science and healthcare,” says Szomoru. “This will be a major focus for the Convention Bureau in the coming months and was kick-started in January when we launched a new Delegate Placement Scheme thanks to funding from ERDF. “The scheme gives us a unique selling point for attracting major conferences in these key fields; providing a shop window for companies looking to locate and expand into the area. “The scheme aims to support a minimum of 40 North East SMEs over the next two years by providing fully funded places at some of

50 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

these major conferences and events.” Last year the NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau supported 112 events with a total of 10,000 delegates in attendance. The bureau was awarded the Best Convention Bureau in England at the Meetings and Incentive Travel Industry Awards 2014 in February, beating other top bureaux including London & Partners and the Liverpool Convention Bureau. One of the bureau’s biggest events for 2014 is Unicef UK’s Baby Friendly Initiative Annual Conference. The event at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena in November will draw some 900 delegates and will be worth an estimated £830,000 to the local economy. Its venue, Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena, is ranked seventh on the list of the world’s busiest venues by Pollstar magazine and is the biggest exhibition venue in North East England.

CASE STUDY: 1879 Events Management Any event, large or small, requires people with skills and experience to ensure everything runs smoothly. With experience of managing everything from stadium concerts to the day-to-day running of a city brasserie, 1879 Events Management is behind concerts at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light as well as the Newcastle Pride Festival, which is expected to attract 65,000 visitors in 2014. Director Gary Hutchinson says: “Our involvement in Newcastle Pride is as much about showing support for an event that celebrates inclusivity and boosts the local economy as it is about delivering commercial service.” A big part of 1879’s work is managing high-profile concerts, with performers including Rihanna, Take That, and Coldplay at the Stadium of Light as well as more than 49,000 football fans at Sunderland AFC’s home matches. This year the organisation, which manages catering and hospitality at the Stadium of Light, will be catering for thousands of concert-goers at North East Live 2014, which is set to be headlined by Jessie J. They will also host the first night of the UK leg of One Direction’s Where We Are World Tour on Wednesday May 28. 1879 also provides catering and events management services at the recently re-launched National Glass Centre, where it manages private events, as well as the Brasserie.

1879 EVENTS MANAGEMENT Your Event Solution, Wherever You Are Mouthwatering food, dedicated staff and perfect planning are just some of the vital ingredients that we add to your event. A dynamic and innovative all-encompassing event management solution, brought to you backed by the knowledge, experience and resources of our parent company, Sunderland AFC. When is your next event? Call 1879 Events Management on 0871 911 1269 or email enquiries@1879events.com www.1879events.com @1879Events

www.1879events.com

NECC KEEPS ME INFORMED ON CURRENT AND FUTURE TRENDS SO I CAN BETTER ALIGN OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY. IT PROVIDES EXCELLENT NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TOO. GERALDINE WILCOX CHIEF EXECUTIVE DERWENTSIDE HOMES LTD WINNER OF THE NORTH EAST BUSINESS AWARDS 2013 – HEART OF THE COMMUNITY AWARD NATIONAL CHAMBER AWARDS FINALIST 2013 – AWARD FOR COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT

FOCUS

Dinner is served… The people who host major events are as important as the venues. Dean Bailey looks at the skills required

s the North East’s reputation for delivering major events grows, its education sector is tasked with passing on the skills required by the people who deliver them. Sunderland College is a leading provider of events,

▲ Catering and hospitality students at Sunderland College hospitality and catering teaching, and according to TripAdvisor, the review website which can be brutal in its verdicts, the college’s Lounge Bistro and Bar, which is manned by its students, is the number one restaurant in the city of Sunderland. In a recent review, the Sunderland Echo

gave it 9/10. Robert Stewart, curriculum leader for Catering and Hospitality, says the Bistro is an essential part of courses, giving students vital practical experience. “The Lounge Bistro and Bar is an essential part of all the catering and hospitality courses at the college,” he

says. “It’s a 60-seater training restaurant and is open to the public for five lunches and one dinner per week. We do special events and functions, and we have conference and banqueting rooms to look after as well. Every skill is covered in the Bistro.” The Catering and Hospitality

Meeting your budget, exceeding your expectations Rockliffe Hall, the luxury five star hotel, golf and spa resort, recently awarded Silver for Business Tourism at the VisitEngland awards for Excellence, offers awardwinning facilities - without the five star price tag. The perfect setting for meetings, conferences and events: • Great links to A1, A19 and Darlington train station • Complimentary Wi-Fi and state-of-the-art technology for smooth presentations • Award-winning food in stunning surroundings • 11 well-equipped meeting rooms • Sublime guest service, a five-star home from home

Spring Delegate Offer One in 12 delegates goes free when you book a new meeting, conference or event at Rockliffe Hall this April, May or June. To find our more call 01325 729999 or email enquiries@rockliffehall.com quoting “North East Contact”. You will be surprised just how affordable five-star luxury can be.

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

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 53

FOCUS department also runs the college’s Hylton Campus coffee shop and refectory. “The main qualification we deliver is a professional chef qualification, we also deliver NVQs and hospitality training courses, so we have quite a good range of disciplines,” says Stewart. “We use our three facilities as essential parts of the course and for extra-curricular work. The bistro is a big part of the curriculum, where we get to give students the chance to apply what they’re learning in a professional kitchen.” Having the three facilities in which to train enhances quality, says Stewart. “We have 800 students in this centre and having those three facilities allows us to develop skills in a number of different areas,” says Stewart. “Not all the students will leave here and go to work in restaurants, not all of them will leave to become chefs. What we’re doing is giving them experience of lots of different areas and showing them what it is like in the real world. “That means that when they leave us after one, two or three years they’ve got the skills to be competitive in the jobs market. The students here have a range of skills and a range of opportunities.” Stewart joined Sunderland College in 2010, having worked in professional kitchens for 13 years, including two years at

LONDON CALLING

▲ Robert Stewart

▲ Nick Holmes

Newcastle’s renowned Café 21. “I have a real passion for making links with the industry, and getting students ready to work in the industry with the skills the industry wants,” he says. “We have a lot of great industry contacts and we’re looking at developing those further this year. We’re working with the Marriot group as well as the Stadium of Light and the Royal Navy. At the end of March a group of 10 students will be going to to work on a warship as part of that relationship. “Having these links gives students the opportunity to make the next step and work in a professional, high-pressure environment. They work on a voluntary basis and the hope is that those placements turn into paid employment after

Promote your business throughout the region as easy as...

NECC: Making the North East a succ ess FEBRUARY 2014 - MARCH

FEBRUARY - MARCH

2014 necc.co.uk - necontact.co.uk

2014

REACH OUT TO POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS

Choice cuts

Family butcher goes global

MEET THE MILLERS Paralympian Stephen Miller on business life with his wife

Generate new business enquiries with NECC Contact magazine

✱

PLANE SAILING

Former pilot’s business takes off

necc.co.uk // necontact.co.u

PROFILE

necc.co.uk - necontact.co.uk

IN THE PINK Alice Blackie: Turning a £45 start-up into a £1.8m-turnover fashion empire

Scan this code with your mobile device to access the latest news on our website

CON09_Cover.indd 1

28/01/2014 08:50

To discuss how leaflet inserts can effectively promote your business contact Offstone Publishing on 01661 844115, or email sales@necontact.co.uk 54 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

they’ve gained their qualifications.” Stewart also keeps his hand in. “I recently spent two days working at the two Michelinstarred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London. I then brought that experience back and shared it with the students, giving them an idea of what’s happening at the top of the industry.” Stewart is now seeing his students progress into restaurants. “Seeing the change and the development of students, some of whom have progressed right through from the foundation programme to the level three course, is really rewarding. “We do push them to achieve and we give each student the best start possible ahead of a career in catering and hospitality.”

Rockliffe Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort in Co Durham has recruited Londonbased experts to boost its conference and events business. The resort has appointed GP Associates, an expert in luxury hotels, to work with its in-house marketing team to help attract new corporate clients from London and around the world. Rockliffe Hall’s managing director Nick Holmes says: “We’ve seen rapid growth in business tourism in the last 12 months. “More companies are opting to take their events out of London. These companies demand outstanding facilities, and good transport links, and the region that has a lot to offer.”

A Corporate Golf Day to Remember at Houghton-le-Spring Golf Club Make a real impact and leave lasting memories with valued clients with a Corporate Golf day tailored to your requirements by our experienced team - Superb 18 hole parkland course - Dining and presentations in the Clubhouse - Registration, score card and leader board facilities - First tee, half way or finish refreshments catered for - 2 tee start can be arranged for large groups From only £24.50 per person Contact Dave Hall, via email marketing@houghtongolfclub.co.uk or on 07721880928, Houghton le Spring Golf Club, Copt Hill, Houghton-le-Spring, DH5 8LU, Telephone: 0191 584 1198

Thank You

For your recent membership renewals. Particular thanks to members supporting NECC for over 15 years 60+ YEARS! Gazette Media Company Limited 89 Tomlinson Hall & Co Ltd 84 Sulzer Dowding & Mills (UK) Ltd 72 P C Richardson & Co Ltd 67 Newsquest (North East) Ltd 65 Baker Tilly 64 Chemplas Limited 64 Compressor Services International Ltd 64 Deloitte 64 digitalab 64 E J Melling Ltd 64 Fairhurst 64 Faulknerbrowns 64 Hogg Engineering Ltd 64 HSBC 64 Intu Eldon Square Ltd 64 Michell Bearings 64 ncjMedia Ltd 64 Newcastle Building Society 64 Potts Print (UK) Ltd 64 R & J Ince Limited 64 R N J Partnership LLP 64 Sanderson Weatherall 64 Seen & Heard Ltd 64 Todd & Cue Ltd 64 Bureau Of Analysed Samples Ltd 61 35-59 YEARS DHL Global Forwarding (UK) Limited Seal Sands Storage Ltd Mersen UK Teesside Ltd Mech-Tool Engineering Ltd Anderson Barrowcliff LLP Chipchase Manners Lithgow Sons & Partners Bank Of England J Barbour & Sons Ltd. Taylor Hobson Ltd T/A Solartron ISA Ransome Sporting Goods

48 44 43 41 40 40 40 38 38 37 35

30-34 YEARS A E Robb & Associates Barrier Ltd Crabtree Of Gateshead Ltd Crossling Ltd Fenwick Ltd Flowserve Pumps Newcastle a Division of Flowserve (GB) Ltd Harlow Printing Ltd IG Group (Innerglass Ltd) International Paint Ltd Jim Hastings Limited Knowledge IT Lloyds Bank Corporate Mkts Lumley Castle Hotel

34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34

Mandata Limited 34 Marsh Ltd 34 Megator Limited 34 Messer Cutting Systems 34 OpSec Security Limited 34 Palintest Ltd 34 Piramal Healthcare UK Ltd 34 Primula Limited 34 Pure Fishing (UK) Ltd 34 Ronan Engineering Ltd 34 Rubb Buildings Ltd 34 Ryecroft Glenton 34 Sanofi-Aventis 34 Schlegel Building Products Limited 34 Simco (Engineers) Ltd 34 Slaters Electricals Limited 34 Smithers-Oasis UK Ltd 34 Statebourne Cryogenics Ltd 34 Storeys Edward Symmons 34 Summers-Inman Construction & Property Consultants 34 Thomas Owen & Sons (Newcastle) Ltd 34 Thomas Swan & Co Ltd 34 Tioxide Europe Ltd - UK 34 Tor Coatings Limited 34 Vic Young (South Shields) Ltd 34 British Engines (UK) Ltd 33 Essentra Jarrow 32 SMS Meer UK Ltd 32 Hay & Kilner 31 Lawson Fuses Limited 31 Sunderland College 31 Urquhart Dykes & Lord LLP 31 CSN Consulting LLP 30 Holiday Inn Washington 30 NRG 30 25-29 YEARS Autoclock Systems Ltd 28 Jebb Metals (Newcastle) Ltd 28 Muckle LLP 28 Walker Filtration Ltd 28 AMH Workspace Ltd 27 Data Supplies (Stationery) Ltd 27 Elfab Limited 27 Ferschl Hose & Hydraulics Ltd 27 Haines Watts Chartered Accountants 27 Lease-A-Leaf Limited 27 Lowrie Foods Limited 27 Persuasion PR 27 Rider Hunt (Newcastle) Ltd 27 Silver & Charlton Sunderland 27 TTR Barnes 27 W J Hunter & Co Ltd 27 Croner 26 Eldon Associates Limited 26 Elliott Associates 26

Grundfos Manufacturing Ltd Horncastle Executive Travel Ltd International House Language Training Nissan Motor Mfg (UK) Ltd North East Vending PNE Group R W Security Services Sotech Limited Stagecoach North East The Mailing House Visage Imports Ltd Atkinson Print Ltd Cory Brothers Shipping Agency Limited Northumbria University Pentair Thermal Management UK Limited Port Of Blyth SCS Plc

26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 25 25 25 25 25 25

20-24 YEARS C C Jensen Ltd 24 Elizabeths Embroidery 24 Evolution Business and Tax Advisors LLP 24 Grant Thornton UK LLP 24 RTC North Ltd 24 Straughans Limited 24 TATA Steel UK Limited 24 Hodgson Engineering Ltd 23 Minkon Ltd 23 Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Ltd 23 Smith & Graham (Solicitors) 23 Vixen Surface Treatments Ltd 23 Altomed Ltd 22 Debmat Surfacing Ltd 22 Going Global Skills Limited 22 John N Dunn Group Limited 22 Penn Elcom Ltd 22 Storage Equipment Safety Service Ltd 22 The Galleries Shopping Centre 22 Carter Steel Ltd 21 Erimus Insurance Brokers 21 International Cookware Ltd 21 Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners 21 Norseman Travel Ltd 21 NVM Private Equity Ltd 21 Quicksilver 21 Bell Truck and Van 20 Durham County Cricket Club 20 Durham University 20 Furniture World (NE) Ltd 20 Genesis APS International Limited 20 Rettig (UK) Ltd 20 Thyssenn Krupp Access Limited 20 15-19 YEARS Anglitemp Limited Beacon Electrical (N.E.) Ltd Cleveland Potash Ltd

19 19 19

The above includes members which have supported NECC for more than 15 years and renewed their membership during January and February 2014. We would like to thank all our members for their continued support. 56 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

Hexham Courant 19 Indigo Multimedia Ltd 19 Multichem Limited 19 Murray Hogg Limited 19 Shaw Lifting Company Limited 19 A S Pneumatics 18 achillesphysio 18 Alphagraphics North East 18 ARK Associates 18 Comtek 18 Dane Group plc 18 Johnson Matthey Catalysts 18 NMC - Copley 18 Northumberland County Council 18 Pipe Equipment Specialists Ltd 18 Reay Security Ltd 18 Schenker International 18 Stockton Bearings & Transmission 18 Browell Smith & Co LLP 17 Excel Commercial Services Ltd 17 Heatpac 17 Matfen Hall LLP 17 RBG Ltd- Stork Technical Services 17 Renolit Cramlington Ltd 17 Reynolds Packaging 17 Taylormade Timber Products Ltd 17 Waterstons Limited 17 Woodland Global Ltd 17 ABFAD Limited 16 Ableclean Ltd 16 Butterwick Hospice 16 Carbis Filtration Ltd 16 Cleveland Cable Co Ltd 16 Haskel Europe Ltd 16 Heating Components & Equipment Limited 16 Lomax Training Services Limited 16 Nala Engineers Ltd 16 Phoenix Taxis (NE) Limited 16 Sherwoods Group 16 The Solution Group Limited 16 UK Land Estates Ltd 16 Waltons Clark Whitehill LLP 16 youngsRPS 16 Air Design Systems Ltd 16 Emerson Process Management 15 M A P Group (UK) Limited 15 Redcar Racecourse Ltd 15 Sir Joseph Isherwood Limited 15 Thermo Fisher Scientific 15

New members

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

For all the latest business news

www.necontact.co.uk

@NECC_Contact Delivering business news and features from the North East Chamber of Commerce and its membership

necc.co.uk // necontact.co.uk

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 57

HI! TECH

Run free

Mark Anderson investigates the savings to be made in switching to free software for everyday word processing

ven as the green shoots of recovery turn into hopeful seedlings, sensible businesses continue to operate prudently and save money where they can. The news then, that ministers are looking at saving tens of millions of pounds a year by abandoning expensive software is only surprising in that it hasn’t happened sooner. Some £200m has been spent by the public sector on Microsoft Office alone since 2010. Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude now says significant costs could be cut by switching to software which

can produce open-source files in open document format (ODF), such as OpenOffice and Google Docs. Obviously, businesses can do likewise, and it’s worth any business owner, large or small, taking a look at what’s out there – free and for nothing - before they renew their licences on software used to produce written documents, spreadsheets and presentations. I’m writing this article using Apache OpenOffice; one of the betterknown open-source office software suites available. It provides tools for word processing, spreadsheets,

Say cheese !

Publish and be damned

Ellen DeGeneres’ Oscars selfie has inspired a slew of copycats. If you want in on the selfie action, here’s a great free app to help with the snap. Position the phone or tablet, gather your posse and strike a pose. Once you’re happy with the composition of your ensemble, hold up your hand and curl it into a fist. This gesture starts a three-second countdown to the perfect selfie. Great for any situation where you want to be in front of the camera, not behind it. CamMe (free from app stores)

This is a cracking website for the small business or entrepreneur short on cash. It’s packed with practical advice and information on business essentials. One area led me through how to create a credible Wordpress site so smoothly and quickly that I immediately sent it to a friend who I know needs a new website.This woman is a genius, but can barely operate a microwave yet built her own site. www.simplybusiness. co.uk/microsites/wordpressfor-small-businesses/

58 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

presentations, graphics and databases. OpenOffice lets you save documents in the OpenDocument format or a selection of Microsoft Office variant file formats. This means you can still work with and share files with others using the ubiquitous Microsoft package. LibreOffice boasts the same applications as Apache OpenOffice and I’ve used that with no problems too. LibreOffice is often considered

Readers digest

Say goodbye to scrolling through page after page of website icons on your smartphone.This brilliant app allows you to bring together news feeds and blogs from loads of different sources to a single point. Add your favourite social networks, publications, newsfeeds and blogs and access them all through Flipboard, creating your own personal digest of stuff you love. It’s clever too, making suggestions about stuff you might like. Flipboard (free at app stores)

to be more actively developed than OpenOffice; the standard package, for example, offers PDF import, a presentation minimiser and a Wiki publisher, which takes it beyond my needs and yet is still free. Both of these packages now work on Macs, too. Both download for free and offer regular free updates. I’m less familiar with them, but reviews are also good for the free Google Docs and Koffice.

Have you seen that video with the singing giraffe, dad?

Yes, I have. NowThis News bills itself as, “the first video news network for the mobile and social generation,” - which is an unpromising start, but this site does allow me to keep up with what my kids are banging on about so that I can at least feign interest. It’s available on smartphone and tablet apps as well as in your browser and contains copious amounts of viral video. It’s worth a visit no matter what your generation. www.nowthisnews.com

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE: LUNCH NO.19 AT CLOSE HOUSE

DABBAWAL

HOTEL DU VIN

MARCO PIERRE WHITE STEAKHOUSE BAR & GRILL

No.19 is a place where comforting home-cooked food is served in a contemporary environment. Whether you are grabbing a quick bite after a round of golf, enjoying dinner in No.19 or a light lunch on the terrace, you can relax in stunning surroundings in the heart of the Northumberland countryside while tasting the best of Northumberland’s local produce. No.19 also offers a restaurant and function room able to cater for parties upto 140.

Dabbawal, street food pioneer of the North East, brings the amazing tastes of the street to its two restaurants in Newcastle, featuring unique tapasstyle plates for sharing and classic dishes with a twist. Larger parties can hire the whole restaurant on a Sunday for Indian cocktails, canapés, a feast of dinner and dancing. Smaller groups of up to 20 can also take over Dabbawal’s private room and the Dabbawal team delights in coming to you to cater for parties large and small.

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

The Steakhouse Bar and Grill Express lunch is £18 and includes two-courses and a glass of wine (quote NECC). If you haven’t got much time out of the ofﬁce try the Marco in Minutes express lunch two courses and a glass of wine - and you should be back at your desk within the hour. If a leisurely lunch is more your thing, that’s always available, too.

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

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

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

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

NATIONAL GLASS CENTRE BRASSERIE

PEACE & LOAF

RENDEZ VOUS AT THE COUNTY HOTEL

SACHINS

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

The latest addition to the North East’s ﬁne dining scene, Peace & Loaf boasts a chic and stylish venue alongside an entirely original and unique dining experience. Indulge in the meticulously crafted three course business lunch for just £19.95, showcasing the skills of the dedicated team and highlighting fresh, locally-sourced produce. The menu is inspired by traditional British cuisine and will excite even the most discerning of palates.

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

Celebrating almost 30 years in Newcastle, the award-winning restaurant Sachins on Forth Banks has been delighting diners with its signature, meticulously crafted menu since opening its doors. Using only the freshest, locally sourced ingredients, chef and proprietor Bob Arora offers the discerning diner a unique opportunity to sample the very ﬁnest punjabi food in a fresh and exciting environment.

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

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

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

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

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 59

EVENTS

The NECC Exchange Thistle Newcastle, The County, 11.00am - 2.00pm, Friday April 4

NECC President’s Club FREE

March 10, Rockliffe Hall Speaker – Charlie Bean, deputy governor, Bank of England

This is the NECC’s flagship networking event encouraging an exchange of experiences, ideas and offers. If you are interested in taking an exhibition stand at a cost of £30 please email events@necc.co.uk Sponsored by

Set in the heart of the city, directly opposite Central Train Station, the Thistle Newcastle, The County is easily accessed by rail, road or air and offers eight dedicated meeting and event suites.  Christine Balford and Geraldine Wilcox, Derwentside Homes

 Tasleem Baqir, NECC

 Charlie Bean, deputy governor, Bank of England

 Gillian Hall, Watson Burton

Stand Up & Be Counted Brasserie Hudson Quay, Middlesbrough, 10.00am – 12.00pm, Thursday April 24

FREE

This event is a great opportunity to sell your business, raise your profile and meet new contacts. A lively and fun event with each business delivering a 60 second presentation to the room. Sponsored by

Designed to recall the grand European cafes of France, Spain and Italy, Brasserie Hudson Quay provides a unique dining experience in a luxurious yet contemporary setting.

NECC Golf Day 2014 George Washington Golf & Country Club, 9.00am – 4.30pm, Wednesday May 7 Join NECC for the Annual Golf Day Event in May for only £100*+VAT for a team of four. The event starts at 9am with hot sandwiches and tea/ coffee. Teams will then head out onto the course at 10am. The event ends with a dinner and prize giving. Supported by

George Washington Golf Club is set in picturesque grounds. The course measures 6,625 yards from the championship tees and offers a unique challenge. 60 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

NETWORKING

NECC Exchange February 28, Village Urban Resorts, Newcastle In association with North Tyneside Business Forum

APR

The NECC Exchange

APR

Coffee & Connections (Ladies only)

04 09 APR

 Sandra Wilson, NT Business Forum and Les Dixon, NECC

8.00am – 10.00am E-volve Centre, Sunderland

APR

Stand Up and Be Counted

MAY

NECC Local

MAY

Berwick & Borders Business Show

MAY

NECC Local – Access to Finance

08 13

 Catherine Graham, DoubleTree by Hilton; Sandra Wilson, NTBF; Sarah Duncan, Newcastle Racecourse

NECC Local NE Expo

24  Joanne Dolezal and Nicky Webster

10.30am - 12.30pm Radisson Hotel, Durham

APR

 Danae Abadom & Kerry Fairlie, Independent Events

11.00am - 2.00pm Thistle Newcastle, The County

9.30am - 4.00pm Newcastle Falcons

10.00am – 12.00pm Brasserie Hudson Quay, Middlesbrough 3.00pm – 5.00pm Cinnamon Club, Trimdon Village

9.00am – 4.00pm Swan Centre Berwick upon Tweed

4.30pm – 6.30pm Wansbeck Business Centre, Northumberland

FREE FREE £3

to charity

FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

HMS Calliope Gateshead Quayside

THURSDAY, MAY 22ND

BOOTCAMP Marketing

There is nothing to fear - just possibilities and opportunities BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.NECC.CO.UK/EVENTS OR CALL 0300 303 6322

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 61

EVENTS

CORPORATE The NECC networking events programme prompts members to engage and share ideas and experiences. With events throughout the region, the programme ranges from large-scale round table networking to smaller presentationfocused events and localised informal networking.

To book, tel 0300 303 6322 email events@necc.co.uk www.necc.co.uk/events

Economic Briefing

APR

Engineering Business Event (Medium Members)

08 23 APR

29 MAY

07 MAY

8.00am - 10.00am NECC Durham

4.00pm - 6.00pm Nissan

HR Legislation Update 9.15am – 11.00am NECC Durham

Improving Performance by understanding your processes 11.30am – 2.00pm Lancastrian Suite, Gateshead

Improving Customer Retention and Engagement

11.30am – 2.00pm Lancastrian Suite, Gateshead

MAY

Intellectual Property

MAY

Improving Productivity through Performance Management

14 21

9.15am – 11.00am NECC Durham

11.30am – 2.00pm Lancastrian Suite, Gateshead

MAY

Marketing Bootcamp

MAY

Marketing Bootcamp

22 22 MAY

Morning HMS Calliope, Gateshead Quayside Afternoon HMS Calliope, Gateshead Quayside

Marketing Bootcamp Full Day HMS Calliope, Gateshead Quayside

01 MAY

NE Business Awards Final

6.30pm - 0.00am Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield

NECC Golf Day

9.00am - 4.30pm George Washington Golf & Country Club

JUN

NECC AGM

FREE

SEP

NECC Tees Valley Annual Dinner

6.30pm – 0.00am Ramside Hall, Durham 10.45am - 2.00pm Ramside Hall, Durham

6.30pm - 0.00am Thistle Middlesbrough

NECC Tyne & Northumberland Annual Dinner

6.30pm - 0.00am Newcastle Civic Centre

FREE

APR

Durham Committee

FREE

APR

Northumberland Committee

FREE

APR

24 APR

8.00am - 9.30am Wynyard Rooms, Wynyard

North Tyneside Committee 8.00am – 9.30am Tyne Metropolitan College

MAY

01 MAY

MAY

62 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

Tees Valley & Co Durham Bank of England Economic Panel

South Tyneside Committee

£30*

*Member Price + VAT. **10% discount will be offered until May 1

4.00pm – 6.00pm Arch, Ashington

Sunderland Committee

£55

8.30am – 10.00am Northumbrian Water

APR

£30*

£65**

NECC has various opportunities for event sponsorship in 2014. For more information about the benefits of supporting or sponsoring one of our many events, contact Ashley Carney, events executive, email ashley.carney@necc.co.uk

£100**

COMMITTEES

FREE

Team 4

£75*

FREE

£100

NE Exporters Awards

NOV

FREE

£110

MAY

KNOWLEDGE SEMINARS APR

MAY

14 MAY

4.30pm – 6.00pm Sandhill View School

8.00am - 9.30am TBC

Stockton Business Forum 4.00am - 5.30pm Durham Tees Valley Business Centre

Redcar & Cleveland Committee 8.15am - 10.00am Redcar Venue TBA

International Trade

7.45am - 9.30am Barclays Bank, Newcastle

FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHORT COURSES MAY

Export Procedures and Documentation

JUN

Import Procedures and Documentation

JUN

Customs Procedures and Documentation

(All international courses are scheduled to be at Aykley Heads, Durham but subject to change dependent on numbers)

email: Jacqui.tulip@necc.co.uk call 0845 076 8324

APPOINTMENTS

in association with

WATER AID

IN THE CLOUDS

Ryecroft Glenton Chartered Accountants has appointed cloud accounting specialist Will Tombs and his team of three specialist staff. Tombs joins Ryecroft Glenton having set up his own business and built a portfolio of 70 clients using the platform of cloud accounting.

TAKING OVER

Insolvency expert Allan Kelly has taken over as the new chair of the North East arm of insolvency trade body R3. Kelly, who is a partner of regional accountancy firm Tait Walker and head of its turnaround and insolvency team, will serve a two-year term in the post, and is now responsible for leading R3 campaigns. He takes over the role from Steve Ross of Baker Tilly Business Services.

THREE GEMS

GEM Partnership has appointed three new members to its professional services team. Paul Mansell has joined the engineering team and Rahul Jassal has joined the commercial team at the firm, both as graduate recruitment consultants. Both are now looking forward to working their way through the GEM graduate development programme. Recruitment consultant Liam Paddison also joins the engineering team. An experienced recruiter, Paddison joins GEM following a period of time working in Australia, and he will be based at GEM’s Newcastle headquarters.

Water treatment firm Biochemica UK has taken on a new administrative assistant. Ben Nath, from Thornaby, is based at the firm’s Billingham headquarters, where he works to support its UK-wide employee and client base. The role was created following a string of new contract wins for Biochemica.

TEAMWORK

North East law firm BHP Law is continuing to build its growing conveyancing team with the arrival of five new appointments. Solicitor Jo Anderson, chartered legal executive Brian Tully and paralegal Lucy Fenwick are all based in Stockton, supported by new administrators Caroline Evans and Amanda McCabe.

Stagecoach North East’s Stockton depot has welcomed a new operations manager. Abbey Pettigrew, originally from Glasgow, takes over the running of the busy depot following her successful training period on the Stagecoach graduate scheme.

CAPTAIN KIRK

Kirk Trewin has been appointed chief engineer at Go North East, the region’s largest bus company. Trewin, 34, Joined Go North East as fleet engineer for the company’s north division, covering its depots across Tyneside and was responsible for the development of the company’s new £8.5m Riverside depot in Gateshead, which became operational in February. Trewin has worked in the bus industry for more than 16 years.

BRANCHING OUT

Gemma Leighton has taken the latest step forward in her career with the Newcastle Building Society after being appointed to run its Darlington branch. Newcastle Building Society has given Leighton the responsibility for leading her own team and developing its operations across the Skinnergate branch’s geographical territory. Leighton joined the Society in 2007, having previously been in the travel industry, and worked as a customer adviser at the Society’s branch in her home town of Hartlepool.

ON THE BUSES

PAINT POSITION

Mellisa Armstrong, 20, has taken up the role of manufacturing support operator at AkzoNobel’s £100m plant in Ashington. AkzoNobel has forged a special partnership with Jobcentre Plus and Northumberland College to provide local people the opportunity to take up roles at the decorative paints facility. Armstrong gained the job after successfully completing a two-week pre-employment training course.

RECRUITMENT AS A CAREER CHOICE At times it frustrates me to see emerging talent pass through the hands of the recruitment industry. In an attempt to address this GEM took the decision last year to take a more proactive role in raising the profile of the recruitment industry as a career choice, by engaging directly and through a broad range of partners. We have also established an internal graduate development programme so we can mould our own talent, and have now recruited five new members of staff through this route. The challenge for our industry moving forward is to present recruitment as an attractive proposition for the graduate population; GEM for one is committed to this cause. Lee Rankin, MD, GEM Partnership in association with

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 63

MEMBER 2 MEMBER

Member2Member

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

www.necc.co.uk/member2member REIKI RELAXATIONS & RELAXATION TREATMENTS REIKI RELAX - LEEMING BAR T/A 121 TRAINING (YORKSHIRE) LTD

Offer Code: #RegularRelaxers The offer “paid in advance” via BACs, cash or cheque, is four “TREAT”ments. These will need to be taken over for to six months for accounting purposes. “TREAT”ments are a FULL Hour in “TREAT”ment so any consultation, aromatherapy blending will not be taken from the HOUR!

SOLICITORS OFFERING FREE HOME/WORK VISITS AM/PM MEETINGS AVAILABLE AND FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION NAUGHTONS SOLICITORS

Offer Code: NECC Naughtons Solicitors are offering their professional will writing services at a discounted rate for all NECC members. An FAQ on wills can be found in our online pack, this will help all members understand all aspects of what to consider when writing a will.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY BID WRITING AND MANAGEMENT TENDEROLOGY LTD

Offer Code: NECCMar14 TENDERology Ltd operates nationally in both the public and private Tendering arena. We’ve just joined the North East Chamber and we want to shout about our range of essential

services and how we can help your business to grow. We’re offering new NECC clients 50% off our standard day rates for introductory services and a 25% discount for the first follow-up assignment.

IT ADVICE / SOFTWARE & WEBSITE DEVELOPMENTS STCS LIMITED

Offer Code: SP14 STCS would like to offer NECC members Sphere Intranet Solutions at a discounted rate of just £10 per month! Saving you over 60%.

EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT TO ANY SIXTH SENSE LEARNING

Offer Code: NECC0314 Management, Leadership and Personal Development workshops. 20.14% off all of our open workshop events. Full list of workshops, dates and locations available on request.

EVENTS ORGANISER AND PR COMPANY IN THE FAST LANE EVENTS

It’s All About You! - Workshop for Women Offer Code: NECC10 An inspirational one-day workshop specifically designed for women. Learn how to boost your self-confidence, improve your self-esteem, cope with stress and learn some wonderful relaxation techniques. The workshop will be held on

64 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

Wednesday, April 23, 2014, from 9.30am - 2.30pm at Stockton Tabernacle Baptist Church.

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTING MB HUMAN RESOURCE CONSULTING LTD

Offer Code: NECC20 MBHR Consulting Ltd is pleased to offer other NECC members 20% off our day rates, which mean we could deliver any of our one day courses for £600 plus VAT for up to 20 employees. That’s as little as £30 per person. All of our training courses can be tailored to meet your business needs and learning objectives.

PAYROLL BUREAU DCS PAYROLL AGENCY (NE) LTD

Offer Code: dcs2014-15 DCS are offering new clients who are fellow NECC members 25% discount on payroll and auto enrolment services for tax year 2014-15. The offer is open until April 30, 2014.

ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTANTS

PLANARCH DESIGN LTD

One hour free consultancy in‑house or on site.

DIGITAL MARKETING / WEBSITES / SOCIAL MEDIA / SEO / CRO SERVICES BURNT ZEBRA

We will carry out a mini technical audit on your website. This audit will look to see if you are at risk from and Google updates (such as Panda and Penguin) and also offer actionable advice on how to correct any issues we find. Normally priced at £250 we are happy to wave this fee for the first 25 members.

WEB DESIGN / PRINT DESIGN & LITERATURE / BRANDING & LOGO DESIGN / MOBILE APPLICATIONS URBAN RIVER

Offer Code: UR1 Book a complimentary consultation where we review your current marketing activities and give advice on how to improve. It costs nothing to talk and you never know, after a brief chat you could come away with fresh ideas for driving your business forward.

WEBDESIGN & MARKETING FOR SME’S OFFERING FIXED PRICE BROCHURE & ONLINE SHOP ACTIV WEB DESIGN

Offer Code: AWD100 Choose a comprehensive brochure website or an online shop website design. Get a mobile webdesign version added free! (up to five pages). Worth £199 (first year design setup normal charge). £75 annual renewal required thereafter.

SOLICITORS / COMMERCIAL SERVICES/PROBATE / LITIGATION/ PROBATE/LICENCING/ MATRIMONIAL/ CONVEYANCING MINCOFFS

Offer Code: EMP005 A new service offering specifically designed by Mincoffs for clients who employ between two and nine employees and has a turn-over of less than £1.7 million. Cost: £95 plus VAT per month for NECC members. If paid in one annual lump sum, a discounted rate of £950 plus VAT would apply.

Entry into the Member2Member section is not an endorsement by NECC

DOUBLE TAKE

The family way

Dean Bailey speaks to two directors of family businesses with global export portfolios

COMMERCIAL DIRECTORI PRIMA CHEESE LTDI

DIRECTOR. WESSINGTON CRYOGENICS LTDI

Nagma Ebanks-Beni Gill Southern MBE How long have you been in the job? For nine years. I now head-up international sales and marketing, but being a family business means you’re involved in everything. What do you love about your job? Recently the international aspect. Dealing with people from a range of countries and cultures is very interesting. Travelling to places that would not necessarily be on your list of holiday destinations like South Korea, Peru or Lebanon is amazing. And the most challenging aspects of your job? There are endless challenges in every business. I’d much rather focus on overcoming and eradicating them than allowing them to cause problems. Highlight of your career so far? Seeing our customer base grow with loyal, satisfied customers. Winning best new NE Exporter in 2012 after starting our exporting interest 12 months earlier was also pretty cool. Who do you admire most? My grandmother, who passed away last year at the age of 102. She was the most strong, dynamic and forward-thinking woman I have ever had the privilege to meet. What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current job? Probably architecture, but I would definitely still be a business owner. Being in business is in my genetic make-up. How will you spend your time when you retire? If I haven’t seen all the places I want to see in the world, then I will definitely go travelling and complete my wish list of visiting the Seven Wonders of the World. I have seen four of them so far. My retirement will then mostly be taken up by submersing myself in literature, arts and yoga.

How long have you been in the job? I’ve grown up with the family business, but only joined as a full-time director eight years ago. What do you love about your job? Flying the flag for manufacturing 30 years on from the day my father started the business with a two-man team and a small export order. I will never tire of seeing cryogenic pressure vessels, built from scratch using traditional welding and fabricating skills, leave the North East for every corner of the globe. What are the most challenging aspects of your job? Maintaining agility in the product mix, customer responsiveness, accurate planning and scheduling, controlling costs and output; all in uncertain times, when one day order visibility is short, and another opportunities flood in; the classic feast/famine scenario. Highlight of your career so far? Being awarded the MBE for services to North East industry, which I share with and dedicate to my fellow directors - my father Eddie Rowe and brother Paul Rowe - and our amazing team. Who do you admire most? As a leader of men and one who showed selfless commitment, resolute determination, grace and dignity, Nelson Mandela. What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current job? Probably a business development role of some sort. I love the challenge of seeing new projects evolve and businesses grow. How will you spend your time when you retire? I will enjoy quality time with family and friends. And my bucket list - Route 66, swimming with dolphins, meeting gorillas in forests, the Inca Trail - though if the weather is fine and the wine is good, I may not get further than my own garden.

APR - MAY 2014 / CONTACT / www.necontact.co.uk / 65

GUEST COLUMNIST

Last Word This month: Lucy Winskell, NECC’s newly appointed chair

s the incoming chair of the board of the North East Chamber of Commerce, the region’s largest business membership organisation, and in my role as pro vice-chancellor for business and engagement at Northumbria University, I can clearly see the need for businesses and universities to work together to ensure economic growth and prosperity. Universities have an important role to play in the creation of new knowledge and skills and they can offer access to impressive professional support that businesses may not have been aware existed. We are fortunate to have five outstanding universities in the North East, which, like NECC, work across LEP boundaries. The combined force of our universities on the region’s economy is incredible. We teach almost 114,000 students, we employ almost 15,000 people and our annual turnovers total £1.15 billion. And that’s before we even begin to consider how much we spend on the procurement of goods and services. Our universities also draw significant national and international attention to the quality of expertise available in the region. Just last month, Teesside, Newcastle and Northumbria were each presented with prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for our respective achievements in digital entrepreneurship, research into sustainable rural economies and outstanding community work. These are the highest form of national recognition for excellence in higher education and are awarded every two years to a very small number of institutions. It is clear that if businesses and universities work together, it can lead to

great things, helping to drive the economic, cultural, social and intellectual development of the North East and beyond. At Northumbria, I lead the University’s contribution to regional, economic and social development as a businessfocussed, professional university, so there are clear synergies with my role at the Chamber. I am keen to ensure businesses are fully aware of how we are open to working with them to help them grow and develop. Let me outline just a few examples: Our Knowledge Transfer Partnerships help businesses increase profitability and improve competitiveness, productivity and performance. Northumberland-based Renown Engineering is a great example with sales increasing from £11m to £15m after accessing our support. Our ERDF-funded £1.1m Graduates into Business project will provide more than 50 SMEs with graduate interns; our Innovation Voucher Scheme provides up to £5,000 of financial assistance to

66 / www.necontact.co.uk / CONTACT / APR - MAY 2014

businesses wanting to access our expertise and we work with businesses in the Northern Design Centre to develop their ideas in innovative ways. We also work to drive the creation of new businesses. We are a partner in Newcastle’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre, working with the City Council and Science City to help entrepreneurs get their business ideas off the ground. Our students and graduates are actively encouraged to start-up new and sustainable enterprises. Our efforts have led to the launch of more than 100 companies in the last five years, most of which are based in the North East but which are trading nationally and internationally. They employ over 800 people and have a combined turnover of £54 million. It’s great to see how much support is available to grow businesses in the North East from universities and professional organisations. We are ready, willing and more than able – you just need to ask for it.

I DON’T SEE BORDERS I SEE OPPORTUNITIES. AS A CHAMBER MEMBER I’M WELL CONNECTED. IF IT’S NEW CUSTOMERS YOU’RE AFTER OR THE RIGHT ADVICE TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS GROWING, BELONGING TO YOUR LOCAL ACCREDITED CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEANS YOU ARE ALWAYS WELL CONNECTED. VISIT WWW.NECC.CO.UK TO SEE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS. #JOINYOURCHAMBER

GREAT BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS START WITH A CONVERSATION. LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALK. To see how we can apply our expertise and experience to support your business, start a conversation. Please contact Rob Wiggins, Business Development Manager on 0191 227 3576 or robert.wiggins@northumbria.ac.uk