North East Times Magazine - August 2014 by North East Times Magazine

CONTENTS

August 2014 BUSINESS NEWS –

SAVE THE DATE –

Business events – mark them on your calendar.

NORTH EAST VIEW POINTS –

Thoughts from the region’s business community.

10 QUESTIONS FOR... –

Robin Owers, OPR.

ON THE MOVE –

New executive appointments.

FEATURE –

Big River – the industrious Tyne lives on

STATE OF THE ART – BUSINESS LUNCH –

106

The Pavilion, Backworth

COVER STORY –

112

Bill Ward, Mill Volvo.

MOTORS –

116

CREDITS

Directors: Mike Grahamslaw, Mick O’Hare Commercial director: Martin Stout Editor: Alison Cowie Editorial: Jessica Laing, Stephanie Holmes Senior designer: John Haxon Feature photography: Chris Owens

Front cover: Bill Ward, by Chris Owens. Office: Quayside - i4, Albion Row, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1LL. | t: (0191) 265 7050 www.northeasttimes.co.uk | @NETimesmagazine Find us on issuu

All photos taken by North East Times staff are copyright North East Times Ltd, and are taken solely for use in North East Times magazine or products published by the Accent Magazines Group. If you wish to use or publish a photograph taken for North East Times, please contact the sales department on (0191) 265 7050. Photo charges: £50 for a single image, £295 for full buy out of a photo shoot. Advertising charges: There is a £25 charge for every set of amendments, following the first initial set of amendments, which is free of charge, for adverts designed by North East Times Ltd. Cancellations: If an advert is cancelled by the booker within a seven day period prior to our print deadline, the advert will be charged in full, plus VAT.

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 IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Surging optimism Positivity among North East businesses is set to create a wealth of new jobs across all sectors, according to the region’s largest quarterly business survey.

he Quarterly Economic Survey, produced by the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), has measured the highest level of optimism among North East businesses since the survey began in 1995. The survey recorded rises in investment plans (plant investment the highest since 1997) and significant gains in both current workforce and future recruitment in the latest study.

Optimism across the region continues to rise as firms delivered another boost for the regional economy following strong results in the last two quarters. Businesses reported an upsurge in trade with domestic and foreign markets, a trend established in Q1 of 2014 has continued into Q2. Across all indicators, year-on-year scores are positive, with the only exceptions being cashflow and export orders.

NECC Policy and Research manager, Mark Stephenson, said: “This quarter has seen respondents send an incredibly positive message on future recruitment. Over 60 per cent of firms had attempted to recruit full time staff, which is comfortably higher than last quarter (53.8 per cent) and considerably above last year’s figure (45.7 per cent), which is a clear statement of confidence and highly encouraging.”

Prestigious shortlist announced

ight business owners are in the running for the prestigious Entrepreneurs' Forum Awards 2014, which will takes place at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel on September 19. Judges in the annual awards have drawn up their shortlists for the Emerging

Talent and Entrepreneur of the Year accolades from a record number of nominations. The finalists for Entrepreneur of the Year are Andrew Esson of Quick Hydraulics, Ian Watson of Hadrian Healthcare, Dean Benson of Visualsoft and Bryan Bunn of

Nortech Solutions. The finalists for Emerging Talent – whose businesses have been trading for five years and under – are David Lynch of Lynch Healthcare, Charlotte Prenelle of Pranella, Alice Blackie of Pink Boutique and Martyn Young, founder of First2Print.

Advertising prize takes flight

he beauty of North East England could be showcased to millions of travellers, if the region scoops the prize of £1 million in free advertising at Heathrow Airport. The North East Chamber of Commerce is calling on businesses and individuals to back the region in the contest, when members of the public can go to the Heathrow Facebook page (www.facebook.com/HeathrowAirport) where a gallery of stunning images from UK regions will be featured, and vote for their favourite.

Ammar awarded CBE

mmar Mirza has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his business and community work in the North East. The entrepreneur, who is patron of Newcastle’ Freeman Hospital’s Charlie Bear for Cancer Care charitable fund, a board member of Marie Curie Development Board, and a chairman of governors of a primary school in Walker, Newcastle, has been awarded a CBE.

Port of Tyne bowled over

ort of Tyne has extended its limitedovers shirt sponsorship deal with Durham County Cricket Club. The Port has been associated with the county champions since 2010, and in a new partnership, its support is set to continue until the end of the 2016 season.

Multimillion-pound investment

he North East Local Enterprise Partnership has announced an investment of £7.4m into The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), which will be focused on formulated products as part of the Local Growth Fund. The investment will be matched with £7m from industry.

Two lanes better than one

report by the Department of Transport and Highways Agency has estimates that dualling the A1 north of Newcastle could result in 2000 new jobs and 12,000 new homes as well as generating £376 million for Alnwick, Berwick and Morpeth.

Launch of Vanilla Bay

North East business woman is celebrating the launch of her dream interior design company. Richmond-based Vanilla Bay, that manages projects as small as cushion design to as big as whole house decoration, is the creation of style guru Karen Nichols.

Consultancy role for HTA

TA Real Estate has been appointed in a development consultancy role on one of the region’s major industrial distribution parks. International asset management company Hudson Advisors has retained the industrial specialist property agent to advise on design and build opportunities on three green field sites at Follingsby Park, Gateshead. Newcastle-based HTA is already joint letting agent, with DTZ and GVA, for existing buildings on the industrial park.

Investment for Durham holiday park

rimdon Dene Holiday Park near Hartlepoolhas receieved a multimillion-pound investment. Its owner, Park Resorts, has invested heavily on the park in the last six months – shelling out almost a million pounds on rebuilding, developing and improving facilities for owners and holidaymakers.

New director for Peugeot

he North East’s Peugeot dealership has appointed a new director to its team as it plans for growth in 2014. Simon Bailes Peugeot has appointed Bridget Charlton as marketing director, a promotion from her role as marketing manager.

DIARY ARTISAN BREAD MAKING

Aug

Blackfrairs Restaurant, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 261 5945 Web: www.blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk Price: £110 per person Foodies and aspiring bakers are invited to this hands-on workshop, led by Blackfrairs’ master baker. As well as picking up professional tricks and tips, guests will learn how to create highquality artisan bread, with their own hands, that is both great tasting and nutritious. Includes wine and coffee, a personal apron and various samples to take home.

PNE ENTERPRISE BUSINESS CLUB

Save the date Charity balls, business dinners and seminars.

DURHAM COUNTY CRICKET CLAY SHOOT DAY

Aug

27 5 The Beacon, Westgate Road, Newcastle Tel: 0800 652 8399 Web: www.eventbrite.co.uk Price: Free PNE Enterprise, a confidential advice service for entrepreneurs and business owners, is hosting its very own enterprise club for local people in business to spend an evening of networking with like-minded people. This informal club includes a different theme each month and is attended by business advisors in residence. Provides guests with an opportunity to promote their business.

Sept

19 KNOW YOUR MARKET WORKSHOP

Aug

Elton Moor Farm, Stockton on Tees Tel: (0191) 387 2818 Email: nick.mather@durhamccc.co.uk Price: £650 +VAT per team

IT Suite, Newcastle City Library Tel: (0191) 277 4100 Web: www.bipcnewcastle.co.uk Email: bicpnewcastle@newcastle.gov.uk Price: Free Businesses starting up or looking to expand are urged to attend this free workshop, where you will learn the basics of secondary market research and how it can help you fine-tune your business strategy or convince potential investors. The workshop will also highlight the free resources available at Newcastle’s Business & IP Centre.

TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS ADVICE

Aug

12 5

Charles Avison Building, New Bridge Street West, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 277 4100 Web: www.bipcnewcastle.co.uk Email: bicpnewcastle@newcastle.gov.uk Price: Free Those interested in starting or growing their technology business are invited to one-on-one consultations (held at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm) with business support manager at Newcastle Science City, Melanie Hill. Melanie will be offering practical help and advice on everything from business, marketing and financial planning to sales, licensing and product development.

Business are invited to the inaugural Durham County Cricket Clay Shoot day for an action-packed day of competitions and games. The day will involve four teams partaking in six drives, including duck and pigeon clay shooting, with 100 clays per team. 20 teams will compete for first place. Includes refreshments and sandwiches on arrival, an all-day bar, a Cartridge box raffle and a two-course dinner at Elton Moor Farm to finish.

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

THREE CHAMBER NETWORKING LUNCH

Aug

28 5 De Vere Slaley Hall, Northumberland Tel: 0300 303 6322 Web: www.necc.co.uk Email: events@necc.co.uk Price: Free (exhibition stands cost £50+VAT) This year’s joint Chamber’s business networking event, attended by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and Dumfries and Galloway Chamber and sponsored by De Vere Slaley Hall, will provide a business networking opportunity for both members and nonmembers. Included will be a mini expo for businesses to develop their networks further and a round table to help build new contacts.

JAZZ NIGHT

Aug

28 5 Rockliffe Hall, County Durham Tel: 01325 729999 Web: www.rockliffehall.com/whats-on Email: enquiries@rockliffehall.com Price: £49.50 per person Music lovers and jazz enthusiasts are invited to Rockliffe Hall’s flagship restaurant, The Orangery, for another of its popular jazz nights. Hosted by Yorkshire-based vintage-style wedding and function band, Phil Lyons, the night includes live jazz music and a threecourse meal.

BUSINESS Richard Lane and Lee Durham.

In the fast lane to sales success Ambitious outsourced sales specialist durhamlane is going for growth after securing a contract with the world’s fastest growing supplier of cloudbased accounting software for small businesses. ewcastle-based durhamlane, which provides sales consultancy, training and coaching as well as outsourced sales and business development services, is targeting an extra £250,000 in turnover in the next 12 months on the back of a six figure contract for invoicing, reconciliation, accounts payable and bookkeeping software specialists, Xero UK. The move has seen the company, on Windsor Terrace, initially provide training to improve Xero’s sales processes and techniques before handling lead generation work for a series of national road shows and webinar events for accountants and financial decision makers. Sales expertise has helped to generate extra product leads and drive growth for the New Zealand-based company, which has recorded its best ever year for UK performance. Nick Longden, sales director at Xero UK, says: “durhamlane impressed with its outsourced sales expertise and added value advice to win our business. They have rapidly become a trusted and invaluable partner as we go for growth. We have already seen the impact of their expertise on our expanding customer base, resulting in 114 per cent growth in the last financial year. We have also had to recruit additional sales people to meet

our ambitious targets and increased demand for our software.” The Xero contract win comes as fast growing durhamlane looks to invest further in recruiting additional sales executives to support expansion plans and underpin future growth. The boost will help to push the firm’s sales to the £1 million mark by end 2015 and increase staff numbers to approaching 20. The move is the latest success for the firm, which has pioneered its innovative ‘Selling at a Higher Level’ methodology to outsourced sales, business development and consultancy work. The company founded in 2011 by directors Lee Durham and Richard Lane works across the UK for a wide range of clients who include global online assessment company The Test Factory, Anglia Ruskin University, luxury goods retailer Harrods and construction firm the Elliott Group. As it secures its client base and, in turn, revenue, Richard Lane said Xero is among a host of valuable contracts that will be delivered over the next 12 months propelling further growth and expansion. He adds: “We have established ourselves as a reputable supplier delivering proven added value expertise with a track record of success working for major market leaders.

“The future is exciting for us and we are busier than ever before. We now have the foundations and plans in place to take us forward not only through 2014 but over the next few years.” Outsourcing the sales process to experts who can add real value in the supply chain will only continue to make huge strides in the next few years says Richard Lane – a vital cog in the engine of economic development and creating new business growth for clients looking for high quality sales leads rather than relying on the endless rounds of scheduled appointments before trusting to luck when it comes to converting these into profit. durhamlane’s expertise helps companies to become more commercial by improving the performance of their people and by managing outsourced sales campaigns on their behalf – creating new business opportunities. It delivers a measurable difference through consultancy, training and coaching sales and non-sales people and embedding best practices through technology, delivering outsourced sales and business development services that increase the footprint and success of clients. For more information on durhamlane, call (0191) 481 3800 or visit www.durhamlane.co.uk

OPINION

CHRISTINE NUGENT

PETER DRYDEN

MANAGING DIRECTOR BUSINESS TRAVEL Through working closely with a professional travel advisor, businesses can ensure their essential travel is sustainable and CO2 emissions are monitored for each journey. Travel operators can develop packages that include close monitoring and reporting of all emissions, and assist customers in adapting plans to achieve the greatest carbon savings. For example, we can set emission limits on the type of vehicle selected for hire, or change air journeys for rail as appropriate.

SECTION MANAGER IN AUTOMOTIVE NEWCASTLE COLLEGE

North East view points Local business men and women share their thoughts …

Companies need a corporate travel plan – including measures such as a Corporate Travel scheme, promoting discounted local bus and rail services to the site. Businesses can also use electric or hybrid fleet vehicles, introduce flexible-working hours, home-working or video conferencing working practices. Many companies have already realised the benefits of promoting and facilitating healthy and low carbon transport options for their employees.

NICK CLENNETT HEAD OF TRANSPORT STRATEGY GO SMARTER August will see work start on the widening of the A1 Western Bypass in Gateshead and at Go Smarter we’ll be working closely with business in the four key employment areas around Team Valley, intu Metrocentre, NewcastleGateshead city centres and Washington, to encourage commuters to consider sustainable transport during the period of the roadworks and beyond. The campaign will highlight the sustainable travel options available to people in the affected areas and how businesses can support their employees in changing their current journey to and from work.

IAN GOTT DIRECTOR GOTT TECHNICAL SERVICES As an employer, encouraging and supporting flexible working and challenging staff to make more considered decisions when it comes to business travel is a given. Our engineers are frequently travelling to and from Cumbria, the North West and Scotland and, wherever possible, they work their day so as to limit fuel consumption – preplanning their journeys with efficiency and economy in mind. It’s this mind-set that goes some way towards helping employees make informed choices about the way they travel to and from work, and being aware of the consequences of these choices – on their health, their environment and the community. On a practical level, adopting multiple occupancy lanes on the region’s roads, as they do in cities such as Leeds, would go some way towards helping support sustainable travel.

SARAH HALL MANAGING DIRECTOR SARAH HALL CONSULTING

How can we encourage more sustainable business travel in our region?

Providing businesses with support and guidance is vital in creating a real culture change within an organisation. I’m currently working with Go Smarter, the North East sustainable travel initiative, to encourage businesses and employees to leave the car at home and cycle, walk, run or if that’s not possible, take public transportation, to and from work. Communicating the economic benefits fewer cars on our roads could bring to the regional economy is definitely a step in the right direction. If we can remove some of the congestion on our roads we’ll have a more productive workforce which means better business.

NEIL MITCHELL SMARTER CHOICES MANAGER SUSTRANS’ Employers who encourage cycling can increase their profitability and have staff who take fewer sick days, but too many miss out on these benefits because of a lack of facilities and support. Businesses that tackle these issues through our Workplaces programme typically see a 7.9 per cent increase in staff physical activity, ten fewer sick days per 100 employees and a 10 per cent reduction in staff turnover. Making it safer, easier and more enjoyable to get to work by bike would unlock huge economic and health benefits for the UK. It’s time to make sure all our workplaces are fit for cycling!

EVENT

Solutions Recruitment Golf Day The recruitment company hosts its third annual golf event.

olutions Recruitment held its third annual golf day on Friday, June 20, at Matfen Hall in Northumberland. For the past three years, the popular golf day has raised funds for Ward 9 at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary – a cause close to the staff’s heart. A total of 72 players arrived and navigated the course, from organisations right across the North East. There were several prizes up for grabs, alongside the Niamh Thompson-Devlin Cup, presented to the winning team. Donations were received from NUFC, Matfen Hall, Wynyard Hall, Newcastle Racecourse and GHI Computers for the raffle prize draw and, once again, a great day was had by all who attended – with more than £3000 raised.

INTERVIEW

10 questions for ...

Robin Owers Robin is a director at O PR & Communications agency in Ouseburn, founded in 2005.

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 joined O when the business was nine months old, after my wife set up in PR on her own and it took off quicker than expected. The client demand, along with her need for someone to support her on financial planning and business growth, led me to join the business earlier than we'd initially thought possible.

We reached a tipping point relatively early on by winning several initial large clients, which gave me the opportunity to commit full time to running our company and take the leap. I'd been lucky to work at very successful creative agencies, but I knew we had something special on our hands and we could really enjoy growing our own team.

In the early days we picked up a lot of awards from our industry, making all the long hours and hard work worthwhile. As time has moved on and we approach our tenth anniversary in 2015 the best bit is now growing the team and bringing them along on the ride.

We have created a great agency environment at Woods Pottery so perhaps when our roof caved in during the ‘Toon Monsoon’, that destroyed most of the place, was a particular low – although everyone pulled together and got it sorted – we had so many offers of help on Twitter, the North East business scene is a great community.

The diversity – the creative sector has radically changed in recent years, the way people communicate has changed thanks to social media and we can be running a campaign across multiple channels, so its never a boring day at 'The O-ffice' as we call it!

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 O?

What do you do to relax?

Every day is a challenge – that's why we're in business. Managing growth at the moment is our biggest challenge, we need to recruit talented people to our team and scale up in the next year, but recruitment is always the most difficult area – we want great people to work with us and like entrepreneurial thinkers.

My heroes in business are my good friends who also run their own creative companies. Being able to call on people who experience the same situations as you is invaluable, we catch up weekly over brunch and put the world to rights. Outside of business my hero is my mother – she is a walking miracle and her positivity, drive and determination humble me everyday.

If it were easy, everyone would do it!

2014 is proving to be a big year in terms of growth – both in our clients and services. We have started working with some fantastic new brands in the last few months and our new content marketing division, Owned, is proving very popular as an outsourced editorial team for in-house marketing departments.

We go on holiday as often as possible whether that’s to Ireland to walk the beach or to the sunshine to do very little. It’s important to get away from it all and recharge. I also do the normal things; walk the dog, go to the gym, watch the football and stand on a touchline somewhere every weekend during the winter watching my son play rugby.

www.opr.co.uk

APPOINTMENTS

On the Move Your monthly guide to appointments and promotions.

AIMEE HUBBARD

NICK CLOUGH

SUSAN HUNTSMAN

North East law firm, BHP Law, has appointed Aimee Hubbard as an associate. Aimee, an experienced dispute resolution solicitor who has previously worked for Zurich and law firms in London, joins the firm’s Newcastle Quayside office, but will also work from its bases in Darlington, Durham and Teeside. She brings a wealth of experience in commercial and property litigation to her new role.

Slaley Hall, Northumberland, has announced the return of Nick Clough, who has been reappointed as executive head chef. Nick, who left the De Vere hotel to gain further top-level experience in London, where he worked in partnership with world-renowned chef. Heston Blumenthal, will be responsible for staff training, preparing the menus and heading up a team of 24 chefs over two kitchens.

Peterlee-based manufacturing company, AKS Precision Ball, has appointed Susan Huntsman as HR officer. It is the first time the company, which is regarded as a world leader in the manufacture of steel balls in the UK and European markets, has employed a member of staff dedicated solely to HR. Susan has worked in various HR roles in the North East during her career.

PAULA STEI

CAROLYN REYNOLDS

INGRID FORSHAW

Newcastle PR consultancy, MHW, has appointed Paula Stei as a PR and marketing assistant. The 23-year-old, who recently graduated from the University of Sunderland and has been working at the business-tobusiness consultancy part-time since March, will be contributing to the business in a dual role. Her responsibilities will be split between office administration and client handling.

National charity, Changing Lives, which is headquartered in the North East and aimed at vulnerable people and their families, has appointed Carolyn Reynolds as executive director of Communications and Fundraising. In her new role, Carolyn will head the charity’s national communications strategy, as well as steer fundraising efforts to raise the £3 million a year it needs to make through charitable giving.

Newcastle law firm, Sintons, has appointed probate lawyer, Ingrid Forshaw, as a solicitor within its Personal and Family department. Ingrid has more than 10 years’ experience in handling probate, wills and trusts and has established a strong reputation during her career. In her new role, she will help continue to grow and develop her department and the wider firm.

FEATURE

BIG RIVER

WITH THE DECLINE OF SHIPBUILDING, THE RIVER TYNE IS OFTEN LAUDED FOR ITS PAST GLORIES. BUT AS NORTH EAST TIMES FOUND OUT, THE RIVER IS A HOTBED OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INNOVATION. IN THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF REPORTS, ALISON COWIE LOOKS AT THE TYNE-BASED INDUSTRIES THAT ARE EMBRACING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO COMPETE ON A GLOBAL STAGE.

OGN GROUP

BRIDON

www.ogn-group.com

www.bridon.com/uk

Offshore Group Newcastle is a UK engineering, procurement and construction specialist in the offshore oil and gas, and renewable energy industries. Its 32-hectare Tyneside Facility in Wallsend was acquired in 2009 and includes extensive fabrication shops, engineering and project offices and a reinforced quay. The company recently completed the engineering, procurement and fabrication of the jacket for Apache’s Forties Alpha Satellite Platform off the coast of Aberdeen – the largest such structure ever to be produced on the River Tyne – and recently secured a multi-million pound contract with EnQuest for finishing and commissioning works on a 249m long Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel.

Currently specialising in the manufacture of wire and fibre rope solutions for the subsea mining, oil and gas extraction, telecommuications and other specialist areas engineering, Bridon has roots in rope production on the Tyne dating back to 1924. In 2010, the global company opened a £30 million state-of-the-art factory at its Neptune Quay site at Walker, which boasts the capability of producing multi-strand ropes in gross package weights of up to 650 metric tons.

BEL VALVES www.balvalves.co.uk

TECHNIP UMBILICALS

The valve engineering company, specialising in the oil and gas sector, based at St Peters in Newcastle, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year – with its parent company dating back to 1922. At the end of 2013, BEL Valves started a £15 million site development programme that will double production capacity by 2016. In the last quarter of this year, the company received a combined order of more than £15 million for specialist valve solutions destined for Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea. In the same period, it also received a £7 million order for a major gas field in the North East.

www.technip.com The international Technip Umbilicals designs, manufactures and supplies customised umbilical’s that form critical links between subsea production sites on the sea bed and a floating vessel providing control, power, communications and chemical services. The company (formally DUCO Ltd) opened the world’s biggest steel umbilical assembly facility at its Tyne base at Walker, in May. With a height of 58 metres, it houses a gigantic vertical helix assembly machine that is set to met the industry’s worldwide umbilical requirements for the foreseeable future. In the second quarter of 2014, the company celebrated revenue of €2.6 billion, up 9 per cent.

SHEPHERD OFFSHORE www.shepherdoffshore.com

SMD

Shepherd Offshore has over 30 years’ experience in providing logistics support for mobilisations and demobilisations for the offshore industries. Its two deep water offshore supply bases, at Walker, can accommodation a range of complex subsea, oil & gas, renewable energy and regeneration projects offering bespoke manufacturing, design and build, R&D and training facilities for global companies. It recently carried out a multi-million pound refurbishment of its 200 ft high hammerhead crane that can now carry loads of up to 325 tonnes. Over the past few years, The Shepherd Offshore Group has also remediated over 400 acres of industrial land, to develop The Neptune Energy Park, a manufacturing cluster for those embracing new offshore technologies. It will also be the home to the £7 million National Centre for Subsea and Offshore Engineering, a world-class engineering and research facility being funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Newcastle University and private investment.

www.smd.co.uk SMD was founded in 1971 as Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd, and has since applied its engineering skills in a range of subsea markets, from oil and gas to telecommunications, military, scientific and mining. Following the acquisition of Hydrovision in 2003, the Wallsend-based company began designing and manufacturing work class and specialist subsea Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV), and is now extending into new areas such as marine renewable energy and subsea mining. In April this year, SMD completed The Bulk Cutter, the world’s first deep sea mining vehicle for Nautilus Minerals. Other recent projects have included creating a bespoke research ROV for The Chinese Academy of Science’s Institute of Oceanography and a cable burial tractor for Technip Offshore Wind Ltd.

IHC EB www.ihceb.com

OSBIT POWER

IHC Engineering Business (EB) is a member of the Dutch shipbuilding group IHC Merwede, which is one of the world’s leading suppliers of dredging vessels, customised offshore vessels and associated equipment. IHC EB designs specialist products for the offshore oil and gas, submarine telecoms and renewable industries, such as pipelay equipment, trenching machines and handling systems. It moved its design and fabrication facility to Riverside Quay at the Port of Tyne in 2010 and is able to accommodate assembly, testing, commissioning and installation of several major projects simultaneously. HC EB recently launched Hi-Traq, the world’s first four-tracked subsea trencher, specifically developed for shallow water operations, at a special event at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. The two-year project was part financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

www.osbitpower.com OSBIT Power is an innovative independent company specialising in engineering solutions to the offshore world, in particular access systems, subsea trenching and offshore product handling systems. Established by Tony Trapp in 2010, and based in Riding Mill, Northumberland, the company developed its MaXaccess offshore access system, a unique product providing safer, more weather-tolerant access to offshore wind farms, which won NOF Energy’s Innovation and Technology Award in 2012. More recently it supplied its first bespoke quadrant cable handling system to Technip Offshore Wind to support operations at Dong Energy’s Westermost Rough offshore wind farm.

Photo: Mike Smith, supplied by Technip Umbilicals.

BUSINESS

Keep it simple, stupid Is your business simple enough to succeed? Asks Rod Findlay, consultant, at Your Sport Consulting.

eep it simple, stupid or KISS is a principle developed by the US Navy in the 1960s. At its heart of it is the idea that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complicated. Simplicity is a key goal to adherents of the KISS principle. It was also adopted by Disney, where their master animator Richard Williams urged against over-animating. If such diverse organisations as the US Navy and Disney benefit from the principle, then perhaps your business might seek the benefits of simplicity too? To avoid offence, you might want to employ the popular derivation: keep it simple and straightforward.

Insanely simple Simplicity is also one important ingredient that drove Apple to be one of the most successful brands of our generation. It is discussed in detail by Ken Segall in his book, Insanely Simple – the Obsession that Drives Apple’s Success, which is a book I’d recommend to anyone interested in the KISS principle in practice. Although perhaps a bit too self congratulatory, Segall is an ad agency creative director who worked with Steve Jobs at both Apple and NeXT, and so is perfectly placed to comment. He recounts countless stories, giving you an inside perspective into Apple. If you’ve lost track of how many times you have heard that something can’t be done because the process won’t allow it or would get killed due to politics, you’ll want to read how Apple abolished that sort of thinking. They did so with the weapon of choice: the Simple

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

Stick. The Simple Stick symbolizes the obsession to keep everything simple from its product, to its packaging, to its processes; with customers always put first and good ideas never buried in politics. As Steve Jobs said: “Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end, because once you get there, you can move mountains.”

What does simple mean? Insanely Simple is broken into 10 chapters, which are the 10 elements of Simplicity. The first four chapters are probably the most impactful. In the first, Segal urges businesses to Think Brutal and to be honest. High standards can’t be bent and Segal argues that sometimes you need to be brutally honest if your ideas are to survive. He repeatedly mentions that the ‘enemy’ complexity is always waiting if you allow it in. That is stressed again in the fourth chapter Think Motion. The theory is that simplicity never stands still and the easiest way to ruin a project is to give it too much time. How many times has a project,

speech or document had too many tweeks making the final versions more complicated and less effective than early iterations? In other chapters, Segal suggests that simplicity requires businesses to Think Small and to Think Minimal. He quotes one example of where someone was ejected from a meeting by Steve Jobs because she wasn’t integral and he took the view that smaller groups were more effective. That also meant that minimising is the key to making a point stick. When in doubt, minimize. The fewer buttons on an iPhone, the fewer that can go wrong.

Applying this to your business As Segal stresses, although some companies strive to infuse simplicity within one part of the organisation, that is where they fail because it must occur within the entire organisation. It must be a company-wide obsession. As Ken states, “… Steve’s greatest achievement wasn’t a Mac, iPod, iPhone or iPad. He accomplished something that no one had even contemplated before. Steve Jobs built a monument to Simplicity. That monument is Apple itself.” Steve Jobs had the “benefit” of being driven out of Apple and so when he came back to run it, he was able to apply what he had learnt elsewhere. Importantly, he was also able to look at Apple, failing majorly at the time, through fresh eyes. A new leader might allow your business to do something similar or you might have sufficient subjectivity. Perhaps, though, this is an area to bring in an independent consultant to review your processes and apply the ‘simple stick’?

PROPERTY

Keeping the property revival on track By Neil Hart, director at Bradley Hall t has been well documented that 2014 has been a year of strong growth in the commercial property market. Enquiries are up, confidence is on the rise and dealmaking is back in vogue. The fact that the economy expanded by 1.8 per cent in 2013 (ONS) – making Britain one of the best-performing economies in Europe – has fuelled expectation that the commercial property revival can be maintained. However, without wanting to sound like a killjoy, we should guard against complacency. We can all recall what happened in September 2007, when the collapse of Northern Rock signalled the end of the economic boom and the start of one of the worst financial crises in recent history. The Government needs to act now to keep the economy on track and safeguard the future of key industry sectors. For commercial property professionals, this would include:

HS2 rail extension to the North East

Retention of business rate relief in enterprise zones This would encourage the creation and growth of industry clusters in key sectors such as manufacturing, electronics and software. This would also help to reduce the number of unoccupied units within the enterprise zones.

It is vital that HS2 is extended further north than Manchester or Leeds; ideally to Edinburgh. If it isn’t, the North East could miss out on vital inward investment opportunities.

Collaboration by local enterprise partnerships This would bring more inward investment to the region. The Hitachi rail project in Newton Aycliffe could have a massive impact in terms of job creation, economic growth and increased activity in the commercial property market. We need more of these projects in the North East.

Relaxation of planning laws Hopefully George Osborne will be true to his word and press ahead with the review of the General Permitted Development Order (GDPO). This would fast-track the conversion of warehouses and light industrial buildings into residential properties, helping to remove obsolete stock from the commercial market and create much-needed new homes.

Low interest rates and other incentives to encourage more start-ups This could include the extension of small business rate relief on existing properties beyond April 2015, as well as additional rate relief on newly built commercial properties, say for a period of 2-3 years. For more information visit www.bradleyhall.co.uk

BUSINESS

Recruitment expertise ... Is a lack of it costing your business? Asks Bryony Gibson, managing director of Bryony Gibson Consulting.

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

ecent economic surveys from both the North East Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurs’ Forum show business confidence in the region is at its highest point for many years; and with that comes a positive expectation for employment growth. The last three months have reportedly seen over 60 per cent of North East businesses attempt to increase staff numbers, with more and more opting for full-time and permanent recruits as their preferred solution. On the flip side, one of the key barriers local businesses cite as holding them back from growth is not being able to find the right people to fill their staff shortages - a major problem for any SME. There's a lot of discussion regionally about how we need to address skills shortages in key sectors, and rightly so. In tax, accountancy and finance, I believe we're currently suffering the after-effects of a much-reduced level of investment in training since the recent recession began; and it's impacting heavily on the availability of new talent in the market. What does this mean? Well essentially, if you want to recruit the best people and find the

most promising rising stars in your industry, you will most likely need to be looking for people who are not necessarily actively searching for a new role themselves. This is where a lack of recruitment expertise could be letting your business down. With most SMEs the different divisions of the business tend to develop in line with the organisations own growth. A finance manager may join when turnover reaches £5 million; if staff numbers hit 30 an HR manager may come on board; and a marketing manager might be made a priority when turnover and staff levels reach a point that requires continuous new business in order to be sustainable. Until an organisation has an HR manager in place, more often than not, recruitment isn’t any one person’s particular area of expertise. But as the surveys suggest, it is certainly an area that can make or break your business. In the words of American businesswoman, Mary Kay Ash: "People are definitely a company's greatest asset ... a company is only as good as the people it keeps." I believe this to be one hundred per cent true, no matter what your business, and if you're serious about growth in a competitive

job market, then you need to either understand how to compete for the best talent or work with someone who does. A specialist recruiter will be an expert in their field and although that may not mean your specific sector, more preferably they will be a master of the profession or skills you’re looking to recruit. When that’s the case they will not only have the contacts and knowledge in place to help you, but they will more than likely already know the candidates you’re searching for. Not only that, but they will be able to advise and support you to make sure you truly understand what it is that you need in order to meet your objectives; which is often not what you initially thought you were setting out to find. Employees who are talented and fit culturally can be hard to attract and enticing them to join you can often be as difficult as winning new business from a competitor. If you don't know how to navigate the landscape it’s likely you will struggle to find the very best people, and this is where recruitment specialists can genuinely help you and in turn your business to grow.

BUSINESS

AUTUMN EVENTS UNVEILED CHECK OUT THE NEW SEASON OF EVENTS FROM THE ENTREPRENEURS’ FORUM.

nvestment and innovation are at the heart of a packed programme of private investment company Middleton Enterprises Ltd, which owns of autumn events for the entrepreneurs who are driving forward minority stakes in a number of SMEs, and was a co-founder of the regional economy. HomeServe plc, now a FTSE 250 global company. Aimed at inspiring owners of high growth businesses, the He has been a board member of the North East Local Enterprise Entrepreneurs’ Forum has once again Partnership since 2011 and leads on put together a varied and stimulating access to finance and social AT A GLANCE: calendar stretching through to the enterprise as well as chairing the end of November. Investment Panel, which makes JEREMY MIDDLETON, MIDDLETON ENTERPRISES (focus dinner) Whether it is identifying the most recommendations to the LEP Board Tuesday 9th September, 6.30pm-9.30pm dynamic businesses to invest in, or for the £25 million Growing Places Café 21, Newcastle self-investment through education Fund and the £30 million and bringing more innovative Infrastructure Fund. UNCOVERING IPO (panel event) practices into a business, the Such broad content is typical of Thursday 11th September, 6pm-9pm schedule is all about progress and the amount of ground that can be Ward Hadaway, Newcastle learning. covered at a forum event. From individual business stories to One of the highlights of the NORTH EAST ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS practical tips on subjects from IPO to autumn programme is the annual Friday 19th September, 7pm until late social media, the content is aimed at North East Entrepreneurial Awards, Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel, Gateshead an exclusively entrepreneurial with this year’s winners revealed on audience ensuring that guests are Friday, September 19. THE POWER OF LINKEDIN WITH MARK WILLIAMS (open event) guaranteed to meet like-minded Awards for the Entrepreneur of the Tuesday 23rd September, 9am-12 noon individuals. Year, Emerging Talent and Lifetime Darlington Campus, Teesside University The forum is going from strength Achievement will be presented at the SYCAMORE AVIATION (on-site visit) to strength as more entrepreneur black-tie dinner at the Hilton Thursday 25th September, 1pm-4pm members join and benefit from the Newcastle Gateshead Hotel. Durham Tees Valley Airport sharing of knowledge and The awards celebrate individual experience, and the chance to make success among leaders of business INNOVATION EXCHANGE (exchange event) new connections. and it is similar stories of personal Tuesday 30th September, 8.30am-12.30pm Last year more than 2000 achievement that form many of the Baltic Campus, Gateshead College delegates attended forum events forum’s most inspiring events. across the region, which included Among those sharing their GEOFF TURNBULL, GT GROUP (focus dinner) intimate focus dinners, on-site visits, enthralling personal journeys this Wednesday 1st October, 6.30pm-9.30pm panel discussions, open events and autumn are Kevin O’Hare, founder of Seaham Hall Hotel, Seaham conferences. Sycamore Aviation, Geoff Turnbull of Feedback on the spring GT Group, Mark Shorrock of Tidal RIDING THE WAVES WITH MARK SHORROCK (open event) programme revealed that 95 per Lagoon Power and Hamid Thursday 9th October, 4.30pm-7.30pm cent of attendees left forum events Guedroudj, of Petroleum Experts. The Wynyard Rooms, Wynyard feeling inspired, with the same In other events, recognised and number saying they learned lauded experts like Justin Urquhart BUILDING A CREATIVE BUSINESS (open event) something new. Stewart, Grant Leboff and Lorne Tuesday 14th October, 2pm-5pm With plenty of opportunities to get Campbell share their knowledge and Northern Stage, Newcastle to know fellow guests, 86 per cent experience. said they made a valuable new The Innovation Exchange event HAMID GUEDROUDJ, PETROLEUM EXPERTS (focus dinner) Thursday 16th October, 6.30pm-9.30pm connection. brings together several leaders in the Middleton Lodge, Richmond Forum chairman Nigel Mills said: field for a more informal sharing of “Once again the forum team has put ideas, while Pete Wilkinson will offer STICKY MARKETING WITH GRANT LEBOFF (open event) together an outstanding programme motivational techniques as the Tuesday 21st October, 9am-12 noon of events uniquely aimed at the business community heads into 2015. St. James’ Park, Newcastle entrepreneur. Events are being held across the “Running a business can be a North East in Gateshead, Newcastle, JUSTIN URQUHART STEWART, SEVEN INVESTMENT lonely job, where shouldering all the Wynyard, Middlesbrough, Durham MANAGEMENT (focus dinner) responsibility, making tough Tees Valley Airport and Scotch Corner Tuesday 11th November, 6.30pm-9.30pm decisions and taking risks is to ensure ease of access for all the Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle demanding, and sometimes region’s entrepreneurs. daunting. Having the support of Indeed, for the first time, the Forum FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE (autumn conference) others who are going through the is holding its annual Fortune Favours Thursday 20th November, 8am-5.30pm same, or who have been there and the Brave conference at Wynyard, in Wynyard Hall, Wynyard learned along the way, is priceless. the stunning surroundings of “Forum events seek to encourage, Wynyard Hall. IRON MAN ATTITUDE WITH PETE WILKINSON (open event) inform and inspire and this autumn The event, on Thursday November Thursday 27th November, 4.30pm-7.30pm we will be providing all that and 20, will bring together over 200 Brewin Dolphin, Newcastle much more.” delegates for a full day of stimulating Following a short summer break, stories. the new season gets under way on Tuesday, September 9 with one of the region’s highest profile entrepreneurs and business leaders, Jeremy To find out more about the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and its Middleton. events programme, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net or A public servant, politician and philanthropist, Jeremy is the founder download their mobile events app.

BUSINESS

New learning Veronica Swindale, director of Nesma, considers the value of new qualifications from the CIM.

EXPERT VIEW Veronica Swindale Director Nesma Tel: 07590 018205 Email: info@nesma.co.uk Web: www.nesma.co.uk

ith 100 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute, there is no wonder that marketers can feel overwhelmed by the potential of digital marketing. That is a staggering amount of material on just one channel, but the challenge for marketers is to make sure their video does not fall into the 90 per cent category with only two views! I have just come back from Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Digital Training Masterclass and I am excited about CIM’s new qualifications which Nesma will be launching next month, September 2014.

New CIM qualifications The new CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing is aimed at people who want to develop a career in marketing. It is designed to give them the practical skills and knowledge to carry out their roles and students can complete the qualification in less than a year. They will study two compulsory modules: Marketing and Integrated Communications – and then choose a third. This final module can be either Customer Experience or Digital Marketing. For more experienced marketers there is a new Diploma in Professional Marketing designed to give new and aspiring marketing

managers the operational and strategic skills to be successful in their organisations. Students can again complete this qualification in under a year. The candidates at this level study one module in Strategic Marketing and one on Mastering Metrics. They then take a third module, choosing between either Driving Innovation or Digital Strategy.

Single CIM awards What makes these new qualifications exciting for us, is that students can receive a stand-alone award for each module they pass. This means that marketers who already hold the current certificate or diploma qualifications can take any of the new modules to extend their skills and knowledge. We think this is an effective way for professional marketers to keep up to date with the fast moving world of digital marketing without having to commit to studying for a complete new qualification. This new modular award-based format fits perfectly our flexible and supportive approach, which provides organisations and students with the best results.

Flexible study options At Nesma, we are able to deliver the tuition in a variety of ways to suit both the employer and

the student, so, for example, we have run incompany programmes for businesses as diverse as Arco in Hull to NHS in Newcastle as well as delivering online and centre based programmes. At present we run half day, full day and evening and Saturday morning classes or students can study on-line to fit in with work and personal commitments. As a result, our students keep coming back for more! We are the only accredited study centre in the North East and Cumbria to provide every level of CIM qualification, so over the last five years we have seen our students progress from the Introductory Certificate in Marketing up to the CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing. All our tutors are qualified, experienced practitioners so we are able to provide practical, pragmatic teaching which students can apply to their own workplaces immediately. We are also a friendly and supportive team, too, which helps! If you would like to know more about the new CIM qualifications or discuss the other qualifications Nesma offers, come along to meet me at our next open day on Saturday August 9. I will be in our training centre in Gosforth from 10.30am to noon – ready with coffee and biscuits for an informal chat about the next steps in your marketing career.

EVENT

UNW and Synergi IT The accountancy firm and the IT company team up for a special event on cloud-based technology.

World Cup-themed event provided the perfect opportunity to kick off a discussion about the latest IT revolution. Cloud-based technologies is the talk of the town among tech-savvy businesses looking to become more agile, streamlined and efficient. Business technology specialist Synergi IT and accountancy firm UNW hosted a lively debate at UNWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Newcastle office â&#x20AC;&#x201C; before football, food and fine wine took over as guests stayed on to watch Australia v Spain and Holland v Chile.

BUSINESS Fiona Raglan (Dipsticks) with Mike Jobson (Oxford Innovation)

Research firm finds the answers Dipsticks seeks the help of Oxford Innovation. he Northumberland company that provides market intelligence to some of the best known high street and media names in the UK has enlisted specialist business coaching to support the growth of its own brand. From its Hexham base Dipsticks Research keeps an impressive client list in tune with audience and customer feedback on how their products and services are currently being perceived. Dipsticks founder and director Fiona Raglan has turned to growth experts Oxford Innovation to provide business development support to her team of 50 employees. “I’d read about Oxford Innovation’s delivery of the Business Northumberland High Growth programme in the local press but I admit to being quite sceptical at the outset,” explains Fiona. “I took the view that if business support is free it might not add any significant value. However once we met the Oxford Innovation team and started working together it became very clear this wasn’t the case and now we’re ideally placed to grow the business.” Dipsticks is already highly regarded in the competitive market research sector working with high street clients including Tesco, O2, National Express and Red Bull as well as local authorities, the NHS, ITV and Sky. However, Fiona felt the structure of the business was becoming a barrier to Dipsticks’ further growth. “We’ve previously divided the business into

stand-alone divisions according to whether the client was in the private or public sector and what their precise requirement was,” says Fiona. “We grew at such a rate that our people were highly skilled in their own area but there was little or no opportunity for them to contribute to the overall business development and growth strategy.” In addition to the Hexham-based staff, Dipsticks retains more than 215,000 panel members across the UK, in its consumer panel brand, Panelbase, as a source of audience and customer feedback. Mike Jobson, Oxford Innovation’s Business Northumberland High Growth programme manager, has previously worked with big brand names including Guinness, Colgate Palmolive and Alcan. He explains his work with the Dipsticks team: “This is very clearly a highly impressive business that is in great demand from clients. The organisation structure and even the culture within the team where lots of people were all working in small silos, were not conducive to the business maximising its full growth potential. “We had to break down the barriers and introduce an account management-style of operation where team members can see beyond their own roles to look at how Dipsticks can offer a more holistic service to clients without compromising on quality. Once the team recognised what was holding them back they fully embraced the concept of coaching and what we were trying to achieve together.”

Despite her initial doubts, Fiona said she would definitely now recommend coaching to other businesses with high growth potential: “There is a raft of business support out there but the key is to tap into the resource that best fits your own circumstances and requirements. I was won over by Mike’s very impressive track record of working with brands not dissimilar to our own clients so I quickly became confident his experience would add value to the team’s work and he has gone on to become a valued mentor to me.” Oxford Innovation delivers The Business Northumberland High Growth programme on behalf of Arch, The Northumberland Development Company and Northumberland County Council. The programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Oxford Innovation’s methods have also proved successful elsewhere in the UK, where the organisation has worked with over 2500 high growth businesses. And despite the challenging economic circumstances of recent years, Oxford Innovation has helped its clients across the UK access over £100 million of funding, creating or safeguarding more than 2000 jobs. To find out more about the Business Northumberland High Growth Programme and how Oxford Innovation can potentially support your business, call (01670) 528403, email northumberland@oxin.co.uk or visit www.businessnorthumberland.co.uk.

EVENT

CBI North East's regional director's reception Muckle LLP hosts event for Dianne Sharp.

ew regional director, Dianne Sharp, joined North East business leaders last month to outline her vision for the CBI's ongoing work in this region.

MEDIA

Samantha Davidson (forth from right) with the team at Horizonworks.

Strategy to delivery – a path to success Samantha Davidson, managing director of full service strategic marketing company Horizonworks, discusses an ethos which is core to her business ... and could be integral to the growth of yours. arker Domnick Hunter is a leading international player in process filtration, developing solutions for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, and boasting a presence in more than 50 countries. So it was with great excitement that, earlier this year, Horizonworks started working with the company to create a new marketing strategy for its Process Filtration division. With limited in-house resource, it needed a marketing team who could support it in increasing its profile and market share in Europe and North America, and be the architects of a strategy which would provide the blueprints for future growth. And in Horizonworks, that’s exactly what it received. Our methods included undertaking a communications audit for Parker Domnick Hunter, getting under the skin of the business, talking to staff and customers, analysing competitors ... leaving no stone unturned. And by working with the firm at a strategic level, we’ve been able to shape the tactics that Parker Domnick Hunter will use to forge ahead. So why this emphasis on strategy? Because at Horizonworks, we believe that a clear, focused, well-informed and finely honed marketing strategy will underpin a business’s growth and future success. It’s as simple as that. For national packaging solutions company IPS, for instance, we generated a new marketing strategy, which also informed our creation of an exciting new brand for the firm – and a trade PR campaign to support its ‘Desto Cup’. Our work was instrumental in driving sales growth, and new customers included some of the UK’s leading retailers.

More recently, another client to have benefited from our strategic know-how has been Solutions for Accounting, a national provider of accountancy and business management software and support – and a Sage Top Ten Business Partner. We were appointed to develop a new marketing strategy and campaign plan, with the aim of building its profile throughout the whole of the UK, and are now working with Solutions for Accounting to implement that plan through digital marketing and public relations activities. Our work for IPS, Solutions for Accounting and numerous other businesses demonstrates our ability to take a strategy to the delivery stage. Horizonworks is a full service marketing company, and can work either as an extension of a company’s existing marketing resource (for instance, in Solutions for Accounting’s case) or be wholly responsible for their marketing strategy and implementation. When we say we are ‘your marketing team’, we really mean it. And the fact that we offer public relations, brand development, design, digital, social media and event management services means that our marketing tactics will be integrated; a multifaceted approach, with the right blend of activities, can have a dramatic impact. Take Hyperdrive Innovation for example. In 2013, Horizonworks was commissioned by the North East-based electronics company to develop a marketing strategy to launch its new range of innovative vehicle electronic technologies. Following this, we developed a new company website, and produced new marketing brochures, client case studies, exhibition materials and stationery. We

produced new literature that focused on product benefits, supporting the firm as it entered new markets. PR and e-marketing campaigns were also implemented. By February this year, Hyperdrive Innovation had announced a 300 per cent year-on-year increase in sales, with its vastly increased profile playing a key part. We understand the company and its brand. And all of the marketing activity undertaken for Hyperdrive Innovation has been ‘singing from the same hymn sheet’. It’s an approach that we’ve applied time and time again. In the education arena, for instance, we’ve recently started working with Washington-based engineering training organisation Seta, which provides both apprenticeships and commercial training courses, and works with industrial heavyweights including Nissan and Rolls Royce. We’ve been appointed to develop a new brand, website and marketing material and have carried out a PR campaign, promoting Seta’s training provision for unemployed young people. Heading to the high seas, our development of a new marketing strategy for independent shipping and freight forwarding company Johnson Partners lead to Horizonworks being tasked to create a new, contemporary brand, website and marketing materials for the firm. So from companies on our doorstep to international organisations, our strategy to delivery ethos – and our full-service capability – has produced results, and is continuing to do so. For more information on Horizonworks visit the new website at www.horizonworks.co.uk, tel: 08450 759955 or email: hello@horizonworks.co.uk.

LEGAL & FINANCIAL NEWS

Awards beckon for law firm Clarke Mairs is shortlisted for major insolvency accolate.

ewcastle law firm, Clarke Mairs, has been shortlisted for a major national insolvency award. The firm, which is located on Hood Street, has been nominated in the Law Firm with Less than Seven Offices category in the Insolvency and Rescue Awards 2014, which celebrates best practice and commitment to rescue across the insolvency and corporate recovery arena. The Insolvency and Rescue Awards are widely regarded by the industry as the most prestigious awards scheme in the insolvency and rescue sectors. This year’s event will take place on October 1, 2014 at the Lancaster London Hotel and the finalists will be judged by a leading panel of experts from across the industry. Commenting on the news, Susan Mairs, partner at Clarke Mairs (pictured with Paul Rushton) said: “We are delighted to have been nominated in these very prestigious

awards and also to be the only firm from the North East to be recognised in this category. We have always prided ourselves on being approachable and offering

partner-led advice and our clients have commended us on this. We are particularly pleased to see our efforts recognised in this way”.

From director to associate

Muckle into bat

New partners

ward-winning business and tax advisory firm Evolution LLP has promoted Tim Mallon – who originally joined the practice as a tax director in November 2013 – to associate member while continuing to lead the tax services team. Tim, who joins Joanne Regan as associate members for the practice, said: “Everyone in the team has made me feel very welcome and I was only too pleased to commit my future with the firm. “It will be great to be involved in the running of a growing business, which is forward thinking not just for itself but for its clients.”

ommercial law firm Muckle LLP has been providing legal advice to the Caribbean Premier League Ltd (CPL), a St Lucia registered company, on all aspects of the Caribbean Twenty 20 Cricket Tournament. Over the past eight months, Muckle’s sports team in Newcastle upon Tyne has been advising the CPL and has been instrumental in making the 2014 Caribbean Twenty 20 Cricket Tournament happen. Legal advice and negotiations were led by partner John Devine and associate solicitor, Stephen Green, who were part of an eight strong Muckle team.

ond Dickinson has appointed Emma Moody to partner in the Newcastle office. Emma’s is one of four employees to become partner this summer at the national law firm. It brings the total number of partners to 152. Bond Dickinson's managing partner, Jonathan Blair, commented: “We are delighted to announce this year's promotions, which recognise each of the individuals' talents and legal expertise, as well as their outstanding contribution and commitment to the firm's ambitions.

LAW & FINANCE

Stock pickers’ market By Ian Lowes, managing director of Jesmond-based Lowes Financial Management.

ne of the conundrums of following fund manager comments in markets such as we have at the moment is that they can all have different opinions. The FTSE 100 has been edging slowly higher in the past year and has come tantalisingly close to its all time high of December 1999, leading to optimism that the index might soar through the 7000 barrier in the near future. But the conversations which our investment team is having with some fund managers suggest that there has been some retrenchment in terms of that view. Indeed, fund managers we respect say they have taken profits off the table and are holding greater amounts of cash, believing that there may be a correction in the markets sometime soon. One of the reasons they cite is the rapid tapering of Quantitative Easing, potentially due to end in the US in August, which may adversely affect the stockmarkets. On the other hand, some experienced and successful fund managers are remaining optimistic and feel that the FTSE 100 could break through the 7000 mark and go further, though they are not sure when that will happen. Hence, the current situation has been described as a ‘stock pickers’ market. That is, it will be the fund managers able to do the hard research and identify the individual companies that may have the potential to do well over the next few years that are more likely to make money. The time of riding the curve of the market

EXPERT VIEW Ian Lowes Managing director Lowes Financial Management Tel: (0191) 281 8811 Email: enquiry@lowes.co.uk Web: www.lowes.co.uk

upwards has come to a halt or at least slowed right down for the time being. Interestingly, if we look at a 20-year graph of the FTSE 100, we can see that the FTSE 100 has come close to the 7000 mark on three occasions – December 1999, June 2007 and now. After the first two, it fell subsequently to around half its value – to a level of around 3,300 in March 2003 and 3600 in March 2009. So might that happen again? The simple answer is that the one thing we do know about the markets is that we don’t know for sure where they will be in six months, one, two or five years’ time. That said, the consensus in the market, whether you have bull or bear leanings, would appear to be that, whilst no one knows for sure, a major correction is not on the cards but that any rise in the markets will be driven by the blue chip companies delivering earnings and that may not occur for a while yet. Hence,

markets could track sideways for a while. So how do investors make money in this kind of market? The tried and tested way is to use a variety of different products within an investment portfolio to help diversify the risk and balance returns for a smoother investment ride. Traditionally, this has been a mix of actively managed funds (where the fund managers and their teams are making investment decisions based on their research and analytics) invested in a mix of equities and fixed interest products. These days structured investments are also being used to diversify the return profile of investment portfolios. Certain structured investments can be particularly useful options in flat markets as they offer the potential to make gains on just small rises in the market, alongside protection of capital against all but the most dramatic events should markets fall. In particular, structured autocalls have been a popular way of making returns in flat markets because after one or two years as long as the index is even a fraction above where it was at the start of the investment, they can offer the investor a defined return – i.e. the index might rise 0.5 per cent in the year and the product will pay out a fixed 8 per cent. This is a simple explanation and products vary so, as with any investments, the terms and conditions need to be read carefully but, hopefully, it can be seen how this type of product might fit into the investment portfolio of someone who is looking for a range of ways to diversify their portfolio and make returns in current markets.

LAW & FINANCE Left to right: Dave Craigen, Joe Heffernan (Kitchen Plus) and Tom Wills (Sintons)

Expansion for kitchen business Kitchens Plus opens a new showroom at Kingston Park, with the help of Sintons. business that has designed and manufactured kitchens in the North East for over 25 years is creating new jobs through expanding with a new showroom. Kitchens Plus has added the new 6000sq ft premises at Kingston Park to its portfolio – its fourth regional site – and plans to add several more jobs to its 50-strong workforce as a result. The business, which also has a manufacturing and Granite fabrication site in Blaydon and other showrooms in Team Valley and Monkseaton, is now looking to increase its customer base into Northumberland and beyond. Kitchens Plus, established in 1988 by Dave Craigen and Joe Heffernan – who have more than 30 years’ experience of working in this sector in the region – has gone from strength-

to-strength over the years, establishing a presence across the whole North East in what is a highly competitive industry. Its vast new showroom, on Airport Industrial Estate at Kingston Park, boasts 18 kitchen displays, 18 bathrooms and seven bedrooms, and Kitchen Plus’s owners predict it will help sustain its growth for years to come. Dave Craigen says: “We are extremely proud of our new showroom, it is a fantastic addition to our business and is kitted out to the very highest standards. It’s a very impressive location and we are really confident this will benefit our business. “We have been around now for many years, and have a strong presence across the whole of the North East. Through expanding into a new part of the region, we can now seriously target new geographical areas, such as

Northumberland. We will be creating a number of new jobs too. “Our business is in really good shape, but the addition of such a brilliant new location makes us even more confident for the future.” Kitchens Plus was supported in its new acquisition by real estate associate Tom Wills, as well as corporate solicitor Luke Phelan, from Newcastle law firm Sintons. Tom Wills reflects: “Kitchens Plus is a wellestablished company which continually innovates and develops its business to keep ahead of the competition. Through the addition of such an impressive new showroom, Kitchens Plus is now well-placed to continue to remain at the forefront of its industry in the region.” For more information visit www.sintons.com

LAW & FINANCE Left to right: Adrian Dye; Ron Wood; Rob Mullen; Fiona Lutz; Chris Holmes; Michael Smith

Golfing world looks to Break90 Sintons and Tait Walker assist in the launch of an innovative golf merchandising company. serial entrepreneur whose latest venture aims to revolutionise the golf retail market has secured financial backing from two former executive colleagues at one of the UK’s leading companies. Rob Mullen has set up Break90, which offers a unique and modern means of selecting and buying golf merchandise, and is targeting national roll-out within three years. Rob has already taken on four people, and is looking to create at least 20 more jobs in the near future. The business has created an automated retail pod that allows players to select the most appropriate products for them, and also provides screens for manufacturers to advertise their products. Break90 – run by Rob and fellow director Fiona Lutz, a sales and marketing specialist – has also struck a deal with Costa Coffee to sell drinks from their machines. Former Carrs Milling executive Rob – whose previous ventures include Sweetspot, the internationally-acclaimed range of snacks for golfers – has now secured financial backing from two of his fellow former directors at the Carlisle-based international food, agriculture and engineering giant. Chris Holmes, chairman of Carrs Milling,

and former financial director Ron Wood, have both invested in Break90, which has recently opened a showroom at its head office near Stocksfield, Northumberland. Rob, who also previously founded the NewLeaf Food Group, is now eyeing expansion for his latest venture, which he believes will support golf clubs by driving players back into the club shops to buy merchandise and also to use their other facilities. He reflects: “The reaction we have had to Break90 has been phenomenal, and we are certain this is the way to revolutionise the golf retail market and to drive players back into the club shop. “Clubs are constantly battling against falling member and player numbers, and decreasing revenues as a consequence, but by creating a new and exciting retail experience, we are providing a reason for them to visit and buy from their local golf club instead of from one of the many national sports retailers. “On a personal note, I am delighted to have the support of Chris and Ron, two business people who I respect massively and I have been fortunate enough to work alongside and learn from. Their endorsement is a huge boost to Break90 as we put our plans into action to be operating throughout the UK by 2017.” Chris Holmes, chairman of Break90, says: “I

am delighted to be the chairman of a business at the forefront of innovation and technology in the world of golf. Break90 reflects the trends shaping the industry and secures the future of this wonderful game. It provides a profitable solution to golf clubs in these difficult economic times, ensuring that profitability, popularity and sustainability go hand in hand in one of the world’s oldest and fastest growing sports business.” Break90 was established with legal support from Newcastle law firm Sintons, and financial advice from Tait Walker corporate finance. Adrian Dye, partner in the Company and Commercial team at Sintons, who has worked with Rob Mullen for a number of years, says: “Break90 has rightly attracted high praise from the golfing world for addressing one of its big challenges and devising an innovative solution. “I have no doubt Break90 machines will become a staple of many golf clubs within the next few years.” Michael Smith, partner at Tait Walker, adds: “Break90's management and financial backers have very ambitious plans for the business. We are delighted to help them at this stage of the business and look forward to helping them with their future strategies.” For more information visit www.sintons.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Family breakdown Major Family Law’s Anna Hunter reflects on the collapse of the Family Court System.

EXPERT VIEW Anna Hunter Associate Major Family Law Tel: (01661) 824582 Web: www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk Twitter: @majorfamilylaw

ollowing the demise of legal aid for almost all family matters in 2013, a recent survey carried out by the Bar Council – the governing body of barristers in England and Wales – has found that many of their members are questioning the viability of a career at the bar and actively considering whether they have a long-term future. The survey shows a fall in case volumes for 72 per cent of family barristers with fee income falling for 69 per cent of family legal aid practitioners. While the financial security of lawyers is unlikely to attract much sympathy, the implications of the current trend are more wide-reaching than may seem obvious. The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)has reported that nine out of ten Bureaux (92 per cent) are finding it difficult to refer people to the specialist legal advice they need since cuts to legal aid came into effect last year. The CAB notes how it is now extremely hard to get legal aid concerning issues such as relationship breakdown, and the length of time it takes to get legal aid means people's situations often become far worse than they would have had there been earlier intervention. In the year before the legal aid changes came into effect, Citizens Advice Bureau provided specialist advice in approximately

136,000 cases (including areas other than family law). The legal changes have resulted in support being withdrawn for approximately 120,000 of these cases. Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, believes the cuts to legal aid have created an advice gap. She says: "Modern life presents increasingly complex problems and people need help to understand, adjust to, and in many cases challenge decisions affecting their income, housing and work status. All of this information comes at the same time that Government figures show a collapse in mediation attendance. The Government’s decision to withdraw public funding for legal advice in almost all family cases was motivated at least in part by a policy of wanting to encourage separating couples to resolve their differences by means other than recourse to court proceedings. Conversely, however, a significant result of this policy has been an increase in the number of litigants in person in the family courts, many not representing themselves through choice. Chairman of the Bar Council, Nicholas Lavender QC, said: “These changes pose a significant threat to effective access to justice for some of the most vulnerable members of society.” Lavender is among some of the most

powerful lawyers in the country who have warned of the dangers of untrained, uninsured and unregulated professional McKenzie friends, who have emerged to fill the gap as people are left without access to proper legal advice and representation. MPs are also concerned at the evidence given on the alarmingly low figures for the grants of exceptional legal aid funding, complaining that the scheme is complex and confusing, the application form takes hours to complete, the threshold is too high, and the Legal Aid Agency is not exercising its discretion. The situation appears grim. Another recently commissioned survey showed that only just over half of all (non-legal) individuals questioned were aware of mediation as a process for resolving their family disputes. The Court system is increasingly overburdened with a case load driven almost entirely by unrepresented individuals with little or no understanding of the law or the process. There is no complete substitute for expert legal advice and representation, but that is now a luxury that many simply cannot afford. Further investigation, research and lobbying is pending to adapt the system to the best possible working model, and we all await the developments with baited breath – legal professionals and lay clients alike.

LAW & FINANCE

Death of the lifestyle pension Have the rule changes in the 2014 Budget signalled the death of lifestyle pensions? Fiona Newborough, assistant director at wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin, investigates.

EXPERT VIEW Fiona Newborough Assistant director Brewin Dolphin Email Fiona.newborough@brewin.co.uk Web: www.brewin.co.uk/newcastle

f you have taken out a pension since the early 1990s, rule changes announced in the 2014 Budget mean it’s time to check that your pension is still fit for purpose. Many money purchase or defined contribution pensions started in the last 20 years are likely to include ‘life styling’ – a process that involves the gradual switching of your money from riskier, high growth assets to safer investments as you approach retirement. Lifestyle pensions are intended to enable investors to benefit from stock market growth in the early and middle parts of their careers, but also to protect them from the risk of losing their money if there is a stock market collapse just before they retire. This involves the automatic switching of your pension savings, usually from equity based funds to lower risk funds, in stages during the five or 10 years leading up to your planned retirement age. In theory, this is ideal for people intending to use their pension fund to buy an annuity, as the money is often switched into gilts, supposedly safer assets on which annuities are also based. But changes to pension rules announced by Chancellor George Osborne mean that this

protection may not only become obsolete for many investors, but could also damage their pension prospects. The pension reforms revealed in the Budget are expected to make life styling less attractive or appropriate for many investors. The rule changes mean that from April 2015, anyone aged 55 or more can take their entire pension pot as cash – assuming they have a money purchase pension rather than one based on their salary. Many people are expected to reject the idea of buying an annuity in favour of drawing a regular income over retirement, even though they are investing in lifestyle pensions designed to lead them towards this end. Therefore, to maintain their lifestyle in retirement, switching away from equity-based funds to reduce risk is likely to be a less popular option. Pension experts believe that three-quarters of pension ‘default’ funds, holding some £165bn of investors’ money, use life styling strategies. This includes the vast majority of company pension schemes, personal pensions and even NEST – the new government run pension

scheme for employees without access to a company scheme. Investors who are still happy with the idea of buying an annuity on reaching retirement have no need to worry. Anyone who has different plans or wants to benefit from further growth by leaving their money invested while drawing down a pension income should check that their pension funds are aiming for the same goal. NEST has already announced that it is reviewing its default investment strategies to ensure members’ money is managed in a way that matches their retirement plans. But investors should not assume that all pension providers are doing the same, or that strategy changes will be introduced soon enough to benefit them. If you are invested in a default fund that incorporates life styling, the chances are that you have not been actively involved in deciding what happens to your pension contributions, and may feel nervous about taking control now. A financial adviser will be able to help you decide whether you should ask to opt out of the lifestyle process depending on your preferred retirement choices.

INTERVIEW

In the boss’s chair

Stephen D. Brownlee SDB Accountancy Services

Briefly, what has been your career to date? It all started when I was appointed as a divisional accountant for a company running a £20 million division within ASD PLC. That was over 21 years ago now, and it was a £200 million group, based in Leeds. It ran six different businesses which stretched from Glasgow all the way to Portsmouth. My time there was challenging and taught me skills and qualities that I would carry with me throughout my working life. However, unfortunately, I was made redundant five years later as they closed the division down.

Why did you decide to start SDB Accountants When I was made redundant I set myself a goal. I started sub-contracting for a qualified accountant and seven years later I qualified with the ACCA with the aim of setting up my own practice. I’ve been running my own practice for 10 years now.

What skills and attributes do you need to do your job? I would say professional and technical knowledge are among the most important. But

also having the previous experience of running a business, which I have acquired over the years.

What’s been your highlight in the role? Working for myself. It has been a challenging but rewarding journey.

What’s been your biggest challenge? I would probably say the same as the previous question. I started with nothing when I first set up my practice, and that’s extremely scary. You don’t have the security of a regular income, you have to work long and hard to ensure income every month. When I first started out, it was a daunting experience, however, as I say, it has been extremely rewarding.

How has accountancy changed since you began in the industry? Dramatically! There was no such thing as an iPhone or an iPad when I started out – it was a very different world then. Mobile phones and information technology didn’t exist. No one ever imagined there would be such a thing as ‘cloud accounting’ however it seems everything is in ‘the cloud’ now. Everything was handwritten and kept in files in filing

cabinets (not in folders on a hard drive). Also, there were very few women in my profession when I started out, and now over 50 per cent of the accounting professionals are female.

What makes SDB Accountants different? We actually care about our clients’ business and want them to grow and become more profitable. We want to put management systems in and minimise tax. I care about the welfare of my customers and their business. What also makes us different is that, when I take on a client, they get my 100 per cent attention; they don’t have to deal with anyone but me.

What are your short and long-term plans for SDB Accountants? I have been working for over 30 years now in the accountancy profession, I am qualified with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and I am a member of the Association of International Accountants and also the Institute of Financial Accountants. My passion is helping businesses grow and I would like to grow my business in line with my passion. For more information email Stephen at info@sdbaccountants.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Colin’s view Colin Chater, partner at Rowlands Accountants, reveals what a forensic accountant does and the lessons businesses can learn from the world of sport. You are the partner responsible for compliance and regulation at Rowlands. What does this involve? The primary role of compliance is to ensure that all accounts are prepared in accordance with the relevant legislation, primarily the Companies Act 2006 for limited companies. The disclosure requirements of limited companies vary depending upon the size of the company, though all are more onerous than for a partnership or sole trader. Additional compliance work is required where companies require an audit or choose to have an audit. This work is regulated by the ICAEW and we receive regular inspections to ensure that our files are attaining the appropriate standards. My job is to make sure everything is absolutely perfect at all times.

You also have a broad client base. What type of advice are you able to provide to sole traders and how does this differ to the advice supplied to limited companies? Sole traders do not have the same statutory requirements that burden limited companies and hence their accounts are usually easier to prepare. However they do not have the same protection that a limited company gets, because

where the business is a separate legal entity the owners of the company are afforded more protection. Ultimately my role is to ensure our clients have the most appropriate structure in place and that all the legal requirements are fulfilled in a timely fashion.

As one of a small number of forensic accountants in the North East, can you explain what this role is and what you are called upon to do? Forensic accounting is a relatively new move for me and is where an accountant is called to investigate an issue and potentially act as an expert witness in cases of dispute or litigation. By its nature it’s a specialist area and therefore the work is not of a repetitive nature, with each case meriting individual thought processes. An example of the type of work could involve tracing the movement of monies to establish where these originated from and where they are going to, whether the movements are legitimate business transactions or whether someone is trying to hide the source. The work will often involve the stating of facts and is not necessarily about having to form an opinion one way or the other.

What is the one piece of advice

you’d give to a business looking to grow in the current climate? Any business wishing to grow in the current environment needs to ensure that they have adequate accounting systems that allow the owner to make reliable and strategic accounting decisions. Entrepreneurs and management teams need to ensure they have the financial backing to carry out their plans whether self funded or through the use of financial institutions; often we can help signpost the way.

Rugby is a big passion of yours – what lessons from the game can be cascaded into the business environment? Rugby is a game played by people of all shapes and sizes and relies very heavily on teamwork rather than operating as an individual. Businesses need to ensure they have a reliable team of advisors who work with each other rather than operating as individuals because that is when the magic happens. Get the support around you right and the benefit to the bottom line can be huge. For more information visit www.rowlandsaccountants.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Market update:

Planting a flag Michelle Steggles, private banker at Barclays, looks at the debate between fixed income and equity investors.

ontemplation is a central feature of the summer season. Long, warm days and time away from the office are essential ingredients for introspection. For investors, summer represents the halfyear mark wherein the inevitable taking stock of efforts during the period takes place. Judging from the returns across asset classes over the past six months, investors should be pleased. In the service of summertime contemplation, a look at the great debate among investors is in order. This debate centres on the profoundly differing views of the world between fixed income and equity investors, and the attendant ‘who is right’ conclusion. Yields in the global fixed income complex have remained stubbornly low, and the periodic emissions from the Federal Reserve (Fed) suggest there is a lack of a coherent policy to judge economic growth and, therefore, a construct to determine the proper level of interest rates. The European Central Bank (ECB) appears reluctantly to be giving in to the need for a more muscular approach to quantitative easing (QE) to prevent the currency bloc from sliding into the clutches of systemic deflation (to be fair, the ECB has fewer degrees of freedom within which to operate than other central banks). The Bank of Japan appears at the ready to provide another blast of QE to push the currency lower, and thereby sustain budding inflation. This conviction holds that economies will generally grow more slowly, due to a deleveraging of historically high debt levels across the globe. Because fragile economies and consumers cannot handle normalised interest rates, central banks will be unable to raise them. Judging from the path of economic growth in the developed world since the end of the

EXPERT VIEW Michelle Steggles Private banker Barclays Web: www.barclays.com/wealth

Great Recession, this idea has gained traction. Equity investors are on the other side of the debate. They see rising global equity prices supported by higher sales and earnings, and perceive a different world emerging: one in which growth is gathering steam rather than dissipating. These investors equate accelerating employment in the US, organic attempts at recovery in Europe, indications of success with the Abenomics program in Japan, and encouraging electoral developments in certain emerging markets as indications of a dynamic – rather than sclerotic – economic future. This debate is healthy for several reasons. We have taken a position by firmly planting our flag with the equity markets. Although we understand the opposing view, the risks are asymmetric if they are wrong. Simply put, more can be lost than gained.

US growth appears to be gathering momentum: consumer and business confidence, vehicle sales, and employment growth all are at pre-recession highs. Manufacturing output is above its 2007 peak, and household net worth is higher than pre-crisis levels. Consumer credit is rising, and revenue and earnings growth are apparent in both large and small companies. Plans to hire among small business owners are pushing higher, and wage growth is on the rise. In Europe, growth is trying to take hold despite a strong currency. This budding recovery will be assisted greatly by a helping hand from its central bank. Levered to international growth, eurozone companies should benefit from multiple catalysts. Small and mid-sized companies are sporting particularly attractive valuations. European equity valuations are appealing relative to US equities, which appear fairly valued. Large eurozone companies continue to trade at levels even lower than the normal discount to their US brethren. Investors establishing or adding to US equity positions are likely to be compensated for the risk of ownership over the next 12 to 18 months. However, the price of admission may be a market correction at some point that could very well be material. The US market is overdue for a technical correction, as it has been two years without one. Predicting when and how it will happen is tantamount to predicting the unknown. The sum of it all is a constructive view of the future, tempered by the reality that the risk of overpriced assets fuelled by cheap money can rock markets when the day of reckoning occurs. The best defence against volatile times is paying keen attention to economic and earnings growth and the prices paid for assets bought. Valuations matter whether you are a fixed income, equity or commodity investor.

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

More than you bargained for? Alice Clewes, associate solicitor at Hay & Kilner, gives an insight into the hidden responsibilities of executorship.

ou are named as executor in a will and unfortunately the time has now come for you to carry out your duties – but what are they and how do you get started? At first glance, the process seems relatively clear-cut: to identify the deceased’s assets, pay the appropriate inheritance tax (IHT), gather in the assets, pay any liabilities and distribute the remainder in accordance with the instructions in the will. Rarely, however, is it quite that straightforward.

Identifying the assets and estate property Not only does an executor have to make an inventory of all of the deceased’s assets and liabilities but these values must be quantified at the date of death itself and valuations will need to be obtained. As well as bank accounts, it is likely that the deceased had other assets such as life policies, antique furniture, stocks and shares and property. It may be necessary to instruct specialist valuers and if the deceased had either foreign and/or business assets, professional assistance will be required. The executor will also need to investigate whether the deceased gifted any money before their death, or set up any trusts e.g. for family members. If IHT is payable, consideration will need to be given as to how that IHT is funded. The IHT needs to be paid to HMRC before the Grant of Probate is obtained. Often banks will release funds directly to HMRC from the deceased's bank account for this purpose. If

EXPERT VIEW Alice Clewes Associate Solicitor Hay & Kilner Tel: (0191) 232 8345 Email: alice.clewes@hay-kilner.co.uk

there are insufficient funds the executors may need to take out a loan to pay the balance.

Grant of probate Only once any IHT has been paid, or exemption demonstrated, can the Grant of Probate be obtained. This is what entitles the executor to collect in the assets and administer the estate. To obtain this grant, the executor must submit a sworn oath and account of the deceased’s assets and liabilities to the Probate Registry. For small estates, a Grant of Probate may not be required, but it will generally be necessary if the deceased owned property or had more than £15,000 in any one account.

Settling liabilities Before the executor can distribute the estate to the beneficiaries, they must first make sure that all debts are paid. This will include funeral expenses.

Distributing the assets in accordance with the will

The final part of the administration process is the distribution. All legacies will have to be paid. The remaining funds will need to be paid out and in certain cases this can mean searching for missing beneficiaries and may involve professional search agencies.

Personal Liability of Executors Executors are legally bound to carry out their duties correctly and are personally liable for any incorrect distributions. An example of this personal liability is where an executor incorrectly interprets the will and makes an overpayment to a beneficiary. Also, delay in the payment of inheritance tax can lead to penalties that may not be recoverable from the assets of the estate.

What if the deceased did not leave a will? If the deceased did not have a will, they are said to have died intestate. Instead of a Grant of Probate, a Grant of Letters of Administration will be needed. The deceased’s assets will still need to be calculated and IHT and liabilities paid, but the beneficiaries will be identified in accordance with the intestacy rules. This may lead to unexpected results, for example, if the deceased had an unmarried partner, they will not be provided for. Overall the administration process for an intestate estate can be much more complex and lengthy. Seeking legal advice at the outset is recommended. The law takes the executor’s role very seriously and it is important that the executor understands that they must carry out their duties comprehensively.

LAW & FINANCE

It’s good to talk Whether your business is large or small, effective communication can be the key to survival if financial difficulties arise, says Muckle’s Andrew Cawkwell.

f your business is struggling, it’s difficult to know how best to communicate with stakeholders who have a powerful influence over you. After all, if you can’t manage those key influencers, such as investors or even the HMRC, you risk them invoking their powers to your disadvantage. If cash flow problems arise it’s vital to keep everyone informed and communicate regularly. Imagine you’re in financial difficulties and need to deter paying a tax bill to provide some breathing space. Communication is key when setting out a case for tax deferral, but it can be complicated. We can help you present your case in a way that is more likely to be accepted – buying you the time you need to get on an even keel. At Muckle LLP, we know there needs to be delicate communication on both sides to steer things in the right direction – and we can help you meet somewhere in the middle. And it’s not just the taxman. Avoiding a

EXPERT VIEW Andrew Cawkwell Partner and Certified Turnaround Professional Muckle LLP Email: Andrew.Cawkwell@muckle-llp.com Twitter: @CompanyRescue

breakdown in communication with your bank is crucial too. Imagine you need funds to kickstart an ambitious restructuring plan or simply to extend an overdraft facility. Clearly having a plan isn’t enough. You need to influence your bank about the probable risks and benefits. Again, this is something I can help you with. Talking to us first can open possible routes to consider. There are often other ways to address objectives. It could be that unlocking value from your debtors to accelerate the recovery of funds could be the factor that invigorates the bank's support. What’s important is to provide the right information at the right time. All sides will be much more cooperative and understanding if they feel involved on financial matters. The bottom line is that sometimes a financial crisis is hard to avoid – but we can minimise its impact. Your major stakeholders will thank you for it.

LAW & FINANCE

Growth and exit planning ... Both are back on the agenda for North East businesses, says Shawn Bone of Cavu Corporate Finance. he reaction of many North East business owners to the financial crash of 2008 was to batten down the hatches: focus on core operations and conserve cash. Many people’s growth or exit plans were put on hold, to be revisited at a later date when market conditions returned to ‘normal’. Nationally the behaviour was the same: large corporates have been stockpiling cash for the last six years, as the economic uncertainty quelled the investment appetite of all but the most bullish. As a result, the cash reserves of UK companies have reached the highest level ever recorded – with the aggregate cash holding of FTSE 100 companies increasing by one-third since 2008. However it now looks as though a tipping point has been reached. As the economy continues to recover, shareholders are starting to put pressure on corporates to generate better returns on their money. The result of this pressure is to push corporates to increase M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) activity.

EXPERT VIEW Shawn Bone Director Cavu Corporate Finance Tel: (0191) 255 7772 Email: shawnbone@cavucf.com Web: www.cavucf.com

Trade acquirers are returning to the markets looking to deploy the substantial cash resources that they have built up over the last few years. The same trend has already been seen in private equity markets where fund managers have deployed their cash overhangs, with substantial new funds coming into the market looking for inflation-beating returns. Cavu Corporate Finance believes that development capital available to mid-market companies has expanded by over £5 billion in the last two years, reaching an all-time high, with the largest source of new funding from the £2.5 billion Business Growth Fund. With both trade and private equity buyers now active in the market, we are beginning to see valuations on their way up – in fact valuations for trade buyers’ target acquisitions are now nearing their 2007 peak. The increase in M&A activity and valuations, coupled with the current generous capital tax regime in the UK, means that – after a six-year gap – growth and/or exit plans are now firmly back on the agenda for many North East business owners.

EVENT

Disability North Golf Day Charity golf day takes place at Hexham Golf Club.

ongratulations goes to ITPS, winners of this year's Disability North Golf Day. Taking place on May 30 at Hexham Golf Club, it was a great day thanks to the good weather and the closest competition ever! A big thank you goes to all of the teams who took part and made the event a great success. Thanks also goes to Hexham Golf Club for the great hospitality and to all of the generous companies and individuals who donated prizes to the raffle. More than ÂŁ3000 was raised on the day for the charity that promotes social inclusion, independence and choice for disabled people in the North.

ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

Reclaim what’s yours How Fast Track is on course to save bank customers millions ...

North-East PPI reclaims management company is continuing its history of no win no fee claims, with the amount reclaimed now running into million of pounds. Fast Track Reclaim, which is based across two sites in Teesside, has been helping the region’s people reclaim what is rightfully theirs since its beginnings in 2010. It is incredible then to think that Fast Track Reclaim has claimed back in excess of £40million for North-Easterners, which, according to the owners of the company, could be just a tip of the iceberg. Since its inception a little under four years ago, Fast Track has strived to get back money that was paid to banks as part of the payment protection insurance scheme which was often mis-sold by banks. Fast Track Reclaim pride themselves on being a local company and operate in-bound calls only – so you never have anyone from Fast Track Reclaim ringing you if you haven’t

made the enquiry. The company regularly give opportunities to young, local based jobseekers and regularly take on new apprentices with many – including Lauren Fisher, 20 and Lauren

Frost, 18 both of Teesside – working their way up the career ladder to become team managers. To investigate a claim, Fast Track need nothing more than your name and the name of your bank. Fast Track Reclaim will work on a no win, no fee basis. PPI claims are not handled exclusively by the same person throughout. Instead each stage is handled by staff trained specifically in that area, meaning a smooth transition from stage to stage of the claim. Far from being simply a PPI focused company, Fast Track Reclaim now has plans to investigate packaged bank accounts, or PBAs. These bank accounts – often called gold or premium accounts – usually charge a monthly fee typically of between £5 and £25. Fast Track estimates that there could be around as many as 12 million ofPBA bank accounts which, like PPI, have been mis-sold or overcharged and is something they want to raise awareness of.

LAW & FINANCE

Keeping it in the family Peter Rutherford, partner at Universal Tax Strategies, reveals the benefits of having a Family Asset Plan. or long enough we have been aware of the injustice of saving hard for a house and building up funds behind us only to lose them when means tested benefits, such as long term care, are needed. I say injustice because those who have been less careful, or indeed unable to save, are still cared for by the State. Clearly we do need a safety net for the less fortunate but the cost to the prudent saver can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. Financial assistance with care home fees may be available from the local authority social services department but if someone has capital over certain limits they will generally be expected to meet the full cost of accommodation and personal care in a care home. For the financial year 2014/15 the upper capital limit in England and Northern Ireland is £23,250. In Scotland the upper capital limit is £26,000 for 2014/15. Bear in mind that the cost of residential care for an individual can easily exceed £30,000pa and it is not difficult to see that savings and the value of a property can quickly be eroded.

EXPERT VIEW Peter Rutherford Partner Universal Tax Strategies LLP Tel: (0191) 374 0333 Web: www.utsllp.co.uk

What can be done? Universal Tax Strategies market a trust arrangement which has many advantages. This is probably best illustrated through a short case study. John and Jean are in their 70s and have a house worth £650,000 and it is owned as Joint Tenants, (they own it as if they were one entity). They have

children and want to make sure as much passes to them as possible upon their deaths. Both John and Jean enact our Family Asset Plan which means the ownership of the house is split so they own half each and their half is placed into their trust. They both have the right to live in the property and there is nothing to prevent them

from moving house. The house is now disregarded if there is a financial assessment for care. The trusts protect it and any other assets within it. It is also protected from creditors but John and Jean have control. Assuming John dies first, Jean will still be entitled to enjoy the house but upon her death it will pass down to the children and/or grandchildren. There will be no probate costs or delays. If Jean remarries then she can still enjoy the house during her lifetime but the kids’ inheritance is protected. On Jean’s death the two trusts are now for the benefit of the family and again probate costs and delays are avoided. While the assets are held in the trust, as a house or other investments, they are protected from divorce settlements or from creditors. There is also the ability to avoid Inheritance Tax for future generations and assessment for means tested benefits. In summary, there is a lot that this arrangement can achieve and this article can only touch on some of them. Suffice to say that thousands of these trusts have been put in place and clients have obtained great peace of mind by taking action. I believe that we would all like to see our hard work benefit ourselves and our families. But there is no point in sitting and worrying when something can be done. It is worth investigating further before it becomes too late.

Mouth-watering Mike Grahamslaw and wife, Lisa, visit The Waterline Bar to sample the new menu. he Waterline Bar and Terrace on the Quayside has just unveiled a new menu so I felt duty-bound to rush along and sample it. From an imaginative ‘while-you-wait’ starter menu of calamari, BBQ quesadillas and fried pickles, we soaked up the atmosphere of a vibrant Quayside on a gorgeous sunny summer afternoon over a cold beer or two. With numerous burgers, pizzas, ribs, sharing starters and fish dishes on offer, our choice was a labour of love rather than a chore. From a choice of 16 burgers ranging from the simple Plain Jane all the way up to The Stag, a monster of a burger, there is something for everyone and every budget. The Notorious P.I.G caught the eye as did the imaginatively named Buck Naked burger, a bun-less version for those giving the merest passing nod to healthy eating while vegetarian and salad options are also available. But this is a place to enjoy the food. The diet can start again tomorrow! The choice of pizza was equally intriguing. From the Margherita Bianco to the Godfather

and the Smokey Robinson, this is a well thought out menu and not your usual pizza/pasta joint. I would consider myself to be a pizza aficionado and I opted for the Acapulco, a sensational mix of chilli beef, nachos, red onion, jalapenos, guacamole. sourcream and chilli flakes.

Wow! What a good choice. The nachos provided an innovative crunchy twist from what you would expect from a pizza. Lisa, played it fairly safe with a Chicken Little burger or so she thought. The chicken was coated in Crunchy Nut Cornflakes (this is not a typo), which again provided a quirky slant on what could have been standard fare. The delicious dish, accompanied by American cheese, iceberg lettuce, pineapple slaw, pickled onions and hot chilli sauce, was far from the norm. Although replete, the aroma of the smoked ribs from an adjacent fellow diner was calling me but that’s the kind a venue The Waterside is – too many great choices for just one visit. And the dessert menu … how does chocolate fudge and ice cream sundae and waffles with cream and raspberry sauce sound? Overall, imaginative, well-cooked and presented food at reasonable prices. Need I say more? Check out the new menu at www.thewaterlinebar.co.uk.

LAW & FINANCE

Confidence is heating up Summer is back and so is the North East, says Vinay Bedi, executive director of UBS Wealth Management. t was great to attend the Northumberland Plate meeting again this year – the first time for me since the dark economic days of 2008. Being a racing fan, I have tried to attend when I could as I do consider the meeting to be a window on what is good about the North East (the ability to support the region, with everyone mixing in and having a good time) and also as being a great bell weather as to the strength of the regional economy. And it wasn’t only me that felt that the buzz was back at Gosforth Park this year. The queues into the racecourse began earlier than for many years and guests were still partying hard several hours after racing. But, as an indicator of economic well-being, the corporate hospitality ‘village’ was as busy and bustling as it used to be in pre-credit crunch days. It was great to see and somewhat reinforced the feelings that I have been noticing around

this coincides with what, at the time of writing anyway, is looking like a good summer. We have started to see a number of businesses from the region either floating on the markets or preparing to do so. We are seeing businesses planning to raise money for major expansions and seeing wealthy business people finally putting their money back into industry after many years of caution. All around me I am witnessing energy levels increasing and excitement and anticipation returning. You can sense that the region is starting to pick up. You can sense that the economy is getting stronger and it is finally starting to benefit the North East. Let's hope we last the pace and show good stamina for the future challenges ahead.

the region for some months. I have no doubt that activity levels in the North East, among businesses and corporate entities, are warming up nicely now. Perhaps

For more information call (0191) 211 1000, email vinay.bedi@ubs.com or visit www.ubs.com/uk

The price and value of investments and income derived from them can go down as well as up. You may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Authorised and regulated by Financial Market Supervisory Authority in Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, UBS AG is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and is subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from us on request.

LAW & FINANCE

Conscious uncoupling Ward Hadaway’s Sarah Crilly looks at the 21st century phenomenon. he most immediate practical issue facing any divorcing couple will be the occupation of the family home. Most people will decide, between them, which one should stay or leave. They will need to consider the implications of leaving, such as whether they will be able to get back in if they have left personal items or items of furniture and consider pitfalls such as tax implications for properties that are owned. The 2014 Budget introduced a new time limit on the expiration of Principal Private Residence relief relating to Capital Gains Tax of 18 months after departing the family-owned home. For separating couples with children, the Child Support Agency was replaced with the Child Maintenance Service for any new cases after November 25, 2013. The payment formula is now based on gross income and is slightly more complicated than before. Fees have also been introduced. There is a £20 application fee, a 4 per cent reduction fee for receiving parents and a 20 per cent handling fee for paying parents. For example, the paying parent pays £120, the receiving parent receives £96 and the Child Maintenance Service receives the balance.

EXPERT VIEW Sarah Crilly Associate Ward Hadaway Tel: (0191) 204 4000 Web: www.wardhadaway.com

Funding litigation is an issue with legal aid now only available in very limited circumstances. Some couples are representing themselves in proceedings. However, alternative methods of representation are available and advice should always be sought. April 2014 saw the introduction of the Single Family Court. This means any judge at any level can deal with a family application regardless of what stage or what issues are involved. Couples with children who may have a dispute no longer apply for Residence or Contact Orders but instead a Child Arrangements Order which can cover anything from where the child should live to how often they see one or other of their parents. Any application regarding a child must be concluded within 16 weeks. Couples applying to the court for a judge to determine either their finances or children arrangements must also now attend a compulsory mediation session. These changes make seeking initial legal advice very important. Most family lawyers will offer a free consultation and it is more vital than ever that guidance should be obtained.

LAW & FINANCE Lorelei Team with Newcastle United’s Steven Taylor (third left).

NE businesses tee off for charity Gordon Brown Law Firm hosts a golf event in aid of the Sunshine Fund.

The Gordon Brown Law Firm team.

usinesses from around the region have taken part in a golf event to raise money for North East youngsters. Hosted by Gordon Brown Law Firm, more than 50 golfers descended on Close House raising £3500 for the Sunshine Fund, a charity that provides specialised equipment to disabled children across the North East. Newcastle United’s Steven Taylor was one of the golfers to attend the event and was on the winning team from Lorelei, a restaurant in Tynemouth, which also sponsored the drink element of the event. Steven said: “The day was great from start to finish. I was thrilled my team won but

more importantly very proud of all the money raised for a charity that works so tirelessly to help the region’s youngsters.” The day began with refreshments and mini competitions for the golfers to claim the titles of the longest drive, the nearest to pin and beat the pro. The 13 teams then began a full day of Stableford golf followed by a three-course meal and raffle. Clare Savory, fundraising manager for the Sunshine Fund, added: “We are delighted with the amount of money raised by the golfers. I’d like to thank the Gordon Brown Law Firm for hosting the event and to everyone who took part.”

Gordon Brown Law Firm hosts regular fundraising events to provide consistent support for the region’s charities and the company’s marketing manager, Wendy Peffers, has recently exceeded her personal target of £3000 raised for the Sunshine Fund in order to complete a trek in China. Wendy said: “The Close House Golf Day was a fantastic success. I am delighted we have helped contribute yet more money to this life-changing charity and continue to improve the quality of these children’s lives.” For more information on Gordon Brown Law Firm visit www.gblf.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Motivational website gets funding boost An online motivational tool developed and built in the North East has received a funding boost.

Left to right: Nikita Bazko (Rivers Capital Partners), Diane Morris (Stick At It Ltd) and Imogen Holland (Ward Hadaway)

tick At It Ltd, which is the brainchild of Darlington-based entrepreneur Diane Morris, has received an investment from the Business North East Angel Fund. Stick At It is designed for people looking to achieve health and fitness goals and aims to act as a 24-hour-a-day motivator to provide encouragement and support. Users enter details on what they are aiming to achieve and can plot their progress as well as programme reminders, encouraging messages and other prompts to keep their goals in sight. Founder Diane Morris explained: "Basically it is there for you to act as a support and a friend to keep you motivated and focused on what you want to achieve”. The online site has been developed with Newcastle-based web company Big Bad Robot Digital and Diane will use the funding from the Finance for Business

North East Angel Fund to roll the system out nationwide. The Business North East Angel Fund is

managed by Rivers Capital Partners, which is advised on the deal by law firm Ward Hadaway.

IT experts boost fire service

App races to first place

Security award for Advantex

ounty Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service has strengthened its IT infrastructure with the help of technology experts ITPS, to allow it to deliver more efficient and resilient 999 call handling and other services. The eight-month project involved a complete upgrade of the IT infrastructure at the Framwellgate Moor HQ site and migration to the new HQ building on Belmont Business Park, Durham. The new infrastructure has strengthened disaster recovery capabilities with the creation of an onsite virtual server environment with backup to ITPS’s own high security data centre, and installation of a wireless network across the service’s 16 remote sites.

n app, designed in the North East to facilitate local community runs and log participant’s progress, has won the inaugural Best User Experience award at the Big Chip Awards 2014. The Great Run Local resource was created for a not-for-profit arm of Nova International, by Newcastle-based agency Shout Digital. It enables volunteer organisers of the weekly, free, community runs held throughout the UK by Great Run Local to accurately record each entrant’s finish time. This is then uploaded onto the Great Run Local website and the entrant also receives a congratulatory text message recording their achievement.

ateshead-based IT and telecoms provider Advantex Network Solutions Ltd is celebrating after gaining the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) NACOSS Gold Award – widely regarded throughout industry and by the police, fire and rescue services and insurers as the top mark for quality. Advantex supplies and supports a range of IP (Internet Protocol) camera systems and infrastructure services to regional and national customers. It is the only North East IT firm – and one of only a handful nationally – to have gained the gold standard and achieved certification in less than three months.

TECHNOLOGY

The Internet of Things? Are you ready for it? Asks Garry Sheriff, managing director of ITPS.

he Internet of Things (IoT) is the term describing everyday objects equipped with sensors, identifiers and wireless connectivity so they can communicate over the internet, without the need for human intervention. Although a recent US study showed that 97 percent of small businesses believe IoT presents opportunities for their business, the adoption rate has been relatively cautious due to concerns over security complexity and how to handle a huge increase in data traffic. The IoT is not a new concept, and in its early days the IT industry introduced the idea using simple examples such as a fridge that tells you when you are about to run out of milk, or a utilities meter that sends usage data direct to your supplier. In the business world, the commercial potential of IoT lies in how data can add value. For instance London Underground is using IoT to automate manual processes and monitor asset performance, while the Department of Transportâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s feasibility study that could see computer-controlled lorry convoys introduced to UK roads, has the potential to transform the freight sector. But as in all things in life, alongside the opportunities lie the challenges. IoT devices do not need high bandwidth but they do need robust cloud-based connectivity to deliver maximum value and provide a cost effective channel through which to gather and analyse huge amounts of data; while the explosion of BYOD devices is driving the requirement for

EXPERT VIEW Garry Sheriff Managing director ITPS Web: www.itps.co.uk

IPv6 enabled networks and connectivity. Ciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Internet of Things Group (IOTG) predicts there will be over 50 billion devices connecting to the internet by 2020, and there is no doubt that cloud computing together with virtualization, efficient storage and big-data analysis will form the backbone of IoT success, playing a key role in how businesses can leverage value from what is set to be a data explosion. Industry giants such as our partners Cisco and Microsoft are ahead of the curve, with the latter launching its Azure cloud service for IoT earlier this year, and Cisco investing $1 billion in working with selected partners to develop Intercloud, a linked chain of data centres providing an enterprise-class portfolio of cloud services designed to capitalise on IoT. The network plays a critical role as the connectivity platform for control and operational systems, sensors, machines, and devices. It must provide a secure infrastructure that can support billions of context-aware

devices, people, processes, and data. Cisco connects the unconnected with an open standard, integrated architecture, from the cloud to end devices. Our involvement as a Cisco certified Managed Services Partner will see our suite of North East-based ISO27001-certified data centres embedded into the Cisco Intercloud network, giving our clients the reassurance of the highest possible standard of cloud delivery experience to meet the needs of their business. Forming the right partnerships is essential for businesses looking to use IoT to innovate and deliver ever-increasingly high levels of customer service. Choosing a strategic IT partner with the right level of expertise and knowledge, who understands the emerging issues and can help them strike the right balance between managing risk and seizing opportunity is essential. At ITPS we believe every good business relationship starts off with a chat about the art of the possible, and it is no accident that many of our clients have been with us for 10 years or more, valuing our ability to help them steer a clear path through increasingly rapid technology developments, and maintain an IT solution that incorporates proven, best of breed technology and flexes alongside the business. IoT will revolutionise the business and consumer landscape and if you want to know more about how we can help you utilise it to cut costs, improve productivity and propel your business to the next level, give us a call.

ADVERTISER’S ANNOUCEMENT

A cut above the rest ... How Diamond Business Systems can help when your PC has turned against you.

ased in East Boldon, Diamond IT solutions has been coming to the aid of countless businesses up and down the country for more than 20 years. Formed in 1992 by managing director John Burns, the business has grown from a one-man-band to a team of highly trained IT specialists. The Diamond group now has four parts to the business, all complimenting each other and ensuring all possible IT needs are catered for in a timely fashion. The parts include Diamond Business Systems that offers high quality mono and colour printers at affordable prices, Diamond IT Solutions that offers IT and IT support services such as network and server installation, IT security, virus removal and data protection, remote support, and bespoke on-site support service and Diamond Communications North East Limited that offers a wide range of communication

solutions from full telecoms packages, mobile communication packages, email and office solutions, vehicle tracking, and lone worker protection. Diamond Asset Finance is the newest part to the Diamond group which was launched in 2011 when John saw a need for alternate lending. He noticed that businesses were struggling to get lending through their normal route, i.e. banks, so opened Diamond Asset Finance to make it easier for businesses. Diamond Asset Finance offers customers a range of flexible funding options including hire purchase, leasing and refinancing. Diamond believe they are supporting customers by enabling them the opportunity and freedom to purchase important assets such as office equipment, commercial vehicles, personal vehicles, machinery and bar refits amongst many other things.

John has based his whole business around a simple idea which he believes is the reason for Diamond’s continued success. “Service not sales is the one little key point that I have built my business round and made the heart of my company,” he says. “The Diamond Group is built around this principle: that it will offer and supply only the services you and your business essentially need; refreshing to hear as opposed to these tactless salesmen you often meet who are only in it for their commission. “What makes Diamond a cut above the rest is their continuous effort to monitor your systems 24/7 – when you actually need them, not just 9-5.” For IT support, telecoms assistance or asset finance, contact Diamond Group on (0191) 519 3700, visit www.diamond-group.net or email web@diamond-group.net

CHARITY

Winning charity work Two North East charities are named as standard-bearers of excellence. hared Interest Foundation and Stepney Bank Stables, two very different North East charities, have been recognised for their exceptional work in a prestigious national awards ceremony. The Charity Awards is Civil Society Media's annual awards programme held to identify, recognise and reward those organisations doing exceptional work in all areas of charitable activity. Tania Mason of Civil Society Media reflects: “The shortlisted charities are standard-bearers of leadership excellence in the sector.” Shared Interest Foundation made it to the final shortlist of three charities in the International Aid and Development category, and went on to receive a Highly Commended award from the judges, one of whom said: “For such a tiny charity with little money I was blown away by the thoroughness of their research and planning.” Shared Interest Foundation undertook a three-year project to establish a business support network in Swaziland, Southern Africa. Funded by Comic Relief, an independent evaluation of this project recently concluded that as a result, more than 5000 handcraft producers (against a target of under 2000) had increased their incomes on average by 30 per cent (against a target of 15 per cent). In addition, it found that 267 new jobs had been created, and 22 new businesses registered. Those who have benefitted from the project, which included street-sellers and exporting

businesses working together, told the evaluator that the project had “broken barriers – barriers between whites and blacks, barriers between millionaires and the poor, barriers to markets for entrepreneurs”. There was also recognition of the wider benefits for female-led businesses. Head of Foundation Chris Pay is delighted with achieving the Highly Commended status. He says: “Getting to the final three charities shortlisted in the International Aid and Development category is a really significant achievement for Shared Interest Foundation, especially when you consider the scale on which some of the larger agencies are operating. “This is a great endorsement of our work to harness the positive power of trade to create jobs and incomes in some of the world’s poorest communities.” Stepney Bank Stables received a Judges’ Special Commendation in the Children and Youth category. A unique equestrian centre, Stepney Bank combines a commercial riding school with opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to take part in social, educational and teambuilding activities leading to practical work experience and qualifications. Charity Awards judge Sir Chris Kelly said the project was a: “splendid win-win situation”, operating as a sustainable commercial enterprise and involving young people in an unpatronising way. Accepting the award for Stepney Bank

Stables, Denise Wilson and Sarah Newson thanked the judges for the unexpected honour. Tripling attendance of young people since 2009, the stables has introduced an elected youth committee to help shape services. A Scholars programme provides training towards coaching, riding and horse-care qualifications, creating mentors for younger or newer recruits. When they leave compulsory education, 80 per cent of participants now move on to further education, training or employment. Dr John Low CBE, chief executive of Charities Aid Foundation noted that: “By celebrating their efforts, The Charity Awards promotes excellence and uncovers the unsung superheroes of the non-profit world who are making such a difference”. This sentiment was echoed by the BBC’s political correspondent Nick Robinson, who commented on the, “inspiring and moving stories” he heard at the awards ceremony, saying he was, “delighted to have the chance to salute their passion, commitment and belief”. A gallery of pictures from the awards ceremony at Grosvenor House in London can be seen at www.charityawards.co.uk To find out more about supporting Shared Interest Foundation and Stepney Bank Stables visit their websites at www.sharedinterestfoundation.com and www.stepneybank.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY Left to right: Mizan Rouf (North Tyneside Council), Lynn Cramman (Cobalt Business Park), Andrew Robson (Perfect Image), The Mayor of North Tyneside, Cllr Norma Redfearn, William Morris (Perfect Image) and Kay Lees (Perfect Image)

New home for Perfect Image The IT services company moves to bigger office space due to substantial business growth. North East business marked the opening of its new office space with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by dignitaries. Perfect Image – an IT services company delivering tailored solutions and services to organisations across the UK – celebrated its relocation to larger premises by welcoming the Elected Mayor of North Tyneside, Councillor Norma Redfearn, to its new office space at Equinox House on the Cobalt Business Park. The move comes as a result of rapid business growth, seeing Perfect Image expand its team to over 60 highly skilled IT and business professionals. Since the launch of its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing offering in April this year, Perfect Image has enjoyed a number of new business wins as well as repeat contracts, allowing it to make a number of appointments within its Managed Services division. Commenting on the relocation, Andrew Robson, CEO of Perfect Image, says: “It’s always been our mission to help improve our customers’ businesses through the effective use of IT, and the move to Cobalt Business Park marks the start of a new chapter in the story of Perfect Image. “We will always be committed to providing our clients, both old and new, with top-quality tailored

IT solutions, but now we can do it on a bigger scale and in larger premises, with the capacity to recruit even more industry professionals to help deliver the very best service to our customers.” Based on business forecasts since the launch of AWS, Perfect Image expects that within three years its annual turnover will have doubled and as a result, will have created an additional 55 jobs. Having already made a number of new appointments, Perfect Image still has a number of open vacancies across a range of job roles. Andrew continues: “Perfect Image is rooted in the North East and so despite the need to relocate to a larger office space, we were determined to remain true to our heritage. “Plus, the region has such a wealth of exceptional IT professionals and this talent pool is fed by some world-class universities too, so it made sense to stay in the North East where we can enjoy all the region has to offer our business as we continue to grow.” The new office space is 10,000sq ft and as well as boasting a high specification, the premises has also undergone a £200,000 refurbishment including breakout areas, meeting rooms and presentation spaces, project managed by Perfect Image’s HR manager, Kay Lees. Commenting on Perfect Image’s decision to relocate to Cobalt Business Park, Elected Mayor

for North Tyneside, Councillor Norma Redfearn, says: “I’m delighted to welcome yet another new employer to the area. “North Tyneside Council has been working with Perfect Image to support its relocation plans and it’s wonderful that they have chosen Cobalt Business Park. “The borough of North Tyneside offers a wide range of modern, flexible and affordable commercial space and is home to some of the UK’s largest and most successful office parks, including Cobalt. It’s therefore not surprising that more and more businesses are choosing to relocate to North Tyneside. I would like to wish Perfect Image every success, particularly with their future expansion plans.” Adrian Hill, director at Highbridge, the developers of Cobalt Park, adds: “We are delighted that Perfect Image chose to relocate to Cobalt. They are the fourth company in the last month to make the decision to either expand or relocate to Cobalt - there can be no better endorsement of the scheme’s quality”. Perfect Image joins other organisations resident at Cobalt Business Park including the NHS, Newcastle Building Society and EE. For more information about Perfect Image, visit: http://www.perfect-image.co.uk/

TECHNOLOGY

State of the art Stephanie Holmes looks at whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new in the world of technology and gadgets.

NOKIA 930 eleased in mid July, the new Nokia Lumia with block-design comes equipped with the latest Microsoft Windows 8.1 software. The Lumia comes with a 5-inch full display, 20 megapixel Pureview camera on the back and an HD 1.2megapixel wide angle camera on the front, surround sound built in and a built-in wireless charging device. There is a full HD 1920x1080 display resolution, added with 32GB of mass memory with a free cloud storage centre available to add an extra 7GB of memory if needed.

www.nokia.com

SAMSUNG GEAR LIVE owered my Android Wear, the new Samsung Gear live offers a unique mobile experience. More than just a watch, The Gear Live, with an easy customised clockface, lets you keep up with social media and any other notifications you wish. Combined with a 1.63inch Super Amoled display for screen clarity, a 4GB internal memory, an easy one-touch wake up for instant access and an “Ask Google” device command to get information in a second. RRP £169.

www.samsung.com

NIKON D810 he all-new Nikon boasts 36.3megapixels and comes with a new FX-format and a no lowpass filter. The ISO ranges from 64-12,800 with the ability to expand the sensitivity to 51,200 for a shaper image. The camera also offers HD definition movie recording with a 1080/60p displayed on a good quality 3.2inch LCD screen. The camera features multiple shooting modes to ensure ultimate picture quality to suite any picture opportunity. Suitable lenses also available to enhance the camera. RRP £2699

www.nikon.com

PANONO PANORAMIC BALL CAMERA eleased in autumn, the Panono Panoramic Ball Camera is a new fun and innovative way to take photographs - with stunning results. The German-created device creates a 360 degree-photo using 36 108 megapixel integrated cameras. Simply throw the ball in the air and an accelerator inside the camera measures the highest point the ball is thrown to, this will then generate the best photo. You can then preview the photo by downloading the Panono app before sharing your panoramic views. Available now to pre-order for €549 plus €30 shipping fee.

www.panono.com

FEATURE

In the zone Alison Cowie and her colleagues ‘lock and load’ at Battlezone Laser – which offers something new and unique to the North East corporate world. hose of a certain age will remember Laser Quest. I, personally, tried my hand at it as a teenager at Whitley Bay’s Spanish City. But almost as soon as Laser Quest became the essential party experience, it disappeared without a trace. But the all-new Battlezone Laser is reinventing the thrill and excitement of the laser tag game, for all ages, by embracing the latest infrared technology and providing a more authentic military experience. The venue opened on Gateshead’s Team Valley in May and, keen to show that it’s not just for hyperactive kids but the corporate market, too, I was invited to try the laser experience for myself. As soon as you arrive at Battlezone Laser you can see it is a far slicker operation that anything you may have known from the 1990s. The venue boasts a subtle – not cheesy – military décor and staff walk around in combats coordinating everything from their tablet computers. There’s the light and airy Canteen that’s open from 9am to 7pm every day and where you can order everything from a gourmet burger and homemade pizza to a coffee or a beer. You can also watch all the action going on inside the Arena on large screens. In addition, there are two rooms that can be used for parties or business meetings (capacity up to 26) with flat screen televisions, free WiFi and a range of catering options available. After filling in a brief safety form, my colleagues and I waited in the Canteen until the rest our laser session players arrived (approximately 20 of us in total).

We were divided into two teams and shown to the Briefing Room where we were kitted out in overalls (either navy or camouflaged). We then sat through a computer game-style instructional video before getting our helmets and guns. Unlike the 90s experience where you wore body sensors on a vest, Battlezone’s sensors are attached to an army-style helmet. The infrared laser guns, too, look and feel more authentic to the military. They feature a button to press when you want to reload and an LCD screen to let you know when you’ve been hit. With plenty of giggling, our party made our way into the 15,000 sq ft Arena – a postapocalyptic industrial setting with plenty of smoke, graffiti, steel, concrete, plywood, heavy duty obstacles and abandoned vehicles. For the next 45 minutes, the two teams played three different games, overseen by a number of instructors who were with us at all times.

The first game was Team Domination, with the aim of simply inflicting as many ‘kills’ on the other team as possible (once all three lights are activated on your helmet, you simply returned to your teams’ safe area to reactivate your gun and helmet). The second game involved one team trying to protect a room (Protect HQ) and the third game was for each team to gain and retain control of a central position (Capture the Flag). Being a mum in my thirties, I admit that I had been a little skeptical of Battlezone Laser and what it could offer adults. But actually by the second game, I realised I was really enjoying myself. I happily fired at anyone who came near me (it doesn’t count if you shoot your own team!) and got involved in the tactical talk before each game (which I then pretty much ignored as soon as the game started). When all three games finished, it was back into the Briefing Room – where we were all a lot hotter with a considerable amount more adrenaline pumping through our veins. I can see the appeal to the corporate market. The facilities offer something different and surprisingly sophisticated, the menu can rival any high-end pub grub, while the fun and frivolity combined with physicality and strategic thinking within the Arena (oh and the chance of letting rip on the person who annoys you at work!) makes it the perfect activity to boost company morale. Battlzone Laser is located on Third Avenue at Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead. For more information visit www.battlezonelaser.co.uk

MEDIA NEWS

Growth for Horizonworks The full-service strategic marketing company strengthens its team and celebrates expansion.

orizonworks, which is headquartered in Newcastle, has welcomed client marketing manager Kirsten Meaney and designer Ryan Errington to its team, following a number of client wins. Client marketing manager Steve Abbott has also been promoted to head of strategy and development at the fullservice strategic marketing company. Steve said: “I’ve been with the company only nine months and in that time I’ve seen the team double in size. It’s clear that 2014 will be a landmark year for the company and I’m very excited to be part of its continued expansion.” Recent additions to its client portfolio for Horizonworks include the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, business and financial solutions provider Solutions for Accounting, freight forwarding company Johnson Partners and global industrial filtration specialists Parker Domnick Hunter. The company has also recently completed a high profile PR campaign for membership support network the Institute of Water’s annual conference.

Sarah Hall becomes Google graduate

North East entrepreneur has become the first PR consultant in the region to graduate from Squared Online – a digital marketing qualification from Google. Sarah Hall, owner-manager of PR and marketing agency Sarah Hall Consulting Limited, graduated from the seven-month course, which draws together industry luminaries and sector specialists throughout a series of online lectures. Piloted in 2012, the qualification was launched formally in 2013 and covers core skills including PPC, Mobile, Social and Analytics.

Agency to collaborate with music venue

ity centre bar The Ware Rooms has teamed up with marketing and PR agency ramarketing to launch itself as a leading live music venue in the North East. The Ware Rooms in Carliol Square, Newcastle is set to showcase live music from some of the region’s best bands and acoustic solo artists with accompanying food and drinks promotions to help drive increased business. It will work with ramarketing on an integrated marketing, PR, social media and design campaign to help establish it as a popular live venue.

So good for SoPost

young entrepreneur from Gosforth has securing more than £350,000 investment in a round led by Northstar Ventures which invested £150,000 from the Finance for Business North East Proof of Concept Fund. SoPost, which was founded by 23-yearold Jonathan Grubin in 2012, works with major consumer brands to help them run product sampling campaigns via social media. The company has a team of five, split between its offices in Newcastle and London.

MEDIA

Get noticed! Sarah Hall, managing director of Sarah Hall Consulting Ltd, examines some of the tools you can use to package your content to grab – and keep – customers’ attention.

ocial media is now a huge part of online marketing but to make an impact with your audience, you need to grab their attention and stop them flitting off to something that looks more interesting and exciting. So how do you hold potential customers’ interest in this fast-moving digital age? It’s all down to how you package your content, and the more visual you can make it, the better. Good, strong images are more likely to hold browsers’ attention than a chunk of text. Striking pictures that relate to your product or service – and connect with your audience – combined with minimal words are more likely to get results. Think about how you can create a memorable image; it doesn’t have to be a picture of what you’re selling, but it should be something you can relate back to your product. Ideally, you want to create an image that will garner lots of social media shares and likes from your Twitter and Facebook followers. Keep your text short and don’t go overboard with your Twitter hashtags. You want people to retweet your content to their followers, so make sure you leave them room – so try not to use up all the 140 available

characters in your message. Asking questions in your content is key if you want people to interact. But don’t just ask open-ended questions, give people options to tick and illustrate the choice of answers you provide. This makes the whole interaction process easier for an audience with a short attention span by removing the need to think too deeply. The use of strong images, identifiable with your brand, will help get your message across. Of course, having a big budget and your own in-house arts or graphics department makes it easier to harness these techniques to make a social media impact. Fortunately for the majority of us that don’t, there are some snazzy free online tools available to help you. Infographics are an eye-catching way to package and present your data and you don’t have to be a computer whizz to create them. Google Developers, Visualize, Piktochart and InfoFoto Free are among the free tools you can find online to do the hard work for you. If you want to tell a story or get across a message with pictures rather than presenting it in an infographic, a slideshow is a great option. Slideshare allows you to upload your

pieces to its website and then converts them into a slide show that you can use on your site or social media pages. Images are absolutely vital, but don’t fret if you don’t have a huge photo library at your disposal – Creative Commons does. The notfor-profit organisation allows the legal use and sharing of pictures, music and other intellectual property, and is well worth checking out. Photo-sharing website Flickr also has pictures you can legally use – just make sure you check the terms under each image first. Finally, what is maybe the most important tool is totally free and available to everyone: imagination. Think about the creative ways you can use to get your message out there and then consider the visually appealing ways you can present it to encourage audience sharing and interaction. With a bit of effort – and luck – you could create something that’ll go viral. For more PR and marketing related news and articles, please visit http://blog.sarahhallconsulting.co.uk. Contact Sarah on 07702 162 704, email sarah@sarahhallconsulting.co.uk, Twitter @hallmeister or visit www.sarahhallconsulting.co.uk

MEDIA

Outstanding start to 2014 for OPR The Newcastle creative communications agency has had a busy year so far …

PR has had a busy 2014 to date with new client wins and the appointment of several new staff, alongside the launch of a new agency division to grow its digital PR reputation. In January the agency launched a specialist content marketing division called Owned which will help its clients embrace content marketing via their ‘owned media’, such as their websites and blogs, emails, magazines and publications and social media channels. It has also recently launched the North

East Blogger Awards, an event to celebrate bloggers in the region and help brands work more closely with the blogger community in their digital PR strategies. New clients have included the North, Scotland and Northern Ireland store PR contract for iconic British brand Dr. Martens swiftly followed by England’s newest and largest distillery, The Lakes Distillery. The agency then kicked off the summer in style after collaborating with the team behind NE1 Newcastle Fashion Week on providing the official NE1NFW tee-shirt designs from Dr. Martens and on the showcase of the

talent from its client Northumbria University’s fashion course. Held at the stunning Baltic Mill, a media packed room turned out in force to see the fashion industry’s future household names showcase their first catwalk collection. OPR then joined 25 of the top students to London’s Graduate Fashion Week at the Truman Brewery in the City to show the world’s media, buyers and fashion houses what Northumbria University has to offer. For further information call OPR on (0191) 232 5690 or visit www.opr.co.uk

EVENT

North East Blogger Awards The inaugural awards are launched by creative communications agency OPR.

he region’s first ever awards for bloggers was launched by OPR at Café Royal, Newcastle recently. The awards ceremony this autumn will see bloggers from across the region come together in an evening that celebrates the region’s best blogs across 11 different categories including, food, sports, beauty, lifestyle, parenting, business, style, travel, student, best newcomer and will culminate in a special judges award for the North East Blogger of the Year. Nominations can be made now at www.nebloggerawards.co.uk. Entries close on Friday September 19 and the shortlist will be announced on September 30, 2014. Businesses or individuals interested in the sponsorship packages available can contact the OPR events team on: nebloggerawards@opr.co.uk for an information pack.

MEDIA

PR firm floats in the city A public relations consultant with a passion for all things nautical has cast off his city centre office and set up business on the Tyne. Highlights PR director Keith Newman explains why he’s made the move to a floating office and what you should do it you spot it! What lead to you moving your office to a boat? I’ve always wanted to own a boat and since I was young, I’ve had a keen interest in the river, it’s history, the famous ships that have come and gone and its geography. It just seemed to make perfect sense to work from a boat. I’ve also looked after the PR needs for a number of river based clients including the Royal Naval Reserve at HMS Calliope, nautical authors, The Maritime Volunteer Service and The Clean Tyne Project so it was a great way of connecting with the riverside community too.

Sunday for Sammy Trust.

Your boat, Highlights, is a great visual marketing tool, tell us about her. She’s a 24-foot long Viking Cruiser, especially built as a floating office. She has an airy and light cockpit where I can work or hold meetings with clients and down below, she has a fully fitted galley, toilets with shower and can sleep up to four people. Outside, on her sides she has my distinctive lighthouse branding and contact details.

Where do you keep her? Tell us about Highlights PR – do you just do nautical PR? No! I look after a wide range of clients on a national and regional basis including charities, a major gas utility, many small businesses, musicians, entertainers and Newcastle’s largest taxi firm. Last year, I was delighted to coordinate the entire media project for the Auf Wiedersehen Pet reunion weekend in aid of the

She spends most of her time berthed at St Peter’s Marina in Newcastle’s east end. I also enjoy spending time on the Newcastle City Marina, too.

which to get the creative juices flowing. It doesn’t take much encouragement to get people to come on board.

Tell us about your photo competition … Yes, it’s a bit of fun really. I’m asking anyone who sees the boat to photograph it and tweet it to my Twitter account @highlightspr. The best photo each month wins a prize.

So, it’s been a good move for you? I’m delighted with the boat, it’s a dream come true for me and I’m looking forward to the vessel being a regular sight on the river. I appreciate how lucky I am being able to couple my love of the river and boats with my job and I’m very excited about the prospect of welcoming more clients on board for my PR services, too.

What do your clients think about it? They love it! The boat has a very peaceful feeling and it also has a great atmosphere in

For more information or to visit the boat contact Keith Newman at Highlights PR on 07814 397951 or email keith@highlightspr.co.uk

MEDIA

Ask Silver Bullet … Kerry Tudor of Silver Bullet Marketing answers your marketing queries. Q. What is inbound marketing? The term inbound marketing is simply jargon for a concept which is essentially common sense. It refers to the practice of creating interesting and informative content to be presented on platforms such as your company website, so that your customers and clients are encouraged to visit and refer to your marketing materials on a repeated basis. The idea is, instead of relying on customers finding you only when they need your product or service, the original, interesting and useful information that you provide, free of charge, will encourage them to visit your site, read your newsletter, or follow social media profiles even if they don’t immediately need the service or product you provide. It’s an excellent branding exercise as providing free quality content, whether it’s advice specific to your profession, developments regarding your business in the local area or just a well written blog with a personal touch, they will raise your profile as a trusted source of information to your existing and potential clientele. You will position your business as a reliable resource with a strong brand which people are likely to remember when the time comes when they do need your product or service.

The tricky part of inbound marketing is maintaining quality over time. It can be difficult to think of original content month after month, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead. Check your calendar and see if there are any events, large or small that you can relate back to your business in some way. Many companies use this tactic – just look at the dedicated marketing campaigns inspired by the World Cup this year. Seasonal events such as Christmas also provide a good platform on which to build content and by using events that people are likely to be looking up online anyway, you improve your chances of showing up in search engine results, which is good news for your website and therefore good for your business, too. Of course you can’t always plan ahead, every now and again something will happen that’s worthy of a response and the ability to react quickly in these situations is important. Reactive, or agile marketing is any marketing activity brought about in response to current affairs and thankfully, if your company has an online presence, whether it’s a website, a blog or social media profiles, it’s very easy and cost effective to do. Digital media gurus and online experts are constantly telling us that online platforms enable us to reach our audiences in ‘real time’ – and

while the term ‘real time marketing’ is verging perilously on the edge of the jargon we strive to avoid – the theory behind it is very reasonable. Digital media, in particular social, provides a platform where interested parties can be kept upto-date with what’s happening with your business or organisation as it’s happening (in real time), furthermore, they can find this information themselves in their own environment via their format of choice. Here’s a few tips on how you can get started with your inbound marketing technique: • Follow trends specific to your sector. • Keep up-to-date with current affairs. • Keep a diary of major annual events and make sure you take notice of what happens at them. • Only piggy-back on events when they’re relevant – a tenuous link looks desperate, people are more likely to share clever, insightful or amusing posts. • If in doubt, leave it out. If you’re not sure if people will get the joke, it’s not worth risking offense – just leave it alone. Do you want to know more or do you have another marketing question we can help with? Email your questions anonymously to Silver Bullet at hello@silverbulletmarketing.co.uk or Tweet (not so anonymously) @SilverBulletPR and use the hash tag #AskSB

MEDIA

Not your average marketing and PR agency ramarketing founder Raman Sehgal reflects on five years in business and what makes his marketing and PR agency different. rinking with friends back in 2008, Raman Sehgal shared his ideas for a marketing business with a difference. As the beers flowed, the man and his business became one and ra(man)marketing was born. Five years later, ramarketing is no longer a bit of beer fuelled banter but now stands as one of the North East’s leading marketing and PR agencies. So, what makes ramarketing different from all other PR and marketing agencies out there? Its business model. Having worked both agency and client side, Raman wanted a company whose ethos is helping companies get noticed. Matching the specific needs of each client to a team of senior level consultants with the appropriate skill-set and sector experience, along with low over-heads and competitive rates has been the recipe for success. Specialising in devising and implementing integrated marketing campaigns, the firm offers a pick and mix of PR and marketing services. Clients can choose from social media, search engine optimisation, pay-per-click advertising, web design, marketing collateral and content creation all with the focus on getting their brand noticed. Raman explains: “As I’ve worked both client and agency side, I’m familiar with the obstacles that can often be detrimental to campaigns, so came up with a formula that I felt could work

better for both parties. “I started-up as the recession really hit, yet oddly this worked in our favour as we offered a competitive and transparent pricing model that meant clients could continue to invest in marketing when it mattered most.” Ramarketing now employs several experienced PR, marketing, design, and SEO consultants, offering them the flexibility they need to achieve that elusive work-life balance. “My approach to people has also been very different from the norm. With a retention rate over 70 per cent, our people literally are our business so we want them to love life at ramarketing. This delivers stability and continuity for clients.” To date, the award-winning agency has created, planned and implemented brand communication campaigns for over 50 companies locally, nationally and internationally. Its fifth birthday also marks a move to the high-profile Railway Arches at Newcastle Central Station, fast becoming one of the most sought after locations in the city. So with this funky new office, has the agency ditched the values it was based on? Raman says: “Even with our new base in Newcastle, we’ve stayed true to our roots of keeping our overheads down therefore pricing competitively, while still offering senior manager expertise across all services. The region’s current CIPR Outstanding Small

Consultancy of the year, ramarketing operates across a number of sectors including pharmaceutical, healthcare, property, finance and leisure, growing steadily through its reputation and word of mouth. Raman says: “We help companies generate leads, raise their profile and get them found on Google, but this is purely down to the talent we have at ramarketing. We get inundated with CVs on a weekly basis, but only select people that can bring something special to clients and fit in with our culture to join the team” As we move out of the recession and companies start to invest in promotional activities, more and more marketing and PR agencies have appeared on the scene in the North East, but ramarketing still pride itself on breaking the mould, having recently launched its own marketing campaign with the strapline ‘same, same, but different’. “There is a seriously vibrant creative scene in the North East made up of well-established agencies, a bunch like us that have survived the last few years and a load of fresh start-ups,” Raman reflects. “Either way, we relish the competition as it keeps us on our toes. There are lots of people that do what we do, but they can’t replicate the way we do it, that’s the bit I need to ensure never changes at ramarketing. For more information on ramarketing visit www.ramarketingpr.com

MEDIA Simon Duffy.

Ideas for the Brave Rebekah Ashby attends Ideas for the Brave, the first in a series of information events by brand agency Sumo, to hear how Bulldog Skincare went from one natural idea into 14,000 retail outlets worldwide. s the late, great American writer, artist and philosopher Elbert Hubbard once said: “An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy to be called an idea at all.” And it was this school of thought that inspired a brand new series of bi-monthly events by Jim Richardson, founder of Newcastle brand design agency Sumo The first Ideas for the Brave seminar took place in Newcastle last month with delegates encouraged to get under the skin of a courageous brand. Speaking at the event was Simon Duffy, founder of natural men's skincare range Bulldog, a brand that had the courage to break away from the big players like Nivea and L'Oreal and do something brave and alternative. When Simon, living in New York and working in advertising, first set out to launch a new global brand of straightforward men's skincare products packed with natural ingredients, he freely admits people gave him no chance of success. Traditionally, this market was dominated by huge household names who were successful in women's beauty and then used marketing techniques, such as using famous, male sports figures in multi million pound ad campaigns, to promote products in uniformly blue, black and grey packaging. But after two years of product research, design and development, Bulldog identified some

interesting insights that would stand them in good stead as they launched their cruelty free products in thousands of retail outlets around the world. Simon and business partner Rhodri, who had left a high powered banking job to pursue this dream, believed that avoiding all clichés and taking an ethical stance represented a gap in the market and, back in 2005, spent the next year trying to work out if there was actually, “a market for the gap.” Having formerly worked for global advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi with clients such as Starbucks and the Coca-Cola Company, Simon told the audience: “I moved back to London in May 2006 and we spent 14 months raising £1.2 million from high net worth individuals and formulating these products. That was really hard. “But by 2007 we had struck a deal with Sainsbury's nationwide to work exclusively with them in the UK. They were the first to believe and they will always be dear to us for that.” Riding high on the belief of the supermarket retailer, Bulldog got their break with Waitrose, Superdrug and UK beauty powerhouse Boots, which boasts 45 per cent of the UK skincare market. They got in, their shelf position improved and it was then that they began successfully exporting. From one innocent shopping trip for his

girlfriend in America, when he noticed the lack of natural men’s skincare choices on offer, Bulldog is now on sale in 14,000 retail outlets globally in the UK, the US, Scandinavia, South Korea and more. Simon says: “Nobody was breaking the mould, nobody was using an 'icon' like the British bulldog, they were all slow to the environmental debate and, as a result, men didn't feel engaged. “I don't know if it was brave but, looking back, I guess people may agree it was a good idea.” Sumo brand design agency founder Jim Richardson said: “What Simon has done with Bulldog is a really great example of how being crazy and going into the market against big, multi national companies can work. His compelling story was a great kick-off to our seminar series.” The App Chaps co-founder Ben Mawhinney added: “We need to attract these internationally successful speakers from market leading brands to the North East to help small businesses like mine.” Former easyJet marketing director Tony Anderson is flying into the North East on Wednesday, 17 September 2014 for the next Brave event. For more information and to book your place, e-mail izzy@sumodesign.co.uk

MEDIA

Find your client’s

voice JAM’s Jackie Marston on the importance of effective PR.

EXPERT VIEW Jackie Marston Managing director JAM Marketing Limited Tel: 08459 002 127 Email: info@jam-marketing.co.uk Web: www.jam-marketing.co.uk

t JAM, the focus is on marketing – hence the name! However a lot of what we do involves public relations and getting a client’s

voice. Getting their story out to the public is our end game. In order to do that we need someone to spread the word –this is where journalism comes in. While journalism and PR do rely on each other and share some similarities, they are two separate things. Think of a child in a sweet shop. There may be so much choice, they are not sure which to pick. Similarly, a journalist may have several stories to choose from. This is where the advantages of a clear, concise and, most

importantly, accurate press release can pay off. Sticking to the five Ws (who, what, where, why and when) benefits the journalist by giving them a solid base for a story. For our client, it increases the chance and impact of getting their latest news to press, increasing their media presence and getting their message heard. This can be especially good news for a client who may be planning an event, or wants to gain coverage for an upcoming promotion. Again, by ensuring a press release is as attractive as possible to a journalist, it is more likely to be picked up by them. As I mentioned earlier, PR and journalism are, although linked, separate things, but how are they different exactly?

In order to be seen as a fair story, a journalist must offer the right of reply. That is to say they must report on both sides of the story rather than simply taking sides. PR writing such as press releases and editorials on the other hand are designed simply with the needs of a client in mind. So it is important to present them in a positive light with as much focus on their needs as possible. That said, it is important to be as truthful as possible as one thing both PR and journalism share is that no matter how good a piece of writing may be, without accuracy, it will get nowhere. Whether it is a press release, editorial or simply a more visible public image you need, JAM can help you.

STYLE

Get the look Fashion and accessories for men. By Jessica Laing.

New Look, £49.99

www.asos.com, £20

Zara, £25.99

Burton, £6

f you’re looking to add a final touch of vibrancy to your work wardrobe before we say goodbye to summer, go rouge! Whether worn top-to-toe or subtly via accessories, this bold and playful colour arrives in a host of shades this season and is perfect for confident gentlemen wanting to make a statement in the workplace. Searching for sharp tailoring? Reach for diluted versions of red, such as coral or dusty crimson blazer (which look effortlessly on-trend when partnered with black or cream trousers), for a soft summer twist on the typical navy suit. Adventurous dressers, meanwhile, are encouraged to go all out with fiery accents of ruby - or even cherry pink - in the form of ties, pocket squares or even shirts. The red trend continues into next season with the return of wine and dark berry hues.

www.sunglasses-shop.co.uk, £104

MODEL ATTIRE Collezione Blazer, £199 Collezione Jumper, £35 Collezione Shirt, £39.50 Collezione Trousers, £49.50 Shoes, £65 All from Marks & Spencer’s SS14 Collection

www.dunelondon.com, £89

EVENT

Bill Ward and John Burn (Mill Volvo)

Left to right: Neil McIntyre (Newcastle International), Steve Baker (CK21), Chris Hall (Bluekeep Building Control) and Allan Thompson (Gentoo)

Gentoo Construction World Cup Fund Raiser

Lesley Fairley (Gentoo) and Paul Robson (Considerate Contractors)

entoo Construction hosted a World Cup Summer Drinks Party in June, hoping to celebrate an England victory over Uruguay. Aside from the result, it was a great night and Gentoo would like to thank all guests for helping to raise ÂŁ342 for charity FACT (Fighting All Cancers Together). Gentoo Construction is committed to making a positive impact on people, planet and property alongside a range of traditional and specialised construction services.

Lesley Fairley (Gentoo) & Billy Fairley

Left to right: Susan Harrison, Jan Smith, Robin Cairns (Gentoo), Joanne Smith and Allison Chatto (FACT)

Left to right: Darren Phillipson and Steve Watson (3E Consulting), Stephen Steel (Matrix Architecture) and Martin Elliott (Ryder Architecture)

Left to right: Robin Cairns (Gentoo), Mark Clasper (Ryder Architecture), Gary Wilson (Northumbria University)

Ian Cansfield (Cundall) and Andrew Seaman (Gentoo)

Steve Francis (Gentoo) and David Milburn (Derwentside Homes)

Left to right: Dr. Sharma, David Stockdale (Careline Lifestyles), James Laidler Brunel (Spire), Robin Cairns (Gentoo) and Rahul Sharma (Careline Lifestyles)

Left to right: John Flaherty, Rachel Trew Riverside, John Flaherty (Premier Guarantees) and Pat Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neil (Gentoo)

John Myers (3E Consulting), Brian Edwards (Mott MacDonals), Bill Ward and John Burn (Mill Volvo), Jim Scott (North Tyneside Council) and Keith Scoffham (dwbs1.com)

Left to right: Susan Harrison, Joanne Smith, Allison Chatto and Jan Smith (FACT)

Steven Toole (NMS Property Services), Rameez Rashid Sebastian Knight, David Dixon (Gentoo)

WORKSPACE & CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Top role for Gerard Patrick Parsons engineer becomes CIBSE’s youngest North East chair.

erard Hosford, senior mechanical engineer at Patrick Parsons, has recently taken on the role of regional chairman of the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE). Elected at this year’s AGM, Gerard will serve a two-year term as chairman in the North East. The prestigious role involves representing the region on a local and national basis, increasing awareness of the institution’s work in the North East, fundraising and actively encouraging participation and new memberships. After establishing CIBSE’s Young Engineers Network (YEN) in the region, Gerard also chaired YEN for four years and served on the CIBSE North East Committee from 2011 to 2014. Considering Gerard’s involvement and commitment to the CIBSE,

it is unsurprising that at 30 years of age, he has become the youngest person to hold the accolade of the North East’s regional chairman. Outside of his expected duties, Gerard

aims to promote career opportunities in building services engineering, and to encourage collaboration between other professional groups and organisations during his time as chairman.

Land agent welcomes new partner G

eorge F White Group has appointed a new partner Simon Britton. Simon will play a key role in rural land agents continued diversification by leading the Farm Business Consultancy across the entire firm as well as heading up the Bedale office in North Yorkshire. With almost 20 years’ experience as a

Farm Business Consultant, Simon is bringing knowledge and expertise to both the team and clients. His key specialisms include strategic business management, rural subsidies and grants, farm management, joint venture structures and CAP Reform. Simon said: “It will be a privilege to

lead the team who are all good, hardworking people already doing a fantastic job. I hope to continue this by directing the team onwards and upwards into the future and in turn increasing George F White’s presence within the region.”

Naylors acquires warehouse for Andrew James N

aylors Chartered Surveyors has acquired a 125,000 sq ft warehouse on behalf of online kitchen and appliance specialist, Andrew James UK Ltd. The former Cumbrian Seafoods unit at Foxcover Distribution Park in Seaham was

sold by administrators following the closure of the seafood factory in 2013. Andrew James has expanded considerably in recent years, having previously taken 90,000 sq ft in the former Henderson Garage Doors unit at Bowburn North Industrial Estate. The firm, which

employs over 200 people, has been working towards purchasing its own premises over the last two years. The move will provide them with the opportunity to expand further and they will be creating 10 new jobs in the coming year.

PROPERTY

Looking further afield Wright Residential on the benefits for tenants and landlords to look into up-and-coming areas of Newcastle. e all know the most popular areas in and around Newcastle to live, but there are also lesser know areas that could make you happier and save you a small fortune, whilst catering to all your property needs. The staff at Wright Residential based on Chillingham Road in Newcastle now want to drive focus to some of the surrounding areas of Newcastle that both tenants and landlords are overlooking and missing out on. Just consider what’s important these days for tenants; a trustworthy letting agent, good road access, close public transport links, friendly local area, low cost monthly rental and spacious living. Then for a moment consider what is important to current and prospective landlords; low cost property, a trustworthy letting agent and property with high yield potential. If you cast your property search net only a few miles further than Newcastle city centre, both tenants and landlords alike could have all these key requirements met? With over 90 years’ experience as a

collective, Wright Residential’s team of property experts have helped landlords acquire beautiful investment properties with great road access, handy transport links in newly sought-after areas; all at very competitive monthly costs. For years, Jesmond, Heaton, and Newcastle city centre have always been

popular for tenants and landlords alike, however Wright Residential is keen to get potential tenants and landlords to discover some of the fantastic properties available in recently rejuvenated areas such as Gateshead, Dunston, Byker, Wallsend and Walkergate; all of which meet all the key criteria for both parties. Whether you’re an existing or a first time landlord, you want to know about your ROI (Return on Investment). Did you know the average return for a property in Gateshead and Wallsend is around seven per cent, whereas in Heaton and Jesmond it is only six per cent? This is the kind of rate landlords should be shopping around for in order to make a buy-to-let project worthwhile. It seems like this is one bandwagon landlords can’t afford to miss! Wright Residential is based at 176 Chillingham Road, Heaton. For more information call (0191) 240 1818, visit www.wrightresidential.co.uk of email: info@wrightresidential.co.uk

PROPERTY

Leasing a commercial property? Richard Farrey of Silverstone Building Consultancy gives his top tips for getting the best out of your building throughout the life cycle of a tenancy. f you are considering leasing a commercial property or are already an occupier considering moving or upgrading your premises, it is hugely important to seek advice from a qualified building surveyor at an early stage. It is easier and far more economical to deal with any issues at the outset rather than to learn by experience. Silverstone is a specialist firm of chartered building surveyors and project managers operating within the commercial sector and we can guide you through various issues you are likely to encounter throughout the life cycle of a tenancy. We advise a wide range of clients from different business sectors who often have little or no knowledge of building surveying. We are happy to share our specialist knowledge and have put together the following top tips to assist both existing and prospective tenant:

Get a building survey done at the outset Invariably most commercial leases are full repairing and insuring leases. The wording of the repair provisions can be onerous. Serious consideration should be given to getting a survey of the property undertaken in order to understand its condition and the potential repairing liability you may be exposing yourself to. In a building survey each element of the building is described in detail together with observations and findings as well as advice on how to deal with any remedial works that may be necessary. We can subsequently advise on budget cost for any repairs. The findings of this report may form part of

purchase negotiations before a tenancy is agreed.

Invest in a schedule of condition To avoid a dispute about the condition of the property when the lease comes to an end, a detailed schedule of condition agreed before the lease starts can make all the difference. This is a document attached to the lease with evidence of the condition of the premises when signing the lease, including photographs of the premises. This alone could save you considerable money when the lease term comes to an end and the landlord seeks to recover the costs of repair to the building. The document must be attached to and referred to within the lease to limit the repairing liability.

Consider the best strategy for any refurbishment work You may be considering refurbishing and adapting the premises to suit your business needs. Depending on the scale of such a project it is advisable to involve building surveyors who can offer support at a variety of levels from financial monitoring of a project to full project management. We can assist in developing a project brief and then selecting, appointing and coordinating the project team and contractors.

Consider tax relief opportunities There are various potential tax relief initiatives from which you could benefit if you are

undertaking refurbishment work, such as the Enhanced Capital Allowances Scheme that provides tax allowances for the use of energysaving products within a building project. There is also an initiative which offers 150 per cent tax relief for UK registered companies incurring expenditure on asbestos removal.

Be proactive with property maintenance If you are occupying a property, planned maintenance has two great advantages. Over time a proactive approach will undoubtedly reduce costs. It also means that costs are better spread over time, improving cash flow and providing greater cost certainty for the business. A building surveyor can prepare and deliver a bespoke maintenance plan to ensure your building operates to its full potential.

Use an expert to negotiate your dilapidations At the end of a lease, a building surveyor can carry out a dilapidations survey to review the repairing obligations of the tenant and advise on the best strategy to agree on a dilapidations settlement. A building surveyor can present a number of arguments that may assist in any negotiations which arise after a schedule has been served. For more information about Silverstone Building Consultancy, contact on (0191) 231 4263 or visit www.silverstonebc.com

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Time for tea Mike Grahamslaw treats his family at Jesmond Dene House. s an end of term A-levels treat, Lisa and I took our son Jack for afternoon tea at the prestigious Jesmond Dene House. There are several options available for this quintessential English tradition and, as it was a very special occasion, we chose the Jesmond Dene House Champagne option. Following a glass of welcome icy Pol Roger Champagne on a warm afternoon, we tucked into an assortment of well-presented finger sandwiches. The selection consisted of roast beef with rocket and horseradish, mature cheddar with apple pickle, potted salmon with pickled cucumber, egg mayonnaise and cress. We followed this up with some extremely tasty scones with clotted cream and homemade jam (my personal favourite). All arrived on a silver cake-stand for that extra special touch. We then rounded off a wonderful afternoon with a superb selection of pastries, which included apple and vanilla macaroons,

perfect entertainment alternative that no one could object to on a time basis or have to justify to themselves or others. It was a perfect occasion for both personal and business use and I will definitely return. Surprisingly, only a handful of Newcastle hotels serve a ‘proper’ traditional high tea and, at Jesmond Dene House, they have got it absolutely spot on. With silver service to match the occasion, it is an echo of the more gentile times of yesteryear. Afternoon tea is usually served from 2.30pm until 4.30pm and booking is essential. Should you require afternoon tea outside these times (especially groups), please call the number below and JDH will try to accommodate you.

blackcurrant sundaes and slices of strawberry gateau. Highly indulgent and very naughty – but incredibly nice! With the three-hour expense account lunch days long gone in today’s fast moving business world, it dawned on me that this could be the

Check out the website for further details on www.jesmonddenehouse.co.uk or to make a reservation, call the restaurant team on (0191) 212 6066 or email restaurant@jesmonddenehouse.co.uk.

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

Newcastle hotels mean business

he Grey Street Hotel, Newcastle City Centre, and The New Northumbria Hotel, Osborne Road, Jesmond, have both unveiled a range of new facilities to appeal to corporate clients in search of a meeting or event venue. The hotels, owned by the Newcastle-based Malhotra Group, are undergoing a phased refurbishment, which will involve the remodeling of bedrooms at both venues, and now offer a selection of fully fitted function and conference rooms, with full audio-visual connectivity and complimentary Wi-Fi. Corporate packages are also available at each hotel for clients wishing to host team-building activities, interviews and networking and social events, while each site also offers access to local gyms and discounted spa treatments at nearby venues. Day delegate rates at each hotel start from £25 per person and include room hire, a two-course lunch or buffet, refreshments and the hire of state-ofthe-art equipment, such as LCD projectors, a PA system and flipcharts.

Quayside cocktail club

hat was one of Newcastle’s most popular nightclubs in the 1980s, Julie’s, is set to reopen as a cocktail club this month. The first major venture of Tyneside entrepreneur, 35-year-old Rachael Frame, Tiger Hornsby will offer a range of bespoke cocktails, prepared by a team of experienced mixologists, along with live entertainment and music. Following its launch, the venue, located at Close, Quayside, will be open on Thursdays from 5pm to 2am and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm to 3am.

Greenleader hotel

attlesteads Hotel and Restaurant, near Hexham, has been awarded a platinum level rating in TripAdvisors’ new GreenLeader programme. The scheme, launched in the UK in March 2014, helps travellers make greener choices by promoting hotels that have adopted environmentally sustainable practices, including recycling and using energy efficient light bulbs, via their bronze, silver, gold or platinum accreditation. Battlesteads’ owner, Richard Slade, said:“We constantly look at ways we can extend our environmentally friendly code of ethics and be at the forefront of sustainable tourism.”

100

A fitting partnership

esmond Dene House has teamed up with tea and coffee merchant, Ringtons Beverages, to provide the company’s specialist tea and coffee to its visitors and overnight guests. Along with Ringtons branded tag and envelope tea and infusions, the specially designed Jesmond Dene roast and Jesmond Dene decaf coffees will now be available in all 40 of the hotel’s luxury bedrooms. The company’s 100 per cent Colombian and Fairtrade coffees have also been added to the beverages menu throughout the hotel.

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Big names head to Rockliffe There’s something for everyone as Ryder Cup captains make their way to the five-star resort. he the Tour de France, The World Cup and the Commonwealth Games: there has been some world-class sporting events taking place over the last year and Rockliffe Hall is set to continue this theme – and you can be part of it! The world’s biggest golf stars will converge on Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, County Durham, this month. Three Ryder Cup captains have confirmed that they will be competing against each other at this year’s European Senior Tour English Senior Open being held at Rockliffe Hall. Ian Woosnam OBE, Sam Torrance OBE and Mark James will go head-to-head in the tournament, which takes place on August Bank Holiday Weekend, Friday August 22 until Sunday August 24, with a sold-out pro-am tournament being held on Thursday, August 21. Chairman of Rockliffe Hall Warwick Brindle says: “To have three Ryder Cup captains at Rockliffe Hall in the year that the cup returns to the UK is a massive coup for the North East. “We’re really excited about hosting the event again and welcoming such a fantastic field of players. “It’s not only a boost for Rockliffe Hall but our region as a whole as we continue to strive to put the North East on the golfing map.” But it’s not just about the golf – the sporting event promises something for all the family with a tented village for visitors to meet, shop for some major sporting brands such as Oakley anf try their hand at a golf in a fun environment as well as other attractions. There’ll also a full-service bar, hog roast and other food concessions. This year’s English Senior Open follows the success of the 2013 tour, which attracted over 5000 spectators to Rockliffe Hall, and will be the

Ian Woosnam

biggest single sporting event in the North East in 2014. As well as Woosie, James and Torrance, other names now confirmed as playing in the English Senior Open include top Italian golfer, Costantino Rocca, Barry Lane, Des Smyth, last year’s winner, Steen Tinning, and Paul Wesselingh, who won 2013’s Order of Merit. Ian ‘Woosie’ Woosnam is famous the world over for winning the US Masters in 1991 and captaining the Ryder Cup team in 2006 when they were victorious over the US. Woosie was one of the ‘Big 5’ along with Ballesteros, Faldo, Langer and Lyle who dominated world golf in the 80s and 90s. A little recognised statistic about Woosie is that he has won more professional golf tournaments than any other British golfer. Scotland’s Torrance is famed for captaining the Ryder Cup team in 2002 and also winning the European Tour 21 times. The 60 year old,

102

who is also a well-known commentator, was awarded the MBE in 1996 and the OBE in 2003 for his outstanding contributions to golf. Costantino Rocca is Italy’s most successful golfer to date, having won five European Tours and two European Senior Tours. Fifty seven yearold Rocca also finished second in the 1995 Open. Managing director of the European Senior Tour, Andy Stubbs, says: “After the immense success of last year’s English Senior Open at Rockliffe Hall and the incredible support we got from the North East, it’s going to be great to be back. Rockliffe Hall is a superb course and it really is a five star venue that put on a great tournament for us and we’re really looking forward to this strong field of players.” Maybe you’re not a massive golf fan but want to be part of this huge sporting event- but what’s it all about? The European Senior Tour is for professional golfers over the age of 50 and provides a showcase for the legends of European golf playing at the finest venues across the world to a global audience. The English Senior Tour at Rockliffe Hall will be screened on Sky Sports in September. The full tournament schedule begins in May and runs through to December with the field composition designed to cater for the leading 72 ranked players, with selected invitations from the host event being incorporated into the field The tournaments at Rockliffe Hall will be played over three rounds of 18 holes, from Friday to Sunday. Tickets are now on sale for just £10 (under-16s free). Visit www.englishsenioropen.com or call (01325) 729 999.

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Festive fixtures Sunderland AFC is hoping to score a seasonal victory with its new line-up of Christmas party packages. he Stadium of Light, Sunderland, which caters for a wide range of private and business functions throughout the year, recently unveiled details of its party packages for Christmas 2014. The packages, based on Sunderland AFC’s vast experience in catering for events such as concerts, business dinners, awards and graduations, have been carefully designed to appeal to a wide range of tastes and ages, with options available to suit a variety of budgets. Gary Hutchinson, commercial director at Sunderland AFC, says: “Christmas parties can be a tricky thing to get right, especially when it involves groups of friends, family or colleagues, who invariably have different opinions on what constitutes a good night. “Our party packages have been designed to appeal as widely as possible and we’ve kept costs low to make them both affordable and accessible.” Christmas party packages at the Stadium of Light range from a relaxed evening in the stylish Riverview Brasserie, complete with a fourcourse buffet, disco and performance from North East singer Joe Lawson, to the more energetic Montgomery Suite celebrations, incorporating live entertainment and a delicious four-course feast. Guests opting for the latter have a choice of two stage shows, depending on the date of their event, including the 21st Century Girls (December 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19) or the We Love the 90s Night, featuring hits from some of the

decade’s biggest stars including Atomic Kitten, Cher, Steps and Peter Andre (November 19, and December 18 and 20) Prices start from £24.95 per person, depending on the date and option chosen, and in all cases the Stadium of Light is living up to its Santa-style red and white colour scheme, with a special summertime offer spreading an early taste of seasonal goodwill. Anyone who books a Christmas party at the venue before August 31, 2014, will automatically receive two free tickets to an SAFC home game during the 2014-2015 season, including hospitality in the Black Cats Bar, as well as a complimentary half bottle of wine for every guest at the festive function (subject to a minimum of 20 attendees). Gary continues: “Christmas was an extremely busy time at the Stadium of Light last year and we had to arrange a number of additional events in order to keep up with demand. “This year we’re expecting an even bigger turn out and have introduced this special offer to encourage people to book early to avoid missing out.” A variety of festive parties will also be running at the National Glass Centre, Sunderland, where SAFC subsidiary 1879 Events Management currently caters for all manner of private and corporate events. These informal parties, being held in the venue’s Brasserie, include a drink on arrival, a party box for every guest, evening disco and crackers on the table, as well as a three-course

104

meal using locally sourced and seasonal produce, all for £30 per person on selected dates in November and December. For those expecting larger numbers, or who’d prefer a private event, 1879 Events Management is also offering the opportunity to host a tailored Christmas party at either the Stadium of Light or National Glass Centre (subject to availability), for anywhere between 10 and 1000 guests. This includes the services of a personal Christmas account manager who will work alongside the event organiser to create a bespoke menu, book entertainment and ensure first-class service and outstanding value is delivered from start to finish. Gary says: “Our private party packages are the perfect way of allowing guests to create a seasonal celebration that’s entirely their own and, with prices starting from £17.50 per head, are accessible to companies of varying sizes, as well as groups of family and friends.” For more information about Christmas at the Stadium of Light or National Glass Centre, including the options available for Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, visit www.safc.com/hospitality-and-events, call 0871 911 1555 or email christmas@safc.com You can also find out more about 1879 Events Management by calling 0871 911 1269, emailing info@1879events.com, visiting www.1879events.com or following @1879Events on Twitter

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Business lunch

The Pavilion Alison Cowie samples the new summer menu at the Sir John Fitzgerald pub in Backworth. escribed as a ‘cosmopolitan good food pub’, The Pavilion opened in 2009, offering a specialist grill menu, as well as traditional cask ales and wines. Part of the Sir John Fitzgerald Group, The Pavilion, located at Backworth Business Park, offers a more sophisticated feel than other outlets by the North East company – thanks to a modern purpose-built venue, with the added benefit of plenty of parking. Since opening, The Pavilion has become a popular haunt for business folk, families and locals who are looking for good food in an elegant environment. The new summer menu, launched last month, continues to present its mix of sophisticated, yet homely fare with a good - but not overwhelming selection of breads, starters and house classics such as chunky chilli beef served with dirty rice,

house tortilla chips and sour cream, crispy battered North Sea cod with thick cut chips, or barbecue belly pork ribs with jalapeno slaw and French fries. However, it is the options from the Josper (an enclosed charcoal fired) grill that make up the majority of the menu. There’s a bevy of steaks (rump, sirloin, bavette and porterhouse) to tempt you, or a substantial range of burgers – all with their own unique gourmet twists. When I visited The Pavilion, my two dining companions were immediately drawn to the meaty dishes; one tackled the high quality mixed grill with bacon steak, rump steak, lamb cutlet, pork sausage, black pudding, fried egg and thickcut chips, while the other revisited his travels to New York with a large porterhouse steak. I, on the other hand, choose the very tasty

106

halloumi and vegetable skewers – jazzed up with a lemon and herb marinade. I preceded this, with the tasty Creole crab cakes which were ‘pimped up’ with a smokey sweetcorn relish, while my companions tucked into the succulent lamb and the whole grilled prawns. We finished our meals off with homemade desserts, all three of which tasted as good as they looked. Boasting a brand of comfort food with flare, The Pavilion manages to straddle the divide between a pub and restaurant very well and I can definitely see the appeal of this informal yet refined, venue. The Pavilion, Backworth Business Park, Newcastle. Tel: (0191) 268 0711, web: www.thepavilionbackworth.co.uk

Creole crab cakes Three flavoursome patties served with a smokey sweetcorn relish.

Josper grilled lamb Succulent chunks of meat served with a Kachumber salad, baba ghanoush and flat bread.

Whole grilled prawns Hefty grilled prawns served with a herb aioli and salad garnish.

£5.95

£5.75

£6.75

Halloumi and vegetable skewers Two large skewers with a lemon and herb marinade, served with a Greek salad.

16oz Porterhouse steak This large specialist cut from the short loin (served on the bone) is a rare find on North East menus.

£8.95

£21.50

The Pavilion mixed grill A meat fest of bacon steak, rump steak, lamb cutlet, port sausage, black pudding – served with a fried egg and thick-cut chips.

Sicilian lemon tart Tang-tastic!

Belgian dark chocolate and orange tart Rich and decadent

£5.25

£5.50

107

£17.95

Strawberry mascarpone meringue cheesecake Creamy cheesecake, sweet strawberry and mini meringues – what’s not to love?

£5.50

WINE & DINE

Recipe of the month Lindisfarne and Argentinian Oysters, by Mark Bennett. he head chef of Hardwick Hall Hotel, Mark Bennett, and his team will be preparing more than 3000 oysters as well as range of fresh, delicious seafood for the 11th annual Oyster Festival on Friday, September 19. Here, Mark offers two delicious recipes for you to try …

METHOD

Lindisfarne Oysters • Deseed and finely chop red chilli • Grate ginger • Finely chop coriander • Combine all ingredients adding a pinch of sugar and coriander • Chill before serving • Shuck oysters open with oyster knife • Add dressing to oysters and enjoy

INGREDIENTS Lindisfarne Oysters 2 fresh oysters Handful of ginger, finely grated 6 tsp rice wine vinegar 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped Pinch of sugar Handful of coriander Argentinian Chimichurri Oysters 2 fresh oysters 2 garlic cloves 2 tsp olive oil

Argentinian Chimichurri Oysters

1 red chilli 1 tsp red wine vinegar Handful of oregano Handful of parsley Salt and pepper

108

• Shred garlic • Finely chop red chilli, oregano and parsley • Mix together and season with salt and pepper • Chill before serving • Shuck oysters open with oyster knife • Add dressing to oysters and enjoy www.hardwickhallhotel.co.uk

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

New chef in town After a packed career, cooking in high-end hotels around the UK and abroad, Guy Gage has joined the team at the Newcastle Marriott Hotel Gosforth as executive chef. Here, he explains why, moving back to the North East, the hotel was the only place for him. Briefly, what has been your career to date? After 12 years in the navy, I joined Swallow hotels working in several establishments around the North East and North Yorkshire as head chef for 12 years. I then moved onto Principal hotels as executive chef at several large four-star hotels in Yorkshire including the Royal York Hotel for five years. I then moved to Hilton for two years and had my first experience of Marriott at Hollins Hall Hotel and Country Club as executive chef where I had the best three years experience of my life! I then spent two years in Majorca as executive chef for three very diverse restaurants, catering for around 3000 covers per day. I then came back to the UK and have worked for Hilton hotels for the last four years in the south of England and London, joining Newcastle Marriott Hotel Gosforth Park last month.

Having worked for Marriott in the past I always found their vision to be the same as mine. When I moved back to the North East, the hotel was the only choice for me.

good, tastes good and is enjoyed by many. In a hotel environment, it is the diversity it gives you as chef to cook in many different styles: restaurants, banqueting, breakfast buffets, etc.

What first attracted you to cooking? What’s the most challenging? I had a passion for cooking all through my school days, thanks to my parents owning a pub. I also had a desire to go in the navy and have been lucky enough to achieve both goals.

Maintaining a high standard once achieved.

What are your aspirations in your new role?

What is your food ethos? For a customer to always to feel they have received high quality food, value for money and good service.

Which chefs do you look up to? Raymond Blanc, Anton Mosimann and Rick Stein.

What’s the best thing about being a chef?

What attracted you to the Marriott? Personally, I love creating a dish that looks

110

To be awarded an AA Rosette again and to train and nurture a strong brigade for the future.

How are you planning to stamp your mark on the hotel’s culinary offering? By training the staff well, using seasonality and local products and creating inventive dishes. For more information and bookings at the Newcastle Marriott Hotel Gosforth Park call (0191) 236 4111 or visit www.marriott.co.uk

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Holy hot rocks! There’s a new owner and sizzling new menu offered at The Marquis of Granby. hen out and about on their travels in the region, readers of North East Times should put a new food venue on their radar. The Marquis of Granby, which is on the A692 between Lobley Hill and Sunniside, has new management and great changes are afoot. Local business man, David Bennison, has realised his dream taking over his local pub. Having spent 14 years travelling the world exporting products from the North East, David missed his home pub and is thrilled to bring his experiences abroad back to a pub with a lovely ambience and great people. Created by David, the Hot Rock Grill brand will be a star part of the all-new menu – an innovative way of serving steak and fish that David

experienced first in Seoul, Korea. The meat is seared and then served to the table on a hot stone that keeps the steak cooking to just how the customer likes it. David explains: “The Marquis offers good fun food, served in a great pub. No airs and graces, just pure quality ingredients, excellent staff and first class customer service. “While travelling I found I missed the ambience of The Marquis of Granby and thought how well it work to have creative, well presented food here. I am delighted to say that it will now be the proud home to tastes from Korea, New York and Italy. “When I started talking to the brewery about taking over the Marquis, I thought my favourite food from around the world would be perfect particularly the grill so I sourced the stones and the

111

oven, and we have branded it Hot Rock Grill. Hopefully we will roll the brand out to more outlets in future years. “An open kitchen with a stone bake oven is being installed, where new chef Gabriel Bejenaru will create New York style pizzas.He will also be introducing lighter pizza rings with pasta and salad centers, alongside a whole range of tasty food choices. “It is great to have Gabriel onboard and we are also delighted that the popular and previous landlord Peter Thompson is joining us to manage the bar.“ The Marquis of Granby has been refurbished by Star Breweries (formerly S&N Pubs), and David is now putting his own stamp on the family pub and restaurant.

112

COVER STORY

THE MOTOR DEALERSHIP, HELMED BY BILL WARD, HAS ONCE AGAIN STEPPED FORWARD TO SUPPORT A LOCAL ARTS VENUE – THIS TIME THE ICONIC NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL.

As well as the Theatre Royal, Mill Volvo has an ongoing sponsorship programme at the Tyne Theatre on Newcastle’s Westgate Road (renamed Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre), which will last until 2015. The dealership has also recently sought to support the local sporting scene by entering into a sponsorship deal with Newcastle Falcons. Mill Volvo operations director Jeff Tabb explains: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Newcastle Falcons team this season; we have supplied two cars to be used across the corporate and commercial department for club use, two vehicles for player use as well as becoming a new, additional sponsor on the team kits.” In return, Mill Volvo will be using the Newcastle Falcons facilities for business meetings to entertain their loyal customers and to invite lucky social media supporters to join the team for VIP events and gatherings. Mill Volvo branding will also be seen on a sponsored bill board in the ground, as well as on the liveried vehicles which will be seen driving around the region. In addition, the dealership has embarked on a number of mutually benefiting partnerships with local businesses. As well as an ongoing advertising partnership with David Lloyd Newcastle, based in Gosforth, the motor company has teamed up with Ramside Hall Hotel & Golf Club and Best Western Hardwick Hall in Durham and Hotel Indigo in Newcastle to offer Mill Volvo customers the chance of winning meals and other prizes at the popular leisure establishments. With its extensive and wide-ranging sponsorship initialtives and business partnerships, Mill Volvo is dedicated to supporting the local region – something that the dealership is committed to continue in the years ahead.

ill has been a leading player in the North East’s motoring scene for 67 years but, more recently, the company has been attracting attention for its extracurricular activities within the community. The latest move for the Volvo dealership sees it team up with the iconic Theatre Royal to sponsor the summer seasons at the theatre for two consecutive years. Mill Volvo started off this year’s summer season with a dramatic statement by parking a bright pink Dirty Dancingbranded Volvo V40 on the theatre terrace for the duration of the popular show. The car has since been replaced by a less ostentatious – but still impressive – V40, that will sit outside the theatre until the end of August. Bill Ward, Mill Volvo’s managing director, said: “With such strong local roots Mill Volvo understands the huge importance of giving something back and investing in the community. It’s fantastic to be associated with the Theatre Royal and to be able to contribute to the continued success of such an important cultural venue that is so iconic to the region. “Also, it’s a good business decision as the sponsorship package offered by the Theatre Royal is excellent value for money.” The first Mill Garage was established in Sunderland in 1947 by George Rollings, whose aim was to provide high quality products and services to the North East. Bill Ward joined the company in 1981 and 27 years later masterminded a management buyout from Inchcape Plc, along with Bob Nicholson, a former Minories financial director. Since 2008, managing director Bill and his team at Mill Volvo have developed and grown the business, which has dealerships in Sunderland, Stockton, North Yorkshire and Newcastle. Establishing strong local roots have been essential to the Mill Volvo brand and, as a result, the company has embarked on a number of generous projects to support the North East community.

For more information www.millnortheast.co.uk

113

Mill

Volvo,

visit

MOTORS

Jennings news rental manager, Charlotte Gosling

Kia for rent Jennings Kia launches a new car rental facility in Teesside. ennings Kia, part of the Jennings Motor Group, is the first dealership in the country to launch Kia’s new rental service to motorists. The new state-of-the-art Jennings Kia dealership, located on Concorde Way in Stockton, has introduced a dedicated fleet of Kia vehicles available exclusively for customer rental which is now available to drivers in Teesside. Customers can drive away with anything from Kia’s critically acclaimed cee’d, to the brand’s family MPV, Carens and the hugely popular Sportage model. The latest initiative to be launched by Kia Motors (UK) Ltd has also resulted in a new recruit at the dealership. Charlotte Gosling, from Middlesbrough, has been appointed as rental manager at the group’s latest franchise to ensure customers receive professional, expert advice and a personal service. Charlotte brings with her more than 25 years’ experience having gained valuable knowledge working for a number of rental companies in the past. Nas Khan, managing director of Jennings Motor Group, said: “We’re very pleased to have expanded into car rental with Kia. “The added service to our customers means that we’re now a one-stop-shop for their motoring requirements. It also gives local

drivers an alternative to the traditional rental services in the area and furthermore offers them a chance to experience a new Kia, whether they need a rental car for a holiday or to fulfil business commitments. “We currently have a fleet of ten vehicles available to hire with the aim to expand this number to 20 next year.” In addition to competitive daily rates, customers can also take advantage of seven-day rental rates from as little as £13.50 + VAT per day for a Kia Picanto from the model range. The Jennings Kia dealership, which officially opened last September, sells the full new car Kia range including the Picanto, Rio, Soul, Venga, cee’d, cee’d Sportswagon, pro_cee’d, proc_cee’d GT, Optima, Carens, Sportage and Sorento from its 22-vehicle indoor showroom. In March of this year, as a result of selling more than 100 new cars for the new ‘14’ registration plate change, the dealership was one of 30 branches nationwide to receive the ‘100 Club’ endorsement from Kia Motors (UK) Ltd. The majority of sales for this period were generated by the competitively-priced and recently revamped urban friendly Sportage SUV model, available with Kia’s marketleading seven-year peace of mind warranty package and low rate finance. In recognition of being one of the top

114

performing dealers in the country for the first quarter of the year, franchise manager, Steven Flack and company director Sohail Khan, jetted off to Brazil for the World Cup Final, courtesy of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd. Customers who are also looking for a quality approved used vehicle, can take advantage of an extensive range of models available and on display. The dealership also houses a service department on site, where customers can book an MOT and service and take advantage of Kia approved technicians who are employed to carry out work on vehicles. In addition to this, a parts department is also on site offering high quality and competitivelypriced Kia parts. Jennings Motor Group also operates a Kia dealership on Parsons Road in Washington where customers can also purchase the entire Kia new car range, in addition to a service and parts department being based on the Parsons Road site. For more information about the range of rates and models available at Jennings Kia Rental, visit ithe Concorde Way showroom, call (01642) 632278 in Stockton or visit www.jenningsmotorgroup.co.uk For more information about the range of products and services available at Jennings Kia, contact (01642) 632299.

EVENT

Audi opening ‘Tasty launch’ as doors open at Benfield’s new £7 million dealership.

IP customers attending the launch of Benfield’s new £7 million Audi dealership in Newcastle were treated to cocktails from world champion mixologist Gordon Liddle, from Hotel Indigo, culinary delights from top chef Kenny Atkinson, fantastic entertainment and an illustrious display of Audi heritage vehicles Over 300 customers – including Olympic gold medalist Jonathan Edwards -attended the event on June 9 (aptly, the day of the Blaydon Races) at the landmark 35,000 sq ft showroom on Scotswood Road, which, set on a 4.5-acre site, is one of the largest Audi dealership in the North of England and the first in the region to feature the latest Audi brand concept.

115

MOTORS

Behind the wheel by Jessica Laing.

116

AUDI NEW GENERATION A7 SPORTBACK udi’s acclaimed five-door coupe, which first debuted in 2010, has been enhanced with a raft of revisions to styling, engines and technology. The new generation A7 Sportback, which will be available to UK drivers in the last quarter of 2014, features a number of striking changes to its lightweight body (which consists mainly of aluminium and high-tech steel grades), including a single frame grille, which adopts the latest hexagonal design, and standard LED headlamps that can be further enhanced by Matrix LED headlights that divert their pool of optimal light around oncoming and following traffic - without reducing in intensity in other areas. Internal improvements include new materials, such as aluminium and Beaufort walnut inlays, front seats

F.Y.I. Max power: 242bhp Combined CO2 emissions: 158g/km Top speed: 155mph Acceleration: 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds Cargo space: 535 litres (1,390 litres with rear seat backs folded down)

117

that can be equipped with ventilation and massage functions, and a revised colour palette. When it comes to power and technology, drivers won’t be disappointed: from launch, the model will be available with a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines, offering outputs ranging from 218PS to 333PS, along with the latest generation of the Audi modular infotainment system. Built around the Multi Media Interface, the system features powerful new graphics and allows drivers to scroll and zoom in lists and maps via a touchpad. If that wasn’t enough, the model is also equipped with state-of-the-art assistance systems (such as improved night vision) and the Audi phone box option, enabling occupants to connect their mobile phones to the car’s antenna for improved reception. Price to be confirmed.

MOTORS

A pleasure to drive Bob Arora test drives the BMW M4, courtesy of Cooper BMW. he car I have had the real pleasure in driving this month is the new M4, courtesy of Cooper BMW. Being a real car nut I am ashamed to say I have never owned an M3. It’s one of those cars that not only looks amazing but has supercar performance. The new M4 badge is now the range-topping version of the 4 series. Any car nuts out there will know BMW have decided to call its coupe and convertible 4 series now. This latest version M4 looks amazing with its huge air intakes, carbon roof and its trademark quad exhausts. The front end has three massive air intakes and there is also a channel that funnels air through the bumper, around the front wheels and out of the M4 branded side grills. The mirrors have also been aerodynamically designed, not only do they look funky but the gap in them helps cut down wind noise. The bonnet has a hump to clear the twin turbo intercoolers. As you would expect with an M4, the performance figures are impressive. The manual version hits 62mph in 4.3 seconds and the MDCT auto box hits 62mph in 4.1 seconds. The launch control allows the driver to repeat this time and time again. As with many performance cars the top speed has been limited to 155mph, although without the limiter I am sure the car would quite easily reach 170mph. As the figures suggest this is a seriously quick car and you would need to spend up to 86k to get a 911 as quick. This four-door salon is as quick as some of the world’s most desirable supercars. The new M4 has been fitted with a 3.0lt V6 twin turbo engine instead of the usual 4.0lt V8. The engine produces 431 bhp instead of the old engines 420bhp. The torque is insane and, thanks to the twin turbos, the car has an extra 40 per cent pulling power. The red line is lower than the V8 and when the engine is cold, yellow led lights gradually go

off once the engine warms up. Believe it or not but this engine is not only more powerful than the V8 but it’s also more fuel efficient. Fuel efficiency has improved significantly and owners can expect to see a 25 per cent improvement over the old M3. The previous M3 would struggle to return mid 20s mpg economy but the new cars official figures are 32mpg for the manual and 34mpg for the MDCT box. The cars stop/start technology also helps improve fuel economy. While I had the car it barley managed to get above 20mpg but I think that was partly due to me enjoying the cars amazing performance. The car’s peak pulling power is from 1850rpm and it remains at maximum output until 5500rpm. The car has diesel-like torque, with this amount of torque there is less need to keep changing down gears. The car’s engine has been totally redesigned and with aluminum componentry along with the Active M Suspension, it makes for an exceptionally entertaining drivers’ car. The car feels really well balanced and the car’s steering inspires confidence. I was shocked to read the steering was actually automatic; it

118

felt unbelievable. The active M suspension keeps the car feeling planted to the road. The M4 also has a really sporty looking and feeling steering wheel, and has a scattering of M dials and the most comfortable bucket seats. The best part for me was the illuminated M signs which shone in the cabin. Passengers sitting in the rear will find the space really limited and the fantastic bucket seats block most of the view ahead. The chassis has been stiffened by 35 per cent compared to the standard 4 series. This has been done by fitting the rear sub frames to the body with bushes. Now for the million dollar question – how much is this M4? This amazing car is yours for £56,635 and as you may expect it comes with a decent amount of specification. The car comes with M compound brakes, adaptive M suspension, carbon roof, Sat Nav, parking sensors and Bluetooth. The must-have option is the MDCT auto box which is priced at £2500 but it is worth every penny. Carbon brakes are available for an extra £6250 but I honestly think the standard brakes are fantastic. With the choice of an M4 or the new M3 I would choose the M4 all day long. Despite the M3 being much more practical with its extra doors it just doesn’t look as sporty. Two things that annoyed me about the car, the first thing was every time I tried to put my seat belt on I nearly put my shoulder out and the second being trying to put the car in park gear … to be fair I think even Einstein would struggle with that! On the whole though, the M4 delivers performance car punch with classic rear wheel drive muscle. This car ticks all the boxes and I must admit after spending a day with it I really didn’t want to give the keys back and I still cant figure out why I haven’t bought one yet. For more information visit www.bmw.co.uk

WELL-BEING

How to design an exercise programme Duncan Edwards on how to develop a fitness strategy thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right for you. If you're not assessing, you're guessing.

Sometimes it's more beneficial to work-in rather than work-out.

The first and most important part of planning an exercise programme is the initial assessment and goal setting. We're all different and without knowing where you are in terms of health and fitness you run the risk of causing damage/injury by following a programme that is too advanced for your current level. You don't always have to flog yourself to get results. Injuries can stop us from exercising altogether, putting you back at square one. The common notion of 'no pain no gain' is misleading and generally incorrect. Often less is more. In contrast, a programme which is too easy doesn't stimulate our bodies to adapt and consequently will likely result in minimal if any progress towards our goals. What's your goal? Do you want to burn fat and lose weight? Are you in pain or is your target to overcome a niggling back injury? Do you play a competitive sport or do a physical job and are looking to improve your level of performance? Or do you just want to improve your overall level of health, increase vitality and energy and live a long, happy life? Consider exactly what your goal is and take an holistic but personalised approach for quicker results. Your lifestyle and your diet lay the foundations to your programme. If you are looking to increase muscle and/or burn fat then you'll have a hard time getting results if your diet isn't right or if you aren't getting much sleep. Often the people in the gym who train really hard but never seem to get the results they want haven't considered the lifestyle and diet factors which are actually blocking their own progress.

We all want to look better. It's important to firstly address what's going on inside the body, in order for the desired changes to occur on the outside i.e. how's your digestion, your liver, your lungs etc? Take a close look at your current lifestyle and diet, and work from the inside out. Is your diet appropriate? Are you dehydrated, stressed, do you sleep well?

Current fitness levels Evaluate your current level of fitness. This should include assessments of movement, your posture and all of the 'biomotor abilities'; endurance, strength, power, speed, flexibility, co-ordination, balance and agility. It's important to assess which ones should be prioritised and trained first because although we often want all of these forms of fitness, several of them contradict each other and can't be achieved at the same time. Which energy system is most important to you and your goals? Are you training to be an endurance athlete (aerobic energy system)? Or are you training to be more explosive for sports like rugby or tennis (anaerobic energy system)?

bend, twist and gait movements. However, consideration must also be paid towards balancing the programme as not to favour certain muscle groups that invariably results in muscle imbalance and ultimately increased joint wear and tear, leading to injury.

You're only as strong as your weakest link Quite often, people go to the gym and practice what they're already good at and eventually the speed of progress declines and they hit a training plateau. The solution is to identify what you're not good at and primarily work on these areas. If you can't, you must!

Find a reputable personal trainer or health practitioner

Primal movements

Bodyguards Fitness Service Ltd has been established since 1993 and continues to provide complete fitness service including high quality personal training, helpful and realistic lifestyle guidance and individual nutritional advice and support from the Jesmond-based facility. We offer full health assessments, exercise programme design and one-to-one health & fitness training designed to meet your specific needs and goals. The full health assessment is currently on special offer at half price.

Consider which of the seven primal movement patterns (squat, lunge, push, pull, bend, twist and gait) are most important for you. For example, a golfer requires more of the

For more information on Bodyguards Fitness Service Ltd, tel: (0191) 239 9000, email: info@bodyguardsapt.com or visit www.bodyguardsapt.com

122

H E A LT H

Reach your goals ... sensibly Spire Washington Hospital’s sports injury physiotherapist Andy Appleyard shares some valuable tips if you’re attempting this year’s Great North Run. Preparation Most people usually don’t run far very often so pushing yourself much further than your body is used to can result in injuries. The best thing is to make sure you’ve got a good training regime and you prepare early enough. A lot of people do the Great North Run as a one-off. They are not regular runners and have a lot of training errors. Research suggests the amount of running correlates to the type of injuries, and people who try to bump up their distances too quickly can end up with problems. Take it slowly and use a training plan to drive up your distance safely. The most common problems we see in the Sports Injury Clinic are ankle, achilles, kneerelated and tendon issues and many are totally preventable.

Don’t ignore the niggles If something has just started, such as a niggling pain, and you want to get ready for the Great North Run, we can assess what the problem is and chat through your training regime. We see a lot of people with significant injuries that need to be treated before the Great North Run, and afterwards people who are experiencing problems as a result of doing it. If you are training and get a niggle, you might assume if you rest it’ll get better. This

isn’t always the case. A lot of people end up limiting themselves more and more because the problem comes on again as soon as their training gets back to where it was when the issue first appeared. A variety of issues need more management than that – with Achilles problems, for example, the tendon needs to be conditioned and strengthened to cope with the load. Ultimately we always advise people to monitor any aches and pains and to seek advice if they’ve got a big event coming up. Often we can provide the guidance needed on how to strengthen certain areas so you can perform both safely and at your best.

Rehab Keen amateur footballer Marco Oswald, 24, from County Durham, had anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery at Spire Washington Hospital after an injury, and I am now overseeing his recovery. Marco said: “I was in the middle of a game when my studs stuck in the ground and my knee popped out. I had my operation in February – quite a complex one that took two and a half hours. I’m still recovering now and won’t be able to play again until Christmas. “Part of the hamstring was taken away to create a new ligament and I now have to build up the muscles around the knee because they deteriorate when they’re not used. This means

124

I go to the gym five times a week and I’m back running – everything except kicking a ball at the moment. “The team at Spire Washington Hospital has been excellent – Andy keeps ringing to see how I am. The care is extremely high quality and I’d recommend going there to anyone.” I put together the protocols for Marco’s rehabilitation at Spire Washington. With reconstructions, the graft the surgeon puts in is weaker to start with because it’s not getting the blood supply. Patients feel great at six weeks but the graft is actually quite vulnerable so we have to strengthen the leg but not train around that area. The graft knits together with the bone at eight to 12 weeks, then it’s appropriate to put on some strain and we use different exercises to promote the healing. Using weights means the injury will heal much better. Later we look at sports specific conditioning and all in all the complete rehabilitation takes around nine months. Thankfully Marco is fit and well and healing really nicely. If you’re planning on running an event, no matter how far, the advice is to listen carefully to your body and to seek medical advice if you have recurring aches and pains which are hampering your mobility. There’s lots we can do to help. For more information, please visit www.spirewashington.com.

WELL-BEING

The fat issue Fat wont kill you … but being fat might, says Be-Fit’s Will St Leger. aturated fat, unsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat; I’m sure you have all seen these fats on food labels but do you really know what they are and how each type of fat can effect your health (and happiness). Most people I know don’t, so to clarify:

Saturated fat Solid a room temperature as found in butter, cheese, meat and coconut oil. Saturated fats are primarily found in animal foods (meat, cheeses, butter, eggs) and plant foods such as coconut, coconut oil and palm oil. As mentioned they tend to be solid at room temperature and soften when warm. They also have a few other characteristics worth mentioning. They are very stable and tough when exposed to high heat and they don’t mutate or damage as easily as unsaturated fats do when cooking. This is the main reason why it is actually better and healthier to fry/ cook with saturated fat rather than cheap processed vegetable oils that are very unstable when exposed to high heat.

Unsaturated fat There are two types: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Monounsaturated fat is mostly liquid at room temperature as found in olive oil, macadamia nuts and avocado Polyunsaturated fat is also known as omega 6s and omega 3s. More on these later …

What is fat? Fat is the name given to a collection of smaller units called fatty acids. A fat comprises different combinations of fatty acids. Weather you’re dealing with 200g of oily fish or a tablespoon of butter or coconut oil, all fat on earth is composed of fatty acids, only difference being that each is made up of a different mix of fatty acids. As I’ve mentioned, there are three families of fatty acids: saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (a forth class is transfats but I’m sure you have heard enough about them to run a mile if you ever meet one). Above you have examples of the first two but not polyunsaturated, so here goes. Polyunsaturated fat is also known as omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acid. Omega 6 or Linoleic Acid (LA) is found in vegetable oils, some plant foods (flax). Omega 3s are Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) as found in walnuts, flaxseeds and green leafy vegetables, Docosahexanoic Acid (DHA) as found in fish, grass fed meat and Eicosapentanoic Acid (EPA) also found in fish and grass fed meat. So again to summarise, Omega 6s as mentioned, are found primarily in vegetable oils and some plant foods. Omega 3s are found primarily in fish such as salmon and certain animal foods like, grass feed beef and also certain plant foods such as flax, flaxseed oils and green leafy veg. Polyunsaturated fats are hugely important in the body for producing both inflammatory and antiinflammatory hormones known as eicosanoids.

126

Inflammatory compounds (contrary to what you might think) are a necessary part of the immune system and play a big part in the healing process when you have a wound or injury. Omega 6s are the precursors to the inflammatory compounds in our bodies. They are the building blocks the body uses to make these inflammatory hormones. Omega 3s have the opposite function. The body uses omega 3s as building blocks for the antiinflammatory compounds. There is plenty of research to suggest that the ideal ratio of omega 6s to omega 3s in the diet is somewhere between 1:1 and 4:1. This seems to be the best balance to keep inflammation in check and keep everything running smoothly. Research shows that this is the same ratio found in the diets of both hunter gatherers and healthy indigenous societies where heart disease is rare. By comparison, the ratio in Western diets tends to be anywhere from 15:1 and 20:1 in favour of omega 6s, not good. Inflammation is one of the main factors leading to heart disease all over the world. The simple solution is to decrease omega 6s and increase omega 3s. For me, fat is misunderstood. When consumed at the right times, in the right forms and, in the right consistencies, fats are hugely beneficial to your health. It is an essential macro-nutrient in a balanced diet and should certainly not be feared or avoided with the belief that it is harmful or destructive. For more information call Be-Fit on (0191) 213 5300.

EVENT

Tiny Lives Golf Day Ramside Hall Golf Club hosts the first of three charity events.

iny Lives held its Golf Day at Ramside Hall Golf Club on June 25. The club’s captain, Kevin Maddison, has chosen two charities to support this year: Tiny Lives and Veterans at Ease. There will be three golf days played at Ramside this year with all funds raised supporting both charities. Kevin said: “Our golf day was the first and it went off with a bang, we had a great day with the sun shining.” Tiny Lives would like to thank the teams, sponsors of the holes, volunteers and the photographer who helped create a fantastic atmosphere on the day.

127

EDUCATION

News from Dame Allan’s Schools The latest happenings from the independent school. Pupils step out for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation At the end of the summer term everyone at Dame Allan’s takes part in Schools’ Day when the regular curriculum and timetable are set aside and pupils take part in a day of themed activities. This year staff and pupils from the Nursery to the Sixth Form, took part in a sponsored walk at the start of July, leaving their classrooms to walk all or part of the eleven mile route along the Derwent Valley from Blackhill to Blaydon to raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. The walk was organised by the Schools’ charity prefects Amy Shaw and Rob Kellaway, supported by their successors Suzie BarwiseMunro and Patrick Cunningham, who took over their roles in May. Their planning was meticulously guided by Mr Wildsmith, head of Dame Allan’s Boys’ School. Amy and Rob chose the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation as the charity the walk would support after arranging a vote among all the pupils in the Schools. Relentless fund raiser, Tony the Fridge, inspired the Junior School pupils at the midwaypoint of their walk … and then finished the walk with them. At the start of the day Professor Ruth

Plummer, Sir Bobby Robson’s oncologist and director of the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, spoke to the members of the Sixth Form explaining the importance of the centre and how the funds raised by the sponsored walk would help the work of the charity. Professor Ruth Plummer reflects: “I was touched to hear the school had chosen to support the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation with this walk. “I’m proud to be a governor of Dame Allan’s but the choice of charity came directly fromthe pupils and that means a great deal. “It’s something the whole school has got involved in and the enthusiasm across the boardis fantastic. “On behalf of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, thank you to all the staff, pupils and everyone who has supported the walk.” Dr John Hind, principal of Dame Allan’s Schools, adds, “The Juniors and the older pupils were moved and inspired by the talks from Professor Plummer and Tony the Fridge. Their passion and determination brought home the impact their fundraising can have. “I am proud of the effort and commitment everyone showed in both walking and fundraising. It was a truly memorable day for the whole Dame Allan’s community.”

128

A German perspective As Britain prepares to celebrate the centenary of the outbreak of World War I, one student from the Sixth Form will look at the events from a unique perspective. Stuart Beddis, from Stocksfield, travelled to Germany for his work experience placement earlier this year. He spent a week working in the International Newspaper Museum in Aachen, where he helped with their project to digitise artefacts from the war to expand their archive. On his first day the museum held a special open day when he met around 50 people who had responded to an appeal for World War I memorabilia, bringing with them postcards, maps, diaries and even an Iron Cross medal. The teenager was particular moved by a map one resident brought in showing the battle lines of the Somme. Many of the Aachen residents were in their eighties and brought in photographs of soldiers in uniform or at the battlefield which had been sent to their families back at home. While helping with the new collection, Stuart found it strange to see copies of The Times newspaper from the outbreak of the war with their weather reports and stories of everyday life in the UK. For more information on Dame Allans visit www.dameallans.co.uk

INTERVIEW

Get to know me ...

Guy Wilks

Owner of Karting North East and former British rally driver.

was an accomplished driver in his day, he’d retired when I was two. My first real experience was as an eight-year-old visiting a friend in Hamsterley Forest to go and watch the RAC championships. We’d bunk off school to take a spot on the route … I think my mum knew this. I'm sure she'll say 'that explains a lot!'

Sarah, our two children and my parents. However, the opportunity to see some amazing parts of the world are a constant inspiration to me. I receive huge satisfaction from immersing myself in other cultures and lifestyles. I once spent time on a Japanese island called Hokkaido. It couldn’t have been any further from what I considered the norm. It was sensational.

My first job was a mechanic in the workshop at my father’s garages after finishing my A-Levels. He operated a chain of

My greatest achievement is finding someone prepared to have a family with me! We’re getting married soon, so I

successful petrol forecourts and car dealerships. However, he taught me and my three bothers some very valuable life and work lessons in our (very) early teenage years doing jobs around the garages during the summer holidays.

suppose my greatest achievement is yet to come. Outside of family life, I was one race away from being Junior World Rally Champion … twice! Even though I didn't get the laurels I'm very proud of my rallying achievements and the respect I gained in the sport. It was an amazing journey that lasted 12 years.

When I was growing up I wanted to be a rally driver. Although my dad, Philip,

I’d tell my 18 year-old-self to not be so impulsive. I’d tell him just to slow down, make space for thinking time and not rush into everything. My upbringing was always to look upon an invite to try something new as a great opportunity and its something I still live by today. However, that impulsive nature probably cost me being the world’s best young rally driver at the time.

I’m inspired by my family. My partner,

When I need a helping hand … my mum remains the person who has all the answers. When it’s work issues, though, I turn to my dad. He’s a shrewd and intelligent thinker…and doer. The tables have turned now and I have him in to help out. As an elder statesman, in my eyes, he remains the best I know with anything from business tips to handiwork.

130

My favourite song is Jerusalem, by William Blake. I suppose we should strictly call it a poem. I went to Barnard Castle School and, as a rugby-playing school, we would always sing with our chests out during hymns when it was Jerusalem. Whenever I hear it now, it takes me back to that place and makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

In my spare time, I love to spend quality time with the family. I have two daughters under four. They require 100 per cent of my attention. I find it’s the best way to fully switch off from work … although I have just started training for my first ever Great North Run as well!

In five years time, I’ll be married, for starters. The team at Karting North East is developing brilliantly and they’re already comfortable without me. It will mean I can concentrate fully on driving the business forward in more strategic ways. I have lots of ideas for expansion and improvement. I also want to share some wonderful experiences with Sarah and the children in more amazing places around the world. For more information on corporate packages at Karting North East, visit www.kartingnortheast.com