North East Times Magazine - April 2015 by North East Times Magazine

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A P R I L

CONTENTS

April 2015 BUSINESS NEWS –

SAVE THE DATE –

Business events – mark them on your calendar.

ON THE MOVE –

New executive appointments.

10 QUESTIONS FOR... –

Shelagh Alderson, hospital director at Spire Washington Hospital.

STATE OF THE ART – COVER STORY –

The countryside takes centre stage at Rural Solutions.

BUSINESS LUNCH –

118

Malmaison, Newcastle.

ARTS –

122

An interview with vocalist and songwriter Zoe Gilby.

MOTORS –

132

CREDITS

Directors: Mike Grahamslaw, Mick O’Hare Commercial director: Martin Stout Editor: Alexis Forsyth Editorial: Jessica Laing, Elise Rana Hopper, Emily Pentland, Natalie Welsh Senior designer: John Haxon Feature photography: Chris Owens

Front cover: Willy Browne-Swinburne, northern lead at Rural Solutions Office: Quayside - i4, Albion Row, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1LL. | t: (0191) 265 7050 @NETimesmagazine Find us on issuu

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Editorial: Contributions should include a fully stamped addressed envelope. No responsibility is accepted for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission, or while in the Editor’s or Printer’s hands. Editorial must be received by the 12th of the month or no responsibilty is accepted for errors. Advertisements: Although every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the Publishers regret that they cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused by an error in the printing or damage to, or loss of artwork, transparencies or photos. Complaints: regarding advertisements will only be considered for up to a week after publication. Advertising must be received by the 15th of the month. No responsibilty is accepted for errors. © 2014 Published by North East Times Ltd.

BUSINESS NEWS

Rising stars Young entrepreneurs take centre stage at the Northern Star Business Awards.

hriving small businesses and young entrepreneurs were recognised at the Northern Star Business Awards, held at Newcastle City Library last month. Organised by Project North East, The Princes Trust and TEDCO, the event – hosted by freelance TV presenter and journalist Kim Inglis – championed and celebrated the determination, passion and enthusiasm of small business owners and budding entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30-years-old in our region. Seven awards were handed out on the night, with the Digital Business of the

Year Award going to Chloe Hall, founder of Bumble and Bloom Media, and the Innovative Business of the Year accolade being awarded to Amy Fettis, founder of Northumberland-based property business, For Your Inspiration. Other award winners included Joanne Wake of Raw Digital Training, Kayley Smith of Sweet Tooth Delivery, and Michael Carling and Simon Coward from Iglouu. The 2015 Northern Star Award was presented to Niyc Pidgeon of Optimal You, a lifestyle brand that emphasises the combined power of positive

psychology, personal fitness and optimal nutrition. Winner, Chloe Hall said: "The Northern Star Awards was such a fantastic opportunity for start-ups, like myself, who are still in the early days of building their business. To be the guests of honour at an event which celebrates young entrepreneurs is such a fantastic thing in itself, but to be celebrated and commended for those long days, late nights and sacrifices we've all made in starting up our own businesses – by the very people we aspire to be like one day – was just a dream come true for us all.”

NECC reacts to Budget

ollowing last month’s Budget from George Osborne – his final as Chancellor before the General Election – the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) was pleased overall with his statement, although it was thought that some major announcements were bypassed. NECC director of policy, Ross Smith said: “There have been several positive

announcements made by the Chancellor. The elimination of National Insurance payments for under 21s and the abolition of the annual tax return will make life much easier for our smaller business members and contribute to the positive employment figures released on Wednesday morning.” Although the NECC welcomed positive updates from the Chancellor, the

organisation will continue to push for more powerful action on a series of vital issues. Ross added: “While there have been promises made around business rate reform, annual investment allowances and northern transport, we are yet to see action. Actions speaking louder than words and these issues need to be addressed as a matter of urgency by whoever is in the Treasury after the election.”

Clothing brand gears up for expansion

Solutions Recruitment holds charity quiz

ounty Durham-based clothing brand I Sunk Your Battleship (ISYB) has received an investment totalling £97,500. ISYB, a street wear brand, received the majority of the investment (£80,000) from Northstar Ventures, Finance for Business, Proof of Concept Fund. The funding will be used by the company to ramp-up its production and marketing efforts. Ross McPhie, managing director of ISYB, said: We are excited about the future of our brand and where our journey might take us.”

ver 150 people from businesses across the region took part in Solutions Recruitment’s annual fundraising quiz at Newcastle United bar ‘The Terrace’, to raise money and awareness for Macmillan Cancer Support. Marketing manager Becky Mortimer said: “A lot of work went in to the planning of the evening to make sure those who attended not only supported a very worthy cause, but also enjoyed the event itself. I was just overcome by the positive response we got on the evening and it made all the work worthwhile.”

Survey reveals decline in hiring intentions

Northumberland hotel wins Hotel of the Year

he North East Employment Outlook has fallen 13 points on the previous quarter, according to Manpower. At +2 per cent, hiring intentions in the North East stand at their lowest level for six quarters, and four points below the national average. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is based on responses from 2100 UK employers. It asks whether employers intend to hire additional workers or reduce the size of their workforce in the coming quarter.

atfen Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa has won the Hotel of the Year award at the What’s on Where awards, for the second year running. Bernard Bloodworth, managing director at Matfen Hall said: “We are delighted to win these awards because the standard throughout the county is exceptionally high with many beautiful hotels. This is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of not just our hotel staff but the teams at both the spa and the golf club.”

Port of Blyth to host Tall Ships

The Botanist supports regional charity

lyth is to host the prestigious North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016, an event involving some of the largest and most spectacular Tall Ships in the world. Northumberland County Council leader, Councillor Grant Davey said: “This is the first time that Northumberland has been awarded the honour of hosting the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016 and it is going to be a fantastic maritime celebration.” The Tall Ships will sail into the port at Blyth over the weekend of August 26-29, 2016.

he Botanist has partnered with the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) throughout 2015, after raising £1,687 for the charity in its opening month. One pound from each reservation in December went towards the heart unit and The Botanist has now pledged to donate 25p from every children’s meal this year. General manager Andrew Shiel-Redfern said: “A cause close to our hearts in Newcastle, this worthwhile charity deserves all the help we can give and we are proud to partner with them.”

Success for college’s retail outlet

verything’s coming up roses for Gateshead College as its new retail venture at the Intu MetroCentre continues to blossom. Metal roses crafted by fabrication and welding pre-apprentice students are the latest products catching the eye of shoppers at the handPICKED store, which provides an outlet for entrepreneurial students to showcase their retail flair and grow their fledgling start-ups. It’s anticipated that upwards of 100 young entrepreneurs from the college will be involved during the project’s 18-month trial.

International business delegation visits Newcastle

group of 14 influential business leaders from Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city, visited Newcastle last month in a bid to strengthen commercial links between the business communities of Newcastle, Hamburg and the rest of Europe. NE1 Ltd, the Business Improvement District (BID) company for Newcastle city centre, organised the trip to extend the city’s business reach and to create opportunities for North East companies to do business in and around Europe.

Smart Money’s inaugural British Bank Awards

eesside-based Smart Money People has released the results of its inaugural British Bank Awards, placing First Direct firmly as Britain’s favourite bank. Scooping the accolades ‘Best British Bank’, ‘Most Recommended Bank’, ‘Best Customer Service’, ‘Best Value for Money’ and ‘Best Current Account’ with its 1st Account, the internet and telephone-only bank proved customers don’t need to step into a branch to receive exceptional service.

DIARY BEING DIFFERENT: YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR TRACK RECORD AND YOUR CAPABILITIES

April

Benwick Hall, Level 2, Newcastle City Library Web: www.bipcnewcastle.co.uk Tel: (0191) 261 3929 Email: sinead.moloney@neop.org Price: Free This Nepo Business Club session provides guidance and advice on making your business stand out from the crowd. The practical workshop will use real-life examples to structure top business tips, as well as allow you to develop your business from a client’s perspective.

MAKEUP MASTERCLASS AT ROCKLIFFE HALL

Save the date Charity balls, business dinners and seminars.

SHOW YOUR MUSSEL June

4 Durham County Cricket Club Web: www.themusselclub.com Tel: (0191) 516 3109 Email: info@themusselclub.com Price: Free

April

Blackfriars Restaurant, Newcastle Web: www.blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk Tel: (0191) 261 5945 Email: info@blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk Price: £49 per person This foodie event aims to educate attendees on the art of perfecting food and drink combinations and teach them why, sometimes, food is better matched with beer than wine. Guests will be able to try and test a selection of beers from around the world, which they will be encouraged to partner with specific foods for maximum flavour.

Newcastle Falcons Rugby Stadium Web: www.northeastexpo.co.uk Tel: (0191) 375 5733 Price: Free This b2b event aims to provide its clients with opportunities to promote and develop their business. The regional trade show will showcase over 200 unique companies – both local and further afield – as well as hosting an array of professional speakers, seminars, masterclasses, workshops and great networking opportunities.

FOCUS DINNER WITH MIKE MATTHEWS OF NIFCO

April Truffle Restaurant, Darlington Web: www.entrepreneursforum.net Tel: (0191) 500 7780 Email: info@entrepreneursforum.net Price: £75+VAT (members only)

Rockliffe Hall, Hurworth, County Durham Web: www.rockliffehall.com Tel: (01325) 729 963 Email: spa.reservations@rockliffehall.com Price: £10 per person

BLACKFRIARS BEER & FOOD MATCHING

April

Hosted by hotel spa manager and experienced freelance makeup artist, Victoria Lees, this masterclass is designed to help guests perfect their makeup techniques. Victoria will be sharing her tips and tricks, as well as offering helpful tutorials. Tickets are redeemable against Daniel Sandler products.

NORTH EAST EXPO/SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING SHOW

The annual Show Your Mussel business event is returning for a third year running, with the purpose of bringing together the best in business. With its panel of established businessmen and women from the region, it provides guests with an opportunity to ask questions and connect with local business contacts. This year’s confirmed panel includes; The Bishop of Durham, managing director of NRG, vice president of Emirates, CEO of Quorn Food, managing director of Business Durham and CEO of UtilityWise. Unlike previous years, this year’s event also offers a business breakfast to kick start the day.

Email jessica.laing@accentmagazines.co.uk with your events

This intimate dinner, hosted by managing director of Nifco UK and owner of the North East Business Executive of the year title, Mike Matthew, offers guests an opportunity to converse, ask questions and learn from his success story as an entrepreneur – including how he worked his way up from a Darlington council estate to his current position, managing five plants and 2500 employees in Europe.

DISTINCTLY DELICIOUS FESTIVAL

May

9&10 Town Centre, Darlington Web: www.darlofoodfest.org Tel: (01325) 463 002 Price: Free This two-day food event in the heart of Darlington aims to celebrate all things delicious. A great day out for foodies, it will provide attendees with an array of cookery demonstrations, food stalls that showcase local independent food producers and tasting sessions featuring homemade delicacies.

APPOINTMENTS

On the Move Your monthly guide to appointments and promotions.

RICHARD COATES

YVONNE BELL

ALISTAIR MCDONALD

North East dental practice, Riveredge Dentistry, has appointed Richard Coates as a new practitioner. Richard joins the practice, which is regarded as one of the top practices for cosmetic dentistry in the UK, from Sunderlandbased Wessington Way practice, where he worked for 10 years. The move will allow Richard to develop his career and work towards a Masters degree.

Yvonne Bell, a director of Bell Truck and Van, has joined the board of the Entrepreneurs' Forum. In her new role, Yvonne, who joined the family commercial vehicle business nearly 35 years ago and has been a member of the Forum for many years, will share her knowledge of marketing, succession and the competitive motor retail market for the benefit of other entrepreneurs.

North Shields-based law firm, TLW Solicitors, has appointed Alistair McDonald as head of marketing and business development. Alistair, who was headhunted by the firm, brings a wealth of experience in developing business and marketing strategies to his new role, which will see him help grow the business further outside of the North East and expand its niche offerings.

MATT SWIFT AND JONATHAN CLARK

LYDIA MCCASLIN

NICK BECKWITH AND CONOR MURPHY

North Tyneside print, packaging and supply chain business, Elanders UK, has appointed two experienced print and packaging experts, Matt Swift and Jonathan Clark. In his new role, Matt (right), who brings over 25 years’ experience in packaging creation and innovation, will work with customers to identify packaging opportunities for the business. Jonathan, an expert in print planning and forecasting, will help create efficiencies in this area.

Newcastle-based law firm, BHP Law, has welcomed Lydia McCaslin to its team. A specialist in wills, trusts and probate, Lydia will head the team at BHP’s Newcastle office, having recently returned to the North East after a year in Australia. A member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, Lydia's expertise covers inheritance tax planning and powers of attorney, as well as the administration of estates.

Newcastle-headquartered consulting engineering firm, Patrick Parsons, has strengthened its board of directors with the appointment of Nick Beckwith (left) and Conor Murphy (right) as new members. Nick, who joined the firm’s Newcastle office in 2009 as an associate director, and Conor, who joined last year, will be responsible for spearheading business development and company growth alongside the existing directors.

INTERVIEW

10 questions for...

Shelagh Alderson Shelagh Alderson is hospital director at Spire Washington Hospital, located 1.5 miles from Chester-leStreet. Shelagh joined the independent hospital in 1994 and became director two years ago. In her current role, she oversees all clinical governance, commercial and safety aspects of the hospital.

What was your first break in business?

What attracted you to your current role?

What has been your career highlight?

And your career lowlight?

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I would say my big break was starting my first job as a physiotherapist 21 years ago at what was then the Bupa Hospital in Washington. It gave me my first step into the independent healthcare sector at a wonderful hospital and allowed me to develop and further my career.

I have been hospital director here for two years, making a gradual progression through the ranks over several years. Previously I worked as paramedical services manager, theatre manager and head of clinical services (not all at the same time!) before taking on my current job. This role was a natural development for me as I can use all my skills and previous experience, as well as expand my knowledge on the commercial and financial aspects of the position.

My career highlight is definitely my current role, as I have seen our business grow significantly over the last two years, with patient and staff satisfaction scores reaching the highest ever in our annual national surveys. It is a great achievement to know that more patients, whether private or NHS, are choosing Spire Washington for their treatment.

I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say I have a career lowlight as I always try to take something positive and constructive from my previous roles and experiences.

I really enjoy developing high performing teams and my current role allows me to do that. It is a fantastic feeling to see your staff grow and develop, and this benefits both the hospital and the staff as they go on to bigger and better things.

What's your biggest challenge?

Who are your heroes, in and out of business?

What is the best piece of business advice anyone has ever given you?

What does the future hold for Spire?

What do you do to relax?

My biggest challenge is certainly a good one to have. We are so busy that we are running out of space and the senior management team and I are constantly looking at innovative ways to find extra space for our patients and staff. In addition, we are always seeking new staff with the right skills and personal attributes to join our expanding team.

My heroes are Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi â&#x20AC;&#x201C; two inspirational leaders prepared to sacrifice freedom for what they believe in.

The best piece of business advice I have ever been given is to always tell the truth, no matter how difficult it is. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple in theory and very effective, although not always easy to implement.

The future is very bright for Spire Washington. We anticipate increased numbers of patients as this is certainly the trend, and further investment in both our staff and our hospital to allow us to provide the high standard of patient care we are recognised for. Staff training and development will always be a focus for us, as well as investment in high quality kit and equipment to develop our services here at the hospital.

Whenever I have some free time I love to cook, I find it very relaxing, especially when spending time with family and friends â&#x20AC;&#x201C; adding food can only make things better!

BUSINESS Members of the Forum enjoyed a tour of Facebook’s HQ in London

Facebook: moving fast and being bold A group of 20 entrepreneurs from the North East gain insight and inspiration while on a trip to Facebook’s London headquarters. embers of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum travelled to Euston and met with leaders from the social media company, who had flown in from Ireland and Facebook’s Palo Alto headquarters. It was a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of a company that thrives on the innovative nature of the surroundings in which its staff work, which helps to drive the team’s creativity and work ethic. The team of Facebook experts hosted a tour of the headquarters and shared tips on how small and medium enterprises can make the most of the social network to grow their own business. Facebook itself was built as a platform that nurtures trust. It was one of the first social media models in which users were identified by their real names, rather than pseudonyms, and this encouragement of authenticity and honesty is reflected in the working environment. All efforts are made to remove bureaucracy, with a flat system of working, allowing people to get on with their jobs. While every member of staff has his or her targets, they are goal oriented, not assessed by clocking in and out, set around an arbitrary ‘working day’. The focus is very much on impact, not hours performed, and staff can work when and where they choose, so long as the job gets done. The environment of trust doesn’t stop there, it extends to all parts of the organisation, such

as provision of complimentary food and drink, which is available at all times of the day, as well as office supplies straight from vending machines, on-site sleeping pods, foosball and pool tables, energy drinks and pick and mix sweets, coffee shops and bars, and, of course, one of its latest acquisitions – Oculus Rift video games; all aimed at keeping people engaged, enthused and performing at their optimum level. While this may seem lavish or over the top to many, Facebook’s culture is, in fact, acutely designed to drive the business and its staff forward, and the company feels that this is the single biggest strength it has. Facebook’s team outlined a clear plan of recruiting well, setting clear expectations, creating a focus, driving the impact, cultivating growth through support, mentoring and development, and then rewarding achievement. In relation to hiring new staff, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reported as saying: "I will only hire someone to work directly for me if I would work for that person. It's a pretty good test." Gillian Marshall, chief executive of the Forum, says: “We don’t expect that all of the companies who joined us on the trip are suddenly going to make radical changes to the way they work, but this was a very useful insight into a different way of working. “Facebook management are strong believers in hiring the right person, and that is as much

about aptitude and attitude as it is skills, because the culture of freedom and trust demands it. It is about bringing in the right people, setting clear goals and then leaving them to do their jobs, but there is also a strong element of accountability, feedback, advice and support when things go wrong, as they inevitably do.” She adds: “We had some great feedback from members, and one wrote to tell us, ‘It was a fantastic opportunity to see behind the scenes of a recognised global brand like Facebook, and to learn how they have kept their culture as they grew – I took away some really tangible ideas for our business as we take over the world in our own little way!’” Rosie du Rose, executive director of customer service at Home Group and a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, comments: “I have to say I really enjoyed the visit. It gave me a real insight into some innovative thinking and what I really liked was that it was about the people and culture rather than the technology (people not pixels!). Overall, I found it truly thought-provoking and inspirational.” The on-site visit has proved so popular that a return trip is already in the planning stages for next year. For more information about the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net

DEVELOPMENT

The right person for the job? Asks Rod Findlay, consultant at Your Sport Consulting.

EXPERT VIEW Rod Findlay Consultant Your Sport Consulting Email: rodfindlay@yoursportconsulting.com Twitter: @RodFindlay

ost people with even a passing interest in sport will know that Alex Ferguson stood down as Manchester United's manager in 2013 after 26 years and was replaced by David Moyes. Moyes lasted a year before being replaced by Louis Van Gaal, who is under pressure to succeed in a short space of time. In the Premier League, the longest serving manager is Arsene Wenger by a long way. In the 2014/15 season Newcastle United will play at least five teams with different managers between the home and away games, including Sunderland. You might shrug your shoulders and say "well that's football" but what it really shows is an industry that routinely recruits the wrong person, or doesn't give the right person sufficient time to get things done. Of course, circumstances change and the best candidate might not be the appropriate person after, say, ten years but the timescales suggest that we can dismiss this as a major factor. How can a multi-million pound industry repeatedly make one of those two mistakes? But giving it honest appraisal, can you say that your company has not done the same at some point, too?

Getting recruitment wrong I've recruited for many positions over the

years and I have been fortunate to have secured some excellent staff out of the process. But I'll admit that I've made some mistakes and had to accept the consequences. Recruitment mistakes probably fall into four main areas. The first is often at the outset when an employee hands in their notice. Too often an organisation assumes that they need to make a like for like replacement. Taking time to review the company's resources and changing needs would help identify if that was the case; if a different role now exists; or if there is no need to recruit at all. The job description and person specification is the next step where mistakes are sometimes made. An old job description might be used or be so vague that no one could properly identify what the role entails. If a person specification exists at all, it might only be a few bullet points or contain essentials or desirables that are not relevant to the role or are not competency based. How does ‘must have a degree’, for example, ensure that you get candidates that'll have the skills for certain roles? In reality, is it just a crude filter? And, finally, the interview is the most common place to make recruitment mistakes. Essential requirements are not tested. If teamwork is important think about how you are going to properly test that. Questions

might be subjective or inappropriate; decisions made on likeability; and little regard for the person specification held. I applied for one job where I met all of the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification, which is why I got an interview. I met very few of the apparent requirements tested at the interview which is why I didn't get the job. I've no idea if I would have been the best candidate but I do know they were almost recruiting for two different roles.

It's up to you My former boss used to say that it takes a year to learn the job; three years to do it; and another year to find another one. The timescales in football suggest that people are being given time to learn the job and, in most cases, very little time to actually do it. If the manager isn't ‘good enough’ to see it through then whose fault is it for recruiting them? When did individual clubs last recruit the ‘right’ candidate and what happened to them? It's something to think about when you next recruit someone or if you're wondering why a recent hire didn't work out. It can be argued that there are two reasons for new staff failing. You hired the wrong person or you didn't deploy or train them properly once they started. Either way, it's your responsibility to get it right.

DEVELOPMENT

Are you selling your business to potential employees? Bryony Gibson, managing director of Bryony Gibson Consulting, talks about the need for businesses to sell themselves more effectively in a candidate-led jobs market.

EXPERT VIEW Bryony Gibson Managing director Bryony Gibson Consulting Tel: (0191) 375 9983 Web: www.bryonygibson.com Twitter: @bryonygibson

f you believe people are your biggest asset then you must take the process of recruitment very seriously. Finding good candidates has always been hard, regardless of sector, but as business confidence grows and employment levels rise, a shortage of highly skilled people means we’re all working in a candidate-led market. The final decision to accept a job will always sit with the applicant, but for now at least, the balance of power seems to have noticeably shifted in their favour. So, are you prepared to compete for the best employees? Because whether you like it or not, right now you’re going to be faced with strong competition if you want to recruit and retain the top talent. As a business that means you need to be prepared in order to get ahead. You’ll no doubt already have a detailed strategy in place to attract and look after clients, but do you have one for staff? When was the last time you reviewed your recruitment process? If the answer isn’t recently, then this is something you need to seriously consider as it may well be too one-sided and no longer fit for purpose. My focus as a recruiter is on supporting the tax and accountancy markets and, increasingly, I see excellent candidates searching for a new

challenge, who end up with multiple job offers because of the high level of demand. How many people have turned down offers to work for you recently? If that’s the case, do you know why? We all know first impressions count and throughout the entire recruitment process while you’re assessing them, prospective employees are forming opinions about you and your business. They’re judging you at every turn. If you’re aiming to attract the best people then you need to ensure you give them clarity of purpose and demonstrate a clear vision for the business from the outset; and that begins with a well-crafted advert and job description. The way you respond to each enquiry is critical; as is the time the recruitment process takes. This all creates an impression of your business and in a fast-moving market it pays to be decisive and to communicate regularly if things change. Who is the face of your company? Who meets prospective new employees the first time they enter your office? You must make sure they all create the right impression and are capable of selling your business. The interview itself should be treated as a two way process – a meeting to establish a common interest. It will give you the opportunity to assess the candidate’s suitability, but you must also

make an effort to sell your company. No one buys from people who don’t believe in what they’re selling, so you need to have the right individuals in the room; those who embody your brand values and can explain why someone should want to work for you and what the benefits are. You should carefully plan your interview technique. A scripted list of questions is useful, but to truly sell your business you need to listen and be fluid in terms of asking probing questions that will help you to tailor the benefits of working at your company to the candidate’s motivations. There are many potential touch points and it often feels difficult to find the time to manage them all, but if you can qualify your applicants thoroughly you shouldn’t need to interview lots of people. That way you can spend your time more effectively, ensuring you make the most of the opportunity you have with each candidate. After all, the better the people you recruit, the more successful your business will become. Contact Bryony for help finding the right tax and accountancy role or recruits on (0191) 375 9983. Alternatively, visit www.bryonygibson.com, connect on LinkedIn or follow @bryonygibson

INTERVIEW

Flying high In this month’s Entrepreneurs’ Forum interview, we hear from Christine Nugent, managing director of Business Travel.

£5m onto our turnover in the next three years. I have my son, Jordan, working with me as business improvement manager, and honestly, it’s been one of the best things we’ve done. We are looking to evolve the culture of a 30-year-old organisation. We are modernising, systemising, automating, and it’s great to have the combination of youth and the sensibility of experience between us.

hristine Nugent doesn’t describe herself as an entrepreneur, but to hear the story of how she built her £10 million company, Business Travel, out of a small firm, created as a quirk of necessity and then plucked from administration – she carries all the hallmarks of the label. She joined DMB Travel at 21, a firm that was originally owned by a contracting company, which grit blasted and painted ships and bridges, including Tower Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, the QE II and the Tyne Bridge. The managing director had decided to launch the travel agency as a wholly-owned subsidiary to his main business so that he could book the contracting company’s own travel. At the tender age of 23, Christine became general manager. But less than a decade later, in the autumn of 1994, circumstances forced Christine to raise funds from a number of sources – including the Northern Enterprise Fund (NEF) and angel investor, Vivienne McGee – to save the travel firm from administration. NEF was bought out of the business within three years and, eventually, Christine also bought out the angel investor, leaving her as sole owner of the company. The business has subsequently gone from strength to strength and now employs 16 people in the beautiful Old Dispensary on Gateshead’s Nelson Street – a building it owns outright – and has plans for further growth. Here, Christine gives us an insight into the company and her plans for the future…

How do you drive change in a business that is so well established? We can’t lose sight of how, when we started the company, the only differentiator we had was our focus upon service – we don’t have a product, we don’t own a hotel, an airplane, only our ethos of great service. In 30 years this hasn’t changed and, whilst I am here, nor will it, but we do have to become more automated and look at efficiencies. The internet has obviously impacted heavily on business travel agents. Where we add value is in the management and control of travel policies, adding benefit to larger clients who are doing too much travel to arrange it themselves.

Having come through the ranks of the business at an early age, have you used a mentor? I did have a mentor who is not with us anymore, Neil Robinson, of Metro Radio. The deal was that we would go out for lunch and if I didn’t learn anything, then he would pay, but if I learned something I would pay. Neil made me question myself, he didn’t actually give me advice, he just made me question things and it was invaluable because I was really young and didn’t really know what I was doing. Now I have the Entrepreneurs’ Forum where there’s always somebody to ask. I feel a lot less alone than I have ever felt, and it’s great for people like Jordan coming through.

Tell us about how you took on the business at the start. I kept four staff after the buyout, when our parent company went into administration. Because we had cross guarantees on the bank accounts, which were there to help us, it meant we were liable for them as well. So when, they went into receivership, the receivers had no alternative but to put us into receivership, too. I bought the fixed assets, but I refused to buy the goodwill from the receivers. I said it was my goodwill and I wasn’t going to be buying it off anybody. I was 32 then and very naïve. We were ten years old and it was our busiest month ever, and we were in receivership. I’m sure we actually traded illegally for a couple of weeks! Our clients were great though, I telephoned every one of them and we had masses of support.

What are your plans to exit the company, when the time comes? I don’t have any immediate plans to exit. I want the company to grow; I want to fill my lovely offices, as we only use about two thirds of the building. We just need to add to the turnover and because we’ve never done it in a structured way, it’s quite exciting and also a new challenge.

How have you grown from that point to your current 16 staff?

Finally, as a mentor yourself, what message would you give to other entrepreneurs?

It’s been organic growth. Most of this has come from word of mouth and growth within our client base. We’ve also been lucky in that we’re able to retain a lot of our clients. We’ve still got our first two clients from 30 years ago – Grundfos Manufacturing and Traidcraft. For us, it’s all about trust. Some of our consultants have got 30 years’ experience and a wealth of fare knowledge meaning they can offer an unrivalled service. We also use bespoke management information to ensure control and monitoring of our clients’ travel policies. Often, travel is the second largest spend companies have after salaries so it pays for them to get it right.

You have to love and believe in what you are doing. There is no substitute for hard work, whilst staying true to your beliefs, no matter what. For us, we have always had a really strong work ethic and this has paid dividends and rewarded us with a fantastic team and loyal clients. Make sure you are very passionate about what you do.

Do you have any concerns about a big client representing a quarter of your business?

Christine Nugent is a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, a unique group of like-minded people who come together through peer-to-peer mentoring and a series of inspirational events to share best practice, create valuable connections and grow their business.

It’s why we‘re working with GrowthAccelerator now; we want to add another

For more information, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net

DEVELOPMENT Richard Lane helps businesses to improve their sales conversion

Don’t leave value on the table! A simple but potentially business changing approach from Richard Lane, managing partner of Newcastle-based sales performance company, durhamlane. ne of the most common questions I am regularly asked is: “What is the most effective change we can make to reduce discounting and increase sales conversions and profitability?” Part of the answer is: “Don’t leave value on the table.” Let me explain… Improved sales conversion and increased profitability is a natural goal all businesses strive for, but few know how to go about achieving it; something that I, my business partner and my team of development specialists discuss, deliver and implement for businesses on a daily basis. This may come as a surprise to you, but shockingly, almost two thirds of the businesses we have worked with to address and correct this issue, have in the past regularly offered discounts of between 35 and 60 per cent (and sometimes more!) off their published prices. This is, in part, due to a common problem whereby their sales staff are afraid of their own prices; usually believing the price is too high or that they are uncompetitive. Our methodical and conversation-changing approach ‘don’t leave value on the table’ is geared towards changing the mind-set of sales

professionals. This isn’t achieved by hypnosis or magic, it comes down to correctly embedding the importance of effective questioning and qualification to your sales team. Coaching sales staff to ask the sometimes much dreaded ‘available budget’ question early in their sales conversations, allows for a greater and quicker understanding of what the customer could be willing to pay, versus what you charge. An example of this could be; if your product is priced at £500 but your customer has a budget of £1000, you will better understand what your final recommended solution can look like if you ask the ‘available budget’ question early on in the sales conversation. In this instance the sales person should be able to confidently close the sale at the price you want, with the customer pleased they are getting what they need well within their expected budget. Sticking with the same scenario, imagine your sales person is, instead, asked the price by the client, before they have had a chance to enquire about the available budget. The client will realise they have more budget than is needed. No matter what budget they had, they

are now likely to challenge you on price and discount flexibility. This will commonly result with your team discounting on your business’ £500 list price in order close the deal – value left on the table. In summary, the earlier you or your team can identify your customer’s available budget, the more control you have in closing the deal successfully on your terms. Be proud of your prices. Intelligent questioning early in a sales conversation allows you to relax and educate your customers so that they see the real value of your product or service. And remember, unless you know the likely budget that can be made available to solve the customer’s problem, it will be very difficult to recommend a viable solution that is priced correctly and appropriately. Don’t leave value on the table! For more information on durhamlane’s services and training courses, visit www.durhamlane.co.uk or call (0191) 481 3800. For regular updates or to ask a question, follow and tweet durhamlane on Twitter @durhamlane or join its sales discussions on LinkedIn.

EVENT

Baker Tilly Budget seminar Baker Tilly welcomed members of the North East business community to its Budget seminar last month, to digest the Chancellorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s announcements.

9 March 2015 saw the tax team at Baker Tilly North East host its annual Budget breakfast seminar, held this year at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Arts, Gateshead. An audience of clients and contacts from across the North East business community listened to Stuart McKinnon, Richard Urron, Andy Graham and Joanne Conneely provide an informative review of the Budget the morning after the Chancellorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s speech, detailing how the changes affect both individuals and businesses. For detailed information on the announcements, visit www.bakertilly.co.uk/budget2015

SPOTLIGHT The Richard Branson and Friends event took place at Northern Stage

Entrepreneurial flair Richard Branson visits the North East to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs. ast month, Richard Branson visited Newcastle to raise the profile of his not-forprofit company Virgin StartUp, which helps budding entrepreneurs across England. Virgin StartUp was originally trialled here in the North East and has been running for over 15 months, supported in our region by delivery partner, enterprise agency TEDCO. It isn’t just a go-to source for start-up capital – Virgin StartUp also helps entrepreneurs with their business plans and financial projections, providing additional support via training, workshops, peer-to-peer networking and one-toone mentoring. The Virgin StartUp event, held at Northern Stage, was an opportunity for entrepreneurs in the making to hear from local businesses who have already benefited from this package of support, and of course, to hear a few inspirational anecdotes and tips from the Virgin boss himself. Here’s what Richard Branson had to say to North East Times…

How would you describe entrepreneurism in the North East? Research by Virgin StartUp shows that over one quarter of adults within the North East have had a great idea for a business, yet over half say a lack of funding stops them making their idea become a reality. A lack of funding shouldn’t hold brilliant entrepreneurs back. It’s concerning that people in the North East don’t feel able to get their business ideas off the ground when there’s so much support available to them.

Launching your own business is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding things you can do. Those who achieve great things are the ones willing to be scared but not scared off. I truly believe that if you dream big and take risks, impossible becomes just a word.

What’s the biggest misconception about starting up a business? Since we launched the company we’ve realised that one of the problems is that a lot of talented people think that entrepreneurship is simply out of their reach, which is a great shame. Part of what we and the mentors do is show those who are in the first stages of starting on this career that running their own business isn’t some unachievable dream, but actually a very realistic possibility.

What role, in your opinion, do small business start-ups play in the regional economy? One of the clearest signs of a strong economy is a healthy and thriving start-up and small business sector; these are the real engines of job creation and growth for any country. We have much further to go, however, to address many years of underinvestment. There are too many young people out of work, lacking the skills to survive in an increasingly competitive and mobile workplace. For more information visit www.virginstartup.org and www.tedco.org

A Virgin StartUp story… Victoria Graham, a textile design graduate from Blyth, is the founder of Millsabelle – a custom-made fabrics and soft furnishings business. On the morning of the event, she presented Richard Branson with a blanket for his grandchildren made from the yarns she purchased using her Virgin StartUp loan.

How did you originally get involved with Virgin StartUp and TEDCO? I came across TEDCO on the internet and was matched with my mentor, Bill. He then introduced me to the Virgin StartUp loan, and said it would be a good way to support my business.

What advice would you give to someone with a business idea? Definitely have a go, make sure you do your research and understand your product. You’ve got to know it inside out.

What are your long-term ambitions? I’d like people to recognise my brand. I would just like people to say ‘that’s from Millsabelle’ and for them to recognise my style and creativity.

Are you still receiving mentoring support? I am – it’s fantastic. If I ever need any advice, my mentor is always there; he just lives up the road from me as well, so it’s perfect! For more information, visit www.millsabelle.co.uk

DEVELOPMENT Joanne Howe heads up HR business, Howe Consultancy

A picture of the perfect boss

Be the boss! Joanne Howe, managing director of Howe Consultancy, profiles the key attributes of a perfect boss. n my job, working with companies who need HR support, I see a huge variety of management styles. This can be a good thing and although one cap definitely doesn’t fit all – there are still some rules that we should, as bosses, all try and stick to. My picture (shown above) expertly drawn by my goddaughter Lydia, aged nine, says a lot about the attributes that a good boss should have. I had asked her to draw a picture of the perfect boss, after describing ten key characteristics and this is what she came up with! Here is my boss masterclass for managers of all ages:

Big ears Listen and pay attention to your staff, especially when they are sharing their views and feedback. Good bosses should also show a genuine interest in the welfare of their team.

warm, welcoming smile is one of the best ways to communicate with your staff, showing them that they are appreciated and that you’re always pleased to see them.

Dirty hands When it’s an all-hands-on-deck situation, you have to be prepared to get your hands dirty and get stuck in to the task at hand. Nothing builds teamwork more effectively than seeing the boss get stuck in, alongside everyone else, too.

An open door policy Of course, you have your own job to do and you’re likely to be busy on a day-to-day basis, but always try to be accessible and approachable. Encourage conversation with your staff and try to be sympathetic to their individual challenges.

Clear vision Long legs A good boss should be visible, so get out and about within your workplace. By interacting with staff and taking an active interest in what they are doing, you can build morale and help your employees to feel part of a team.

Staff prefer to follow true and inspirational leaders. Nobody wants to work for someone who is bumbling around, unsure of what to do next, and who lacks planning and management skills. From a B2B perspective, businesses also prefer to use the services of companies that are perceived as successful and reliable.

A white smile Tongue control Always project a smile on your face when walking into work and when greeting people. A

Emotional responses rarely pay off. If you let

your tongue run away with you, not only does the person on the receiving end feel bad, but you also embarrass yourself. I’m not suggesting that, if a person needs disciplining – don’t do it, but always think about what you want to say and don’t deliver it in a way that lacks professionalism. Remember, praise in public and reprimand in private.

Strong stomach When things get tough, don’t show fear. See tough times as challenges and remember there is usually a way to get through it!

Firm hand You are the boss, which means you will have to, at times, make unpopular decisions. Don’t shy away from your responsibilities or get into a debate. Certain decisions need to be made without negotiations, so go ahead and make them – and stick to them.

Love We all need to feel loved and good bosses always show compassion, so my last tip is: go ahead and spread the love in your business! For more information, email joanne@howeconsultancy.co.uk, tel: 07921 256 981 or visit www.howeconsultancy.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

All’s fair in love and divorce... Lucinda Connell of Major Family Law shines a spotlight on financial settlements in divorce cases.

EXPERT VIEW Lucinda Connell Senior solicitor Major Family Law Tel: (01661) 824 582 Web: www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk Twitter: @majorfamilylaw

our average person could be forgiven for being unclear as to how divorce settlements work in this country. Cases reported in the media do nothing to clarify the courts’ approach: is it a straight 50:50 or a case of wife gets all? The reason for this (sensational reporting tendencies aside) is that the judiciary in England and Wales are afforded a wide discretion when it comes to deciding financial settlement in individual divorce cases. It may surprise a few to discover that there is no set mathematical formula to be applied; rather it is a checklist of considerations against the specific background of each marriage history. Generally, there is an accepted starting point of considering whether an equal division (50:50) of assets would prove a fair settlement. If there are sufficient available assets to meet each of the parties’ needs (for housing, capital and income), then the court may well decide that equal division is appropriate. The problem is that, in many cases, a simple equal split would not be fair. There may well be a disparity in earning capacity, and/or an increased level of need where one party has the day-to-day care of the children. There are other considerations to be factored in too, so that it begins to become clear why, sometimes, there seems to be no emerging pattern to reported decisions.

And then there is the tricky question of assets acquired either side of the marriage – either before the parties married, or since they have separated. Is it fair to include these in the pot of assets to be divvied up? There are any number of assets which can be termed ‘non-matrimonial’ assets: gifts or inheritances received by one spouse; businesses which are deemed to be family businesses; and family heirlooms are just some of the common examples. As before, there is no set formulaic approach to dealing with such property and all the surrounding circumstances, including acquisition, subsequent dealing and benefit received, will be considered. Depending on how and when such assets were acquired and how they were subsequently treated within the marriage, it is open to the Judge to determine that they thereby became matrimonial assets to be divided in the same way as the other matrimonial property. In a similar vein, assets accrued after the parties have separated may be deemed to be non-matrimonial assets, particularly where they have come about as a result of an entirely new and independent venture entered into by one of the parties post separation. An example of this is where one party uses independently obtained finance to establish a new business venture that reaps rewards.

There is also a further type of post separation asset accrual, where assets in existence during the marriage increase in value post separation, in which case, the Judge is likely to treat the post separation increase in value only as a non-matrimonial asset. What does this mean in terms of a divorce settlement though? Are these ‘nonmatrimonial’ assets exempt from being divided up? In a recent Court of Appeal case, the Appeal Judge declared that the non-matrimonial property is not quarantined and excluded from the court's dispositive powers. The court will decide whether it should be shared and if so, in what proportions. The reality is that the longer the marriage the more likely nonmatrimonial property will become merged or entangled with matrimonial property. By contrast, in a short marriage case nonmatrimonial assets are not likely to be shared unless needs require this, although he acknowledged that only very exceptionally will such sharing be found to be fair. In short, it’s a technical area that requires expert advice. Each case is different according to the particular circumstances of each marriage. Moreover, early financial planning is recommended for anyone bringing assets to a marriage if they are to be preserved as nonmatrimonial assets.

INTERVIEW

An air of mystery Think you know what mystery shopping is all about? Think again. Alexis Forsyth meets Linda Eastwood, founder of The Secret Service, to find out what it really entails and how it can help businesses across a diverse range of sectors.

When a company approaches The Secret Service, Linda and her team work with that organisation to establish its needs and then develop its mystery shopping profile. The team then design a questionnaire that meets the parameters originally outlined by the client. Once this has been approved, The Secret Service then calls on its bank of over 600 mystery shoppers and carries out the visits unannounced, before preparing a final report. The findings are bespoke – clients can choose to have an overall score or percentage; and they can allocate different weightings to questions, depending on their business focus. The client also decides on the pass threshold. Once they have access to the final report compiled by The Secret Service, how do clients then use this information? “It can be used towards staff’s KPIs,” explains Linda, “and to improve customer service by identifying where training needs lie.” The Secret Service has also developed its very own state of the art online reporting tool – aptly named SAS, which stands for ‘Service Analysis System’. Clients are provided with their own login and can then conveniently access all of their results at the touch of a button. SAS also acts as an online hub for mystery shoppers, too. Alongside its mystery shopping service, The Secret Service also offers customer service training and an ad hoc telemarketing service for companies who can’t justify employing a full-time sales person. The team carry out the prospecting and canvassing on the client’s behalf, as and when it is needed. Linda says: “Outsourcing allows organisations to experiment and find out whether this is an effective means of promoting their company and can also support their marketing strategy.” Centred on improving the customer service levels of its clients, The Secret Service must also practise what it preaches, and uphold a top notch service, too, as Linda acknowledges: “We feel that communication is the key to our success and we liaise regularly with our clients, ensuring that we deliver the service that matches their expectations of us.” Perhaps the most notable achievement for Linda is skilfully keeping her own identity a secret over the past 20 years. She enthuses: “One of the things about Linda Eastwood and The Secret Service is that there are no photographs of the staff. I go out and monitor venues myself, so keeping my identity concealed adds to the mystique!”

ystery shopping is, by its very nature, something of an enigma. Looking to shake off this identity is Linda Eastwood, founder of Corbridge-based mystery shopping business, The Secret Service, and a winner of Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sundays initiative. When Linda started out as a mystery shopper over 20 years ago, it was all about ticking boxes. Did the sales assistant make eye contact? Did the sales assistant smile? Yes, they did – but what about the length of the eye contact? And how sincere was that flashing smile? Frustrated by the constraints of this quantitative approach – and aided by a friend in reaching that eureka ‘I could do this better myself’ moment – Linda set up her own mystery shopping venture in 2005. Her vision to dispel preconceptions about the industry and help businesses of all sizes, across a variety of sectors, to improve their customer service soon got underway. Traditionally, mystery shopping has been linked to the retail sector, with high street chains calling on mystery shopping maestros to visit their stores unannounced and report on their firsthand experiences. Indeed, retail remains a lynchpin within Linda’s client base, with Jacques Vert, Berghaus and Fenwick among the retailers who make use of her mystery shopping service. She has, however, also worked with Durham University, Sintons Solicitors, Gateshead Central Taxis and the Black Door Group. Needless to say, these aren’t your stereotypical crop of mystery shopping clients, but as Linda is keen to point out, any business can utilise this service to obtain unbiased, honest feedback on how their customer service shapes up in reality. Linda explains: “Mystery shopping is for people who value their customer service and who want to gain an insight into their business from a customer’s point of view. “We don’t try to tell organisations how to run their business. Our clients know their businesses better than what we do – we only offer advice.” Nowadays, there are plenty of ways to air your views, whether it’s through a feedback form on a website, an entry on TripAdvisor or a concise 140-character tweet. But, as Linda concedes, these options only seem to attract two polar opposites – those who want to rant about a bad experience or those who want to gush over how exceptional it was. “There is nothing in the middle,” comments Linda. “As a business owner, you want to hear what Joe Bloggs thinks, and you want consistency so that you can have regular input into what is actually going on within your own business.”

For more information about The Secret Service visit www.thesecretservice.co.uk

Linda Eastwood, founder of The Secret Service

BUSINESS

Battlezone Laser offers a range of bespoke corporate packages

A game changer Team Valley-based Battlezone Laser is a corporate destination with a difference, as North East Times discovers…

he concept for Battlezone Laser was initially inspired by a trip to Centre Parcs. Watching families of all ages take part in outdoor battleground activities, the three directors and managers – including Susan Fenwick and Donna Nelson – decided to explore an indoors equivalent. They discovered that this was a niche with bags of potential. Not only would this indoor ‘battle’ concept avert any restrictions imposed by the unpredictable British weather, but the venue would also perfectly lend itself to corporate events and teambuilding activities, suitable for all ages and abilities. For corporate clients, Battlezone Laser is much more than just a fun pursuit away from the workplace to help your team bond; it also helps participants to think strategically, work cohesively and – thanks to the competitive nature of assignments – hone their leadership skills. Here, Roy Bradley tells us more about Battlezone and why its laser tag arena and facilities are proving enticing to the corporate sector...

the outset and I would also highlight the quality of the venue itself. We have a ‘customer first’ philosophy across all aspects of how we run the business.

What activities are on offer at Battlezone Laser? We offer an experience that’s as close to the gaming world as you are going to get. Laser tag is not only great exercise but it also provides a unique teambuilding environment without any weather restrictions, and is suitable for all members of staff.

What makes Battlezone Laser a top choice for corporate clients? It is a flexible destination that fully caters to corporate clients’ needs, in that it has meeting room facilities, teambuilding via the laser tag game and battle simulations, a licensed bar and a wide choice of hot and cold refreshments in our

Can you share examples of corporate events you have hosted in the past?

café-restaurant. It provides our corporate clients with memorable team-based entertainment, suitable for sporting and non-sporting types alike.

Is there added value from the activities you run? The activity has all the advantages of any other teambuilding activity, but with less risk. The events replicate real-life scenarios, too – teams from Catterick Garrison have even visited to try out our unique setting!

How does Battlezone compare to other venues that also offer corporate teambuilding activities? It is the only place where employees get to ‘fire’ the boss! It’s also up there with any adrenaline inducing activity but without an above-average risk of injury and therefore, poses less of a health and safety risk to businesses who use our facilities.

How do you meet your clients’ expectations? We offer an extremely high level of service from

Barclays hosted an event attended by Adam Rowse, managing director of Barclays UK. Game designers, Ubisoft, also hosted a special one-off event that brought together employees from around the world. Capital Radio – including its breakfast crew, Bodge, Matt and JoJo – regularly holds events here, too.

What corporate packages are on offer at Battlezone Laser? We offer a wide variation of packages that cater to customer’s individual needs. In addition, bespoke events can be arranged at any time.

Can you tell me more about your meeting room facilities? Our meeting rooms are well-equipped spaces, with free Wi-Fi and large plasma screens that connect to laptops. The rooms can accommodate up to 30 delegates and are available all day and in the evening, too, making it an extremely flexible venue for our clients.

Describe the Battlezone Laser experience in three words… Unique, furious and fun! For more information about Battlezone Laser and the range of corporate packages on offer, visit www.battlezonelaser.co.uk

LEGAL & FINANCIAL NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Barclays supports North East charity Northumberland Clubs for Young People will receive business help from the bank.

orthumberland Clubs for Young People (NCYP) is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2015 with the news that it has been named charity of the year by Barclays Bank North East through its LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) employee network group, Spectrum. Over the next 12 months, a series of fundraising events will be held by Barclays staff to raise money for the charity to support the services it offers to clubs for young people throughout Northumberland and the North East. NCYP will also benefit from strategic business input from staff at Barclays through skills and knowledge transfer as well as practical assistance. NCYP was among a select group of organisations to receive a prestigious Weston Award in 2014, presented by Garfield Weston, one of the UK’s largest charitable trusts. As well as a grant allocation of £5000, the award delivers significant business benefits including free business mentoring and resulted in the

Left to right: David Field (Spectrum North East), Stephen Drew (NCYP) and Ste Dunn (Spectrum North East)

charity’s introduction to the Barclays team. Jon Niblo, chief executive of NCYP said: ‘The Weston Award has been invaluable in providing our organisation with access to business advice and mentoring and equipping us with the skills to implement

strong business principles that compliment our charitable values and objectives. The award has also brought us into contact with the team at Barclays, which is now paying dividends in our nomination as their charity of the year.”

Tees Valley accountancy practice expands

ees Valley-based accountancy practice, Evolution LLP, has moved into a larger office to make way for further growth in 2015. Evolution LLP, which was only established in 2010, moved into new premises at Wynyard Park House due to year-on-year growth of its client base and team members. Due to the rapid progression of the

business, Evolution LLP found it vital to move into the open plan office, which it feels will better service its clients. Speaking about the move, managing partner at Evolution, Martin Barber said: “We are absolutely thrilled about the move. Since formation just under five years ago, we’ve continued to grow and our high-tech, high-

touch office space will provide the very best working environment for our team and our clients.” The practice’s vision includes recruiting the best talent to add to its budding team of 60, and also includes creating 20 new jobs and further geographical expansion in order to service its plan for growth.

Muckle LLP announces managing partner promotion

ommercial law firm, Muckle LLP, has announced the promotion of Jason Wainwright to managing partner. Jason, a real estate partner who has been with the firm for ten years, joined Muckle after five years working as group company solicitor for multinational public transport company, Arriva plc, where he

advised on the real estate aspects of mergers and acquisitions. He will continue his real estate work as well as take responsibility for building the momentum achieved under his predecessor, Steve McNicol. Jason said: “Taking on the role of managing partner for Muckle is a huge

privilege. Steve has achieved so much for the firm over the course of the last ten years. I have talked to the business for some time about my desire to lead the firm. Now I’m looking forward to continuing Steve's fantastic work to increase Muckle’s market share and strengthen our position in the North East.”

INTERVIEW

In the boss’s chair

Cyd Smith Owner of CS Accounting Briefly, what has been your career to date? I left school and went straight to do my Articles in private practice but by the time I took my final exam I couldn’t wait to leave and go into industry. I worked as a management accountant for a few years and then did some ‘temping’ which I absolutely loved. It was really varied and took me back into private practice for one of the ‘big four’, working for large international companies as well as smaller local companies. I left work when my daughter was born but was tempted back a year later when the accountancy practice I had previously worked for asked me to ‘help out’ one of their clients. From there I moved on to starting my own business.

Why did you decide to start CS Accounting? It happened by accident. I went for an interview for a part-time job preparing management accounts and financial information and the director asked if I fancied doing it on a selfemployed basis. That meant I could fit work around life and the kids, so it appealed. But mostly it gave me the opportunity to consider the business I was working with as a whole and to work with the owners and directors to make sure they had the information and systems they needed. I found that clients really appreciated this holistic approach.

What skills and attributes do you need to do your job?

Obviously there is all the technical knowledge required and CPD to keep up-to-date but you also need an understanding of how a business actually works. Our clients are all small businesses and they rely on us quite a lot to help to keep them right on the financial front so we also need good people skills to make sure they understand and are comfortable with what we are telling them.

began in the industry?

What's been your highlight in your role?

We don’t just get the numbers to add up, we like to be much more interactive. We don’t want to just see our clients at the end of the year to hand them a tax bill. We encourage our clients to call on us at any time for advice or just a chat, without the clock ticking. We are also proactive with our clients, if we see something that would benefit them or something they need to know, we keep them up-to-date.

I’m still really proud of my first ‘computerised accounting system’. Way back in the 80s I was given a newfangled PC and a big box containing a Pegasus accounts system. I just had to dive in and get it all set up and running and I have never looked back. I still get excited when I get the chance to play with some new software! But it’s mostly the little things that give you the real buzz. Recently one of my clients called me his ‘superstar’ after the successful outcome of an HMRC enquiry, something like that really sticks in your memory and makes it all worthwhile.

When I first started it was all handwritten ledgers and huge accounting machines working with record cards, so one of the biggest changes has to be the actual processes involved in record keeping and reporting.

What makes CS Accounting different?

What are your short and long-term plans for CS Accounting?

To change opinion from the stereotypical grey suited, boring, no sense of humour image that has been associated with the accounting profession for so long.

The next message we need to get across to our clients is Auto Enrolment (AE). We are currently planning a seminar in association with representatives of all aspects of AE to bring them up to speed on what needs to happen and when. Long-term our plan is not to plan. We need to be able to adapt to any changes that may arise which affect any of our clients so while our goal is always to give our clients the service they need, ‘the plan’ for doing that will always change as circumstances change.

How has the accountancy sector changed since you

For more information, visit www.csaccounting.co.uk

What's been your biggest challenge?

EVENT

Hay & Kilner roleplay seminar Hay & Kilner’s employment team recently presented a role-play seminar, ‘Carry on out the door’, to 60 guests at the Centre For Life.

he seminar focused on fair dismissals and how to protect a business’ reputation, customer base and business information from abuse by ex-employees. The employment team at Hay & Kilner deliver bi-annual seminars where they provide practical guidance to minimise the risks inherent in managing a workforce. For further information or to receive an invitation to the next seminar in September, contact Helen Ward on tel (0191) 232 8345 or email: helen.ward@hay-kilner.co.uk

INTERVIEW

Banking on success Meet Brian Lake, the new head of Yorkshire Bank’s North East Business and Private Banking Centre, who previously held a similar role in the Hull and Humber region for over two years. North East Times catches up with Brian to talk banking culture, returning home and staying lucky… Tell me about your role at Yorkshire Bank…

What do you enjoy most about working for Yorkshire Bank?

Basically, my role is to fly the flag for Yorkshire Bank across the North East. Specifically, it's to guide a team of commercial and private relationship managers who have loyal, valuable and growing portfolios of clients to look after.

I've worked for other banks and undoubtedly it's the culture at Yorkshire Bank, which you have to experience to ‘get it’. Looking after our people fits well with how I like to operate.

What originally attracted you to this position? I've returned to the North East after a period of doing a similar role in the Hull and Humber region. Returning ‘home’ is always good but the opportunity to develop our business in this unique geographical location was the big attraction.

How does your current role compare to your previous jobs? It's difficult to compare because, in truth, other jobs in the sector have been during different economic conditions. It's probably the job I've wanted for a while so I hope I don't mess it up!

What’s been your personal highlight so far?

Looking back to the start of your career – did you always want to work in the banking industry?

It's very early days but being able to quickly get up to speed, both internally and externally, has been very enjoyable.

Good grief, no! I've always loved sport, specifically cycling and wish I'd discovered it much earlier (I was 29).

How would you describe the financial sector here in the North East? Having operated in the Humber and Yorkshire region I feel well placed to make some comparisons. This region reflects its people and we are a pretty optimistic bunch, and I think that shows in how we trade in the UK and abroad. Also, I'd even say I think people in the North East are imaginative in dealing with problems and issues; long may it continue.

What have you yet to accomplish in your career? Truth be told, I've never looked too far forward but I'd like to stay lucky. At Yorkshire Bank we have both the assets and a strong ambition to be the number one Challenger Bank in the UK and I really want to make that happen in the North East, too. For more information about Yorkshire Bank, visit www.ybonline.co.uk

EVENT

Sintons welcomes top private lawyer The Newcastle law firm hosts a special event at the Laing Art Gallery to welcome a new addition to its team.

eading members of the North East business community attended an event to mark the arrival of Paul Nickalls at law firm, Sintons. Top-rated private client lawyer Paul has been appointed head of wealth management at the Newcastle firm, having moved from DWF earlier this year. The event â&#x20AC;&#x201C; held at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; was attended by over 50 guests. www.sintons.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Time to review Peter Rutherford of Universal Tax Strategies highlights the importance of reviewing your pension arrangements on a regular basis.

EXPERT VIEW Peter Rutherford Partner Universal Tax Strategies LLP Tel: (0191) 374 0333 Email: peter.rutherford@utsllp.co.uk

here is a natural assumption that, with the new pension flexibility that’s now available, anyone over the age of 55 can ‘fill their boots’, taking out as much as they like, when they like. But can they? The answer is, probably not. There is no compunction upon the holding pension company to adjust its existing contracts to allow this flexibility. So it makes sense to review what you have, even if you are not immediately contemplating taking benefits. There are other good reasons for taking some action. Old contracts are generally not flexible, they are often highly charged and fund performance can be poor. With-profit funds, where literally billions of pounds sit, can be some of the worst offenders. I will illustrate this below. If we look at charges, firstly, we know that many insurance companies have been swept up by ‘vulture’ companies, such as Phoenix and Friends Life. Names like Sun Alliance, Clerical Medical, Sun Life, NPI and so on, have disappeared. Many of these old contracts have initial charges on every pound that goes in along with monthly policy fees and high annual management charges. This last point is

particularly true where capital units are involved. Capital units often have annual management charges of four or five per cent plus per annum. They were a method employed by some insurers to ‘kid’ the investor that 100 per cent of their money was buying investment units. The insurer then clawed back initial costs over the coming years. The above needs to be compared with modern ‘clean charged’ and flexible contracts. If we now consider performance, we have some famous old names providing embarrassing numbers. I know of an old Sun Alliance contract (now Phoenix) adding an annual bonus of just 0.25 per cent. Scottish Widows Unitised With-Profit Fund has returned just 10.4 per cent over the last five years. That compares well with one of Aviva’s many with-profit funds that has produced just 7.2 per cent over the same period. And even that dwarfs NPI and two Phoenix funds that have, over five years, produced zero! (Source FE Trustnet) Ask yourself if you have anything like that in your portfolio. About 18 months ago, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) issued a press release stating

that it had ordered a crackdown on the pensions market, saying some £40 billion of savers' money was contained in schemes that may be delivering poor value. Of the £40bn the OFT says may be delivering said poor value, £30bn is in old and high-charging schemes, while £10bn is in small schemes which are "at risk of delivering poor value for money due to low levels of trustee engagement and capability". You have to ask yourself: ”Where is mine?” To me, it makes sense to review your pension, and your financial position in general, on a regular basis. We expect our pensions to support us for many years but we ignore them for years, too. In contrast, we have our home boilers serviced every 12 months. That is important, of course, but I might suggest we have lost a little perspective here. A boiler breaks down and you are cold for a few days. Your pension planning breaks down and the consequences are much longer lasting. Hopefully you are now persuaded that you need to have an IFA review of what you have, or think you have, in your portfolio. Finally, a little pat on the back for me for writing a pension article and not once mentioning Equitable Life!

LAW & FINANCE

Cash is King...long live the King! Christopher Booth, financial adviser at Lycetts Financial Services, talks cash management and diversifying your portfolio. anaging cash can be a time consuming process and often gets forgotten in the daily grind. A new service from Lycetts aims to not only make the process infinitely easier, but also improve cash returns for all clients. Our new cash management service can be employed to assist a wide range of clients, from private individuals and businesses, to trusts and charities, to achieve maximum interest on deposit investments. This is done via our intelligent computer system which monitors rates at over 120 UK and overseas banks on a daily basis, constantly calculating the best cash rates available in the market. Using this new tool we are able to select a portfolio of deposit options to provide the optimum balance between interest and cash on demand to match individual profile requirements. We seek to diversify your portfolio in a well thought out manner and investors wishing to limit their counterparty exposure to the Financial Services Compensation

• Portfolio construction: You set the parameters within which we will optimise a portfolio • Administration: We will complete all paperwork on your behalf for each account opening • Ongoing monitoring: We monitor your rates to ensure they remain competitive against current rates • Review: If a materially better rate becomes available, we will inform you and readminister a new account • Security: We access each institution direct.

Christopher Booth can assist with your portfolio of deposits

Scheme (FSCS) maximum of £85,000 per person can use our service to spread their holdings so as to protect the full amount of capital held. The main points to consider are:

Useful for cash flow planning and management, portfolio construction and increasing income, this new service can save a business or client both time and money. It also reduces the risk of holding large cash deposits with one institution. And you will find cash becomes King again! To find out more, contact Chris Booth on (0191) 232 1151 or email christopher.booth@lycetts.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Team Leathers are supporting The Wheels Project, based in Hebburn

Stepping up a gear for charity North East-based accountancy firm Leathers LLP is supporting a local cause that works with young people with a budding interest in motor vehicles.

youth training project in South Tyneside has received £10,000 – enough to sustain the scheme for a whole year – through the fundraising efforts of a team of accountants who are cycling more than 2000 miles. The Wheels Project, in Hebburn, has been in existence for 24 years and has worked with hundreds of young people during that time, providing engaging activities to keep them occupied in their spare time, as well as offering training and qualifications for harder to reach teenagers who may not have done well at school. The charity has received a £10,000 boost thanks to a team of accountats from Leathers LLP, who are taking on the Tour de Force this summer – a mammoth cycling challenge of 3,344 kilometres, following the exact route of the Tour de France – to celebrate

its 25th year in business. The chartered accountancy firm, based in Newcastle and Durham, has set a target of raising £50,000 for the William Wates Memorial Trust, the Tour's official charity, and nominated the Wheels Project as the local cause it would like to benefit from a grant. Bob Neill, who founded the Wheels Project in 1991, says: "This is an incredible donation and we are thoroughly delighted. This alone will help to sustain us for a whole year, so is a huge boost to the project and the work we do. “I founded the Wheels Project all those years ago as a way to keep my son and his friends off the streets and give them something engaging to do, and it has been fantastic to see how it has grown and the difference it has made to young people's lives. We are hugely grateful to the team from Leathers for their efforts." Michael Leather, managing director of

Leathers LLP – who is cycling the entire 21 stages of the Tour, joined by colleagues at various stages along the way – comments: "The main reason for us doing the Tour de Force is to give something back through raising money for a fantastic cause. The Wheels Project has worked for over 20 years to help change the lives of young people in its local community, and that truly is something special. “We, as a team, have been to visit Bob and the Wheels Project and are hugely impressed with the work they're doing. We are all delighted to be able to benefit such a great local charity. Our training for the Tour is anything but easy, but when you see for yourself what a difference the fundraising is making, it really spurs you on." For more information, visit www.howdoyoucelebrate25yearsinbusiness.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

A unique funding proposition Peter Cromarty from Corporate and Commercial Funding Solutions puts funding options under the spotlight... n a business environment that now requires much more than the traditional forms of funding that were previously available to them, companies need to consider all available options to get the correct fit for their particular situation. However, this is not always easy. The finance world has changed dramatically in the past few years, with banks having tighter credit policies and the advent of a new phenomenon – crowd funding. Fortunately, there is ‘credit appetite’ from lenders who are keen to assist, but companies must know where to look and how to put a proposition to them. Having worked for major financial institutions for the past 25 years, I felt that the time was right to establish a unique funding solution proposition in the North East. Corporate and Commercial Funding Solutions’ (CCFS) bespoke service starts with a visit to the prospective client to gather relevant information and follows on with informed discussions with lenders in order to find the right solution for the client’s needs. This eliminates the need to conduct a 'beauty

parade' of lenders for the client that is extremely time-consuming and, ultimately, confusing. To accomplish this, CCFS collaborates with two strong and innovative funding partners – Anglo Scottish Finance and Reward Finance Group. Anglo Scottish Finance is one of the UK's leading asset finance brokerage firms, with a broad range of funders in the following areas: asset finance, invoice finance, refinance, property finance, crowd funding and business loans. Having traditionally focused on asset and dealer support finance with a range of major lenders, niche funders, and ‘own book’ solutions, Anglo Scottish Finance is keen to develop its commercial finance division. This provides a genuine 'one stop shop' offering to SME businesses and their business advisors. Reward Finance Group is a secured business lender with a difference. Run by Dave Jones and Tom Flannery, they have more than 60 years’ experience in banking and asset based lending. Backed with strong funding lines, Reward

Finance Group extends short-term finance to businesses that need it, in a quick and efficient manner. Secured funding lines are between £50,000 and £2 million and are provided to businesses as a direct injection of cash, in conjunction with their business advisors, or to other funders to provide additional funding that can assist deal completion. As well as short-term 'bridging' facilities, Reward Finance Group provides innovative receivables funding solutions where a more creative facility is required, and now a new trade finance proposition through its invoice and trade finance divisions. This combination of strong funding solutions with a professional and credible personal approach will prove extremely useful to the SME business and the advisory community in the region. If you or your clients have a funding requirement or would like to know more about any of the above, contact Peter Cromarty on 07715 409386 or email peter@ccfundingsolutions.com

LAW & FINANCE Brian Logan, a consultant at Rowlands

Sunderland: on the up At times, Sunderland can appear to be in the shadow of its northern counterparts Newcastle and Gateshead, but independent accountants, Rowlands, has the South Tyneside city firmly on its radar. The firm’s Sunderland consultant, Brian Logan, looks at the city’s potential… Tell us about Rowlands and its presence in the South Tyneside / Sunderland area. Rowlands is based just out of the city centre on Douro Terrace, behind the Civic Centre. We benefit from access to the main roads and free parking, which is quite a selling point with clients who often use our offices for meetings. We are bucking the trend and making a big effort within the city. There is a definite gap after Sunderland’s previous biggest accountancy practice moved out to Newcastle. After our merger into Sunderland a year ago, it’s now time to spread our wings. For the first time we are expanding further into South Tyneside and introducing ourselves to more professionals in the surrounding areas. We’re looking at a range of options to promote our presence in the area so that people understand exactly what Rowlands can do for them.

How important is Sunderland to Rowlands’ regional strategy and growth plans? Sunderland is the second largest city in the North East with plans for growth and we need to expand with it. It’s true that Sunderland is trailing Newcastle and Gateshead somewhat and it

needs to be doing more to attract businesses into the city centre and the surrounding areas. Rowlands can play a part in this by letting businesses know they don’t need to go to Newcastle and Gateshead for professional help and support. Within Sunderland, and within Rowlands in particular, we have experts in all fields from accounts and audits, to taxation and business recovery.

Is Sunderland in danger of being left behind by developments in Newcastle and Gateshead? If you compare Sunderland to the ongoing regeneration and transport links that have been put in place around Newcastle and Gateshead, it would be fair to say we have been lagging behind for some time. However, times are changing – there are plans for development at the Port of Wear and a better road system into the port, as well as a new bridge for improved access into the city. All of these should make life a lot easier and attract more work and footfall into Sunderland. That said, Sunderland has a very poor road system, which should be reviewed. It’s very difficult for people to drive into the city centre and that needs to be addressed if we are to attract more people here. Another worry across the business community is that the city isn’t attracting shoppers because it doesn’t have many big

retail names at present, apart from Debenhams and Marks & Spencer. The city does have a lot to offer but it needs help, and that has to come from local government.

How can Rowlands help clients in Sunderland to meet challenges and grow their businesses? Rowlands director John White and I are launching a professional network for the city which will kick off in April. The idea is to meet regularly with professionals who have an influence in the city, from accountants and solicitors, to bankers, estate agents, doctors and dentists. We aim to network, organise speakers and hopefully attract people from the city council. If they will give us their ear, we can give them our thoughts. Ultimately, Rowlands is resurrecting the idea of a professional network for Sunderland similar to one that I was previously involved with, which was a huge success. Professionals in the city may face the same issues, but we all have the same drive and ambition to make things better. We want to make Sunderland a success, or we wouldn’t be here and clamouring for positive change. For more information about the new professional network, email sunderland@rowlandsaccountants.co.uk

INTERVIEW

The long game North East Times asks successful business men and women, with more than 25 years’ experience in their field, what their industry was like when they first started, how it has changed and where they see their sector going.

Michael Smith Corporate finance partner at Tait Walker Chartered Accountants

PAST fter graduating, I trained as an accountant in the City of London. Accountancy then was little more than accounts preparation and tax computations. After four years in London I returned to the North East where I spent a year in industry and got my first taste of advisory work – preparing forecasts and advising on acquisitions. When I joined Ernst & Young in 1989, I discovered this was called corporate finance. I gained experience in everything from financial restructuring to flotations over my 11 years there.

FUTURE

PRESENT joined Tait Walker, one of the largest independent accountancy practices in the North East, in 2000 to continue working with SMEs based in the region. I came on board to set up the corporate finance team and we have since become an award-winning division in the wider group. The work has become more complex as the business environment changes. The landscape changes more rapidly as the nature of these businesses has evolved – ambitious SMEs need advisors to help build their strategies, raise the right types of capital, and execute transactions effectively.

verything we do at Tait Walker has to come back to our clients – our ethos as a company is to make them more successful. There’s without a doubt a renewed sense of optimism in the region’s economy at present, particularly with regard to the North East’s deal activity. Tait Walker has expanded its corporate finance team in reflection of this sense of positivity – our team is growing and we are excited about what the future holds for the firm and its people, and the wider regional marketplace.

TIMELINE 1980: Graduated from Manchester University 1984: Qualified as a Chartered Accountant in City of London 1989: Joined Ernst & Young Corporate Finance in Newcastle 2000: Set up Tait Walker Corporate Finance 2010: Won first of three ‘Dealmaker of the Year’ awards

LAW & FINANCE

A positive outlook There are further signs of growth in our regional economy, says Vinay Bedi, executive director at UBS Wealth Management. aving just returned from a fantastic break away, I came home to be greeted by some excellent results from some of our North East-based PLCs. Without specifically picking anybody out, it is clear that many of our larger quoted companies are starting to perform extremely well and growth is very much back on the agenda. Many of our concerns over the last few years have been the state of the European economy, to which an awful lot of our North East productivity is exported. It was also, therefore, very cheering to see that the economic environment in the Eurozone is brightening. The UBS chief investment officer now expects GBP growth of around two per cent in the Eurozone by the end of 2015. Indeed, most economic indicators have pointed to a strong start to 2015, which is probably not something that you have picked up from the media or the news. I suspect the Eurozone consumer has been benefiting, like the UK, with the temporary energy price windfall. Consumer confidence remains high and this is starting to encourage firms to invest once again. I am also conscious of the fact that there have

EXPERT VIEW Vinay Bedi Executive director UBS Wealth Management Tel: (0191) 211 1015 Email: vinay.bedi@ubs.com Web: www.ubs.com/uk

been some concerns regarding deflation in the Eurozone, although I have to say, this was barely noticeable during my skiing trip in France, where prices had clearly done anything but fall. More broadly, however, Eurozone inflation is expected to rebound to almost one per cent and to 1.7 per cent by the end of 2016. In case you are interested, the positive economic picture is also being reflected in the performances of Europe's leading stock indices. One would expect that, as the current environment of low or even negative interest rates continues, yield seekers have few options other than equities. This, of course, applies to both UK and European investors. Not forgetting that equities can be a volatile asset class overall, this improving economic picture, both in the Eurozone and clearly from the results of some of the North East-based PLCs, can only be good news. Here's hoping it continues and here's hoping that the North East continues to punch above its weight. For information purposes only. This feature does not reflect a UBS offer or solicitation of an offer to make any investment. Extract based on CIO WM weekly report March 2015.

LAW & FINANCE

Supreme Court ruling to shake up divorce cases Is time of the essence when it comes to settling financial claims in divorce cases? Teresa Davidson of Ward Hadaway profiles a recent court ruling to find out...

landmark court ruling has reconfirmed that there are no time limits when it comes to financial claims in divorce cases. The Supreme Court's judgment in the case of green energy entrepreneur Dale Vince and his former wife Kathleen Wyatt demonstrates that divorces with unresolved financial issues can still be heard many years after the initial break-up. This could have a bearing not only on current divorces but also on cases which couples may have assumed had been concluded some time ago. Ms Wyatt and Mr Vince married in 1981. They had a son and Mr Vince treated Ms Wyatt's daughter from a previous relationship as a child of the family. The couple separated in 1984 and for the next eight years, Mr Vince pursued a new age travelling lifestyle. Ms Wyatt brought up the children. The couple divorced in 1992 but did not clearly resolve financial issues at the time. Mr Vince went on to establish green energy

EXPERT VIEW Teresa Davidson Partner in the family and matrimonial team Ward Hadaway Email: teresa.davidson@wardhadway.com Tel: (0191) 204 4350

company Ecotricity and is now reported to be worth around ÂŁ107 million. In 2011, Ms Wyatt made an application within the divorce proceedings for a lump sum to be paid to her by Mr Vince. He opposed the application, arguing that it had no reasonable grounds as it was so long after their divorce. The Supreme Court has ruled that Ms Wyatt's case should be allowed to proceed. This landmark ruling re-confirms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; despite speculation to the contrary â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that there is no time limit on partners in a divorce pursuing a financial claim against their former spouse, if they have not sorted out those issues at the time of the divorce. Couples who separate or divorce without securing a 'clean break' Court Order in relation to their financial claims against each other leave themselves open to such claims, even at a substantially later date. These claims may seem unlikely at the time of divorce, but a person's financial position might one day be poles apart from that during the marriage. That, and the passage of time, is no bar to claims.

LAW & FINANCE

The crowdfunding option Jonathan Gold, founding director of Rivers Capital Partners, shares his expertise on crowd finance.

EXPERT VIEW Jonathan Gold Founding director Rivers Capital Partners Tel: (0191) 230 6370 Web: www.riverscap.com

rowd finance or crowdfunding looks an attractive and easy option to raise investment cash. It is a great source of money and many businesses have made use of it over the last few years, but it is just another route to reach investors. First, don’t view it as a soft option. You are still raising money from others who expect some kind of return. Also, you still need a business plan and a clear proposition. There’s a number of different types but I will narrow our discussion to a few. Equity crowdfunding is cash in return for an equity or share of your business. Actually, crowdfunding started in the social/charity community space and that still forms the bulk of activity worldwide. This is especially so on KickStarter in the US that claims, to date, $1.5 billion has been pledged to over 80,000 successful projects. Notice that it says ‘projects’ as many are just that, not businesses. If you have a business you can raise cash too, but only for a specific project. What makes business equity crowdfunding different is that you are effectively selling shares in your business through an online platform to the public. It’s a market to buy shares that are not easily tradable – it’s not a stock market.

Sounds great, the problem is that the public doesn’t generally know how to assess whether you are a good investment or not. There are laws in the UK and EU to protect the public from investment risks; this increases the amount of information you need to provide to help people take informed decisions. There are around 30 UK-based equity investment crowd platforms to choose from. So how do you choose which platform to use? There are a few simple things to remember if you look to the crowd for cash: 1. The usual fundamentals apply – get your strategy, business plan and investment proposition right in the first place. 2. Decide what form of finance you want – loan or equity. 3. Seek advice and ask around as nothing beats a recommendation. 4. Build a campaign to promote your fundraising…otherwise you will fail, don’t just rely on the platform. 5. Before you commit, read the small print, terms and conditions, and fees!

6. Keep the investors happy; be prepared to report on your performance. Key to all the platforms is how they help you interact with the investors. Remember that you will be depending on this to deal with perhaps hundreds of actual or proxy shareholders. The models by which investors make their investment varies – from actual shares (which is how CrowdCube works) to the Seedrs model where it acts as a ‘nominee’ and holds shares for the investor. Along with these two approaches there is wide variation in how the platform takes a fee. CrowdCube currently has more than 150,000 investors and has raised around £67m for 207 businesses. Other platforms worth a mention are the local team GrowthFunders and also Investing Zone which is actually an ‘angel crowd’ as it’s only open to high-net-worth or other business angel investors, not the public. Most platforms claim great success, with many businesses raising anything from £2000 to £2m. I think your chances of raising the capital in this way are about the same as with other routes such as VC investors; about one in 10.

LAW & FINANCE

Being human Andrew Miller, regional director of Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, North East, asks – how much should you pay for emotional comfort?

EXPERT VIEW Andrew Miller Regional director Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, North East Web: www.barclays.com

n the quest for investment returns, classical finance theory makes little room for sentimentality. But the failure of economic theory – and the financial services industry – to fully appreciate the consequences of being human (and all the emotions that make us who we are) is one of the primary sources of poor investment advice. Estimates suggest that investors lose between two and five per cent of potential returns each year simply because being human makes the principles of classical finance hard to follow. By ignoring the important role of emotions, traditional portfolio solutions end up making investors uncomfortable along the journey and that frequently leads to poor decisionmaking and lower performance. For example, we pay too much attention to the short-term; we over-react to market movements; we buy when markets are doing well, and sell when markets are low; and we

retain large portions of our wealth in cash, unused and unproductive. Despite what theorists may say, none of these actions are necessarily ‘irrational’. We get something important in return – we get to sleep at night! The truth is, we all need emotional comfort. If you’re anxious that markets will fall, selling out provides the relief of knowing you won’t lose any more money. But once you’ve left a turbulent market for emotional reasons, it’s almost impossible to quickly get back in again, no matter how good the logical case for it. You lock in the losses and miss the eventual rally. This is short-term emotional comfort purchased at enormous financial cost. How much should you pay for emotional comfort? Traditional finance says ‘zero’: emotion is to be controlled, not pandered to. But when we aim for perfection – and bet against the forces of human fallibility – we often fail (expensively).

Instead, we should accept our need for comfort, and then seek cost-effective ways of acquiring it, maximising anxiety-adjusted returns rather than merely risk-adjusted returns. Behavioural finance can help identify the aspects of investing that make an individual investor most nervous, and find targeted ways of reducing anxiety as cheaply as possible. This may mean keeping a reasonable portion of wealth in cash for security. It may mean purchasing ‘downside protection’ in the event of extreme market moves. Or it may mean sacrificing some long-term upside to focus the portfolio on investments that feel more comfortable. All of these cost something, but provide the emotional insurance to help you to invest your wealth productively for the long-term, and get to sleep at night. No matter what stance you take to investing, your capital is still at risk.

Barclays offers wealth and investment management products and services to its clients through Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiary companies. Barclays Bank PLC is registered in England and authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered No. 1026167. Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.

LAW & FINANCE

Head of residential conveyancing Geoff Hall and technical manager Andrea Hanna

Manager appointment sets the pace at Gordon Brown A member of staff has risen through the ranks at the North East law firm. ust six months into her new promotion, Andrea Hanna has been appointed as technical manager at Newcastle and Chester-le-Street-based Gordon Brown Law Firm. Andrea, who has almost 12 years’ experience in conveyancing, first joined the North East law firm in 2008 after training in criminal defence, property and probate. Since then, Gordon Brown Law Firm has invested heavily in the personal development and long-term performance of its employees which has seen Andrea rise up the ranks three times. Her previous role as associate solicitor saw Andrea manage a team of five solicitors and legal executives, maintaining relationships with referrers and assisting with the development of the residential conveyancing department. Under the title ‘technical manager’, Andrea will work closely with managing partner Kathryn Taylor and head of residential

conveyancing Geoff Hall, getting involved in the operational side of the residential conveyancing department. Andrea says: “My new role is very different to what I have been doing – while I will continue to work with clients, I will be overseeing staff development with technical checks and improving standards of training across the whole department to ensure the highest quality service is provided to our clients. “I will be responsible for implementing new procedures to keep everyone at the top of their game and drive the department forward in 2015 and beyond – a challenge which I am certainly ready to embrace.” She adds: “Gordon Brown has significantly invested in my career from day one, so it’ll be rewarding to re-invest that experience into the department with this truly performance-focused approach.” Wendy Frame has been appointed to replace Andrea as team leader, joining from

Whickham-based Bindman & Co Solicitors where she was a residential conveyancer. Having studied law at Northumbria University, Wendy has also worked at Gateshead’s Butterworths Solicitors. Forty-two-year-old Wendy, from Tanfield Lea, says: “The opportunity to progress my career as part of Gordon Brown particularly appealed to me as the firm has such a good reputation in the region – I’ve come across them several times in my previous roles. “I’ve been able to take on a lot more responsibility since coming on board. My role involves having my own residential conveyancing caseload as well as acting as team leader within the department where I oversee and support a team of four fee earners.” For more information about Gordon Brown Law Firm, visit www.gblf.co.uk or tel (0191) 388 1778

EVENT

Top economist joins leading North East business owners at Jesmond Dene House Last month Square One Law, UNW, Brewin Dolphin and Atom welcomed leading economist and journalist Liam Halligan to a special business dinner to showcase the economic strength of the region.

ore than 70 of the most influential North East business people attended the event which also saw emerging entrepreneurs Alice Blackie of Pink Boutique and John Hall of Capology share their business stories. Ian Gilthorpe, senior partner at Square One Law, said: “Liam’s insightful view of the UK and international economies gave our guests real food for thought in the lead up to the General Election. It was fantastic to also be able to showcase the North East as a hotbed of entrepreneurial talent and a region that is very supportive of enterprise.” www.squareonelaw.com

LAW & FINANCE

Funding growth Muckle LLP’s Andrew Cawkwell looks at how businesses can get creative with their funding. hike in court fees, which took effect from March 9, will impact on our region’s SMEs, as the costs of taking a case to court make the UK legal system one of the most expensive in the world. Research conducted last year found that more than a third of UK companies did not take legal action because of the financial cost, timeconsuming process and the complexity of navigating the legal system. The recent rise in court costs, of some 600 per cent, is likely to exacerbate this as many SMEs become priced out of the court system, forcing them to consider alternative ways of settling disputes without resorting to litigation. Notwithstanding tentative improvements in the regional economy, liquidity is still challenging for many SMEs, so they need to feel confident about the options open to them in order to claw back any money owed to their businesses. The key to avoiding the need for court action is doing your homework when it comes to suppliers.

• Check your suppliers’ credit policy and understand the terms of it, as well as the process of the credit cycle.

• Get credit terms agreed in advance with suppliers and prepare steps to collect the money – know customers' payment processing days and their invoice process.

• Be sure to check who you are contracting with – sometimes you think you’re contracting with a big name, ‘safe’ supplier, but check the small print as sometimes it can be a subsidiary company with fewer assets.

Muckle can help your business navigate through the credit cycle with a network of contacts and expert lawyers to help inform your strategy to deal with suppliers who can’t, or won’t pay. Court should be the last resort and we’ll be honest with you if we think that court proceedings aren’t necessary, guiding you through steps that could help save your business expensive legal costs. For more information, email andrew.cawkwell@muckle-llp.com

LAW & FINANCE Left to right: Mark Dobbin (Sintons), Jenny Hearl (Eothen Homes), Alex Rayner (Sintons) and Lesley Telford (Barclays)

New £6.2m development for Eothen Homes A North East care home operator is investing £6.2 million in a new specialist care development for people with dementia – the first of its kind in the region.

othen Homes is constructing a new 60bed residential care facility in Wallsend to add to its portfolio across the North East and Surrey, which will also see the creation of 42 new jobs. The home is being specially developed to include groundbreaking dementia specific design features, and will also offer a ‘family home’ environment and an array of engaging activities for residents. In addition, it will provide some residential facilities for partners and spouses. The facility will be unique in this region and is hailed as helping to significantly raise the bar in specialist dementia care in the North East. Eothen Homes, a registered charity providing Christian-based care, was established in 1950 and already operates care facilities in

Gosforth and Whitley Bay in the North East, and Sutton in Surrey. The company has a policy of continued investment in its homes to ensure they are maintained to a high standard. Barclays has supported Eothen Homes with its new development by agreeing a funding package for the home. Newcastle law firm Sintons, which has worked with the care provider for a number of years, has overseen the construction, property and financial legal aspects. Jenny Hearl, chief executive of Eothen Homes, explains: “This new dementia facility will break new ground in terms of its design, services and features. The layout and general provision has been developed in line with the latest research and thinking into dementia care and we are excited to be the first to bring this to the North East.”

Lesley Telford, relationship director at Barclays, says: “Eothen is delivering further innovation for an exciting sector in the North East and the new facility will provide state of the art care for the local ageing population. The new funding from Barclays will not only enable the delivery of innovation but also help secure new job and career opportunities for the North East.” Mark Dobbin, head of real estate at Sintons, adds: “Eothen Homes has an enviable reputation for the quality of its facilities alongside a strong commitment to exceptional standards, and we are very pleased to be able to work alongside Barclays to support them in the addition of a new ground-breaking development to their portfolio.” For more information: www.sintons.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

A balancing act Crafting an investment portfolio is a complex affair, as Sanlam Private Wealth’s Charles Nicholson discusses.

EXPERT VIEW Charles Nicholson Head of Newcastle office Sanlam Private Wealth Tel: (0191) 300 9242 Email: newcastle@privatewealth.sanlam.co.uk

t Sanlam Private Wealth, our aim is to align portfolios logically with our views, to ensure that we meet client expectations within the risk budgets they have selected. Investors are bombarded daily with information. However, the key to successful investment is the ability to distinguish between investment ‘noise’ and trends that are likely to fundamentally change the investment landscape and drive prices across asset classes. There are so many ‘moving parts’ when we make investment calls, and trying to understand the context of this environment is one of them. The critical issue remains – where are we going to make money for our clients without taking unnecessary risks? Although the current investment environment hardly looks exciting, we still need to understand the valuation of the various asset classes and then assess the prospective returns against the investment context. Against the background of generally low growth in 2014, it was not entirely surprising to see commodity prices generally lower. Iron ore and oil prices collapsed by 47 per cent and 48 per cent respectively in 2014, with the share

prices of related companies causing some pain for investors. With sluggish growth and a still abundant supply created in the commodity super cycle of the previous decade, it is hard to see why commodity prices should recover much in 2015. We favoured equities as an asset class in 2014. This turned out to be the right call as the MSCI Global Equity index returned 11.6 per cent in sterling for the year, outperforming both global bonds (which climbed 8.1 per cent) and, of course, cash returns for the period. Additionally, developed market equities crossed the line well ahead of their emerging market peers. This performance was partly driven by a re-rating of equity prices and partly by improved profit performance of companies. Some commentators argue that the re-rating of equities has generally run its course and are therefore sceptical about the continued outperformance of this asset class. We have some sympathy with this argument. US equities are indeed trading at a premium relative to their long-term history. However, in an environment where we still see low interest rates globally, equity yields are still attractive on a relative basis. Unless we are wrong on our

interest rate view, equity markets do not need to de-rate even from these levels. The balance sheets of companies are in much better shape than in 2007/8, so we still believe that 2015 will witness a repeat of equity outperformance. As far as global bonds are concerned, it is hard to make a strong longer-term case given a multi-decade background of low yields. Despite their ability to diversify risk in a portfolio, we do not believe this asset class will outperform in the medium-term. One thing is certain. The rest of this year will undoubtedly test the nerves of professional investors as they craft portfolios for clients that balance risk with prospective outcomes. This article is for information purposes and should not be treated as a forecast, research or advice to buy or sell any particular investment or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of investments may fall as well as rise. Investors may not get back the original amount invested. Sanlam Private Wealth is a trading name of Sanlam Private Investments (UK) Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

LAW & FINANCE

An inflexible approach to flexible working? Caution is required when it comes to dealing with flexible working requests, says employment solicitor Oliver Hebdon. father who made a flexible working request was recently successful in a claim for sex discrimination at an Employment Tribunal. Erik Pietzka had requested to work part-time to enable him to visit his two-year-old daughter who, following the breakdown of his marriage, was a four-hour drive away. After initially having his request to work flexibly refused, Mr Pietzka was later given permission by his employer – a top four accountancy firm – to take one day off per week. However, his manager, who dealt with the flexible working request, had indicated that flexible working could damage his career prospects and Mr Pietzka was later overlooked for a promotion by his manager and subsequently raised two separate grievances which were not upheld by the employer. After handing in his resignation, Mr Pietzka brought a successful claim for sex discrimination on the basis that women who had requested flexible working were treated more favourably. While the firm has appealed the decision, this case serves as an important reminder that employers need to exercise caution when dealing with flexible working requests and employees who work to flexible working terms.

EXPERT VIEW Oliver Hebdon Employment solicitor BHP Law Tel: (0191) 221 0898

Since June 2014, all employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service have the right to request flexible working under a new statutory

scheme. An application for flexible working will normally begin after the employee has submitted a written request and the employer then has three months to consider that request. During this period, the employer should engage with the employee before notifying them of the outcome. An employer is required to deal with these requests in a reasonable manner and while the request may of course be refused, it must be for one of eight business reasons, including where there might be a detrimental effect on the ability to meet customer demand or an inability to reorganise work among existing staff. Discussing these requests with employees will help identify how any proposed changes could be successfully integrated into the business, and importantly, having a clear flexible working policy is fundamental when it comes to maintaining positive relationships. Perhaps it’s possible that cases such as these, along with the forthcoming introduction of shared parental leave in April 2015 – offering further employee rights to fathers – will go some way to help change perceptions among employees and their employers in relation to balancing work and family commitments.

UNW welcomes new partner The Tyneside-based firm bolsters its accounting services team.

qualified tax adviser and chartered accountant is bringing her wealth of experience to business advisers, UNW after becoming its 13th

partner. Hazel Smith, who is originally from Newcastle, has joined the fast growing Tyneside firm from Greaves West & Ayre in Berwick upon Tweed, where she was for 11 years and also a partner. The Durham University graduate has relocated back down to Newcastle following a three and a half month sabbatical in South Asia and is now taking a leading role in the accounting services division at UNW LLP. She was tempted to join the St James' Boulevard-based company by tax partner Steve Lant and will further bolster UNW's offering for SMEs. Accounting services partner Hazel Smith says: “UNW is a very ambitious firm with a

New accounting services partner Hazel Smith

clear idea of where they have come from and where they want to go. “That ambition and desire to grow is

infectious and I felt it was a very good opportunity for me to work for an expanding firm, which wholeheartedly places client service at the centre of everything it does. “I am a bit different in the fact that I have been in general practice, so instead of being in accounts or tax or audit I have done all of them. I was the only female partner at my last firm but what really appealed about a move to UNW is the overall staff diversity in terms of gender, skills, age and specialisms.” UNW managing partner Andrew Wilson adds: “We are always on the look out for bright, ambitious people to join us and Hazel's experience in general practice was attractive to us. “UNW is delighted to have Hazel on board as the firm strives to deliver unrivalled service to our clients via our staff.” For more information, visit www.unw.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Will streaming get the music industry back on track? Asks Thomas Smith, investment manager at Brewin Dolphin.

EXPERT VIEW Thomas Smith Investment Manager Brewin Dolphin Email: thomas.smith@brewin.co.uk

he UK music industry has undergone a huge transformation in recent years. After years of stability, the arrival of the internet spawned a generation of illegal music download sites which threatened the very monopoly that had lined the pockets of industry moguls for decades. For many years, the amount of revenue generated from UK music sales had been falling fast. However, a £1 billion+ year for the UK recorded music business in 2013 and again in 2014, indicates that there’s still money to be made from music sales, despite the fact that the industry has largely adapted itself to a digital future. The industry’s turnaround is partly due to the popularity of the recent innovation of streaming services, such as Spotify and Xbox Music, which allows users to download their favourite tunes for a modest monthly fee. These services are fighting illegal downloads with innovation of service. Music fans can share playlists socially, discover new artists through usable platforms and listen without the requirement of an internet connection. Streaming is growing rapidly and accounted for ten per cent of all UK music sales in 2013;

40 per cent ahead of 2012. This growth is attracting competition in the market place as corporate giants look to gain a piece of this potentially lucrative pie. For example, Google is in the process of launching its steaming service Music Key through its YouTube network and Apple is widely expected to be developing a service following its $2.6bn acquisition of Beats. However, many continue to question whether streaming is the future of the music industry. Some argue that streaming is not effectively monetising its consumer base. The US-only streaming service Pandora claims 250 million users, yet it has only 3.3 million feepaying subscribers at $5 a month. Corporate results offer even less in terms of support for this particular business model. Pandora has not reported an annual profit since its floatation in 2011. A number of popular musicians have also turned their back on streaming altogether. Last November, Taylor Swift removed her latest album and back catalogue from Spotify, while the likes of Beyoncé and Brit Award winner, Ed Sheeran, have offered CDs and digital downloads first, before placing them on

streaming services. But one of the biggest surprises for music sales in 2014 came from vinyl’s renewed popularity. Last year, vinyl sales reached the one million mark – the first time that milestone has been passed since Oasis reined the charts in 1996. While popular artists such as the Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood and Jack White are amongst the top selling contemporary music acts leading the way in the vinyl sales, older buyers are also being lured back to record shops by so-called heritage acts such as David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Even One Direction are getting in on the act, releasing their recent Four collection on vinyl. What has prompted this revival is anyone’s guess. Perhaps what matters most is that major labels and artists are now willing to sit up and listen to music fans’ continuing fascination with the album, in whatever format. Indeed, the popularity of streaming and vinyl is offering hope that we have entered a best-ofall-worlds era where there is space for music to be discovered and enjoyed in every way, including on plastic, for many more years to come.

EVENT

RMT Budget Seminar 2015 More than 200 North East business leaders gathered at Newcastle's Assembly Rooms on the morning of the solar eclipse to listen to RMT's analysis of Chancellor George Osborne's final Budget before May's General Election.

ed by John Richards, Anthony Andreasen and Richard Humphreys, the breakfast event covered the issues arising from the key announcements on corporate and personal taxation, business investment and tax planning, and discussed how individuals and companies should be acting in response to them. Stephen Adair from Broadchare Chambers also addressed the seminar on the Budget measures relating to pensions and savings, including the changes to the ISA regime and the introduction of a tax-free allowance on savings interest. John Richards, director at RMT, says: "The potential impact on business operations of the new digital tax regime raised a lot of interest amongst our audience, and the alterations announced by the Chancellor to the pensions and savings regimes will make a significant difference to the way that people plan their personal finances.â&#x20AC;? www.r-m-t.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

On track with new contract win A North East firm will provide Wi-Fi for the Tour of Britain cycle race this autumn.

BR WiFi has been chosen as the official partner and provider of mobile Wi-Fi solutions for the 2015 Friends Life Tour of Britain. The cycle race, which was officially launched in London last month, announced that North East-based KBR are to provide Wi-Fi at all eight stages of the event. The Gateshead-based firm, which specialises in providing wireless networks, has teamed up with event organisers SweetSpot Group, a well-known sporting event company, in a bid to get more people involved in cycling and to promote an active lifestyle. KBR will be providing free Wi-Fi access to the public at each of the finish lines and press areas during the tour, which runs between September 6 and 13, 2015. Managing director of KBR, Robin Price, said: “We are delighted to be providing our services at such a prestigious event,

Spectators at the Tour of Britain will enjoy Wi-Fi connection this September

especially one with a North East presence. Spectators at the finish line in Blyth will be able to take photos, login to their social media accounts, connect and share live

updates with their friends. Because of our ability to provide such a service, we are indirectly encouraging people to get more involved in cycling.”

Charity swaps high tea for IT

nformation security risk specialists David Lloyd from Signacure Resilience's offices in Whitley Bay and his colleague Dr Christopher Laing decided to help local charity, Smile For Life after hearing that its

website had been hacked. David said: "What we've done for Smile For Life is checked that their PCs are protected from outside attacks and ensured that the website is as secure as possible.”

Smile For Life Children's Charity has a coffee shop in Gosforth that gives young people work experience and new skills to help them move into supported employment.

Advantex checks-in to more success at Rockliffe Hall

yneside-based Advantex Network Services Ltd has won an undisclosed contract to provide new telecoms services for Rockliffe Hall. The firm, owned by brothers Stephen and

Dave O’Connell, has secured a further round of work at the hotel and championship golf course in Hurworth,Teesside after successfully delivering a number of other previous projects including IT and wireless.

This latest success means Advantex has continued to work in partnership with Rockliffe Hall since it opened in 2011, reaffirming the hotel complex as one of the firm’s major clients.

TECHNOLOGY Operations director, Paul Anderson

How to choose a managed services provider In the latest in a series of articles on managing your IT, Paul Anderson – operations director at data centre business ITPS – looks at how to identify the right managed services partner (MSP). anaged services involves working with a partner who handles some, or all, of your IT needs. You retain control, deciding which elements are handled externally and which are managed in-house, creating a cost-effective, highproductivity approach to getting the most out of your IT infrastructure. Information technology research and advisory company, Gartner, estimates nearly half of organisations plan to increase their use of managed services, eager to reap the benefits of cost reduction and increased reliability of the network and its applications. Other advantages include the ability to quickly and easily integrate new technologies and applications such as unified communications, and reducing pressure on the in-house team, leaving them free to concentrate on strategic priorities. Here are some key points to consider when identifying the right MSP.

Infrastructure – your MSP should control its own infrastructure, with continuous investment in super-fast, high capacity communications and ISO27001-certified data centres with business continuity and workspace recovery facilities. Partners without their own infrastructure who rely on platforms such as Microsoft’s Azure or Google Cloud are merely acting as brokers and I would worry about where that would leave clients if those players decide to drop the MSP as a reseller.

Flexibility – can the MSP tailor a solution specific to your needs? They should be able to deliver a total end-to-end service, allowing you to choose from a range of support elements and create a framework that suits your business and can flex alongside it. Your MSP should become your IT conscience, monitoring performance, offering insight and bringing new ideas to the table to boost performance and ROI. Expertise – do they have the right range and depth of expertise across a variety of sectors, and at a strategic level? Look for high calibre, industrycertified experts in a cross-section of technical disciplines from consultants through to engineers. It makes no sense to try to replicate decades of technical and industry knowledge in-house, when you can work in partnership with someone who already bears the cost of maintaining a high level knowledge base. Relationships – look for a partner with a vendor agnostic approach. Your MSP should be able to tailor the right solution created from a range of proven hardware, software, systems and applications from industry leaders. Commitment to multi-vendor accountability is essential. When issues arise, you do not want a situation where individual vendors argue about where the fault lies, while the MSP stands back. Accountability – be clear about what you need

and expect from your MSP. They should offer service level agreements that start at the application layer and go upwards, covering both single and multiple platforms, all tuned to your business needs. They should also have the confidence to commit to financial penalties for non-delivery. Reputation – research the MSP’s reputation in the market. Are they a long-established name with a good track record in your sector? Check out the number of managed service clients they have, and take the time to follow up on client references and visits – seeing is believing. Costs – go through the fine detail of proposed costs so you understand exactly what you are committing to. You should be able to rely on predictable costs and no need for a big investment if you need to scale up. MSPs come in all shapes and sizes, and with varying abilities to do the job. The best partners are flexible and honest, will have a truly expert team in place and demonstrate the ability to understand your priorities and support your growth. Making sure those and other factors are in place will give you the confidence to make the right choice for your business. For more information, visit: www.itps.co.uk, email contact@itps.co.uk or tel: (0191) 442 8300

TECHNOLOGY Perfect Image’s new recruit, Oliver Plumpton

Practise what you preach Oliver Plumpton was recently appointed into the managed services division of Perfect Image as head of service delivery. Here, Oliver explains why the IT consultancy practises what it preaches and the benefits this brings to customers. ou’ll have heard the saying about the cobbler’s shoes? Meaning that those who provide a service don’t usually provide their own business with the same levels of quality they give to fee-paying customers. In the cobbler’s case, while his customers enjoyed top-notch footwear, he walked around with threadbare boots. Of course, this is just a metaphor but you’d be surprised by how many people don’t look after their own business with the same care and attention they afford their clients. At Perfect Image, that certainly isn’t the case. From our office on the Cobalt Business Park in North Tyneside, Perfect Image specialises in delivering tailored solutions and services to organisations across the UK, helping them to improve their businesses through the effective use of IT. And how do we do this? The answer is simple – by practising what we preach. Of course, our clients’ needs always come first, but how can we make recommendations and put IT solutions in place for customers if we aren’t at the forefront of the field? Trying out new technologies, testing and tweaking systems, and leading by example so that we can – without hesitation – proudly proclaim that we practise what we preach.

When designing and delivering a system for a customer, we work hard to make sure that the IT solution is fit for purpose and will bring a tangible benefit to the client’s business. However, everything changes and nothing ever stands still, and so part of our job within managed services is to make sure that these systems do not become stagnant. Our team of highly skilled specialists monitor, analyse and evaluate the performance of our clients’ IT systems – and our own – so that over time, we can identify areas for improvement and in turn put further solutions in place. It is through this constant reviewing and improving process that we bring a significant amount of added value to our customers’ IT. Some IT providers offer their clients a simple insurance policy. In other words, if anything breaks, they’ll fix it. At Perfect Image, a true managed service is not built on the premise of a break-fix mentality. Rather, we learn about our clients’ businesses, what it is they want to achieve, assess the capability of their existing systems and then design an IT solution and service that will meet their needs. Add into the mix our drive to lead by example; we’re in the best position possible to

be able to advise our clients through the consultative process with real on-the-ground, first hand experience of our own recommendations that have been tried and tested over time. Of course, in practising what we preach, there is a dual benefit: through our constant evaluating and improving of IT systems, our customers enjoy an ever-evolving IT solution that is aligned to their business needs. Internally, through our own first-rate IT solutions, we’re able to attract the best people to the business, can utilise their skills in the best possible way, and through this expertise can test the best tools and latest technologies. These internal benefits are then passed on to our customers; they receive the very best service because we’re affording ourselves that same level of care – we know what works and we know what doesn’t. We know what continual improvement and best practice looks like, so in practising what we preach, we’re forming a long-lasting relationship with clients who value the metaphorical cobbler wearing shiny new shoes. For more information, visit: www.perfectimage.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY Alison Gardiner (Born Digital) with Greg Bolton and Graham Brown (RMT's corporate finance team)

Born Digital healthcare platform secures global reach A flexible internet platform for the healthcare sector, created by a North East technology business, is winning new clients and contracts around the world. orn Digital created the flo delivery platform as part of its work on the Sleepstation programme, an internetbased clinical therapy course designed to help people with insomnia which has been assessed as being even more clinically effective than equivalent face-to-face consultations. Having proved the reliability and flexibility of the platform, the Newcastle-based software and application development firm won grant funding, in partnership with its sister company Rubrum Limited, from The Nominet Trust, TSB and The Academic Health Sciences Networks (AHSNs) to investigate other uses for the platform across the health and wellbeing arenas, including occupational health. As a result, the platform has been commissioned by the NHS nationally, and has attracted private and corporate clients from across the globe, in Spain, Singapore and Australia. The funding was won with the help of RMT Accountants & Business Advisors, with whom the Born Digital management team has worked since the early days of the business and who have also helped the company spin out the digital healthcare business into a separate company. Founded by managing director Alison Gardiner in 2006, Born Digital provides a range

of bespoke digital services, from brand development and simple websites to mobile apps and full software solutions. It already works with many of the best-known public and private sector names within the healthcare industry. The 17-strong team designs and develops intuitive software systems which enable companies to deliver engaging experiences online. The business lists Timex, Kodak, B&Q, Danone and Siemens amongst its client base, as well as a large number of educational institutions, business organisations and local authorities across the North East. Alison, who trained as a behavioural psychologist before setting up Born Digital, says: “The healthcare platform we have developed delivers evidence-based clinical care through a sophisticated, automated and scalable online product suite. "The programmes of treatment are designed to allow patients to self-manage and significantly improve their emotional wellbeing at a time and location that suits them. "Each programme of treatment provides effective and long-lasting benefits for the patient with fewer side effects and at a lower cost than the alternatives that cash-strapped health authorities currently employ.”

She adds: "Our aim for Born Digital was always to enter the product market, but we wanted to do that with a product which we were proud of, one which did more than just generate additional profits for the business. We're very proud to say that we've achieved that goal, and that we can genuinely say that we're changing lives through our work. "RMT have been with us since the earliest days of Born, and we’ve always valued their personal approach. RMT give us more than just a corporate offering – they’ve been a central part of the journey that we’ve made so far and will remain our key advisors as we move into this next stage of development.” Greg Bolton, head of corporate finance at RMT Accountants & Business Advisors, comments: “We enjoy working with the Born Digital team, and it’s very pleasing to see the business developing and succeeding in this way." For more information on Born Digital, visit www.born-digital.co.uk. RMT provides the full range of financial and business advisory services through its Specialist Tax, Recovery & Insolvency, Corporate Finance and Medical divisions. For more information, visit www.r-m-t.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY

Five questions a cloud provider needs to answer You have made the decision to adopt the cloud – now it’s time to choose a suitable provider. Pete Watson, CEO of Atlas Cloud, recommends asking the following five questions. failover automation and multiple data centres in geographically dispersed locations to safeguard against the threat of natural or manmade disasters.

How much control do you have over the infrastructure you use for your service? We recommend that you make sure you know who the real owner of the cloud infrastructure you’re moving to is. It’s surprising how many providers are actually mere resellers of third party services with a lack of skilled staff and only little control over the solution they are selling. The more parties that are involved, the more difficult and time consuming it becomes to resolve problems.

Where is my data held? It is always comforting to know where and in which conditions your data is being held, so ask your provider where it is and visit if you see fit. This is especially important if your business needs to adhere to industry specific data protection guidelines.

What accreditations and certifications do you hold? Accreditations and certifications show that a business is operating to international standards. They are voluntary, so if a provider has taken the time to invest in it, then it clearly cares about keeping your critical applications and data safe.

EXPERT VIEW Pete Watson CEO Atlas Cloud Web: www.atlascloud.co.uk

What is your disaster recovery process? A provider should be able to outline its disaster recovery process so you know what will happen

should anything go wrong, and the level of damage that can be expected. We recommend looking for a provider who offers replication,

What service level agreements do you have in place? Cloud SLAs are important because outages can bring businesses to a standstill. We suggest you ask your provider what response times you will have in the event of an issue. Be careful with a quoted uptime of less than 99.5 per cent. For more information visit www.atlascloud.co.uk, get in touch at hello@atlascloud.co.uk or call (0191) 283 0191

TECHNOLOGY

State of the art Emily Pentland looks at what’s new in the world of technology and gadgets.

APPLE MACBOOK pple has unveiled a new line of MacBooks that are set to be the thinnest and lightest MacBooks yet. This reinvention of Apple’s original MacBook crams all of the positives of the original into an elegant design.

Measuring a mere 13.1mm at its thickest point, this laptop is perfect for both business and pleasure as it is easily transportable. The 12-inch retina display provides outstanding screen clarity, especially when viewing images or films. The new MacBook comes

in Gold, Space Gray and Silver and will be available online from Friday, April 10 through the Apple Store. Prices start from £1049. www.apple.com

SONY XPERIA Z4 TABLET ntroducing the world’s lightest and slimmest 10-inch tablet – the Sony Xperia Z4, which has the world’s brightest 2K display accompanied by surround sound effect. The tablet also has an 8-megapixel main camera and a 5.1-megapixel front camera to ensure your selfies and video calls are on point. The tablet can also transform ‘laptop-style’ through the use of its compatible BK50 Bluetooth keyboard with printer and projector outputs. The Xperia Z4 is currently available for preorder at £499.

www.sonymobile.com

CANON EOS 5DS AND EOS 5DS R anon has upped its game with its new DSLR cameras – the EOS 5DS and EOS 5DS R. Perfect for both personal and professional use, these cameras offer the highest megapixels yet in a full sensor camera meaning you’ll get the sharpest results possible. The EOS 5DS R features a low cancellation filter to maximise visual image quality. The EOS 5DS will retail at £2999.99 and the EOS 5DS R at £3199.99.

www.canon.co.uk

SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 AND S6 EDGE he S6 and S6 Edge are the latest additions to the Samsung Galaxy smartphone series. Both models are conveniently equipped with wireless charging, perfect for when you forget to charge your phone the night before. Other specifications include a UFS 2.0 flash memory, a 5-megapixel front camera and 16-megapixel rear camera for crisp photography wherever you go. The smartphones come in Black Sapphire, White Pearl, Gold Platinum and Blue Topaz and are expected to launch at £599.

www.samsungmobile.com

MEDIA NEWS

Premiere for new commercial studio Superkrush lifts the lid on a new state of the art studio and creative hub in Gateshead.

ne of the North East’s largest commercial green screen studios has opened, providing a much-needed asset for the region. Gateshead-based Superkrush has transformed a former working men’s club into a new venture – Jam Jar Studios, home to a range of creative and digital businesses as well as a 1200 sq ft state of the art, commercial film and TV studio. Based in Gateshead, Jam Jar Studios is the brain child of entrepreneur Chris Taylor, founder and commercial director of video marketing agency Superkrush, who was looking for larger premises to accommodate his expanding workforce and was also becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of commercial studio space available to film companies in the North East. Chris said: “We are very excited about having a TV Studio with supporting facilities, such as a controlled lighting rig, full sound-proofing and editing suites as this allows us to control our film shoots which means we’re more innovative and cost effective. We know there is a real need for such facilities and expect it to be well-used by production companies

and marketing professionals alike.” Jam Jar Studios is available for

Marketing firm helps North East LEP

North East agency expands following rebrand

he North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) recently commissioned full service strategic marketing agency Horizonworks to refresh its brand and digital presence, as part of its commitment to improving communications. The work included working with local SMEs and key stakeholders to develop a better understanding of the issues and potential of LEP communications activity, and using this research to create a stronger and more holistic brand and visual identity for the North East LEP.

Chris Taylor of Superkrush in the new Jam Jar Studios

AK Inc Ltd, formerly known as JAK Print, has expanded into a full service marketing agency after adding digital services, including website design and social media management, to its print and design offering. The business has also appointed a new managing director Andy Knowles, to take over from his father John’s role, to lead the business' future growth and success in its new Chester-le-Street office. JAK Inc Ltd has also appointed Kellie Cooper as account manager, taking its workforce up to 16.

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New office, new client for PR firm

orthumberland PR agency, Round Table Solutions, has double cause for celebration with a move to a new office and an addition to its client portfolio. The agency has opened an office in the brand new Blyth Workspace and managing director John McCabe has welcomed the team from biomass heating specialists re:heat as the first visitors. John said: “What better way to mark the opening of our fantastic new office than by launching our work with re:heat.”

MEDIA Members of the Horizonworks team celebrate five years in business

A high five for Horizonworks This year, Horizonworks celebrates five years in business as a full service strategic marketing company. Here, managing director Samantha Davidson reflects on the journey so far and what the future holds for the business… launched Horizonworks at the height of the recession, armed with a single laptop, a loan for my first month’s office rent and with just one client on the books – it’s fair to say that the firm has come a long way since then. We now boast a ten-strong team, complete with specialists in marketing strategy, PR, design, brand and digital, and work with more than 50 clients per year across a wide range of sectors including: healthcare, higher education, engineering, manufacturing, renewable energy, life sciences, professional services and technology. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Durham County Cricket Club, The N8 Research Partnership (a partnership between the north’s eight most research-intensive universities), national business and financial management solutions provider Solutions for Accounting and pump distributor and manufacturer Tomlinson Hall are just a small sample of our current client base. So why did I decide to launch Horizonworks? Looking back five years, I had done everything I had wanted to do in, my then, 12-year career under the restrictions of working for other people and felt that the time was right to follow my own path. Contacts in business would say: “How can you launch a business in a recession? Don’t do it.” The banks weren’t lending to small businesses – but I persevered. I’d spotted a gap in the market to provide high quality marketing from strategy to delivery, and identified that many companies didn’t have the resources to employ a full-time in-house

marketing team – or their marketing activity was carried out as an addition to an owner or director’s usual role. I wanted to provide clients with the high level of service they should expect from a multidisciplined marketing team, where all marketing tactics and resources were available from one source, and provide one clear channel for our clients – as our strapline ‘your marketing team’ demonstrates. For many of our clients, we’ve therefore acted as their own marketing team, performing all of the roles they’d expect from an in-house marketing resource, or we’ve worked as an extension of their existing marketing personnel – bringing additional specialist skills to their organisation. And throughout the last five years, we’ve specialised in creating focused, well informed marketing strategies for clients and then implementing these using the most appropriate tactics – using brand development, public relations, design, digital marketing and direct marketing in an integrated and consistent way in order to achieve results. Indeed, over the past year, we’ve developed marketing strategies for more than 75 per cent of our clients and currently, nearly 50 per cent of our clients are on longstanding marketing retainers. Our approach has proved highly successful as 2014 was a landmark year for Horizonworks and saw the team double in size. We also further strengthened our creative department, appointing a head of creative and a new

designer, as our creative work has been in high demand from companies as diverse as the North East LEP, North East car dealership Vic Young, freight forwarding specialists Johnson Partners and engineering training provider Seta. But we’re not resting on our laurels. As part of our commitment to high quality delivery, we believe it’s vital to continuously develop our team. Recently, we’ve appointed former editor Alison Cowie to the role of client marketing manager and Laura Nee to the post of executive assistant and marketing co-ordinator, while Jen Dugdale has been promoted to head of client marketing. In addition, we’ve seen some highly exciting additions to our client portfolio including commercial property development company Argon Properties, food and drink testing company Geneius Labs, North East-based estate agent Signature, diagnostics business development company OLM and asbestos and environmental testing consultancy Franks Portlock. 2015 is therefore shaping up to be a great year in which to celebrate our fifth anniversary, but while Horizonworks has evolved significantly, our core aim – to deliver what our clients need to make their businesses grow, thrive and succeed, and to deliver it with honesty, integrity and professionalism – is still at the very heart of everything we do. For more information, visit www.horizonworks.co.uk, tel: (0845) 075 955 or email: hello@horizonworks.co.uk

MEDIA

Communicating with conscience Sarah Hall, managing director of Sarah Hall Consulting Ltd, the PR and marketing consultancy that builds profiles and profits, looks at whether PR practitioners should use their influence to make PR a force for good.

wenty Twelve’s Siobhan Sharpe. Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It. Samantha Jones from Sex and the City. Charles Prentiss in Absolute Power. These are just a few of the communications characters we’ve seen on television in recent years. Typical PR people, right? Forget it. Absolutely Fabulous, absolutely not. PR professionals are guilty of reinforcing lousy stereotypes of the industry by placing corporate profile, power and profits at the heart of everything we do – rather than helping organisations find their social purpose. It’s not enough for a practitioner to sign up to a Code of Conduct through a professional membership organisation such as the CIPR or trade association such as the PRCA. It’s time for us to take collective responsibility and reframe how we practice PR.

Time for a change There are plenty of forthright individuals in academia and industry that are doing just that. Professor Robert L. Heath, a leading expert on society theory, believes that PR can either harm or help collective interests. He believes that PR is best when it “challenges and helps organisations be effective not only by what they do for themselves but also within the communities where they operate and on whose resources they depend”. Rather than concentrating purely on corporate goals, Heath suggests that

organisations should work with their stakeholders to solve problems and make collective decisions for the common good. Organisations playing their role within society and creating structures in which communities can work on an equal footing with business, are the ones that will achieve real engagement and ultimately commercial success. It’s a powerful call to action.

Finding a higher purpose Professor Anne Gregory, one of the UK’s leading academics and chair of the Global Alliance talks passionately about the four Ps of public relations leadership: purpose, principles, people and process. Like Heath, Gregory also believes that real PR leadership has a much higher purpose and “our role is to help build societies that work… by ensuring our organisations are part of the solution to the challenges that face [people], not the cause of their problems”. Anne believes that the real leaders in the PR profession are those not only transforming their organisations, but also the communities around them.

Fighting the good fight But it’s not just academics saying this – there are heavy weights from the PR industry driving to make PR a force for good. Ketchum’s European CEO and senior partner David Gallagher, puts it clearly and

succinctly: “Today PR exists to help change the way in which companies operate, not just communicate. We are the ones guiding the, at times, reluctant, awkward and ill-prepared into the sunlight of public opinion. “We are the ones encouraging a positive dialogue between mighty, towering organisations and ordinary citizens, bloggers and journalists. “Economic prosperity is driven by commerce, and commerce depends on the constant exchange of accurate information. Social progress depends on motivated and organised communities, connected and inspired to address problems, issues and injustices. We can help to deliver both.”

Evolution of PR It’s time for PR to grow up. We have a responsibility to review how we work with those employing us and, to quote Professor Anne Gregory again, to “help our organisations clarify their purpose”. David Gallagher believes that we should be proud of what we do, and doing things of which we can be proud. And for the majority of us, if we’re honest, we’re not quite there yet when it comes to helping our employers work within their communities to make the world a better place. For more information, visit www.sarahhallconsulting.co.uk or follow her on Twitter @Hallmeister

MEDIA

Ask Silver Bullet Account manager, Richard Hopper, answers your marketing queries. Q I am told that I need to ‘integrate’ all of my marketing, what does this mean and if it’s so important, how should I do it? While organisations have been ‘integrating’ their marketing communications for years, the use of the phrase ‘integrated marketing’ is a fairly modern term. By integrating your marketing, you are, essentially, utilising an integrated marketing communications strategy. Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) is, by definition, the application of a consistent, co-ordinated brand message across all your marketing channels. The key word here is ‘consistent’ and it is this consistency that ensures not only IMC success, but in most cases, marketing success, too. We have spoken about brands in our #AskSB articles in the past and it is important to remember that a brand is more than just a simple logo. Your brand is what differentiates you from your competitors, and incorporates your vision, your values and your culture. If your brand says everything about your business and differentiates you from other organisations in your industry, then you want to make this clear in your communications. This is the point where we marketeers endeavour to confuse and create mystery, but in fact, marketing is a very simple art. You have your message – which is either your brand or campaign message. You know your target audience and whom you want to speak

to. You now just have to decide how you are going to speak to this audience, and this is the stage where integrated marketing communications is increasingly important. In all communications with your target audience you want them to recognise and understand your brand/product etc. If that branding is inconsistent and giving mixed messages they may never recognise or understand the brand and this will dissuade the consumer. If, however, you communicate a consistent message across all your channels, then you will create the best possible opportunity to engage with your target consumer. They will see, recognise and understand your brand and its values, and ultimately, act upon the call to action within your key message. Thus, you will have a new customer. With an increased number of marketing channels available to us these days, keeping your brand consistent is becoming increasingly difficult. This is especially the case with social media. Traditionally, the social media audience is of the millennial generation and it would be easy to stray from your own brand message to engage specifically with this group, thereby diluting your brand. Organisations these days also boast a wide spectrum of sub-brands, making it difficult to maintain a consistent message. This, again, can dilute or distort your message. We have seen the benefits of co-ordinated marketing recently in the supermarket war, with Aldi and Lidl holding true to their values. In contrast, Tesco has diluted its identity with the creation

of many sub-brands, such as ‘extra’ and ‘metro’. Meanwhile, demonstrating the growing importance of an integrated approach – CocaCola has introduced a new ‘one brand strategy’, aligning its products under the master Coca-Cola brand to make choice easier and simpler for its consumers. So how do you ensure you have brand cohesion across your channels? It isn’t simple, but you do need a strategy. All marketing and branding campaigns should be considered and introduced into a strategic plan, giving a focus. By regular referral to this plan you will ensure the consistency of your brand is maintained. Here at Silver Bullet we are very much advocates of an integrated and consistent marketing campaign. As a full servicemarketing agency we feel that this integrated approach is, in most cases, the only approach. We work with our clients to develop strategies that will ensure that all marketing activity remains consistent to the brand message, greatly increasing the potential of marketing success. If you are having trouble with your marketing message or you don’t feel your strategy supports an integrated campaign or have another marketing question we can help with, talk to us. Email your questions anonymously to hello@silverbulletmarketing.co.uk or tweet us (not so anonymously) @SilverBulletPR and use the hash tag #AskSB

MEDIA

Advertising – stickler for rules or a loose cannon? Ayesha Marston of JAM Marketing takes a closer look at advertising ethics and rules.

EXPERT VIEW Ayesha Marston JAM Marketing Tel: (0845) 900 2127 Email: info@jam-marketing.co.uk Web: www.jam-marketing.co.uk Twitter: @JamMarketingUK

here’s no doubt about it, advertising your products and services is the standard route companies go down when marketing themselves, but do you pay attention to the rules that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) sets out, or are you a loose cannon? If you decide to utilise advertising in your marketing mix, this is the advice we always give to our clients at JAM:

Give an accurate description of the product or service. You cannot exaggerate or improve the product or service and turn it into something it isn’t. This is by far the fastest way to ensure that people complain to the ASA, so ensure that your wording and/or images accurately reflect what you are selling. Advertising flowers as ‘12 beautiful, fresh, pert roses’ on the product description label which, in reality, are a bunch of withering weeds will not be looked upon favourably by your customers.

Legal. This might seem like an obvious one, however some people are scammers and don’t think twice about selling products that are illegal. Always do your research and ensure that what you are promoting isn’t illegal in the country that you’re advertising it in. Some people come unstuck with this on the web, so do your homework and ensure that the legalities have been followed to the letter. Decent. This can be a tricky one, as one man’s meat is another man’s poison so it is subjective, but you should always try and ensure that the services/products that you are advertising for sale are leaning on the side of decency. Obviously, there are rules that regulate such things as alcohol, however the rule of thumb tends to be if you wouldn’t like to buy it yourself, it’s difficult to sell it with conviction. This is something that we always take into consideration at JAM – if we don’t believe that a potential client believes in their own products or services; we won’t take them onto our books.

Truthful. Being truthful about your products/services means that you will be respected. This will also increase the likelihood of a customer returning to purchase more items in the future, as they know they can trust you. Honest. Be open, direct and trustworthy at all times. People are more likely to trust their custom to moral and ethical people and businesses, so do the right thing. Socially responsible. This includes discouraging illegal, unsafe or anti-social behaviour, so set your business up with an ethical framework in place that suggests there is an obligation to act for the benefit of society at large. It therefore goes without saying that if advertising is going to be part of your long or short-term marketing strategy, then make sure you brush up on these rules set out by the ASA.

MEDIA Are you getting a powerful ROI from your PR agency?

Rulers at the ready! Do your campaigns measure up? This month, O Communications looks at the importance of evidencing the impact of your communications strategy.

o one wants to travel a long distance, spend a lot of money and somehow end up in the wrong place, so why would you do this with your business? You could be investing your hard earned money and precious time in completely the wrong direction. Everything in your business should be measurable – after all, you can’t manage what you don’t measure. Measurement is a hot topic within the communications sector, too. As an agency working with a range of brands it’s more important than ever that we can clearly evidence how our work benefits those companies and that they are getting a powerful return on investment (ROI). Here at O Communications, we’ve been working with some of the country’s leading communication thought-leaders to learn how we can improve our measurement techniques to help our clients achieve their objectives. Firstly, understanding these objectives from

the outset is crucial, if you haven’t set the benchmark then how can you measure against it? To find out what good looks like, we start with the overall aim of your communications programme and understand what key messages you need to convey, and then develop objectives to deliver this. Sounds simple, and it is! These objectives should be SMART, focused on outcomes (not outputs) and related to changing both attitudes and behaviour towards your brand. These goals should also be measured and reviewed before, during and after each campaign to help you understand what works and what doesn’t, which may provide interesting results and highlight any change of direction required. The times they are a changing, so when we talk of outcomes it is highly likely this is not simply the amount of press coverage you receive, rather the impact your communications campaign has had on your desired audience. Your PR agency should

work closely with you to understand what it is you are working to achieve – this may be a change of perceptions, to encourage brand loyalty, drive online sales or simply to influence positive conversations about your brand – your communications strategy should therefore have this at its centre. Effective PR and communications isn’t simply about ‘sending out stuff’ – it never has been and it certainly shouldn’t be now. It isn’t a race to issue as much news about your brand as possible, it’s a strategic approach to reaching your customers with the message they want to hear on the channels they use and the only way to understand if what you’re doing is working is to, yes, you’ve guessed it – measure! If you’d like to talk to us about your business’ communication measurement contact O Communications on (0191) 232 5690 or visit www.opr.co.uk

MEDIA

Managing director Brett Jacobson has rejuvenated his business with new recruits

People power Brett Jacobson, managing director of Mediaworks, gets back to basics and looks at the importance of employing the right people for your business.

recently had lunch with the CEO of one of our blue-chip clients and was surprised at how similar the HR challenges of businesses can be, even if the top line is a £billion different. It was during a discussion about the significant growth Mediaworks has experienced that he immediately questioned how well the people and culture have kept up with the business growth. How did he know? The truth is, people and culture have been the most significant challenge we’ve had in the last 24 months. Interestingly, he is facing the same challenges. Mediaworks is a people business. The

value of our business and the quality of our work all depends on our people. For businesses in all stages of then life cycle, the challenge is finding the right people, developing and investing in the right people, knowing when someone is ready for additional responsibility and, crucially, when someone is out of their depth. Getting this right is incredibly rewarding, but getting it wrong can be very costly. In the last 12 months I have witnessed both. I have seen firsthand how negativity can undermine even the best-laid plans and equally, how quickly a positive culture can

breed success and place a business back on track. You can look at your business as a bit like a football club. Every now and then, one of the star performers thinks they are bigger than the club. They believe they themselves make the team great. They lose sight of the fact that they are actually just one part of a great team. Unfortunately, it can only ever end one way – just ask any one of the many ‘superstars’ shown the door by Sir Alex. No one is bigger than the club. So how do you stop this from happening? If you openly praise someone for just doing their day job, you risk inflating egos. Don’t

get me wrong, everyone likes to hear the words ‘well done’ but praise has to be earned otherwise it has no value. In football, it’s recognised that the most talented players are invariably the hardest workers. They earn their plaudits. At Mediaworks, podium moments are reserved for people who go above and beyond expectations – of which we have many! Keeping with the football analogy, every year teams get promoted from the Championship into the Premier League only to find themselves relegated again the following season. Occasionally, a team manages to stay there and becomes established in the big league. Generally speaking, it’s the team that is prepared to adapt and change to contend with the new challenges that survives. Over the last 24 months, we have found ourselves promoted very quickly to our version of the premiership, working internationally with global brands. Staff skill, ability and culture need to keep pace. For some people, it is not in their nature to be open about struggling with an account, a role or a relationship. Sometimes these people create distractions to hide their own failings. The distraction is neither helpful nor productive and the underlying issues grow. In an ideal management world you see these things quickly. In reality it is about having the best information to hand to make informed decisions. Sometimes it comes down to plain old gut feel. Sometimes change is forced upon you and

sometimes it is planned but change is never to be feared; rather it is to be embraced. The world we operate in changes daily and as a

business we realise that we need to adapt and recognise new opportunities. It is necessary to take calculated risks to allow the

business to grow and move on to the next level and stay there. We did this and we recruited fresh, highly talented people who have settled quickly and who are already operating at the highest level. We did this throughout the business to inject new life and to allow us to regain our positive attitude and winning mentality. It worked. It was as if the company had a blood transfusion overnight and we were rejuvenated with new energy, innovation and determination. Our HR strategy, sales process, client relationship management and delivery teams all began to innovate and take on a new lease of life. We began to realise all the brilliant ideas which had been stifled by people who were not able or prepared to change. Our staff were challenging our systems and processes, looking to innovate and improve. We were changing. We were adapting. We were competing in the big league. And the rewards speak for themselves. We’ve had our most successful six months in our history in terms of new business won and successful projects delivered, and we even picked up the prestigious Large Digital Agency of the Year award at the Northern Digital Awards. We’ve established ourselves as one of the leading digital agencies in the north and are now able to compete with any agency nationally. We have taken the next step – and it’s all down to the right people. For more information, visit www.mediaworks.co.uk

STYLE

Get the look Fashion and accessories for women. By Emily Pentland

Accessorize, £85

Miss Selfridge, £30

Jaeger, £350

Marks & Spencer, £49.50

reak away from the standard office look by embracing one of this season’s most popular trends – the 1970s. Burnt oranges, florals, tan and crisp whites are perfect for warming up your wardrobe in preparation for the sunny weather. Those blessed with olive-toned skin are encouraged to seek out natural-looking earthy tones, such as cream and light orange, to flatter the complexion. For the more fairer ladies, blues, black and vibrant florals will complement porcelain skin and blonde locks perfectly. Make your look pop by partnering suede skirts with a white or cream shirt, finished off with nude or tan shoes. For added sophistication, why not sport wide leg culottes, paired with a cream shirt, or even brave a pair of boot-cut trousers and a floral shirt to liven up your work attire?

B New Look, £14.99

MODEL ATTIRE Navy tailored blazer, £125 Scallop edge culottes, £79 Biba white stripe sheer shirt, £59 Pied a Terre large white tote, £310 All from House of Fraser’s Spring 2015 Collection

Dune, £69

WORKSPACE & CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Newcastle High School for Girls granted planning consent A new purpose-built senior school campus will open next September.

ewcastle High School for Girls has been granted planning permission to redevelop the former Church High School site on Tankerville Terrace in Jesmond, Newcastle. The three-acre site will undergo a multimillion pound transformation to create a new, purpose built senior school campus. When completed, in September 2016, the site will accommodate all 700 senior school pupils. The iconic, red brick Victorian building, facing Tankerville Terrace, will be retained and refurbished. A new, stand-alone, threestorey building will be constructed within the grounds, housing an assembly hall and performance space, separate purpose-built dining room, fitness suite, dance and drama studios, music rooms, science laboratories and general classrooms. This building will also include a roof top terrace for outdoor learning. Throughout the planning and design

An artist’s impression of the new school

stage of the redevelopment, led by EWA Architects, Newcastle High School for Girls has received expert advice and support from a number of North East businesses. These included Fairhurst and Todd Milburn Partnership.

Headmistress, Hilary French, said: “We firmly believe that creating the right environment is crucial for inspirational teaching and learning and this new school will deliver an impressive design for first class education for girls in Newcastle.”

Five stars for Miller Homes

iller Homes has retained its five star rating, the highest level attainable, in the Home Builders Federation (HBF) National New Home Customer Satisfaction Survey for the fourth consecutive year. The independent survey provides a guide for homebuyers in making their

purchasing decision and to encourage high levels of service amongst home builders. Chris Endsor, chief executive of Miller Homes, commented: “It is a fantastic achievement for our teams, particularly during a period in which demand and

completions have increased significantly. Despite this additional pressure we have continued to go to great measures to ensure that we are continuously exceeding our customers’ expectations with the quality of our product and the levels of service we provide.”

Hammerson secure planning approval for Cramlington site

ammerson has received planning approval from Northumberland County Council for its plans to create a new scheme on the disused library site in Forum Way, Cramlington. The decision marks an important milestone in the redevelopment process which aims to transform the former

Cramlington library site into a purposebuilt 20,000 sq ft space suitable for retail or leisure use. Colin Farrow, assistant director of retail parks at Hammerson, said: “We believe that the proposed new purposebuilt unit in Cramlington town centre will provide valuable space for a retailer or

leisure operator, whilst also complementing the ongoing improvement of Manor Walks.” Hammerson’s proposed plans reinforces its ongoing commitment to enhancing the local economy as well as ensuring Cramlington is a vibrant, healthy and sustainable community.

COVER STORY

design for a country house and a modern lecture theatre attached to a Grade I listed Oxford College building, to a new ice cream farm in rural Cheshire and the justification of a sensible level for new housing in a rural village. It is incredibly diverse and challenging, and most importantly, each job is unique and requires a vast range of skills. Some of the most rewarding work has been in managing a team of different specialists get the best possible outcome. In the north, Willy sees the importance of progress. He says: “We only have to look back at the drive and forward thinking of the Victorians and Georgians to realise how benign we are as a generation. We need to keep the rural sector vibrant by thinking differently but appropriately. “Having the resource and intelligence to really dig deep into the reality of what any particular project could offer is incredibly exciting and revealing. In the last three weeks, I have had my first impressions completely dashed by the research we have carried out on particular projects. Commercial opportunities in the rural North East are sitting there waiting to be realised and if you ask the right questions it is amazing how the potential becomes apparent.” He continues: “We spend a lot of time working with new owners of estates. They may have just inherited or are new to the countryside, and getting involved in their plans and ideas is a great privilege. Honing ideas and helping new thinking in some very traditional and complicated family situations is a challenge. Rural Solutions has vast experience in managing change and empowering the new generation to start building a legacy. “Families like ours have been responsible for rural enterprise since the dark ages and it is our burden and joy to continue that. The difference now is that they fought battles to protect their land and keep generating a sustainable countryside. We now have to fight against red tape, the planning system, the tax burden and every other official body or cause that wants to set our countryside in aspic.” Willy concedes: “The creativity and expertise of Rural Solutions probably wouldn’t be much good against the Border Reivers but it’s pretty effective against the modern equivalent!”

illy Browne-Swinburne is a deeply rural individual. His family have lived in the county of Northumberland since 1066. On the face of it, he cares about Capheaton, the estate he took over six years ago, with its red squirrels, salmon and grey partridges. But, in reality, the country squire stereotype doesn’t really suit him. Working as Rural Solutions’ northern lead gives him a perspective that shows entrepreneurialism, risk-taking and a passion for business as the key to rural long-term sustainability. Willy Browne-Swinburne lives in Northumberland at Capheaton Hall, home to his family since they commissioned Robert Trollope to build it in 1668. The woods, gardens and grounds are wonderful. The farms and village are picturesque 18th and 19th century rural idylls. But there is a restlessness and ambition to look to the future and make progress, not just at Capheaton, but across the north. With a long career in advertising and marketing, but not rural diversification, Willy asked Rural Solutions to help him take a fresh look at the Estate. The experience was mutually beneficial. Willy explains: “I decided that I’d love to work with them. They really get the rural sector, how traditional rural business works and how to apply new and diverse thinking on a grand scale.” Rural Solutions is a simple concept – pull together a team of rural property experts, marketing professionals, analysts, planners, architects and project managers. Inject an ethos that challenges the obvious and encourages fresh thinking and apply all that enthusiasm, curiosity and experience to rural property assets. Rural Solutions works with some of the UK’s largest and most complex rural estates. Key to its success is the company’s frank and honest approach to ideas. Assumption is the greatest killer of good ideas and Rural Solutions never assumes anything. The strength of its approach to making assets work harder for clients is in the rigour with which the team analyse the market and really understand the potential in any idea. From a conversion of redundant farm buildings to office accommodation or a farm shop, through to the conversion of a Grade I listed building into a wedding venue – the same rule applies. Never assume. The team have the confidence to hone the concept and work with the community, local authority and the client to guide the idea through the slings and arrows of the planning system. The work is mixed, covering everything from a new grand

Willy Browne-Swinburne will be speaking at Capheaton when he hosts the ‘Breaking Eggs’ Breakfast Seminar on Succession with Brewin Dolphin and Sintons on May 8. For more information on Rural Solutions email willy.browne-swinburne@ruralsolutions.co.uk

PROPERTY A well presented five bedroom house in Dalton on the market for £725,000

A blossoming market Springtime is the busiest time of year for house hunters looking for their next dream home. With this in mind, Mary Walker from Rook Matthews Sayer shares her top tips for homeowners wishing to sell their home this spring. he days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter and spring is finally on its way. It’s not only the bulbs that are blooming at this time of year – the house hunters are out in full force, too. At Rook Matthews Sayer, we are seeing a huge increase in activity and many requests to view properties. For homeowners looking to maximise value and achieve a faster sale, we suggest you tailor the presentation of your home to appeal to your target market and follow these other top tips…

feline might be the most adored addition to your family, this isn’t always reciprocated by viewers. The best advice I can give to pet owners is to have them taken out for a walk when viewings take place.

‘Kerb Appeal’. You may have heard of the importance of ‘kerb appeal’ which is a phrase used to describe what a house looks like from the roadside. First impressions are vital to people viewing a home, so tidy up the front garden, along with the path to the house and cut back any shrubs or trees that are overhanging. Stand back and admire your home – how does it compare to the other houses on your street? A welcoming home. Focus on the entrance to your home. Clear away coats and clutter – does it need a lick of paint to make it look fresh and inviting? A mirror will give a narrow area the impression of space and help to bounce the light.

Finish those outstanding odd jobs. Time and time again, small jobs that are so easy to fix, such as a cracked pane of glass and dripping taps, are left unfinished. Get these fixed, otherwise viewers may think the property is unloved and uncared for and then wonder what other unfinished surprises they may find! Mary Walker, branch manager of Rook Matthews Sayer, Ponteland Office

turn off for viewers, with the most common offenders being cigarette smoke or pet smells. Invest in some plug in air fresheners, air your home by opening the windows before a viewing takes place, clean carpets and curtains, and place fresh bedding on the beds. Use neutral paint colours. Neutral décor enables viewers to easily imagine how they would put their stamp on the space, it also makes it easier for a buyer to move in and use the rooms immediately rather than having to redecorate.

Lighting and heating. Replace old lightbulbs and in dark areas use higher wattage bulbs. Small lamps can also create a warm glow in areas that need lighting up. The right light in a room can make it look more spacious and inviting. Lastly, put the heating or the fire on if it’s a cold day.

De-clutter. Viewers want to see spacious and tidy homes. They need to see how their possessions will look and imagine themselves living there. Remove any excess items out of view, but leave some personality behind to create a homely ambience.

Eliminate smells! Bad smells are the biggest

Pets. Although your pretty pooch or furry

Spring clean. Buyers expect to see immaculate homes with no signs of dirt. So clean, clean again and clean some more! Get rid of limescale, clean the windows, polish taps and mirrors, wipe down every surface until it shines, and hoover and mop the floors. Put clean, ironed bedlinen on the beds so the areas are all dressed. Back gardens and outdoor space. Perhaps a table and chairs would show viewers how they could eat al fresco or entertain friends in this space? A carefully positioned barbeque area would also look inviting. Mow the grass, weed the flower beds and tidy up any outdoor areas. A well-kept garden can look really attractive without suggesting that there’s too much extra work to do! If you need help selling your home and would like a free no obligation valuation of your property, contact Rook Matthews Sayer’s head office on (0191) 286 9231 or the Ponteland branch on (01660) 860 228.

PROPERTY

North East landlords urged to be energy wise Fran Mulhall, operations and lettings manager at GFW Letting, discusses the impact of new regulations under the Government’s Green Deal initiative.

EXPERT VIEW Fran Mulhall Operations and lettings manager GFW Letting Email: franmulhall@gfwletting.co.uk Web: www.gfwletting.co.uk

he Green Deal sets out definite targets that are designed to make the UK more energy efficient. As part of the Deal, specific measures that affect the private rental market have been put in place, which will have a big impact on how homes are let to prospective tenants. From April 2018, landlords will be legally required to raise the energy efficiency of private rented properties to a specific standard. The regulation means private landlords must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with an E rating or higher in order to issue a new tenancy for a property. This law will apply to existing leases from April 2020. For tenants, the legislation is good news as it will reduce bills in poorly insulated homes where up to one million tenants are paying too much to keep warm. For landlords, however, it’s a mixed bag. They might be able to get some financial support under the Green Deal or Energy Company Obligation via their tenants’ energy supplier to ensure properties meet the required standards, but given that nearly half a million UK homes fail to meet the required E rating, they could be hit with thousands of pounds worth of bills. According to the National Landlords Association (NLA), property owners could be facing bills of up to £9000 to carry out the work needed to ensure their properties

meet the new energy standards. As 10 per cent of privately rented properties currently fail to meet the new efficiency rules, this could leave many landlords with a big headache. To avoid encountering problems, it’s important that landlords are given the right advice and guided through the new ruling to understand the impact on their investments, and actions required to comply with the legislation. This becomes even more critical given that, prior to the April 2018 ruling, there’s an important part of this legislation that, again, not many landlords will be aware of. From April 2016, private residential landlords will not be able to unreasonably refuse consent to a tenant’s request for energy efficiency improvements and must respond to any requests from a tenant in under a month. This means that if a tenant feels that their home could be a lot better insulated then landlords, by law, must make appropriate improvements. The provision of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) – where tenants and landlords can apply for financial support to help them make homes more energy efficient – is something that landlords should familiarise themselves with as in 12 months’ time they might start receiving energy improvements requests from tenants. There is, however, an opportunity for the

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landlord to seek exemption from this through the ‘Private Rented Sector (PRS) Exemptions Register’. Such exemptions include instances where landlords can evidence that they have undertaken improvements that are cost effective (within the Green Deal’s Golden Rule) or, where third party consents are refused i.e. freeholder consent.

The role of the agent With such key legislation changes, greater demands are being put on landlords. Choosing to work with an appropriate agent is therefore vital. A knowledgeable agent does so much more than manage the advertising, leasing and maintenance of a property. They must appropriately advise and support landlords across the entire lettings process – providing timely, relevant information to property owners and guiding them through any key decisions and changes to the industry. With the new energy measures, diligent agents should be speaking to their clients now, making them aware of the legislation and explaining what action they might need to take and why. If any home improvements need to be made, a good agent should have solid, trustworthy relationships with key contractors and be able to make recommendations to their clients.

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY Richard Allen, the new executive head chef of The Orangery

Rockliffe Hall’s very own ‘Michelin Man’ Whether you’re a self-confessed foodie or just a fan of trying great places, there’s a new experience in the North East that’s not to be missed… he Orangery, at Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth near Darlington, has a new man at the helm – and he has unveiled his very special menus. Richard Allen is one of the industry’s most celebrated chefs. Not only has he held a Michelin-star since 2011 and three AA Rosettes for eight years, he also has two of the highest industry accolades to his name – the Cateys’ Head Chef of the Year 2012 and the Craft Guild of Chefs Restaurant Chef of the Year 2012. Richard is also one of the only chefs to have been named as one of Debrett’s People of Today. He really is at the top of his game – and now he’s made the North East his home with his wife and two young boys in the village of Sadberge, near Darlington. Before joining Rockliffe Hall, Richard was executive chef of the Michelin-starred Tassili restaurant at the five-star Grand Jersey Hotel. His career has taken him to kitchens run by top names such as Martin Blunos, Cheong Liew and Michel Roux Jr. Richard says: “I am so excited to unveil our new menus for The Orangery as we have worked for several months to get them just right. We’ve tried hard to offer something for everyone whether you’re a carnivore, veggie or a lover of seafood. My aim is to take guests on a culinary journey of tastes and textures to really showcase the magnificent produce not just here in the North East but from our own grounds as well.

“We want to bring the outside in with a few surprises, too. But, overall, it’s all about the stunning surroundings of The Orangery, great food and a memorable experience.”

It’s all about the food Since taking over as executive head chef of The Orangery, Richard has developed a new menu featuring a host of new dishes which make best use of seasonal and regional produce, as well as some from Rockliffe Hall’s 365-acre estate. Richard explains: “There’s a wealth of fabulous, un-tapped herbs, leaves and more throughout the grounds of Rockliffe Hall. As the weather improves we’ll be developing our own market garden too – we’ll have ‘our estate on a plate’ hopefully.” With the emphasis on ‘bringing the outside in’, Richard’s new menu offers a foodie journey across land, sea and air. Dishes include: ‘Pork’ – crispy belly pork, fillet and braised cheek, poached langoustine and chorizo; ‘Mackerel’ served as a fillet, parfait and sashimi with Asian flavours and cucumber seeds; ‘Turbot’ brown crab, saffron, quinoa and squid cracker; ‘Beetroot’ served with goat’s cream and fritters, Iberico ham and Marcona almonds; ‘Pigeon’ – roasted breast with onion, foie gras and sultana jus; and ‘Lobster’ served Caesar with avocado and Ebene caviar. Dessert highlights include: ‘Apple’ – apple pressing served with Calvados mousse and toffee

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ice cream; ‘Pistachio’ – pistachio and olive oil cake, orange gel and chocolate; and ‘Banana’ – banana cheesecake with sate foam, salted caramel and sesame brittle. You can choose to mix and match Land, Sea and Air and have three or five courses. Wine pairings are also on offer – or you can choose from Rockliffe Hall’s award-winning wine list which features some well-known favourites as well as some that are harder to find.

Dinner a deux or a gathering for more The Orangery offers a relaxing oasis at the heart of Rockliffe Hall’s Old Hall. Gothic splendour sits comfortably with a lively team and a diverse clientele. Private dining is also an option for those extra special occasions and business meetings with a variety of stylish rooms available with views across the grounds. And not forgetting the extensive cocktail list, expertly put together by mixologists who have gathered experience from around the world, to complement Richard Allen’s food. The Orangery is a thriving restaurant offering the perfect place to meet, to eat or for that perfect treat. The Orangery is open evenings, Tuesday through to Saturday. For more information, visit www.rockliffehall.com

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

The Orangery is Rockliffe Hall’s flagship restaurant

Review:The Orangery at Rockliffe Hall Alexis Forsyth steps in to the exquisite surroundings of The Orangery to enjoy its all-new foodie experience. ith Michelin-starred chef Richard Allen now at the helm of Rockliffe Hall’s flagship restaurant, The Orangery, I thought it was about time I made my very first trip to the five-star estate in Hurworth-on-Tees to sample the food for myself. Promising to take diners on “a culinary journey of varying temperatures, textures and tastes”, Richard’s new menu showcases some of the North East’s finest produce. A five-course menu is available with four set options – From the Land; From the Sea; Land and Sea; and Vegetarian. Alternatively, diners can mix and match three courses from any of the menus. My partner and I decided on the latter. After enjoying a pre-dinner French Martini in the opulent cocktail lounge, we were shown to our table in The Orangery. An inviting dining space dominated by golden pillars, draped curtains, soft lighting and a glass roof – the restaurant’s ambience is best described as intimate, but is by no means stuffy. After pondering over the small sculpture of a hare perched on the corner of our table, we were presented with a small brown sack of warm bread rolls and butter. This was soon followed by an amuse bouche, comprising wild garlic esplette risotto, haddock and crisped potatoes which boasted a deceptively potent flavour. For my first course, I selected the turbot. The dish arrived with the perfectly cooked fish topped with a delicate foam. The soft brown crab-meat, served alongside saffron and quinoa, contrasted

The pistachio dessert

beautifully with the crunch of the squid crackers which, I thought, looked similar to dark green crystallised leaves. My partner, meanwhile, enjoyed the refined duck dish, consisting of juicy chunks of compressed pear with thin slices of Goosnargh duck, laced with punchy peanut and chamomile. From the Land & Sea menu, I then plumped for the pork – an imaginative creation comprising a crispy cube of pork belly, together with fillet and braised cheek. The accompanying poached langoustine was meltingly light, with the chorizo adding a smoky undertone to the dish. The lure of the Haggis bon bon swayed my partner towards the lamb. Again, the presentation

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was outstanding – the meat was perfectly pink, complemented by vibrant green strokes of watercress pesto smeared across the plate. As for the much anticipated bon bon, this had bundles of flavour; its crispy coating encasing the wonderfully soft texture inside. To finish, I opted for the rather ominous sounding ‘strawberry’ from the dessert selection. It was, in fact, a de-constructed cheesecake – an exuberant mix of crumbly biscuit, fresh Gariguette strawberries, sorbet and yoghurt, finished off with dollops of strawberry gel and a cool minty froth. The flavour combination – sweet, sharp and refreshing – danced in my mouth, and made this dish a definite highlight. Across the table, a perfectly assembled pistachio and olive oil cake graced my partner’s plate. His spoon glided through this soft creation; with the sublime flavours from the zesty orange gel and wafer thin chocolate disc marrying together beautifully. From start to finish, the meal was superb, and this was suitably matched by a flawless service. Needless to say, I think Richard’s new menu more than lives up to its promises and it’s certainly a culinary journey I would happily take again – although next time I might just be tempted to try all five courses… The five-course set menu is priced from £65 per person, with three courses priced at £59 per person. For more information about The Orangery, visit www.rockliffehall.com

L E I S U R E & H O S P I TA L I T Y N E W S

Fit for a president The latest phase of a multi-million pound development at Ramside Hall is to be unveiled this month.

amside Hall, Durham, is set to open its new accommodation wing this month as part of a £16 million development. The new wing features 47 premier rooms, including two family rooms, two junior rooms and a Presidential Suite. All rooms can be configured as either doubles or twins and feature Hypnos beds and luxury bathrooms, complete with walk-

in showers and free-standing baths. Some also offer Juliet balconies, overlooking the hotel’s championship golf course. Believed to be the largest and most luxurious suite in the North East, the brand new Presidential Suite, which offers panoramic views, is equipped with a seven-feet-wide bed, a free standing copper bath, a large dining and bedroom area, a dressing room and an

additional bathroom. Hotel owner, John Adamson, said: “This development offers something very special for the North East. We have done everything possible to ensure our guests have a memorable and comfortable stay in luxurious surroundings.” The final stage will take place in July this year, when the hotel opens its brand new spa.

Star quality

A taste of Italy

North East staff shine

attlesteads Hotel and Restaurant, Northumberland, has become the first and only UK hotel with its own on-site observatory. Located within the hotel grounds, sitting at the edge of Northumberland National Park, the observatory is fully accessible throughout the night to guests staying in one of the hotel’s newly-constructed eco-lodges, which are equipped with a number of the latest telescopes for both beginners and experienced stargazers.

erry operator, DFDS Seaways, has launched a brand new pizza restaurant, Little Italy, on board its two cruise ferries that sail between Newcastle and Amsterdam. The latest addition to the ferries’ range of onboard restaurants, the Italian-style eatery serves a selection of classic pizzas and popular pasta dishes, all of which are freshly-prepared by DFDS Seaways’ trained chefs.

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mployees from a number of North East hotels have been celebrated at the annual North East Hotel Excellence Awards 2015. Organised by the North East Hotels Association, the ceremony recognises staff members who have provided outstanding service and shown potential in ten categories. Awards on the night included Cleanliness Excellence, won by Matfen Hall Hotel housekeeper, Susan Brougham and Best Arrivals Experience, won by Rachel Common at Hotel Indigo.

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Close House makes the cut This summer sees Close House play host to the 2015 ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship – one of the most prestigious European senior tournaments in the golfing calendar. Alexis Forsyth chats to owner Graham Wylie to find out more about the event and what it means for golfing in our region.

he golf course at picturesque Close House in Heddon-on-the-Wall is less than four years old, so it goes without saying that securing the upcoming ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship is something of a coup for the North East venue. “I think our connection with Lee Westwood has raised our profile and put our name on the map,” says owner and North East businessman, Graham Wylie. Listed in the top 100 courses in the UK and Ireland – Close House is home to the world’s only Lee Westwood courses. The 360acre venue also boasts a state of the art clubhouse, No19; a golf academy equipped with a 20 bay driving range; and luxurious accommodation. Close House was once a sought-after wedding destination in the region, but last October, the venue swapped its confetti for golf clubs. It may have dashed the picture perfect wedding dreams of many a bride and groom-to-be, but Close House’s shrewd business move was met with much enthusiasm by its other key client base – golfers. “By stopping the weddings and focusing on the golf, we’ve now got what we think is the right mix,” says Graham. “The golfers absolutely love it.” So, what prompted this change in business focus? “I suppose it was fate,” he explains. “I bought the estate from Newcastle University and I had to make it commercially viable. So, I built the championship golf course and the clubhouse, and brought in Lee Westwood.

This prompted me to say ‘wow’ this is something special. “Then my wife and I decided to move back into the country and having looked around the North East, there wasn’t anything we really liked. The golf course was doing well, so we said, why don’t we move into Close House? It wasn’t anything devious, it was just the way it progressed.” Graham, who co-founded The Sage Group in the 1980s and subsequently set up IT company, Technology Services Group, describes Close House as “tiny’ in comparison to his other business ventures: “It’s not a massive business, but I live next door and it’s a passion. I want to make it work.” His desire to make things work certainly seems to be gaining momentum, with Close House securing the upcoming ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship – the oldest event on the European Senior Tour calendar – for three years. The event will be played over the club’s 6813-yard par-71 Lee Westwood Colt course, which was designed as a tribute to iconic English golf course architect Harry Colt. Spectators will hopefully see high-profile golfers such as Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam, Sam Torrance and Ronan Rafferty in action at the tournament. During the week-long event, which runs from Monday June 8 to Sunday June 14, Close House is hoping to attract 20,000 spectators, with tickets available online on a complimentary basis. Graham says: “It will be local all the way,

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with local golf clubs and golf fans coming here to watch the event. It’s great to put on a showcase like this and let North East people and golfers see the professionals play at this level.” Around 120 competitors are expected to take part in the pre-qualifying event and first two rounds, before the top 60 proceed on to rounds three and four. Close House will also host a VIP dinner featuring Ryder Cup legends at its No19 clubhouse. Alongside his commercial interests, Graham is also renowned for his charitable work supporting the Children’s Heart Unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, otherwise known as CHUF. Discussing his involvement with the charity, Graham says: “My daughter has had three open heart surgeries, so it became a natural thing for me to support CHUF and raise its profile.” Every year he hosts the high profile Have a Heart charity golf day, featuring a mix of celebrities and sporting greats such as Alan Shearer and Ant and Dec. The year’s charity tournament takes place on May 18, with 64 celebrities set to tee off on the day. As for Graham’s future plans for Close House, is the main European tournament now on his radar? “We’re not big enough in terms of our facilities,” he replies, “but this Championship is just the right size for us – it fits perfectly for where we are today.” For more information about the ISPS Handa PGA European Seniors Championship at Close House, visit www.closehouse.com/pgaseniors

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LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Restaurateur Kam Chera and Sarah Smith, from the leisure team at Sintons

Innovative restaurant plans expansion A high-end Indian restaurant, which operates as a social enterprise offering training and employment opportunities to youngsters with special needs, is planning to open a second North East site within the next 18 months. he Funky Indian opened in Sunderland late last year and has won rave reviews in its first few weeks in business for its tapasstyle Indian food and quirky interior design. While operating as a restaurant by evening, The Funky Indian – run by serial restaurateur Kam Chera – becomes a training academy during the day, running three ten-week courses each year for children from the city with special needs and disabilities. The venue has partnered with two Sunderland schools – the Barbara Priestman Academy and Portland Academy – as well as Sunderland-based PSB Training to run the scheme. Supporters of the project include Gentoo and Sunderland AFC. As well as providing work experience and hospitality training, The Funky Indian has also pledged to provide some part-time positions at the end of each course, to add to the six jobs it has already created at its base in Tavistock

Place. It will also work alongside other local food and catering companies to find job opportunities. Now, Kam, who also runs the two Amore restaurants in Roker and Ashbrooke, is putting plans in place to open a second Funky Indian restaurant in Newcastle in the near future, to continue to expand his unique concept of highquality dining as a social enterprise. Kam explains: “For all the time I’ve run Amore, we have held a Christmas party each year for children with special needs from the city, and from that came the idea to offer much more than that – we wanted to offer training, practical skills, confidence building, and potentially a job at the end of it. We dedicate a full day each week for ten weeks to these young people to equip them with the skills they will need to work in the hospitality sector. “We are thrilled our idea for The Funky Indian has become reality and have had so much support from across the city and beyond.

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We are already looking at opening a second restaurant, most probably in Newcastle, within the next 18 months, such is our confidence in this unique concept.” The legal aspects of the opening of The Funky Indian were handled by the leisure team at Newcastle law firm, Sintons. Partners Sarah Smith and Alok Loomba handled the licensing and real estate aspects respectively. Sarah Smith says: “As well as being a fabulous restaurant by night, with distinctive décor and great food, Kam has created something unique by day, operating it as a training academy for young people and giving them the skills and potential to help transform their lives. This is a really superb concept and we are delighted to see The Funky Indian growing and thriving as we knew it would.” For more information, visit www.sintons.co.uk. You can follow The Funky Indian on Twitter @thefunkyindian

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY Andrew Fox heads up the Crowne Plaza, one of the biggest hotel developments in the city in the past ten years

Crowning glory Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter opens in the city this July. North East Times catches up with general manager Andrew Fox to find out more about the new hotel development. beverage team and operation looking after guests and conference delegates. In addition, we will have a fabulous ground floor restaurant fronting onto the outside Hawthorn Square. Plans are still being finalised and we’re liaising with our new chef on the menu. We’ll also have a destination bar, with its own entrance onto Forth Street. This will be a stylish, contemporary looking, gin cocktail-led bar, while also serving wines and local craft beers.

Exciting times lie ahead with the new hotel development opening up in the city this summer – how’s it going? We’re delighted and bowled over by the interest and the regional buzz. We’re getting a lot of support from the City Council, NGI, NE1 and many others. We recently advertised for a senior management team, around six key posts and we were overwhelmed, largely via social media. We’re really happy with the mix of candidates who will be filling our roles – a great mix of experienced local talent along with some knowledgeable, out of region experience from people attracted to this great city.

Is this a hotel just for business and weekend tourist travellers or for a broader, regional audience?

What will be the ‘stand-out’ facilities of this new hotel?

What can you reveal about the hotel’s stand-alone restaurant and bar operations?

Crowne Plaza has built its great, global reputation on servicing a business and conferencing market. This will be a key part of operations in Newcastle. We intend to pull new business and new events into the city. But we understand the importance of the location and the nature of Newcastle and the North East. We will not be a bland, corporate operation. Crowne Plaza Newcastle will be an important part of its neighbourhood and play an active role. Conferences may pay the bills but we want a hotel, restaurant and bar operation that is seen to be plugged into the Newcastle scene and not remote. We expect to host many local weddings. Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter will make itself known – nationally, regionally and locally. A corporate venue but a friendly, neighbourhood venue to eat, drink and relax in.

Crowne Plaza Newcastle is design-led – it’s an

Obviously the hotel will have a big food and

For more information, visit www.ihg.com

Construction is on schedule – what are the next milestones? We’re delighted with the professional team and how everyone has kept on schedule, during some difficult periods. The façade and plastering are the big tasks over the next few weeks; the eye-catching, seven-story glassfronted atrium was also recently installed. It’s then largely internals – bedrooms, the spa and swimming pool area and then the reception area with some knock-out features and installations. We have some dramatic pieces of art to reveal, too.

attractive marriage of the well recognised hallmarks and brand promise of Crowne Plaza with more regionalised and bespoke features and facilities. It’s very exciting, because we have all the great facilities and values you would expect from a strong global brand but we’ve enhanced this with strong design and regionalised features. Some of these reflect the unique, historic nature of the Stephenson Quarter. We have the classic conferencing and business facilities but we offer a unique 12-sided Stephenson Suite for our big events. We’ll also have a fab club lounge on our seventh floor.

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LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Left to right: Graham Wylie (chairman of Close House Golf Club) with Jonathan Lupton (Close House) and Speedflex members David Mole and Colin Russell

Speedflex proves a big ‘hiit’ with golfers An eight-week training programme aimed at golfers, based around the revolutionary health and fitness concept Speedflex, has revealed some incredible results for participating golfers. he before and after study, where golfers had their overall fitness levels monitored at Speedflex Newcastle and the length and flight of their golf drive off the tee by special Flightscope technology at the Close House Academy, has been hailed a success by participants who, in some cases, increased their drive by 65 yards and fitness levels by 30 per cent. The youngest golfer was 34 and the oldest was 68 with the average being just over 48. Handicaps ranged from single figures to low 20s. The study, a brainchild of North East businessman Graham Wylie, founder of SAGE and owner of health and fitness company Speedflex, concentrates on low impact, highintensity interval training (HIIT) in small group sessions led by a personal trainer whilst being heart-rate monitored. The head PGA teaching professional at the Close House Academy, Jonathan Lupton – who as an amateur golfer was an England international team-mate of Justin Rose – says: “It is relevant that Rory McIlroy had a fantastic season and won back to back majors after working hard on his fitness and changing the shape of his body. “His extra power and control provided him the

platform to dominate the game last summer. “The findings from the project prove that Speedflex is helping everyday players to hit the ball further, in some cases a heck of a lot further.” He adds: “The machines respond to individual effort levels so people of all ages and abilities train together in small groups under the guidance of an experienced personal trainer. “Golfers get the extra flexibility they need from using low impact high intensity machines in short group sessions lasting under 45 minutes.” Of those taking part in the research, every golfer who completed the eight-week programme now drives the ball further, with the average being 20 yards further and one person managing to average 65 yards further. The research evidence also shows that everyone is now much fitter and has lost weight and body fat. Several people lost nearly 30 per cent of their body fat, the average being 10 per cent, in just eight weeks. Participants are also saying they feel much healthier, have more stamina and are feeling as strong going into the final tee as they do going onto the first. Former world number one and Ryder Cup

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winner Lee Westwood is also a big fan of Speedflex and a regular user of the revolutionary machine and was introduced to the Speedflex training concept through his association with Close House. Lee says: “I’ve recently introduced Speedflex into my training regime. Unlike other exercises there is very little or no post exercise muscle soreness and Speedflex has definitely improved my overall strength and conditioning. “It’s great to see the results of the research which is good news for golfers who want to improve their overall golf game and fitness at the same time.” Following the eight-week training programme, Colin Russell, aged 52, reduced his visceral fat reading from 141.1 to 83.9 and can’t believe the impact that Speedflex has had on his overall health and golf game. “The short bursts of high intensity training have really helped my stamina and not only do I feel healthier on the inside I am looking and feeling stronger on the outside. I would certainly recommend Speedflex as an ideal way to improve your general fitness and it is ideal for golfers alike.” For more information, visit www.speedflex.com

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY Ramside Hall Hotel has new state of the art spa facilities

So near, so spa… Ramside Hall Hotel is about to enter an exciting new phase, with its multi-million pound spa nearing completion this summer. ver the years, the North East hotel scene has grown beyond all recognition, with national and international brands staking a claim in the region. But that doesn’t detract from the stalwarts which have held their place over the decades – one of which is about to take up a place at the top of the tree. Ramside Hall Hotel on the outskirts of Durham has continued to thrive over the years because of its versatility. The fact that it is a historic building with a golf course, top restaurants and numerous conference and banqueting facilities has meant it has always held its own, but now the hotel is about to enter an exciting new era. This July, the finishing touches will be put to Ramside’s state of the art spa, expanding the hotel’s leisure offering which will turn it into a destination in its own right. The new development includes a 25 metre pool, 14 treatment rooms, dark relaxation room with Soundwave beds and sleep pods, along with a large hydrotherapy pool, balcony infinity pool, an outdoor Spa Herb Garden and vitality pool. A state of the art gym, hairdressing salon and a Thai Fusion restaurant are also being created, making The Spa at Ramside Hall one of the most extensive spa facilities

in the region. Couple all of that that with the appointment of a strong team leading the spa and leisure side of the business and you undoubtedly have a recipe for success. Anthony Woodhouse has taken up the role of general manager for spa and leisure at the hotel, coming to Ramside after a career spent working at hotels with a range of leisure facilities, including Newcastle’s Village Hotel and the Copthorne Hotel. The team has been strengthened with the appointment of spa director Jill Russell, former spa revenue manager at award-winning

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Rockliffe Hall near Darlington. The £16 million investment at Ramside has included the addition of an extra championship golf course, along with the opening this month of a new wing of 47 rooms including a Presidential Suite. For Jill Russell, the development of the spa at Ramside is an exciting new challenge. She says: “This is going to be a huge asset to the region and it’s a great opportunity to be able to bring all my previous experience in growing a spa business to make Ramside a success.” The hotel has formed a partnership with international brand ESPA, which will be providing all the treatments and products at Ramside. Paula Perkins, director of spa development at ESPA International says the company is delighted to be “working closely with the Ramside Hall team on the exciting development of their luxury health club and spa”. She adds: “It will bring a new level of facilities and services to hotel guests, day spa guests and the local community alike, and make Ramside Hall a true spa destination.” For more information about membership packages at the new spa contact (0191) 375 3088 or email thespa@ramsidehall.co.uk

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Planning is already underway for this year’s festive season

Christmas all wrapped up at the SOL From Jersey Boys to Essex boys, Sunderland’s Stadium of Light has the perfect surroundings, high quality service and eclectic cuisine to keep visitors entertained this Christmas. ast year, the Stadium attracted more than 15,000 visitors during the festive period, hosting a wide range of private and public events. This year, the venue is expecting an equally large Christmas crowd and is unveiling its seasonal line-up early for people to book now. Festive highlights at the Stadium of Light include a series of seasonal party nights, featuring a formal dinner or a relaxed buffet, as well as live entertainment from top acts including Jersey Boys meet Take That and revered Michael Buble and Olly Murs tribute act Jamie Tinkler. Following great success, the UK’s biggest and best 90s tribute show, We Love the 90s, will make a welcome return to the Stadium of Light this Christmas bringing you all the greatest hits from that unforgettable decade. New to the Stadium’s festive programme this year is the arrival of Casino and Cabaret Nights with the sounds of the Rat Pack. Here, visitors will enjoy a night of modern and

contemporary fayre before trying their luck on the casino tables. Later, party-goers can dance the evening away to the charming and familiar sounds of Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. Christmas party-goers can also spend a night with the stars, as celebrities from the UK’s most loved reality TV shows, The Only Way Is Essex and Made in Chelsea, celebrate the festive season at the Black Cats party nights every weekend throughout December. Gary Hutchinson, commercial director at Sunderland AFC, says: “This year’s line-up has been carefully picked to appeal to all manner of guests, from a range of different ages and with various tastes. “Last year we delivered a great Christmas party night experience to our guests with many booking months in advance. We’re therefore delighted to be announcing this year’s programme early and we have a number of special offers in place as added incentives to encourage those looking to book.”

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These offers, which are open to people who book for a group of 20 or more before August 8, include a complimentary half bottle of wine per person and a free pair of tickets for an SAFC home game for the event organiser. Private parties are also available at the Stadium for those looking for a more exclusive and tailored evening, with a number of stylish suites perfect for an intimate gathering of 10 or a grand celebration for up to 1000 guests. 1879 Events Management, which manages catering and events at the Stadium of Light, can also provide the perfect Christmas party to suit your needs, in a location of your choice. This includes everything from entertainment to decorations, with pre-set and bespoke packages available to suit any budget. For more information about Christmas at the Stadium of Light, including a full list of events and prices, visit www.safc.com, call (0871) 911 1555 or email Christmas@safc.com.

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Wicked tour flies into Sunderland The global musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz continues its critically acclaimed, record-breaking tour at the Sunderland Empire.

hen Dorothy famously triumphed over the Wicked Witch, we only ever heard one side of the story. In a brilliantly witty re-imagining of the tale and characters created by L. Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and Elphaba, Wicked Witch of the West, played by Emily Tierney and Ashleigh Grey, respectively. Casting spells over its audience for over ten years; the tour has already won over 90 international awards, broken box office records and won multiple five-star reviews across the UK. Wicked will run from Tuesday March 31 to Saturday April 25, 2015.

For more information, visit www.atgtickets.com/sunderland

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LEISURE & HOSPITALITY Brothers and business partners, Oliver and Harry Vaulkhard (left and right), with Sintons partner Christopher Welch (middle)

Merger of leisure groups continues family legacy The owners of some of Newcastle’s best known pubs, clubs and coffee shops have joined forces in an ambitious expansion plan to increase their leisure offering in Newcastle. ntrepreneurial brothers Oliver and Harry Vaulkhard, who between them own renowned Fluid Group, Breeze Ventures and Blake’s Retail Ltd, have merged the businesses along with commercial property business 42 Street Realty. The combined businesses will re-launch this month to become Vaulkhard Group Ltd. The merging of the leisure arm of the business will see a combined turnover of £13.5 million as well as bringing with it the lucrative commercial property portfolio which they inherited from their late father. Founder of 42 Street Realty, Nigel Vaulkhard, who passed away last year, was a prominent businessman who owned and operated bars since the 1970s including Newcastle’s Bar 42, Gotham Town, Offshore 44 and Red House, and 42nd Street in Whitley Bay. The creation of Vaulkhard Group Ltd – which currently employs 300 staff – comes at a time of significant growth for the brothers, as they look for diversity and opportunities to invest in the development of existing and additional venues over the next three years.

Oliver Vaulkhard says: “This is a very exciting phase not only for the future of our combined venues in Newcastle but also as a family. “As a business it made sense to join forces and work alongside each other as opposed to competing with my brother, and as a family, the Vaulkhard Group name was a perfect way to honour our late father’s legacy in the leisure industry. “By expanding the group into commercial property, it gives us greater opportunity to make plans for further growth as we incorporate all aspects of the business. It is a very exciting time for us.” The restructure, which was overseen by Newcastle law firm Sintons, will position Vaulkhard Group Ltd as one of the largest leisure groups in the North East. Vaulkhard Group Ltd’s portfolio includes: Barluga (Newcastle and Morpeth), Perdu, Fluid Bar, The Mushroom, Quilted Camel, All Seeing Eye, Blackie Boy, Pacific, Blake’s coffee shop, Central Bean (Newcastle and Morpeth), Offshore 44, Red House, Bar 42, 42nd Street and Gotham Town. Oliver says: “The collaboration could not

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have come at a better time for us, as we are seeing a shift back into spending within the leisure industry. “With the diversity of all of our venues, we wanted to develop the social element further to suit every age and taste in the city and encourage more people from outside the area to visit. “Our achievements to date and plans for growth would not have been possible without the hard work and loyalty of our dedicated staff. We are also very appreciative of the support from Sintons and NatWest Bank.” Christopher Welch, partner at Sintons, oversaw the group-wide restructure and the creation of Vaulkhard Group Ltd, and also assisted with the refinancing from NatWest Bank. He says: “We have known Oliver, and latterly Harry, for many years and have supported the growth of their business interests during that time. It is very pleasing for us now to be involved in the next stage of development for the Vaulkhard family, by bringing their very impressive leisure and property portfolio together into one group and continuing the family tradition.”

Barluga on Grey Street

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LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Business lunch

Malmaison Alexis Forsyth visits the newly refurbished Malmaison restaurant on Newcastle Quayside. shimmering wall, lit by low hanging light bulbs and adorned with the words ‘Chez Mal’ greets visitors as they make their way up to Malmaison’s newly refurbished restaurant. The bar area and restaurant have switched places; with the dining area now taking up a prized position at the front of the building, boasting stunning views of the Millennium Bridge. Inside, the restaurant is illuminated by natural light from its large, arch shaped windows, with plush blue and red upholstery, exposed bricks and renaissance-style paintings covered in bright coloured dots just a few of the stand-out features. Since my last visit, the menu has also had something of a revamp and I couldn’t wait to get my lunchtime visit, with two colleagues in tow, underway. For my starter, I tucked into Thai BBQ chicken lollipops – a selection of sticky roasted wings accompanied by a fragrant and tangy Thai dipping sauce. My colleague, meanwhile, enjoyed a Caprese salad – a refreshing medley of heritage tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and basil shoots. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar enhanced the flavours of this dish beautifully. Across the table, my other colleague was

presented with a sizeable portion of fritto misto, consisting of tiger prawns, calamari and courgette, coated in a flavoursome, golden Tempura batter. All three starters were delicious and set us up nicely for our mains. Deciding to steer clear of my lunchtime staple (chicken, in case you’re wondering), I plumped for the grilled lobster Bernaise. This was a feast for the eyes when it arrived – the vibrant pink lobster, brimming with succulent meat, was proudly laid on the plate, accompanied by a miniature copper pan of creamy Bernaise sauce and a cone of skinny pomme frites. Enticed by the burger selection, my colleague opted for the juicy bleu burger. This came in a moist brioche bun, served with all the extras you’d expect – gem lettuce, beef tomato, red onion and dill pickle. The star ingredient was, however, the generous topping of melted gorgonzola cheese, which boasted a strong yet sweet flavour combination. Upon recommendation from our waitress, my other colleague selected the prime aged Black Angus NY strip steaks. His only gripe with this dish was that the kitchen had forgotten about his house herb butter sauce. The tender cuts of beef, however, made a welcome alternative to a standard plate of steak and chips.

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Moving onto the dessert menu, this had something for every degree of sweet tooth, from chilli and coconut sorbet and lemon sponge to sticky toffee pudding and vanilla crème brulee. As an avid hot chocolate drinker, it was the Mal hot chocolate that caught my eye; I was intrigued to see how this would be interpreted as a dessert. The presentation was novel, with a cup and saucer gracing my placemat. Three cubes of soft marshmallows concealed a large dollop of rich cream inside the cup, accompanied by a jug of smooth chocolate sauce. My colleagues, meanwhile, indulged in a traditional fine apple tarte and a slice of Valrhona chocolate cheesecake. The tarte was delicate and crunchy, possessing a sweet, balanced flavour. As for the cheesecake, this was a dense concoction oozing unmistakeable chocolaty goodness. The perfect ending to our leisurely lunch. It would be fair to say that the all-new restaurant at Malmaison delivers in every respect, from its plush new surroundings to its delicious menu, not to mention its enviable views over the River Tyne. Malmaison, 104 Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3DX, tel: (0844) 693 0658, www.malmaison.com/locations/newcastle/

Fritto misto

Caprese salad

Thai BBQ chicken lollipops

£8.50

£8

Prime aged Black Angus NY strip steaks (450gm)

Grilled lobster Bernaise (half)

Bleu burger

£28

£16

Fine apple tarte

Valrhona chocolate cheesecake

Mal hot chocolate

£6

£37

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EDUCATION

Left to right: Rick Cronk (Dame Allan’s parent who has helped secure the donation), Brian Adcock (vice chair of governors), Jane Clubley (development director) and Dr Hind (principal)

STEM subjects are proving popular with pupils

Innovations in design and technology at Dame Allan’s The North East school has received funding for a new state of the art teaching facility. ame Allan’s is thrilled to have been chosen as the recipient of a £250,000 grant to help fund an impressive £500,000 project. The money has been awarded by the Reece Foundation, which promotes the improvement of education in engineering, technology and related subjects. The donation will enable Dame Allan’s Schools to develop a brand new state of the art design and technology teaching facility, creating new educational experiences and career opportunities for students. The facility will allow pupils to study Product Design at GCSE and A Level. It will also cater for all pupils at Key Stage 3 and will be available to pupils in Years 5 and 6 at the Junior School. All of this work will have a STEM focus (science, technology, engineering and maths) and will prepare these designers and engineers of the future, helping to plug a skills gap in the North East, too. The new facility will also help students from a number of Dame Allan's Schools’ link primary schools who take part in the existing master class programme. They will have the opportunity to use the advanced facilities, which will be fully fitted out with the latest equipment including 3D printers and sophisticated software.

Dr Hind, principal at Dame Allan’s Schools says: “We are thrilled that the Reece Foundation has awarded us this grant. It means that young people in the region will benefit from fantastic facilities. “We are committed to providing the best teaching and resources possible for students and the money will enable us to offer even better facilities to provide a first rate education for our young people. “Dr Reece, who established the Reece Foundation, is still an inspirational figure in the North East and we are honoured to have received the support of his Foundation.” Anne Reece, the Foundation’s chair of trustees comments: “The Foundation is very pleased to be supporting this development at Dame Allan’s and I hope we can make rapid progress in establishing an engineering and technology centre which will inspire many pupils.” Work is due to start on the building in the coming months with a view to opening the new facility in September 2015. The donation will help the Schools to build on existing technology projects. This term, girls in Year 7 will take part in a Focus on Engineering day where they will work with engineering firm Sevcon, a global company

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based in the North East, to learn more about the role of an engineer. Additionally, a group of four Year 12 students are working on an Education Engineering Scheme (EES) project with Sevcon. The students have been asked by the company to redesign packaging for one of its electric motor controllers which are sent across the world. Unfortunately some are getting damaged in transport and cannot be used, and as they cost about £400 each this is costing the company a lot of money! The EES project takes six months and involves researching, designing and testing different options. It also includes a three-day residential course at Newcastle University where the students have access to its advanced laboratories, facilities and expertise. The students then write up a detailed report and present it at the final meeting. This project also qualifies students for a Gold Crest award issued by the British Science Association. In previous years, successful projects have involved working with Draeger, another North East company, in developing solutions for problems in its specialist area of fire prevention and rescue. For more information about Dame Allan’s Schools, visit www.dameallans.co.uk

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ARTS

Zoe Gilby LEADING LIGHT OF THE NORTH EAST JAZZ SCENE, THE VOCALIST AND SONGWRITER TALKS FAMILY, FEARLESSNESS AND FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS.

I am lucky to have a supportive family who’ve always encouraged me to follow my dreams, even if it does sometimes bring its own nightmares! My dad was a professional jazz trumpeter and arranger. Sadly he passed away in 2010 but his influence was, and still is, colossal – the biggest impact that my dad had on me was to take risks, always be myself and don't worry about what everyone else thinks. He was rather fearless like that himself. Growing up with a parent whose job wasn’t exactly run of the mill gave me confidence in taking a chance on a career that isn't classed as very stable.

me all the way and will be constructively honest even when he needs to be critical. He keeps me driving on and I'd like to think I do the same for him, too. I love him and respect him always. The best advice I’ve ever received was from my dad: “If you're going to do something, do it properly". Well-used and very simple but if ever I'm feeling unmotivated, that always gives me a good boost. Writing my own music and exploring new avenues of sound and improvisation is an ongoing highlight. I am also very fortunate to work with some awesome musicians like my husband and the ground-breaking guitarist Chris Sharkey, who has opened my ears and my mind. I always consider it a monumental buzz to work with inspiring musicians – you feed off them and it brings its own magical development and chemistry.

From being very young I always had an interest in being creative and I knew I didn't want a job that just meant I switched my brain off and went through the motions. It is enormously fulfilling to perform my innermost creative passions and sounds at a professional level. When I first sang in public the rush was so intense! I still get that feeling, writing and performing my own material. When the alchemy all comes together, it’s so special and unique. If only I could bottle that feeling and sell it… It does come at a price and it’s a balancing act sometimes, but it is worth it 100 per cent. The highs are like no other and I'm my own boss. If I want to mix things up, then I do it, no questions asked – all my own risks, all my own reward.

Music is an obvious pleasure but I also love to read, do yoga and mid-distance running – it sorts my head out, it’s more psychological than anything else. My greatest pleasure is to spend time with my family and friends. I know it sounds cheesy but it is so true. I have a wonderful 11-year-old step-daughter called Eleanor who is beautiful, highly intelligent and an absolute hoot!

With all of the funding cuts, how will we sustain non-mainstream music? That's the big question and worry. I am an optimist though. As long as people want to listen to music, then I believe it will survive – there will always be innovative individuals producing it.

I always knew legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Monk was a genius, and the Pannonica project let me look at his work with more of a magnifying glass, performing lyrical interpretations of some Thelonious Monk compositions. The band I am working with on the Pannonica project – Andy Champion on double bass, Paul Edis on piano and Adrian Tilbrook on drums – are extremely sensitive to this provocative and stimulating music, and it is a wonderful challenge to get my teeth into his tunes.

The North East music scene is plentiful, diverse and supportive, yet there can be an air of ‘well we did OK considering we're from the North’. Why wouldn't it be great? I am immensely proud of being a Geordie and when I perform outside of the area I always speak very highly of what the North East has to offer.

What I look forward to is moving onwards, discovering new sounds and experiencing their evolving progression. I don't let life be dull, there is always something to look forward to, even the little things.

I’m inspired by my husband, Andy Champion, who plays double bass with me in my quartet and in our voice and double bass duo. To call him an exceptional musician is an understatement. It isn't just his skill and ability as a musician that is special about him. It is his approach to music and his attitude, too. He gives it his all and he continuously encourages me to push myself. Any crack-pot ideas I conjure up, I know Andy will back

Zoe performs at the Sage Gateshead on April 11 as part of Jazz North East’s Women Make Music series and the Gateshead International Jazz Festival. For more information see www.zoegilby.co.uk

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PROFILE

One to watch

Chris Land In a series of interviews with talented professionals, Alexis Forsyth talks to Chris Land, sales and services manager at Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital.

hris Land is currently in the throes of his induction at Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital, having taken up the post of sales and services manager only a few months ago. “It’s a brand new role for the hospital division,” explains Chris. “Every department that’s nonclinical and which touches the patient’s journey comes under my umbrella.” Thirty-four-year-old Chris is part of the private hospital’s senior management team and is responsible for the day-to-day interactions of the non-clinical teams. He will be looking at how the hospital communicates with the public on a regional level; implementing marketing plans and integrating Nuffield Health into the community. “It’s a lengthy induction, but I am starting to naturally migrate into my day-to-day role,” says Chris. Discussing his decision to join Nuffield Health, Chris explains: “I think the big sway for me was the opportunity to come in to a successful business and make it better, in terms of how we improve the patient journey and how we enhance the service we provide. “It’s all about people and that is absolutely key. Whether you’re from the clinical or commercial side of the business, the patient sits at the heart of everything we do.” Chris, who is originally from Bishop Auckland, studied business management at Teesside University, but admits there was no definite career path in mind when he embarked on his studies: “I didn’t really know what to study, although I knew I wanted to get into business in some shape or form.”

He ponders: “If I was to do it all again, I would study something vocational like accountancy.” Chris cites his dissertation, which focused on fashion and buying patterns, as one of the key highlights from his degree. “One thing that really fascinates me is the way people think when they come to buy things. If you can tune into that then you can make your business a success,” says Chris. After graduating, Chris joined Barclays and was appointed branch manager at just 22, but he only stayed with the banking giant for three years. “My time at Barclays was fantastic,” he recounts, “but I just felt as though I was becoming a Barclays robot…I was in a bubble and realised there was a whole different world out there, so I decided to leave.” He subsequently joined Bathstore and, in his role, continued to rise to the challenge, launching the retailer’s Jesmond store, plus others around the North East and in Scotland. But his ambitions got the better of him with his next career move, working for a water cooler and dehumidifier business. “I was attracted by the money,” he confesses. “I was there for a year, but didn’t like it. On the positive side – I learnt to never take a job based on money.” In the years that followed, Chris worked for a successful courier business and was based in Milton Keynes during the week, returning home on weekends – a work life balance that eventually took its toll: “I was on holiday in the Maldives with my girlfriend – now my wife – and I remember lying on the beach and thinking, I’m leaving – I’ve had enough.” Following this impromptu decision, Chris was

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unemployed which, for him, was “a strange feeling”. He took some time out to recharge, and gain perspective on his future, before taking up a role with Draegar Safety and then ThyssenKrupp Encasa, where he stayed for almost to four years. Cue his next challenge, at Nuffield Health. It’s sometimes a cliché, but, in this case, the ability to bring a fresh perspective is pertinent to Chris’ new position: “The key skill I bring is looking at the hospital through the eyes of someone who isn’t clinical,” explains Chris. “My agenda is totally different to those who work on the clinical side, but hopefully both our agendas will come together and the customer will get a great experience.” Looking ahead, Chris admits he is very much “focused on the now”, with his wife and son, Oliver, his top priority. But it’s clear that Chris isn’t shying away from that ambitious streak which has helped to define his career so far: “One thing I have quickly established at Nuffield is that they are very good at personal development and managing your career, and I’m very keen to tap into that.” Reflecting on his career to date, does Chris have any regrets? “You don’t know what’s going to happen, do you?” he replies. “You always think you’re doing the right thing at the time. I think I’ve taken the positives from every experience I’ve had; I’ve learnt a lot along the way and I’m still learning – I’m by no means the finished article.” For more information about Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital visit www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/newcastle

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WELL-BEING Antonia Pellegrino Freeman looks to her grandmothers for healthy eating advice

Nanna’s nutritional gems For modern day healthy eating tips – we have to go back in time, says Antonia Pellegrino Freeman of BeFit. Fish oil My Nanna had a spoonful of cod liver oil every day. She said that it helped her joints. Ok, so this is not a news flash as many people take fish oil now, but here are some great reasons why we should all add it to our daily regime. • Heart health. Omega 3’s (as in fish oil, not cod liver oil) can lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein) Cholesterol and blood pressure. A word of warning if you are taking blood thinning medication; please consult your GP first. • Brain health. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) found in small fish, such as mackerel, has shown to improve cognition and brain function. • A natural fat burner. Fish oil actually turns on your fat burning gene and switches off your fat store gene. • A natural anti-inflammatory. Fish oil can help to ease inflammation in the joints, gut, brain and pretty much everywhere! EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) found in larger fish is essential in higher doses in cases of inflammation.

Eat real food! Go organic if you can. If not, try to find fruits and veggies that are without plastic wrappers. Food can actually absorb plastics and that

means we can absorb the plastic, too. Try the local farmer’s market or greengrocer. My ‘Nonna’ (Italian Grandma), would walk for miles to the market to sell her home grown produce. She actually carried the baskets on her head! If you can find it this fresh, stock up. Aim for five vegetable sources a day and one to two fruit portions as a minimum. Try to source protein that is grass fed, free range or wild. You are only as strong and lean as the protein that you consume.

Cook from scratch It takes the same amount of time to knock up a stir-fry as it does to order a take away. We are a generation of TV dinner eaters. Ditch the microwave to increase the nutrients in your meals. Stock your pantry with things such as ginger, garlic, coconut oil and herbs. You can freeze herbs on the day of purchase to save waste. Frozen vegetables can be a great addition, too, to save you reaching for the pizza menu. Make batches of soups and freeze them. My Nanna loved a good ham hock. This makes fabulous soup if you throw in a few lentils, carrots, onions, celery, etc. Family roasts make great cold cuts of meat for lunch and breakfast. Yes, I said breakfast! Eat protein first thing to set you up for the day – Granddad would have.

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Eat butter Margarine is the Frankenstein of fat. Numerous studies show that butter is good for you. The butyric acid in butter is a helpful prebiotic for your gut. Butter on steamed vegetables also helps your gut to absorb the nutrients. Grass fed cows produce grass fed butter. The CLA (conjugated linolic acid) in grass fed butter has anti-cancer properties. What about saturated fat? The body needs a certain amount of fat to function optimally. Some saturated fat in the diet can actually lower LDL cholesterol. Trans fats, however, should be avoided at all costs, such as vegetable oils. I urge you to read Dr Jonny Bowden’s book The Great Cholesterol Myth for up-to-date clinical research on cholesterol.

Eat sugar like it’s on ration Sugar stresses the immune system and makes you look older. It is the nutrient of ageing. Cut it out and see an improvement in your waistline as well as your skin. For immune boosting tips that Nanna would be proud of, book in for a nutritional consultation at BeFit on (0191) 213 5300

WELL-BEING Nick Collis is one of the leading cosmetic surgeons in our region

The five P’s of cosmetic surgery Cosmetic surgeon Nick Collis - Mphil,BSc (Hons), MBChB, FRCS (Plast)(Ed) at Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital shares the five 5 P’s you should consider when contemplating a cosmetic procedure. Person – the consultant you choose is possibly the most important decision you will make throughout the process. If you spend time researching, there are many different methods online and you will start to gain confidence as the majority of online forums are patient lead. This is extremely important as former patients are the best source of information for people considering cosmetic surgery. A quick and powerful way to check your consultant’s credibility is to see whether they are members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS). Members of the former are subject to compulsory audits of their work annually. Ultimately, you need to have confidence in your consultant and make sure they understand your requirements, both emotionally and physically. At Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital your consultant is the first and last person you will deal with. From the first consultation we will try to understand your emotional aspects together with your physical expectations as a result of surgery. We will never ‘sell’ you an operation and will always work in an advisory capacity to ensure you understand the full process to gain your confidence. Place – it is imperative you carry out research into the place you decide to visit. Cosmetic surgery is now a heavily populated industry with

many clinics appearing on the high street. Be sure and confident with the company and its reputation. One of the most important questions you should ask is where the operation will take place – the clinic may be on your local high street but the operation may take place elsewhere, even in other parts of the country. This may not be a problem, but it does require unnecessary travelling and if there are problems, you may not have direct and local access to your surgeon. At Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital everything you need is under the same roof and you deal direct with your consultant from the beginning, Together with the Nuffield price promise, you receive complete peace of mind and reassurance that any follow ups or revisional surgery will be included as part of your price and service. Period in your life – for women it is important you consider key milestones that your body may endure in a lifetime. For example, a very popular reason many women consider cosmetic surgery is the after effects of pregnancy. Ideally, if you are considering cosmetic surgery then I would ask, do you plan on having a child or having more children? If the answer is ‘yes’, it may be more sensible to wait so that the results of surgery are more likely to be maintained in the long-term rather than be affected by any future pregnancy. Similarly, weight change after surgery may affect the aesthetic result and so

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attaining an ideal weight prior to any surgery is a sensible approach. Precise operation – it is important you do not allow yourself to be sold an operation. Cosmetic surgery is not for everyone so before agreeing to surgery you have to be confident your surgeon is recommending the right procedure for you. At Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital we are genuinely focused on our patients and display honesty at all times. More often we advise patients surgery will not be the answer to their problems if we feel it will not give customers their desired outcome. Price – although cosmetic surgery is a considered purchase, price is a major factor to consider. Do not be misled by attractive low prices to get you interested. As part of your research, make sure you check the costs for follow up appointments because this is where you can be caught out, and it’s typically post op you feel you have no other option but to pay. The Nuffield promise means there are no hidden charges and the price you pay will not increase if you need follow up appointments or revisional surgery. Nuffield offers complimentary one-to-one consultations so that customers have access to consultants on an informative basis. If you are considering cosmetic surgery, visit www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/newcastle

WELL-BEING Philip Davey, consultant vascular surgeon at Spire Washington Hospital

A guide to varicose vein treatment This month, Spire Washington Hospital puts varicose veins in the spotlight… t’s great to move into a summer wardrobe as the weather gets warmer but for those with varicose veins, the idea of putting on a dress, skirt or shorts holds much less appeal. Here, consultant vascular surgeon Philip Davey talks us through the options for those suffering from varicose veins.

Tell us a little bit about yourself? Born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, I obtained my medical degree in Scotland before returning home to the North East of England to undertake my specialist vascular training. I was appointed consultant vascular and endovascular surgeon in 2010 and am currently based at the University Hospital of North Durham, where I was promoted to lead clinician for vascular services in 2014. I have a specific interest in the modern, minimally-invasive treatment of all vein disease including varicose veins and have extensive experience in vascular procedures, routinely training other surgeons in this technique. I hold out-patient clinics every Friday afternoon at Spire Washington Hospital and have a regular theatre list on Tuesdays.

When do people come to see you regarding varicose vein surgery? There are a variety of reasons that people suffering from varicose veins come to see me in clinic. Usually varicose veins are bluey-purpley in colour and lumpy so for some patients who don’t suffer any symptoms their main concern is

regarding their appearance. However, many people with varicose veins also suffer from a wide range of symptoms including pain, aching, itching, swelling, bleeding, inflammation and skin problems. Patients can have difficulty standing for long periods of time and suffer from aches and pains that can prevent them doing everyday activities. When a patient books an initial consultation with me, whether they are self-pay or insured, I like to offer a ‘one-stop shop’ service. This involves going through a full medical history and clinical examination with the patient as well as performing a detailed ultrasound scan to both assess the underlying source of the varicose veins and to guide treatment options. Using this approach saves time and needless additional hospital visits enabling a clear treatment plan to be considered by the end of the initial appointment.

What does treatment entail? In the vast majority of cases, contemporary minimally-invasive, ultrasound-guided techniques e.g. VenefitTM will indeed be appropriate instead of traditional surgery methods. These types of procedures can frequently be performed under local anaesthetic on a ‘walk-in, walk-out’ basis. If a general anaesthetic is required (or preferred by the patient), cases are typically done as a daycase and do not usually require an overnight stay. Following treatment, patients will normally be expected to wear a compression stocking for two to three weeks. In many cases (particularly those undergoing local anaesthetic), patients can often

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return to work within one to two days with minimal limitations on their everyday activity.

What are the benefits of someone coming to see you at Spire Washington Hospital? The main benefit of coming to the Spire Washington Hospital, along with its convenience and quality of service, is the guarantee of consultant delivered care. With recent changes in the national treatment guidelines, NHS varicose vein treatment has rapidly become oversubscribed and is typically associated with a protracted pathway and long waiting list. These issues are not a consideration at the Spire Washington Hospital.

What questions should you always ask your consultant before varicose vein surgery? Contemporary varicose vein treatment expertise and experience can now only be offered by consultants who are specialised vascular surgeons with an appropriately high volume of varicose vein interventions. Ask if your consultant is a current member of the UK Vascular Society and always challenge those who may suggest that traditional open surgery is your only option! For more information about varicose vein treatment at Spire Washington Hospital contact (0191) 418 8687 or visit www.spirewashington.com

MOTORS

Behind the wheel by Jessica Laing.

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MCLAREN 675LT cLaren introduces the brand new 675LT – the lightest, most powerful and most track-focused model in the McLaren Super Series. Offered as a coupe only, it embodies the key attributes of the ‘Longtail’ ethos, targeting light weight, optimised aerodynamics, increased power, track-focused dynamics and driver engagement. Weight reduction has been a key focus throughout the 675’s development and, in a nod to its big brother, the 1997 McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’, the result is a saving of over 100kg over the other models in the Super Series. These savings are achieved through the extensive use of carbon fibre for the body panels, along with a lightweight engine, chassis and body structure parts. Even air-conditioning has been removed, but can be specified as a no-cost option. Aero balance is also optimised by the vehicle’s

F.Y.I. Power: 666 bhp at 7,100 Acceleration: 0-62 mph in 7.9 seconds Top speed: 205 mph CO2 emissions: 275g/km Max torque: 700 Nm Price: £260,000 approx

active ‘Longtail’ airbrake, which is 50 per cent larger than on other Super Series models, yet lighter due to its carbon fibre structure. What’s more, to create a more thrilling driving

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experience, more than 50 per cent of parts have been altered in the model’s 3.8-litre V8 Twin Turbo engine to deliver increased levels of power, torque and availability. Externally, the 675 demonstrates a more aggressive look for the McLaren brand. Its newly designed front bumper with an extended carbon fibre front splitter, circular twin titanium exhaust pipes, extended door blade all hint to the optimised performance it delivers with every drive. The model is available in five ‘By McLaren’ specifications, which include four bespoke colours never previously offered: Silica White (pictured), Delta Red, Napler Green and Chicane Grey. Internal features include carbon fibre-shelled bucket seats, Alcantara upholstery and a touchscreen infotainment system.

MOTORS

‘Pitch 2015’ winners MBS MediaBots

Driving forward community engagement The latest news from Benfield Motor Group. Benfield inspires young marketers Independent motor group, Benfield, has been picking the brains of some of the brightest young marketing minds in the country at the student marketing competition The Pitch. The national competition, held annually by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) in association with Benfield, gave young marketers the opportunity to wow a panel of experts, including Benfield’s group marketing director Heike O’Leary. Presented by DJ and former children’s TV presenter Andy Crane, the competition tasked the student teams with developing a campaign to address the challenge of ‘How does Benfield establish itself as the retailer of choice for female motorists?’. Seeing off competition from four other teams, MBS MediaBots from the University of Manchester took first place after impressing the judges with their Benfield Superwoman theme, creative thinking and polished pitch performance. Team member Chandni Shukla says: “We put a lot of hard work into our ideas but I’m still a little surprised that we won. It’s fantastic; especially when you consider that there were some really strong ideas in all the presentations.” Heike O’Leary comments: “We are delighted to have teamed up with the CIM by sponsoring this year’s national Pitch competition. I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the judging panel and evaluating the final presentations, which were all themed around how we improve our retail experiences for our female customers. “I am confident we will be able to introduce some of the recommendations made by these

says: “As in previous years, the standard of applications has been very strong. CIM launched The Pitch competition to encourage young talent and find the next generation of top marketers. If the entries we have received this year are a reflection of the standard of marketers emerging into the industry, the profession is in good hands.”

Benfield VW just the ‘match’ for Tynedale RFC

Mike Fieldhouse (Tynedale RFC president); John Squires OBE, (chairman, Benfield Motor Group) and squad members of Tynedale RFC

creative finalists, which will support our goal for better customer engagement and a more personalised motor retail experience.” The Pitch competition seeks to provide young marketers with the opportunity to develop skills and experience that goes beyond that available through an academic course, and gain vital realworld experience required to thrive in the marketing industry. Initial applications were received from 36 university teams across the UK, demonstrating that the marketing profession continues to be a sought-after and desirable career path. The live final took place at the Oracle Bar in Leeds and featured teams from University of Leeds, University of Manchester, Lancaster University, University of Surrey and Leeds Beckett University. Diane Earles, network manager at the CIM

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Benfield’s popular Volkswagen dealership in Hexham sponsored Tynedale RFC’s home match against table toping Ealing Trailfinders last month. Displaying some of its latest Volkswagen models at pitch side, Benfield was delighted to team up with the Tynedale squad as part of its support for local sport in the community. Tynedale RFC president, Mike Fieldhouse, says: “Benfield have been a long associate supporter of our club at many levels over a number of years. As a self-funding club we rely on local businesses like Benfield Volkswagen to support our club and it is particularly pleasing to have a family business like Benfield behind us.” Benfield’s chairman, John Squires, OBE, explains: “Local sport is a big part of our community and as a local family business we are delighted to support our local rugby team. Our Volkswagen dealership in Hexham is very popular in the area so it is very important we continue to give something back to the community that serves us so well.” For more information, visit www.drivebenfield.com

MOTORS

Commercial general manager Alan Bailes with the 50th anniversary Ford Transit model

Transit model is going for gold To mark the forthcoming 50th anniversary of the Transit model, Jennings Ford, part of the Jennings Motor Group, has executed the perfect creative concept, which is worth its weight in gold. n preparation for the official celebrations scheduled to take place at the beginning of August, staff at the group’s Ford Transit Centre based on Cargo Fleet Lane in Middlesbrough, have arranged for a Ford Transit Custom model from the award-winning range to be wrapped in gold vinyl. Although staff took part in the design and organisation of the unique vinyl wrapped Ford Transit model, the initial idea came from another source, as commercial general manager, Alan Bailes explains: “I knew the 50th anniversary was coming up this year and when I mentioned it to my wife, Shona, she came up with the idea of the golden theme, so it’s really credit to her for the suggestion. “When I discussed the concept with my sales team, they all agreed that it was a great idea.” The 2.2 TDCi 125 PS Ford Transit Custom is currently on display at Jennings Ford’s Transit Centre in Middlesbrough, where it has been generating a lot of interest and enquiries from customers. Alan adds: “From the moment the Transit was delivered on site, it attracted interest from customers, who were wanting to know if it was a new colour to the range. “The Transit Custom model has been designed with practicality and functionality in mind, in addition to being safe, reliable, economical and competitively-priced.” The first and only van in its segment to achieve a maximum five-star safety rating by

Euro NCAP, the Ford Transit Custom has also received Euro NCAP Advanced rewards for technology – the first for any commercial vehicle in history. Customers opting for the mid-sized Transit Custom model for their business needs also benefit from outstanding fuel economy. This is mainly down to fuel-saving ECOnetic technologies including optional Auto-StartStop and Smart Regenerative Charging. Its interior cab, which can function as a mobile office, is both comfortable and durable with many advanced technologies, including Ford SYNC voice control and MP3/iPod and phone connectivity system. The Transit, which is a range of light commercial vehicles, produced by Ford Motor Company, was first launched in 1965. Since then, millions of models have been produced across four basic platform generations, debuting in 1965, 1986, 2000 and 2013 respectively. Since its launch 50 years ago, the Ford Transit model has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for nearly five decades. Jennings Ford operates two Ford Transit Centres located at Cargo Fleet Lane in Middlesbrough and Eslington Park in Gateshead, both offering Ford’s new high-tech showrooms which will showcase the next generation of commercial vehicles to customers and Ford’s Transit24 aftersales programme, which is aimed at minimising vehicle downtime and reducing life costs for

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commercial vehicle operators. Each Transit Centre has a dedicated commercial vehicle team available, in addition to Ford-trained technicians, specialised workshop equipment, tools and training. Managing all service, maintenance and warranty work, Ford’s new Transit24 facility offers a while-you-wait servicing to suit the customer, including regular late night appointments and a dedicated response within 20 minutes to online booking requests made through Epyx 1Link. A collection and delivery service is also available and every vehicle that leaves the dealership is washed and ready for work. The award-winning Ford commercial vehicle range consists of the Fiesta Van, Transit Connect, Transit Courier, Tourneo Connect, Transit Van, Transit Custom, Tourneo Custom, Transit mini-bus, Transit Tipper, Transit chassis cab and the Ford Ranger. An adaptation and signage service is also available to customers, which entails vehicles being adapted to suit individual business needs and a sign-writing service to display company logos and slogans on vehicles. For more information about the range of products and services available at Jennings Ford’s Transit Centre, or to arrange a test drive contact Middlesbrough on (01642) 209 100, Gateshead on (0191) 460 7464, or visit www.jenningsmotorgroup.co.uk/vans

INTERVIEW

Get to know me ...

Nickie Gott Managing director of She’s Gott It! Events

When I was growing up, I wanted to be a TV presenter but somehow, when I went for careers advice, I was told I had no chance so should apply to be a nurse. I not only failed my entrance exam for nursing but also failed all eight O-Levels (to those younger than me, that’s GCSEs to you).

My first job was working in Clarks shoe shop in Durham on North Road.

remember that giving up is a choice and I choose not to; focusing on this in the bad times is really important and helps me to keep going.

My greatest achievement is probably finishing the Great North Run in 2013, five years after being

deserve a medal. (I am hoping he does not read this though as it might go to his head!)

My favourite film has to be Labyrinth. I love fairy stories and mythical tales and I never get tired of them. If you haven’t seen it then you should, especially the scene with the bog of eternal stench!

diagnosed with breast cancer. I did the run to put it all behind me and demonstrate that there is life after cancer and also raised money for Cancer Research. As with many people, I said never again, but ended up taking part again last year and am already registered for 2015 – I’m a glutton for punishment, I think!

local park with Ian and spending time with my family. I also love cake decorating and put my heart and soul into every cake and then watch in horror as someone cuts it…

I'm inspired by my mum. She is one of

When I need a helping hand, I turn to my long suffering husband Ian.

In five years time, I'll still be doing what makes me happy and will be

my greatest role models and is such a strong lady and so focused; she truly does keep me on track on my off days. I also like to

We have been together for 31 years and he says being married to me is like being on a rollercoaster. He is an absolute rock and does

with the people that bring me happiness.

I'd tell my 18-year-old self to start looking around for what excites me and then make a career out of it. What stopped me from achieving everything I wanted was, in fact, down to me and not my teachers or parents.

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In my spare time, I love to spend time with my gorgeous little grandson, Reid, running through our