North East Times Magazine - January 2015

Eat, sleep and drink wine at

JANUARY

2015

£2.95

HOTEL dU VIN

CONTENTS

January 2015 BUSINESS NEWS –

10

SAVE THE DATE –

12

Business events – mark them on your calendar.

ON THE MOVE –

14

New executive appointments.

10 QUESTIONS FOR... –

16

Rod Brasington, chief executive of NE Procurement.

STATE OF THE ART – COVER STORY –

60

78

Discover the wonders of wine at Hotel du Vin Newcastle.

INTERVIEW –

84

Mark Hird, managing director of Tavistock Leisure.

BUSINESS LUNCH – Sabatini, Newcastle.

MOTORS –

7

98

88

CREDITS

Directors: Mike Grahamslaw, Mick O’Hare Commercial director: Martin Stout Editor: Jessica Laing Editorial: Alexis Forsyth, Annabel Bradford Senior designer: John Haxon Feature photography: Chris Owens

Front cover: Radek Kryzeuski (left), head sommelier at Hotel du Vin Newcastle, and Ben Craighead (right), bar manager.

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.

9

BUSINESS NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

George Washington Hotel unveils £250k expansion The major investment sees the hotel launch a brand new restaurant and function room.

W

ashington-based hotel, golf and spa venue, George Washington Hotel, has revealed the results of its £250,000 expansion, including a brand new multipurpose restaurant and function room and a refurbished breakfast area.

The hotel’s new Orangery restaurant and outside terrace provides the 103-bedroom hotel and spa with an additional 2,000 square-feet of dining and event venue

space, holding a capacity of 220 people.

The restaurant, which features a glass frontage, complete with bi-fold doors that open on to an ‘al-fresco dining area’, overlooks the hotel’s championship golf course.

The expansion will create 30 new jobs, including kitchen and front of house staff, and will support local wedding and event supplier businesses.

General manager, Martin Hall, said: “The

launch of The Orangery marks a very exciting time for the hotel. The investment in creating such a multifunctional space allows for many possibilities for us to improve what we can offer our guests.”

“Providing new and existing guests with an excellent level of customer service is of the utmost importance to us and this latest expansion is part of a wider plan, which will see the face of the George Washington Hotel evolve over the coming year.”

McDaniel and Co wins leading national industry award

J

esmond-based law firm, McDaniel and Co has won UK Leading IP Advisory of the Year at the ACQ Global Awards. The law firm, which specialises in advising clients on intellectual property matters and is one of the only firms in the North East to have a dedicated IP team, offers a

full service in the area of IP law, including trademark, patent, copyright and design matters. The annual ACQ Global Awards celebrates achievement, innovation and brilliance and is an independent nomination process, with the award winners chosen by the industry itself.

10

Blooming business

S

isters Natalie Hall and Kathryn Scott have launched a new floral store, Sweet William Floral Design and Gift Shop, in Teeside. Natalie, who is a qualified florist and a former gold medal winner at the Harrogate Flower Show, joined forces with business-minded Kathryn to open the business in their hometown of Eaglescliffe, after spotting a gap in the floral market.

The pair has their sights firmly fixed on the corporate market, including functions, product launches and customer events.

The sound of success

S

underland-based radio station, SUN FM, has been named the North East’s ‘top station’ in the Nations and Regions awards, organised by The Radio Academy. It is the second year running that the radio station has received the honour, which is given out to celebrate “programming that caters for the needs of a local audience, while recognising the passion, commitment and outstanding content of the UK local radio.”

Stills named after owners’ wives

P

aul Currie and Nigel Mills, founder and managing director of The Lakes Distillery, near Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria, have named two of the distillery’s three spirit stills ‘Rachel’ and ‘Susan’, in honour of their wives. The new £6 million establishment, which is England’s largest whiskey distillery and offers visitors the chance to tour its warehouse and see how its malt, gin and vodka are made, opened last month and is predicted to attract 55,000 visitors each year.

£12 million industrial development brought forward

T

he Northumberland Estates has announced plans to bring forward the largest speculative industrial development in North Tyneside in over eight years, which is expected to create 200 jobs. Newcastlebased surveyors, Naylors Chartered Surveyors, has been appointed as letting agent on the £12 million development, which will be built on a 12-acre site at Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate and provide eight Grade A industrial units.

11

Matfen Hall launches its Aqua Vitae Spa

M

atfen Hall Hotel, Northumberland, has opened the doors of its brand new spa. The latest development in a rolling programme of investment at the hotel, the Aqua Vitae Spa, which cost £300,000 to create, features a luxury thermal suite, complete with a stream room and sauna, an ice bucket shower and ice fountains and an aromatherapy room. The installation of the thermal suite follows the opening of the hotel’s new fitness suite, which launched early last year.

25 years in business

C

rosbys, one of the largest catering equipment suppliers in the North East, has celebrated its 25th anniversary by setting up shop in bigger premises. The supplier to the hospitality and catering industry has moved to Brough Park Way, Newcastle, to house its growing team. The new unit boasts a spacious 3,000 squarefoot office, a 3,000 square-foot showroom, featuring a wide range of stock from specialist brands, and an 18,000 squarefoot warehouse facility.

DIARY

FIRST FRIDAY

Jan

9

Central Bean, Gallowgate, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 233 1887 Web: www.newcastlesciencecity.com Price: Free ‘First Friday’ is a regularly held event on the first Friday of every month. It’s the ideal opportunity to discuss innovation and entrepreneurship with professionals from science, digital and technology community as well as entrepreneurs, designers, scientists and financiers. The morning event runs from 8am and includes free refreshments. There’s no need to register to attend, so just turn up.

UKTI NORTH EAST: GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

Save the date Charity balls, business dinners and seminars.

CHAIRMAN’S DINNER WITH SIR JOHN HALL Jan

21

Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle Web: www.entrepreneursforum.net Email: rachel@entrepreneursforum.net Price: £99 + VAT (members only)

LINKEDIN – ONLINE NETWORKING

Jan

22 John Buddle Work Village, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 277 1625 Web: www.godigitalnewcastle.co.uk Email: enquiries@godigitalncl.co.uk Price: Free This full day master class is all about discovering online networking options and how to make them work for you. The event will teach you the power of LinkedIn and how it can develop your business. You’ll also gain the tools to improve online relationships and how it will help your business grow.

‘WORLD OF WINE’ WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE DAY

Jan

Jan

15

24

Durham County Cricket Club Tel: (0191) 516 4405 Web: www.rtcnorth.co.uk Email: enquiries@ukinortheast.org.uk Price: Free

Café 21, Newcastle Tel: 0845 680 8367 Web: www.wineunearthed.co.uk Email: drink@wineunearthed.co.uk Price: £85 per person

North East businesses are welcome to take part in this event and learn how to successfully sell internationally. After hearing first-hand stories you will gain an understanding of key opportunities and factors that will aid your future success. The workshop will last half a day and will be invaluable insight into the first steps of international trading.

Curious novices and budding connoisseurs are welcome to take part in this wine tasting and dining experience. The event offers a full day of tasting and includes a three-course meal.

Attendees will leave with new knowledge of wines from around the world but and a ‘World of Wine’ reference book.

POST CHRISTMAS PARTY

Jan

16 St James’ Park, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 201 8525 Web: www.nufc.co.uk Email: candb@nufc.co.uk Price: £15 per person Anyone not ready to let the Christmas season go just yet should join the final celebrations at St James Park. Take a break and enjoy a few drinks, dinner and a dance at the disco. Price includes a two-course festive dinner, crackers, disco and late bar.

Join the Entrepreneurs Forum for its annual January get-together and enjoy the company of friends and colleagues over a three-course dinner in Jesmond Dene House’s Great Hall. Hosted by Nigel Mills, the event promises a great evening of business knowledge and experience combined with a social occasion.

This years’ special guest is Sir John Hall – the statesman of North East business and an icon of entrepreneurship. John was recognised for his contribution with the Forum’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014, the same year in which he celebrated 50 years since establishing his business, Cameron Hall Developments.

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

12

BURNS NIGHT

Jan

25 Blackfriars Restaurant, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 261 5945 Web: www.blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk Email: info@blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk Price: £45 per person This celebratory dinner offers guests a night of Scottish-inspired cuisine and whiskey. Includes traditional Scottish dishes, such as Cock-aLeekie soup, Haggis, Neeps and tatties and Cranachan. Whiskey and wine will be served with each course.

APPOINTMENTS

On the Move Your monthly guide to appointments and promotions.

NICK HOLMES

CLARE BOSWELL

SAMUEL BOULTON AND RHEA GOULDING

Ramside Hall Hotel, County Durham, has appointed Nick Holmes as a consultant. A leading North East hotelier, Nick joins the hotel from Rockliffe Hall, where he spent six years as managing director. In his new advisory role, he will be sharing his knowledge and expertise to help the Ramside Hall’s new £16 million spa and leisure development become a success.

Lloyds Bank has appointed Clare Boswell as area director for the North East and Yorkshire.

In new role, Clare, who has been part of the Lloyds team for 23 years and has relocated from Manchester, will work primarily with SMEs from all business sectors with turnovers up to £25 million and focus on bringing new customers to Lloyds Banking Group.

Newcastle cocktail bar, Tiger Hornsby, has strengthened its team with the appointment of two new members of staff. 22-year-old Samuel Boulton joins the bar’s 15-strong team as commercial manager and will be tasked with creating value propositions for the popular nightspot’s customers.

23-year-old Rhea, meanwhile, joins as operations manager and will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the bar.

WENDY BENSON

LESLEY THORNBURN, LUCY WILLIAMS AND DEBORAH SHACKELTON

RICHARD ALLEN

Seaham Hall has appointed Wendy Benson as director of sales and marketing. Wendy, who has worked in the hospitality sector for more than 25 years and joins the five-star hotel from Rockliffe Hall, will be responsible for pursuing new revenue streams, managing partnerships with a variety of corporate clients and consolidating awareness and increasing sales for the hotel’s two restaurants.

North East Peugeot dealership, Simon Bailes Peugeot, has appointed Lesley Thornburn (right) as marketing coordinator, Lucy Williams (middle) as fleet sales administrator and Deborah Shackelton (left) as trainee sales executive. In their new roles, Lucy will be responsible for processing orders and facilitating stock movements, Lesley will manage the company’s online offering and Deborah will work in vehicle sales.

14

Rockliffe Hall, Country Durham, has appointed Richard Allen as head chef. Richard, who has worked at a number of prestigious venues across the UK and holds a Michelin star and three AA Rosettes, will take over the running of The Orangery restaurant and work with the teams in the hotel’s other two restaurants, The Clubhouse and the Spa Brasserie.

INTERVIEW

Rodger Brasington Rod Brasington is chief executive of NE Procurement, an organisation committed to making purchasing savings and efficiencies. A percentage of these savings is driven into creating employment and regeneration opportunities in local communities. Rod joined the business in July 2014 after a 25-year career in various housebuilding and procurement roles.

What was your first break in business?

What attracted you to your current role?

What has been your career highlight?

And your career lowlight?

Taking a role at Barratt Homes selling new homes gave me an exceptional grounding in building communication and negotiation skills, which I have taken with me throughout my career. This role was where my passion for the housing industry really began.

NE Procurement is at a very exciting point in its journey and I felt my experience in housing and procurement meant I was the perfect match to help the organisation to the next level.

Developing and supporting a number of colleagues to progress to senior roles and to optimise their careers has been very rewarding.

Having to make colleagues redundant when working in housebuilding was unpleasant; seeing friends facing an uncertain future was hard to take.

16

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Working with a great team who are committed to generating savings and efficiencies for our member and generating employment and regeneration opportunities in our local communities, means I have great variety in my role.

What's your biggest challenge?

Who are your heroes, in and out of business?

We have exciting, major growth ambitions for NE Procurement. However, we must ensure that we do not grow at the expense of providing an excellent service to our partners.

My hero in both is Roger Federer - the greatest tennis player ever. He is the epitome of perfection as a sportsman who has used his success to create a foundation to provide a good education for children across the world, who do not have the benefit of the type of education we all take for granted.

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

As in life, treat people as you would like to be treated yourself and remember in negotiation - ‘win, win’ produces long-term returns.

17

What does the future hold for NE Procurement?

What do you do to relax?

There are plenty of things for us to look forward to in 2015.

Not only will we be launching our new procurement system in March, we are also looking to move into new market sectors, while developing our customer offer to include a full service Procurement and Contract Management service, working closely with our Members and Supply Chain partners.

Relaxing for me is watching my son playing tennis and playing a couple of games myself. Walking with my wife and our dog, Rio, is a great way to get out into the countryside, too.

LAW & FINANCE Mark Gulliford, managing director of DE Pharmaceuticals, and Alok Loomba, partner at Sintons

80 new jobs through DE expansion One of the UK’s biggest pharmaceutical wholesalers is creating 80 new jobs through expanding its existing operations and opening new bases across the country. ast-growing DE Pharmaceuticals, based in Prudhoe, is set to expand its bases in the North East and Doncaster, as well as adding new sites in Manchester, Barnsley, the South East, Belfast and the Midlands. The move will take its number of distribution centres across the UK and Ireland to nine.

In its native North East, DE is investing heavily to expand and refurbish its headquarters in Prudhoe, which currently employs 75 people.

Its expansion programme will see DE add significantly to its property portfolio and will reinforce its position as one of the leading businesses of its kind. It is the UK’s largest distributor of generic medicines, as well as being the only shortline pharmaceutical wholesaler with distribution centres across the UK and Ireland and supplies to more than 4,500 pharmacies across the countries.

DE – recently named as the highest new entry into The Journal’s esteemed Top 200 list of North East businesses – also remains on track to achieve its £196 million turnover target by 2016, predicting 10 to 15 per cent organic growth each year.

The business has seen a year of strong

F

growth following its £37 million management buyout in 2013, which saw DE acquired by two of its directors, Mark Gulliford and Andy Wilson. The transaction was one of the biggest and most significant deals in the North East’s healthcare sector for several years.

The MBO came after a period of continued progress for DE, during which time it grew significantly with the acquisition of Doncaster Pharmaceuticals - which operates across Southern England - Eurodrug in Ireland, National Generics in the Midlands, Eclipse Generics in Scotland and Crosspharma in Northern Ireland. It also recorded continued strong levels of organic growth.

Mark Gulliford, managing director of DE Pharmaceuticals, said: “Our expansion comes after another strong period for the company and, on the back of such national demand for our services, comes the need to add significant extra resource to our operation, both in terms of people and floor space.

“Having worked at DE for over 20 years, myself and Andy have unrivalled knowledge of this sector, and realised the potential for the business. We are now on the way to achieving that and remain very much on track for the £196 million turnover we predicted when we

18

bought the business last year.”

DE Pharmaceuticals is being supported legally in their expansion by Newcastle law firm Sintons. The firm’s specialist nationallyregarded pharmacy team, led by partner Christopher Welch, oversaw last year’s MBO and continues to act for DE across a range of matters.

Alok Loomba, partner in the Real Estate department at Sintons, is handling the acquisition of new properties and sites for DE Pharmaceuticals.

He said: “As well as being one of the North East’s most dynamic and fast-growing businesses, DE Pharmaceuticals has now become one of the key players in the UK pharmaceutical sector. Over a sustained period, and particularly since the MBO, it has grown significantly and continues to do so.

“Under independent ownership and with such experienced people as Mark and Andy at the helm, we have every confidence that DE will achieve its ambitious growth plans, and are very pleased to be able to support them in achieving that.”

For more information, visit www.de-group.co.uk or call 01661 835755

DEVELOPMENT Paul King, owner of Chartwise UK

The wise Kings charting for a successful future Ensuring that your business is running safely and legally is paramount and one North East-based company is doing all it can to make this as straight forward as possible for local businesses. hartwise UK has nearly 30 years experience in the industry and is looking to grow its business and employee base further, right here in the North East.

Established in 1985, Chartwise UK has been delivering training services and tachograph products to the transport industry in the North East of England for almost 30 years and has continued to grow ever since, gaining a reputation for excellent customer service along the way.

Ran by father and son owners, Dave and Paul King, Chartwise UK is now located on one of largest trading estates in Europe, Team Valley in Gateshead. The pair are now keen to grow their business with a few strategic changes, while also ensuring they maintain their outstanding customer service levels. The team plans to increase sales and, in turn, create more jobs in the region.

The new options they’ve been planning for a while, which will utilise their knowledge of the driver’s hours and tachograph legislation more, as well as utilising their staff’s wealth of knowledge for handling dangerous goods, will allow for an even more competitive pricing strategy, for both training and their products alike.

C

Chartwise UK has built its brand on its impeccable level of customer service, offering clients a personal contact, rather than the faceless non-contact approach many of its competitors take. This is the core reason why so many of its clients are long-term repeat customers. With a superb range of legislatively compliant, accredited and bespoke products, it’s easy to see why top companies, such as RBS, the NHS, Harvey’s and Warburton’s, to name a few, like and trust Chartwise UK. Owner, Paul King, said: “We’ve built this company with the customer at the heart of our focus. With our latest investment, improvements and increase in our training services, along with our competitive pricing strategy, both new and existing clients will want to use us more than ever for all of their commercial training needs.”

Chartwise UK now offers an extensive range of accredited courses, including:

Digital Tachograph Training – This comprehensive training takes the user from learning how to download their digital tachograph and drivers’ cards, to making sense and understanding of the data and inputting entries. It also covers making manual changes and printing off daily and legal data.

20

Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) Training – You must attend Driver CPC periodic training if you’re a lorry, bus or coach driver. It has been introduced across Europe with the aim of improving road safety.

The new legislation means that all drivers’ must do 35 hours of periodic training every five years.

Driver Hours Training – Tailored courses in driver hour’s laws and working time regulations, ensuring you get exactly what your business needs. After the course has been completed, the business and all necessary employees can stay up to date with any legislation changes, with complimentary handbooks available at anytime to download from their website.

ADR training – With their recent appointment of new staff, specialising in the dangerous goods area, this new training offers both dangerous goods awareness, as well as carriage of dangerous goods by road.

For more information on all of the services available from Chartwise UK, visit www.chartwise-online.com or call the team on (0191) 491 5032. For regular posts and updates, find Chartwise UK on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter @chartwiseUK

EVENT

County Durham Volunteer Awards The awards celebrated the tremendous achievements of volunteers from across County Durham.

T

he winners were announced at a special celebratory dinner held at Ramside Hall, Durham, on October 16, hosted by Steve Colman of Smooth Radio.

The judging panels considered over 90 nominations, across six categories, and an additional award was made to the County Durham Volunteer of the Year.

Altogether Healthier - health and wellbeing of others Altogether Greener - improving the environment Altogether Wealthier - improving the local economy/financial wellbeing of families Altogether Safer - safety of others and/or improving the cohesiveness of communities Altogether Better Children & Young People - maximising opportunities, aspirations and potential County Durham Young Volunteer of the Year (for under 21 years) County Durham Volunteer of the Year Award Winner Many thanks to everyone who submitted a nomination and to our sponsors, whose support helped to make these awards possible.

21

LAW & FINANCE

Top private client lawyer joins Sintons One of the region’s most highly regarded private client lawyers has become the latest top-level appointment at fast-growing law firm Sintons.

aul Nickalls has joined Newcastlebased law firm, Sintons, as a partner and heads the firm’s esteemed Wills and Probate team. Its wider private client team is the second biggest in Newcastle’s legal sector, with numerous highly-rated individuals in its ranks.

He moves from the Newcastle office of DWF, where he was head of their private client team.

Paul becomes the fourth high-profile appointment at Sintons in only a few months, following the additions of nationally known medico-legal expert, Barry Speker, development specialist, Alan Harkness, and leading personal injury lawyer, Phil Davison.

During his 17 years of working as a private

P

client lawyer in the North East – during which time he has acted for some of the region’s wealthiest individuals – Paul has amassed a reputation as one of the best around.

He handles the full spectrum of private client work, with a particular interest in administration of estates, including those with an international dimension.

Paul said: “I am delighted to join Sintons, whose private client team enjoys a reputation for providing first-rate legal advice coupled with an outstanding level of personal service. It is rare to find a commercial law firm that continues to invest in and expand its private client services, demonstrating the emphasis Sintons places on serving all of its clients’ needs, both personal and commercial.

22

“Sintons is deeply committed to its clients, as well as to the North East, which really sets it apart. I look forward to working with the team to build our presence even further.”

Alan Dawson, chairman of Sintons, who also works within the firm’s Private Client department, said: “Paul is very highly respected throughout the legal community, and has developed a reputation over the years as one of the region’s leading private client lawyers.

Working within our thriving private client department, I am certain his experience and expertise will help us grow and develop further.”

For more information, visit www.sintons.co.uk or call (0191) 226 7878

DEVELOPMENT Director at Solutions Recruitment, Ian O’Brien

New Year finds new solutions Solutions Recruitment, established in 1984, is currently one of the North East’s leading independent recruitment specialists. The company has announced ambitious plans for its growth in 2015.

stablished in 1984 as an independent North East agency, recruiting predominantly within the IT sector, Solutions Recruitment has since gone on to become a multi-discipline recruiter, offering a full range of recruitment services to accommodate all of its clients needs.

Solutions hard-won reputation is based on building client partnerships that thrive on professionalism, an honest approach and a clear understanding of their client’s

E

organisations. All consultants within Solutions are highly experienced within their specialist sectors, enabling them to offer an unparalleled, comprehensive and professional recruitment service.

In 2009, directors Lee Andrews, Michael Grayson (pictured) and Ian O’Brien (pictured) purchased Solutions. The new leadership quickly identified potential growth opportunities in a challenging marketplace.

Within a short timescale, this generated the

24

need for a larger workforce and in 2013 they secured a £1.3 million investment, allowing them to purchase the prestigious Grade II listed Yorkshire Chambers building on Pilgrim Street in the heart of Newcastle City Centre.

2014 was an exciting year for the organisation, with notable achievements including the successful opening of their fourth regional office in Middlesbrough and an increase in profitability and internal head

Director at Solutions Recruitment, Michael Grayson

count. With ambitious directors at the helm, 2015 is set to become the biggest year yet for growth and development of the business.

At the end of 2014, director Lee Andrews made the decision to depart the business after over 20 years of service. The difficult decision was made as demanding external issues meant the challenging, fast pace of the business was an unsuitable claim on his time.

After over two decades within the industry, Lee also felt the time was right for him to embark on new challenges. His codirectors supported this difficult decision wholly.

Lee was instrumental in the rapid growth experienced by Solutions since the takeover in 2009. His departure, therefore, encouraged present directors, Ian and Michael, to reassess the structural hierarchy of the business, resulting in several new and exciting appointments for the New Year.

Andrew Mears will be joining the business in 2015 at director level. Andrew will be working alongside Ian and Michael in the growth and development of the group.

Andrew has spent the last nine years with Nigel Wright, holding a number of key roles in their Group's leadership structure. He has successfully led UK and internationally-based recruitment operations, working across a wide range of disciplines and industries.

On his return to the UK, Andrew took up

the position of group head of HR and talent, before launching Nigel Wright’s newest market, focusing on the energy sector.

Andrew's early career was spent in generalist human resources with Ernst & Young, ScS Upholstery and Magna International.

Internally, there have also been three associate director appointments, who will report directly to the new board. Lucy Galbraith, John Barron and Michael Bulmer take these positions.

Lucy Galbraith will run the Finance department and will be responsible for indirect staff, which includes the staff within finance and administration support. John Barron will be responsible for Finance recruitment, Commercial recruitment and Solutions regional offices and Michael Bulmer will be responsible for Industrial, Catering and Health and Social Care.

Ian O’Brien commented: “We are keen to keep up the momentum of the last five years to continue to improve and enhance Solutions Recruitment and its offerings.

Recent additions to management will put the company in a very strong position to continue its push to be the primary recruitment force in the North East.”

Company plans for 2015 include further expansion across the region, increased client and candidate attraction, an improved marketing offering and an ambitious target

25

for turnover. Anyone seeking a career within a dynamic, growing recruitment agency is encouraged to send a speculative CV to the business, as there are set to be a growing number of internal vacancies over the coming months.

Michael Grayson commented: “We are always looking to identify and support talented individuals, especially those who are passionate about the industry they recruit for.

Solutions aren’t just recruiters: we are specialists in everything we do and our clients see that reflected in the service they receive from our consultants.”

“As a business, we truly break the mould, with a large number of our employees having been with the business for a number of years.

It is a unique culture and the management changes brought about for 2015 will only serve to enhance the Solutions way. We encourage a healthy work, life balance – something we know is important, particularly in the current economic climate.”

Solutions Recruitment, Yorkshire Chambers, 112-114 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6SQ. For more information, call (0191) 221 0402, visit www.solrecruit.co.uk or email ian@solrecruit.co.uk or michael@solrecruit.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE Left to right: Mark Dobbin, Sintons; Mick Murphy, director of communities at Newcastle City Council; councillor Hazel Stephenson; Jerry Barker, secretary of Tyne Rowing Club; Catherine McKinnell MP

New £1 million clubhouse for Tyne Rowing Club One of the oldest sporting clubs in England is securing its future and providing for the next generation of North East rowing talent by constructing a £1 million new base on the banks of the River Tyne. yne Rowing Club, which traces its roots back to 1852, is investing in a new boathouse for use by current and future generations of members, as well as acting as a facility for the local rowing community.

Work is due to start on the £1m project in December, which will replace its current clubhouse on the same site in Newburn, with completion scheduled for next summer.

It has been financed by National Lottery funding from Sport England, Newcastle City Council, donations from local businesses, and a £250,000 bequest from John Dalkin, a Tyne Rowing Club member who passed away in 2010.

The two-storey clubhouse will provide state-ofthe-art facilities for its 200-plus members, as well as well as for use for rowing activities by local charities including the Percy Hedley Foundation, Norcare and Visually Impaired North East.

It will offer sporting, conference training and education and hospitality facilities for use by the local rowing community. Tyne Rowing Club will continue to work closely with Newcastle University.

Chairman of Tyne Rowing Club, Simon Dobson, said: “As one of the country’s oldest sporting clubs, which has nurtured and developed

T

rowing talent for over 160 years, this new clubhouse will help us to provide for many generations to come.

“We have thriving adult and junior squads and, through offering such dedicated and modern facilities, we hope to increase participation in rowing. Rowing has a very proud heritage on the River Tyne, tracing back to the days of the Keel men, and is a much-loved local sport.

“We are very grateful to our supporters for making this project possible and owe our thanks to the very kind donation from John Dalkin, who was a very valued member of our club. The completion of the clubhouse will herald the start of a new era for Tyne Rowing Club, and we are very much looking forward to the future.”

Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North, has championed plans for the new development from the outset. Newcastle law firm, Sintons, has overseen the legal work and builder, SV Rutter, will carry out the construction work.

The MP said: “I was delighted to add my backing to Tyne Rowing Club’s plans, as the club are so keen to grow and cement their place within the local community. Their record is already an impressive one, and this fantastic new facility will help the club to encourage even

26

more people from across the city to take up this sport on one of the best stretches of river in the North for rowing.”

Councillor Hazel Stephenson, Newcastle City Council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “I am delighted that Newcastle City Council is able to help this project proceed by making a low interest loan available. Rowing as a sporting activity has a strong tradition in Newcastle; Tyne Rowing Club is a key part of that tradition; and securing the future of the club and the clubhouse for local rowers is a great achievement”.

Claire Morgan, consultant in the Real Estate department at Sintons, led the team that handled the legal aspects of the development.

Mark Dobbin, head of Real Estate at Sintons, said: “Tyne Rowing Club has a proud history and we are very pleased to be involved in securing its future and presence on the banks of the River Tyne for many years to come. The new clubhouse will have a host of uses for both members and the wider rowing community and we look forward to seeing it become a reality in the very near future.” www.sintons.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

The importance of change Rowlands Accountants, the North East’s largest independent accountancy practice, has seen steady growth over the last 12 months and is looking ahead to 2015 with confidence. Here, partner Dawn Walton discusses the importance of change and how businesses can use it effectively.

values and a hands-on approach because we roll up our sleeves and get involved , but we also work with some very large businesses and we’re doing it innovatively.

We have won more clients as a result of the re-brand. One area in which we have seen growth is the insolvency and restructuring side of the business. We are winning more work from other accountants and insolvency practitioners because more people are now aware of us and like how we work, what we stand for and the results we deliver.

Why is change such an important factor in growth?

Change is inevitable; everything changes and the trick is to actually use that change to your best advantage.

At Rowlands, the single biggest change we’ve been through recently has been our major rebrand. This started 18 months ago, but is still very much a work in progress.

The Rowlands brand is recognised right the way round the North East, but our previous branding was getting stale and jaded and needed invigorating to represent what we are: a 21st Century firm of experienced, forwardthinking and dynamic accountants.

Now, we have something that represents us as we are today. We have been around for 90 years and everything we do is underpinned by our traditional values – but we do it in a modern way. We use the newest technology and we work with our clients to future-proof their businesses.

We wanted to get that message across with a simple brand and logo that appeals to the entrepreneurs of today and to communicate with people in manner they want to be communicated with.

The process was challenging and required a complete overhaul of all our literature and the website, but now our online site is much more user-friendly and accessible via smartphones and tablets, particularly important when traffic is increasingly mobile.

What has Rowlands learned about change and what benefits have you seen?

The key lesson we’ve learned is that you have to

EXPERT VIEW Dawn Walton Partner Rowlands Accountants Web: www.rowlandsaccountants.co.uk

move with your clients and, also, that you need to encourage your clients to accept and embrace what change can mean for them.

As a business, it’s important for Rowlands to be current and to take advantage of developments happening in the business world – and that’s something we encourage our clients to do too.

Changing our branding has made more people realise just how big we are now; we cover the whole of the North East, from Tees to Tweed and probably have more offices than any other accountancy firm.

It’s almost a dichotomy – we have traditional

27

What is the first step in dealing with change?

Change for change’s sake is pointless, but if you are preparing to go through a big shift in your business, planning is absolutely key. You have to know where you want to be and measure progress, or you will never ever know when you’ve arrived and what success looks like.

We do horizon scanning as a matter of course and inform clients of what we can see coming and help them to plan for it. It’s important to have a living, meaningful route plan that evolves as required, in the way a sat nav sees an accident ahead and changes your route, while still taking you to the same destination.

Good entrepreneurs and good ‘doers’ start businesses – but that doesn’t necessarily make them good business managers. Having the wrong skill set, or not being prepared to bring this in, can hold back the organisation or cause problems and this is where a good accountant comes in.

We can advise on that all important planning and help your business embrace and benefit from change. Why not give us a call?

DEVELOPMENT

The future of the work place Bryony Gibson, managing director of Bryony Gibson Consulting, discusses how the work place is changing and what yours might look like in the future.

he New Year offers a fresh start. It’s also the time when many people begin planning for the future, so it seems the perfect opportunity to spend a few moments looking at what lies ahead.

The way we work is continuously changing and, in recent years, we've seen a near endless emergence of new practices and trends.

Can you imagine working today how we did 15 years ago? Fax machines would still be king, we’d have very little, if any, internet access and social media wouldn’t even exist.

Globalisation, demographic shifts, cultural nuances, changes in attitude and, of course, technology have been the big drivers of change throughout this time, but according to a recent report by consulting firm CBRE and Chinabased Genesis, things are going to keep on evolving, revolutionising how, when and where work happens.

Genesis is a real estate developer and, like those in the recruitment industry, ideally placed to pick up on the ideas, trends and behaviours shaping the future of our work place; and the emerging trends point to a transformation in the way we will operate.

In the next 10 years, the way we work and the communities we work within will change considerably. Already today some of these shifts are visibly apparent, whilst others are only beginning to emerge.

The likes of Facebook and Google have already created communities and villages for people to work within, equipped with all the modern amenities their teams need to effectively do their job, manage their life and create a positive work life balance.

This search for a holistic approach to life will become fundamental to those with a choice of where to work, putting an emphasis on businesses to ensure employee happiness,

T

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

wellbeing and high performance are supported in equal measure.

This trend is, perhaps, one we will see most quickly filtering through to the rest of us, as revenue alone will no longer continue to be the defining measure of a business’s success.

In fact, how much an organisation contributes to its people and environment looks set to become the new mark of value to many employees and clients.

Organisations will need to be lean, agile and authentic in the future, as we head towards a sharing economy in which people are already beginning to ask themselves ‘how

28

much is enough?’

As technology threatens to remove competitive advantages from many industries, it may mean when it comes down to a choice of where people spend money, the decision will be led by the value an organisation offers and how good that makes them feel.

Work places will need to be geared up to benefit the employee in terms of how and where they want to work right now.

High performance spaces will need to be shaped around what makes most sense for optimising the work activities of the people within them, with every solution offering a unique mix of collaborative spaces and quiet areas - more 'places to work', rather than 'work places'.

There will be a need to bring people together more, to support wider and more diverse work forces and to build a positive culture and community within an organisation.

Top talent will continue to be in short supply and, in the future, the best people may even choose to work freelance, picking who they wish to work for so they can meet their needs to feel rewarded and excited by their work.

Flexibility may then be the key, with organisations thinking outside the box in order to accommodate great people through home working, hot desks, the latest technology and strong values and purpose.

While the future is always uncertain, what is clear is that things won’t stand still. You’ll need to be innovative and adaptable in the ways you bring the best out of your team.

You’ll also need to have a clear vision, company culture and philosophy if you want to gain a competitive advantage by attracting and retaining your industry’s top talent.

LAW & FINANCE

Left to right: Julie Fawcett; Donna Hunwick; Sarah Parish; Andrew Carser; Luke Phelan; Emma Pern

Six new associates at Sintons Six lawyers at Newcastle law firm, Sintons, have been appointed as associates. ndrew Carser works within the Corporate Recovery and Insolvency department. He acts predominantly for Licensed Insolvency Practitioners during their appointment and advises on a wide range of corporate and personal insolvency matters.

A personal injury lawyer, Julie Fawcett has more than eight years’ experience advising clients involved in road traffic accidents, and accidents in public and work places.

Donna Hunwick specialises in employment law and provides advice and representation for businesses and charities. She also heads up Sintons’ popular Employment and HR Networking Forum.

A

Julie Fawcett is an employment specialist, advising on all aspects of employment and HR issues to commercial and charitable organisations, including procedural and regulatory compliance.

Sarah Parish, a real estate lawyer, is best known for her specialism in healthcare. She plays a key role in Sintons’ nationally renowned Healthcare team and acts for numerous organisations, GPs, and practices across the North East and beyond.

Emma Pern and Luke Phelan both work within the Corporate and Commercial department, advising on a range of commercial matters and corporate transactions, including commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions and banking.

29

Emma specialises in advising both lenders and borrowers on debt and mezzanine facilities and associated security. Luke, in addition to undertaking a broad range of commercial contracts and transactional work, specialises in healthcare transactions, playing a central role in Sintons’ nationally regarded dental team.

Phil Ridley, practice director at Sintons, said: “Sintons is renowned for its strength and expertise across many practice areas and the appointment of six new Associates is further evidence of this.

We congratulate them all on their well-deserved promotion.”

For more information, visit www.sintons.co.uk or call (0191) 226 7878

BUSINESS

Global Trade panel

Business never sleeps in global markets The worldwide web may have shrunk the globe to the size of a smart phone, but unsuspecting businesses can still find themselves a long way from home, according to the Entrepreneurs Forum. or many North East entrepreneurs, global markets represent rich pickings as they take much admired and sought-after skill sets to foreign shores, soon to be supported by direct transatlantic flights from the region and an expanded rail network.

Clients expect and demand face-to-face contact, but the rigours of foreign travel can impact on senior staff, who have to be on their game despite sleep deprivation, jet lag and even homesickness.

But, the spoils fall to the brave and three of the region’s most successful exporters shared their secrets with members of the Entrepreneurs' Forum at our recent autumn conference, taking them on a whirlwind tour of global trade.

Managing director of Billingham-based engineering information management company, Phusion IM, Alex Hayward, knows only too well the complications of working internationally; a large contract on a $60 billion energy project off Australia’s west coast threw up a host of challenges caused by the time difference between the UK and Australia.

“In business terms, being eight hours behind your client and local staff is one of the most difficult to deal with,” she said.

“There can be up to 3,000 equipment suppliers on these major capital projects, and we have to bring all that information together and make it available in a format that can be understood by all. Language proved to be a

F

challenge, as although English was the official project language, we found that for many of the Far East based equipment suppliers it was necessary to translate our support materials into Japanese or Korean.”

“Neither did we appreciate how much support our clients would need on these global projects. Customer expectations are very high and they look to us to solve all manner of problems, often outside of our scope.”

Fellow entrepreneur, Arnab Basu, managing director of X-ray and radiation detector firm, Kromek, warns that often subtle nuances can be lost in translation.

“We may have started life as a spin out from Durham University, but internationalisation was a necessity for us to survive,” he said.

“We develop medical diagnostic imaging, aviation explosives detectors and nuclear detectors for civil and homeland security – so there was never going to be much of a take-up in Sedgefield. What we have found with China, Japan and Korea is that you can say one thing, but the meaning is totally different. Even in America, great care has to be taken not to get on the wrong side of your clients.”

Nortech Solutions Group was founded on Teesside three and half years ago as an engineering design and project services company for the chemical, oil and gas energy industry.

Managing director, Bryan Bunn, appreciates the rich talent available in the region, but

30

recognises that to flourish it has to be honed, harnessed and marketed abroad.

He said: “We have some fantastic skills and capabilities – but you cannot survive on Teesside alone, you need to be national and international business.”

According to Bryan, Nortech was trying to seize massive opportunities with shale gas, which had turned around the US economy.

“The US has a huge skills shortage and we have high calibre people, but we don’t have a local presence,” he said. “You do need somebody on the ground but it has to be the right somebody.”

Arnab added: “Finding quality people who are prepared to travel is a real issue.”

Alex concluded: “If there are any weaknesses in your business, exporting will expose them.

You must have customer services in place; your clients will expect it. But, if it takes 24 hours to get there, it could put a strain on your business especially if you keep pulling on the same people when it means travelling.”

Bryan added: “Don’t spread yourself too thin.

Chasing everything isn’t necessarily good business.”

The Entrepreneurs’ Forum works with UKTI and supports its members seeking overseas trade through its mentoring programme and helping to make key connections between business owners in the region. For more information, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net

BUSINESS Gordon Lyall and Geoff Watson

Doree Bonner International celebrates 20 years in business Geoff Watson and his business partner, Gordon Lyall, are celebrating 20 years in business – two decades in which Doree Bonner International has grown beyond recognition. As the company slips into its third decade under their stewardship, North East Times looks at how they did it and what the future holds. eoff left school at 17 and started work at the DHSS in Longbenton as a clerical officer and spent 18 months there, which he fondly regards as ‘his university days’.

In 1979, he changed direction completely when he was offered the position as trainee manager with Hoults removals. His early days with Hoults were spent on the vans as a porter and, after 18 months in the offices being trained, was offered his first management position with Hoults and moved to London in 1981.

Geoff rapidly moved up the ladder at Hoults, which, at the time, was the UK’s largest private removals company and it was here that he met his business partner-to-be, Gordon Lyall.

G

Geoff and Gordon have been friends and colleagues for a long time. Their career paths have closely mirrored each other, so it’s not surprising that they should find themselves running a business together. What is more surprising, though, is the level of success they have enjoyed since joining forces in 1994.

Both started their industry careers with Hoults, later bought by Pickfords as part of the company’s ‘Alternative Brands’ network that included names such Pitt & Scott and Trenchards.

Geoff became MD of Alternative Brands in 1989, was promoted to the Board of Pickfords in 1991 and, later, ran the company’s European operations. After leaving Hoults, Gordon ran Pitt & Scott before becoming a director in Charge of

32

The Alternative Brands and, subsequently, a director of Bullens - another Pickfords acquisition.

They were both successful and greatly valued, but harboured a desire to have their own companies. In 1994, the pair bought Doree Bonner in Crayford. Bonners of Welling had started in 1929 and been acquired by Alan Doree’s Catford-based company in 1989.

Although the company was highly valued for its excellent local reputation, its facilities in Crayford were lamentable.

“When we bought the company, it was working out of a portacabin over a gun factory located between a council tip and a land fill site.

It wasn’t much to look at,” said Geoff.

Old Bonners van being loaded onto ferry to go to Isle of Wight

Modern day Doree Bonner Van

Head office staff outside head office in Dartford

Original Bonners shop front from 1929

Acquisitions

The Doree Bonner difference

Over the next five years, many changes were made culminating in its move to the current group headquarters in Dartford in 2000. The most significant change, other than the obviously improved premises, was a dedication to the acquisition trail.

Over the next few years, Doree Bonner acquired local businesses that all had excellent reputations. Names such as Richman Ring, Chapmans, John Duncan, Express and Jordan & Jarrett came under their wing and, as Geoff says, one of his proudest moments was acquiring Kelly’s of Newcastle to become part of the Doree Bonner Group and having a business in his home stomping ground: ten locations, in all, throughout the UK. So, what was it that Geoff and Gordon could bring to these companies that they had been unable to achieve as independents?

“We knew we couldn’t do much with the domestic business, but we were able to add international and commercial work,” said Geoff.

“We were also able to add a lot of management tools, business practices and group branding.”

All the Doree Bonner depots have common branding and the vehicles are in common colours, but with the local identity still featuring prominently. Local advertising remains in the name of the local identity, but international work is promoted in the group name only.

“We wondered if having the local names on vans would be a problem for corporate accounts, but it never was,” said Geoff.

Today, the Dartford office alone is five times bigger than the original company they bought in 1994. Together, the group employs 180 staff and has 70 vehicles in the fleet. What’s more, the company is profitable – its policy of acquisition has worked.

Doree Bonner has become successful because its key people have made good business decisions and it has employed good people. But, it is the business culture that is responsible as much as anything else.

“Gordon and I care about our staff and our customers,” said Geoff. “If we care, so does everyone who works here.”

This principle shows itself in many ways. Every customer is called the day before the move to make sure they know what to expect; briefings are held every morning before the crews leave, so that they understand the job and the personal requirements of each customer; training includes inter-personal skills, as well and practical ones and, on the rare occasion there is an insurance claim, it is a company requirement that the general manager visits the customer and brings the claim to a satisfactory conclusion within seven days.

Doree Bonner uses Survey Monkey to record customer feedback. The company has also recently introduced its values principles, which are explained in a new brochure, discussed during training, displayed throughout each branch and posted in cabs.

Diversification The company’s work is now 35 per cent international. All shipping operations are handled through the Dartford hub. Most of the work is for private customers and goes to the main migrant destinations.

To combat the recession, Doree Bonner focussed on business development, switching its sales effort from private to corporate. 2014 will see its best ever trading in the company’s history and

33

they enjoy a strong portfolio of corporate clients both, domestic and international.

Doree Bonner Newcastle, over the years, has worked with some of the North East’s top companies and institutions, including NEDL, Newcastle City Council, the RVI, and Newcastle University.

In 2006, they were involved in one of the largest relocations to ever take place in the city, when the City Library was demolished and the new modern library was built in its place. This project required Doree Bonner to wrap, sequentially pack, move and store 45,000 books, 7,500 illustrations, 1,500 maps and1, 600 newspapers - all in all 7,660 linear meters of stock.

The future When asked what he is most proud of at the company, Geoff has no hesitation in putting his people on a pedestal. People like branch manger in Newcastle, David Robson, who has worked tirelessly to successfully develop the branch, and the loyalty shown by Ken Tallentire, who has been with Doree Bonner Newcastle since it was acquired.

For the future, he suspects the company will be back on the acquisition trail before long, but he has no desire to spread its tentacles beyond the UK’s shores.

Geoff is concerned about increasing regulation and red tape, dealing with unrealistic pricing not only from man and van operators, maintaining quality in the industry and the exponential growth of technology and social media. But, despite these anxieties, he believes that nothing can replace face-to-face communications and personal contact.

“People buy people,” says Geoff. “And people will always pay a little more to get that little bit extra.”

LAW & FINANCE

Two days in the Supreme Court Last month, the Supreme Court heard a legal argument about an issue that could affect many people if they have been divorced in the past.

EXPERT VIEW Joanne Major Principal at Major Family Law Tel: (01661) 82 45 82 Web: www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk Twitter: @majorfamilylaw

r Dale Vince OBE married Ms Wyatt in 1981. She had a daughter from a previous relationship and they had a son together. They were only together for about three years, separating in 1984, although Ms Wyatt says that she remained hopeful that they would reconcile. They had no assets at the time of their marriage or separation.

Eventually, a decree absolute bought their marriage to an end in October 1992. Ms Wyatt never remarried, but had two children with a subsequent partner. Mr Vince did remarry in 2006 and had a child with his new wife.

In 2011, Ms Wyatt suddenly made a financial application against Mr Vince, 27 years after their separation and almost 20 years after the decree absolute bought their marriage to an end.

MS Wyatt was successful at that stage in

M

securing an order for Mr Vince to pay £125,000 to her solicitors, so that she can pursue a financial claim against him.

Mr Vince is now a multi-millionaire; he created his entire wealth after the decree absolute. He applied to the High Court to strike out her claim, arguing that she shouldn’t be allowed to make a claim against him because of the length of time that has passed from the end of their marriage. He was unsuccessful in the High Court, but he appealed, and the Court of Appeal agreed with him, as her case had “no real prospect of success”.

Ms Wyatt was given permission for the case to be heard in the Supreme Court, before four men and one woman. Ms Wyatt’s team submitted that the case should never have been struck out. She bought up two children of the family on her own and that contribution alone should be sufficient to make a claim

34

against Mr Vince. Her lawyers made the point that she is entitled to make a claim against Mr Vince as a result of their marriage, despite the number of years that have passed and despite the fact that he had no money at the time they divorced.

Mr Vince’s team don’t think that Ms Wyatt’s claim has any chance of success because of the long delay, which they say amounts to an abuse of process. While many legal claims are time limited, financial claims after divorce are not. These claims exist until they are dismissed, which can only be by order of the court. The only other way that Ms Wyatt’s claims could be terminated is if she remarried before making the claims, which she did not.

This case could impact on anyone who, like Mr Vince, has become wealthy after divorce without first dismissing the ex-partner’s financial claims. The arguments are in; all we can do is wait for the outcome.

LAW & FINANCE

Performance: do you understand how hard your money is working?

Vinay Bedi of UBS Wealth Management on why tracking your investments’ performance is so important.

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

suspect the time has come to talk about something that is close to the hearts of many investors and, to be fair, should be closer to the hearts of an awful lot more.

I am referring to performance; the performance of your investments, how hard this money is working for you and how you can measure it. So many times I see investors becoming agitated over this subject, being misled over the subject, or even totally misunderstanding the issue. It is one of the wonders of the modern financial age, with all of its myriad of new regulation and compliance, that the word ‘performance’ can still be so widely interpreted and assessed.

It also continues to amaze me that so many people who have investments, which we will call ‘indirect’ for the sake of argument (pension funds, insurance policies and even endowments etc), do not understand or receive detailed analysis of the performance of their investments.

I

I, like most people, have a pension and I even have some endowments from the old days of my early house buying. The performance information provided by the insurance companies on these ‘saving’ schemes is disappointing to say the least.

When I, as a so-called ‘expert’, compare the performances I see with some of the wellknown and appropriate indicators (APCIMS Balanced, for example), I often end up disappointed and very rarely pleasantly surprised.

Unfortunately, I cannot change this, but where you can influence matters, you should.

Ensure that you understand what you are asking your investment manager to do, make sure he does it and ensure that you are able to monitor the results. So, simple issues could be: • Where you are asking the money to be invested (equities, fixed income etc).

• Make sure you compare like for like. If you agree on 70 per cent in equities, compare performance with a measure that has the same percentage in equities.

• The advantages of managed funds versus tracker. Do you want your investment manager to use his skill and judgement to ‘add value’ to markets, or are you content to mirror the performance of markets alone, with all the highs and lows that can entail?

• Understand where things have gone wrong and where things have gone right. Your investment manager should offer this information without you needing to ask.

It seems bizarre that, after all we have been through in the last six or seven years, these fundamental principles remain a mystery to so many. It is your money. It is your future. Make sure you understand it.

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.

36

LAW & FINANCE

Invoice Finance supports the UK’s economic growth at a record level Glen Callender of Hitachi Capital explains why invoice finance is great for helping UK businesses grow.

EXPERT VIEW Glen Callander Senior business development manager Hitachi Capital www.hitachi.co.uk

Invoice finance is growing…

The latest Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA) stats show that the amount of funding by its members has jumped to a whopping 12 per cent in the last 12 months, with just under £20 billion being funded to businesses from ABFA members. That really is a considerable part of the business finance market and is certainly growing faster than many other forms of business lending.

What is really incredible is that the companies with turnovers of over £100 million grew their finance by 22 per cent and also the smallest companies (£500,000 turnover and below) grew by an amazing 31 per cent.

This really does show what a great product invoice finance is, with factoring, confidential discounting and asset based lending helping to fuel the growth of the UK economy.

I fully welcome this great news with it endorsing my view of what a great product invoice finance is for helping UK businesses grow, with it being linked to sales turnover, therefore, creating a very flexible and cost effective funding option.

Do big companies and micro SMEs make strange bedfellows?

Big companies, with well-qualified finance teams, use asset-based finance (invoice finance) and micro SME/owner managed businesses are the fastest growing finance bands, so these may seem like strange bedfellows.

However, I believe both segments understand the simplicity of funding; both look past misconceptions and do what’s right for their business – but for very different reasons.

SMEs, because they just need cost effective finance, with invoice financing giving the highest funding level at a competitive rate, then large companies because they have the selfconfidence to know asset based finance is best for their business need.

Transport and retail – literally driving growth Invoice finance has long been a favoured sector for ABFA members and it appears that this sector is the fastest to recover, with this possible being linked to 20 per cent increase in retail

38

clients using invoice finance (although from smaller client bases).

The manufacturing sector (the biggest users of invoice finance) also marginally increased but, again, a really good signal that the economy is turning and that invoice finance as a market may be poised to fulfil its potential as the finance product to fuel economies future growth.

A word of caution However, when you look through the whole market, the figures are little more sobering.

The number of clients using invoice finance across all sectors only grew by 0.8 per cent in the last 12 months and is still below the credit crunch levels.

So, as an industry, all ABFA members have a role to make invoice finance as simple to understand, simple to buy, simple to leave as possible. At Hitachi Capital, we have a range of simple products with only one (two for larger companies) fee and no hidden extras, making it simpler for clients to understand the costs and grow.

LAW & FINANCE

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH How do you celebrate 25 years in business? Take nine colleagues on an epic journey, testing their strength, endurance and determination, through 21 stages supporting a great charity – the Tour de Force. By Team Leathers LLP.

me, which makes me feel fantastic.

After my previous scrapes with death, you may have think I'd give things like the Tour de Force a wide berth. I've had three occasions where I really thought my time was up: when I had a canoeing accident on Victoria Island, where I became stuck underwater under the canoe, after I fell down Blencathra mountain during a walking trek and, lastly, when I almost fell off a disused railway bridge in Durham while cycling.

While the Tour de Force is definitely the most extreme thing I've ever taken on, I do hope it is the least eventful! The main part for me is the charity aspect – I desperately want to raise £50,000 for the William Wates Foundation. It isn’t a charity that most people will have heard of (I know I hadn't come across it before), but when you research the reasons for it being established and the work it has done to support such crucial projects in local communities, you realise just how special it really is.

I really want to use this opportunity for myself, the team and Leathers LLP to raise as much as we possibly can for this brilliant cause. While it's our 25th anniversary, I don't want any congratulations or gifts. Instead, I would like donations to our charity and in support of our efforts.

It's our chance to do something amazing and to give something back to society – this money will make such a huge difference to their work. Please support us!

aking part in the whole of the Tour de Force is probably a mad idea, even by my standards. But, there is method in my madness and, thankfully, after I dropped the initial bombshell on the team, they shared in that and have signed up, too.

So, we now have the nine-strong Team Leathers. Many more people who work with us would have loved to have taken part too, but felt that, physically, it was just too much, but their support in other ways means the world to us all.

The idea came to me for a number of reasons. For one, 2015 marks 25 years in business for Leathers LLP. To get to 25 years is a real achievement for myself and the team and deserves marking in a special way.

While many people would just have a party, I wanted to do something that was a real lasting tribute to the hard work and tireless dedication that has gone into making this business a success.

Cycling has been a revelation for me. Not so long ago, I was 21 stone and very unhealthy. Working long hours and sitting behind a desk all day, the weight crept on bit by bit, until I reached the point where I knew I couldn't go on as I was.

In the few years since taking up cycling and being more health conscious, my weight has been much better. At one point, I lost seven stone and, while my weight has fluctuated since, I have never been anything like I was and credit cycling with changing my whole attitude to health and fitness.

In the time I've been training more intensely in preparation for the Tour de Force, my weight has dropped again – I'm now known, by some, as 'The Shrinking Partner'!

Looking at photos of me from a few years ago, even I think I'm pretty unrecognisable. My youngest daughter says she loves how she can now get her arms all the way around me when she hugs

T

Michael Leather

40

For more information about the Leathers Tour, visit www.howdoyoucelebrate25yearsinbusiness.co.uk To find out more about the William Wates Memorial Trust, visit www.wwmt.org For general enquiries, visit www.leathersllp.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE Left to right: Damian Robson and Jonathon Stokes

New appointment at Gordon Brown sets the bar high North East-based Gordon Brown Law Firm has expanded its team with the appointment of an experienced associate solicitor, who has been named in The Legal 500 three times.

2-year-old Damian Robson, who studied Law at Durham University, works alongside the firm’s head of dispute resolution Jonathon Stokes, specialising in employment law and is training towards becoming a barrister.

On graduating in Law from Durham University in 1999, Damian began his career at Browell Smith & Co as a paralegal while studying his Legal Practice Course (LPC) parttime across two years at Northumbria University.

Damian, from Newcastle, went on to complete his training contract with Ward Hadaway and then took on a role at EEF in 2003, qualifying as a solicitor. Following this, Damian joined Dickinson Dees prior to its merger, where he was quickly promoted to

4

associate solicitor.

Seeing an opportunity to retrain as a barrister, Damian joined Gordon Brown Law Firm this October from Ward Hadaway, where he had returned for four years.

Damian said: “It’s apparent that Gordon Brown is investing in further establishing itself in the business community and their transparent, people-focused approach is particularly refreshing.

“I admire the company’s eagerness to explore opportunities that could benefit clients and the fact that they are willing to engage an in-house advocate’s role is a really exciting prospect for me.”

Damian hopes to qualify as a barrister and will become a member of local Chambers, alongside his role at Gordon Brown.

42

Damian added: “I have sat all four exams required at this stage and am currently waiting to be called to the bar at one of the quarterly callings. From there, on completing a three month pupillage, I will officially be a barrister – hopefully by spring next year.”

“It’s a lengthy process which has demanded substantial commitment financially and emotionally, but one that will certainly be worthwhile.”

Jonathon Stokes said: “I can see already that Damian is going to be a real asset to our specialist employment law team and his wealth of experience in the region’s legal scene will no doubt speak for itself over the coming months.”

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

LAW & FINANCE

A balanced outlook Simon Landale, a director of insurance and financial services company, Lycetts, talks to Alexis Forsyth about the company’s past 12 months and what lies ahead in 2015. ycetts is an independently operated insurance and financial services company, homegrown here in Newcastle over 50 years ago. The organisation now boasts 16 offices in locations such as London, Edinburgh, Oxford, Fakenham, with head office still based in Newcastle City Centre.

Providing insurance and financial advice to a mix of commercial, rural and private clients, Lycetts places the interests of its clients at the heart of its work, something that’s reflected in its mission statement, as Simon explains: “Our corporate aim is to be one of the most trusted specialist advisers in the UK.” The insurance division provides expertise and advice relating to corporate and business risks, and has developed an enviable reputation across the Farm and Estate, Bloodstock, Renewable Energy and high value residential property sectors.

Its financial services arm, meanwhile, specialises in providing financial planning solutions to both business and personal clients, offering invaluable and impartial advice on pensions, inheritance tax, life assurance, protection, health insurance and investments.

Lycetts has undergone what Simon describes

L

as a five-year transition period; it is now owned

by Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, which, in turn, is wholly owned by the Allchurches Trust charity.

Simon says: “What makes us unique is that our net profits ultimately go to charitable causes and in 2014 contributed to the EIG total of some £16.5 million. There is a group ambition of this £16.5m total forming part of an overall target of £50 million over the next three years. ” Integrating more fully with its new owners has been one of the organisation’s key objectives over the past 12 months and, alongside this, achieving chartered status in some parts of the business has been a particular highlight.

“Last year, our commercial division achieved chartered status and this year has been the turn of our financial services company to become chartered,” says Simon.

2014 presented its challenges, too. The tough and uncertain economic backdrop, Simon admits, has been hard. The Retail Distribution Review also required a number of changes to be made, but a loyal, steadfast and highly capable team took all these in

44

their stride.

Its head office is based at Milburn House - a stone’s throw from the historic Castle Keep – and, despite the company’s sprawl across the UK, remains the epicentre for the Lycetts group.

So, why is the company’s head office still located here in the North East, 54 years on?

Simon says it makes perfect sense: “The fact that we started here, there’s a real sense of pride about being a Northern business with a national footprint. Although we cover all of the UK, if you put a pin prick in the country then we are fairly close to being in the middle, geographically speaking.”

He continues: “The North East is a vibrant and positive place to be, with some excellent skilled individuals and well run businesses with lots of opportunities.”

In 2015, Lycetts will be looking to continue its growth and to source more jobs for the North East. Simon adds: “We like to get out there, network and provide a great service.”

For more information about Lycetts visit www.lycetts.co.uk, or call the Newcastle office on (0191) 232 1151.

LAW & FINANCE

Google tax and see what you find Urges Stuart McKinnon, partner at Baker Tilly.

ust like the Coca Cola advert heralds the arrival of Christmas, HMRC’s adverts reminding us to file our Tax Returns and make our tax payments means the January self-assessment deadline is upon us.

Those people who have yet to file their Return may be tempted to Google ‘tax’ to seek help, but you may find a strange result, as Google and tax have become strange bedfellows.

It all started when the Government woke up to the fact that multi-national organisations are likely to set up their global operations to minimise tax exposure. This is lawful, but for many, has been seen as objectionable.

The G20 nations have got together to address this, but in the Autumn statement the UK Government has broken ranks with the proposed introduction of what has been dubbed as a Google Tax. Clearly, it doesn’t just apply to Google (other search engines are

J

EXPERT VIEW Stuart McKinnon Partner at Baker Tilly Tel: (0191) 255 7000 Email: stuart.mckinnon@bakertilly.co.uk Web: www.bakertilly.co.uk

45

available!), but it is aimed at structures, which that company has been reported to have put in place.

As a firm, Baker Tilly North East very much supports the reform of the taxation of multinationals, but we are concerned about knee jerk reactions as they very rarely produce good law.

For instance, there is a section in the Taxes Act, which it was rumoured was introduced in the 1960’s to defeat tax arrangements entered into by the Beatles.

Many years after the group disbanded, this piece of legislation was still causing problems in ordinary commercial transactions. There is something to be said for just stepping back and looking at the bigger picture rather than going for sound bite law.

Good luck with your Tax Return, if you still haven’t completed it. But be careful what you Google - you may not actually find what you are looking for.

LAW & FINANCE

Crowdfunding - gaining momentum

By Greg Bolton, head of corporate finance at RMT Accountants & Business Advisors Ltd

EXPERT VIEW Greg Bolton Head of corporate finance RMT Accountants & Business Advisors Ltd Email: greg.bolton@r-m-t.co.uk Tel: (0191) 256 950 Web: www.r-m-t.co.uk

ne of the most high-profile business developments of 2014 has been the maturing of the UK crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending industries, with investors keen to find out more about the opportunities and risks involved of seeking returns that are potentially way above those offered by conventional savings products.

As members of the Association of Crowdfunding Experts, we’ve been involved with a number of firms looking for investment through different crowdfunding initiatives, and it’s been very interesting to see how the available options have widened as the year has progressed.

It’s an area that we think can only continue to expand into 2015, and we’re expecting to be talking to even more North East businesses about what it might offer them.

However, there is a great deal more to successfully navigating your way through the crowdfunding process than simply saying “we need x thousand pounds to fund this idea,” and,

O

if it’s a route down which you’re considering taking your business, you need to go into the process with your eyes wide open.

Once you have established how much funding you need and that crowdfunding is the route to take, you should consider the type of crowdfunding that is appropriate for you.

The three most common types are equity, debt or reward. With equity funding, investors receive a share of your business in return for their investment, while with debt funding, you are taking a loan from the crowd, which is repayable, with interest to the investors over a period of time.

With reward-based crowdfunding, investors receive something other than ownership or money from you in return for their investment.

For example if you are developing a new product, investors may receive one of the products when completed in return for their investment.

The recent Kickstarter fund raise for Lunar Mission One to send a probe to the moon is an

46

example of this type of funding. Amongst other things, investors can have their DNA sent to the moon in return for funding.

There might also be a range of regulatory requirements with which you need to comply before you finalise the terms of any contracts on which you base your investor relationships.

If you choose to work with a facilitator to help get your proposition in shape, make sure you’re fully aware of the fees and/or commissions that you will be liable to pay to them.

You should also ensure that you’ve fully investigated the tax implications of whatever proposition you put forward, both from your own company’s point of view and from that of your investors.

There is potentially a lot for businesses to gain from taking this approach to accessing new capital, but there is also a lot that could go wrong. As with any commercial decision, take the time to find out exactly what you’re getting into before you get into it.

EVENT

Sarah Furness of Hay & Kilner, Ian Goss of Howard Russell Construction Limited

Hay & Kilner Christmas drinks Hay & Kilner recently held a drinks reception at Popolo in Newcastle to thank their many valued clients and professional contacts for their support during the year.

H

ay & Kilner continues to forge strong relationships within the North East business community and will be participating in a number of local charitable events during the year.

For further information, please contact Mike O'Beirne, business development manager at Hay & Kilner.

For more information, visit (0191) 232 8345 or email mike.obeirne@hay-kilner.co.uk Dean Whittaker of Clear Finance, Abu Ali of Ryecroft Glenton

Left to right: Brad Thomas of RHK, David Hughes & Paul McAtominey both of Universal Tax Strategies

Left to right: Emma Glover of Rowlands Accountants, Nicola Matthews of Hay & Kilner, Geoff Cawthorne of Ryecroft Glenton

48

Left to right: Sarah Hall of Hay & Kilner, Lee Andrews of Solutions Recruitment, Rodney Jones of Hay & Kilner, John Thompson of LSL Property Servicest

Left to right: Stephen Slater of RMT, Ben Hunter of Silverstone Building Consultancy Limited, Mike Lynch of Mike Lynch Advertising

Shaun Cannell of Property Infomation Exchange & Shaun O'Neill of Hay & Kilner

Left to right: Richard Ward of Handelsbanken, Sarah O'Hare of Hay & Kilner, Alice Clewes of Hay & Kilner, Tony Turner of Tony Turner Accountants

Left to right: Chris Ferguson of Deloitte, Iain Shearer of Handelsbanken, Neil Harrold of Hay & Kilner, Neil Matthews Leather Matthews Restructuring LLP

Left to right: Mark Adams of Hay & Kilner, Chris McCourt of Tait Walker, Greg Bolton of RMT, Graham Brown of RMT Left to right: Nick Warnaby of Virgin Money plc, Joanne Marlor of Wallers, Dan Mobberley of Virgin Money, Amanda Robinson of Wallers

Left to right: Martin Soloman of Hay & Kilner, Andrew Entwistle of George F White, Alan Woolhead of Ryecroft Glenton, Michael Cook of Joseph Miller & Co Left to right: Mick Robson, Sharon Robson, Elaine Hays, Sandra Warner & Gary Hays all of Newcastle City Hall

49

LAW & FINANCE

New Year, new start Julia Middleton, associate solicitor in the family and matrimonial unit at Ward Hadaway, explains why January is often the busiest month for divorce lawyers. ith the end of the Christmas break, many of us intend to start the New Year by making resolutions of what we hope to achieve in the coming

W

year.

It might be giving up alcohol after too many parties over the festive period, losing weight or getting a new job, for example.

Some start the New Year with a resolve to make a new start and it is, therefore, no surprise that January is frequently stated to be the busiest month for enquiries made to lawyers about divorce and separation.

A good New Year's resolution for those contemplating separation, or already going through it, is to maintain a civilised relationship with their ex, especially where children are involved.

For some, asking the court to determine issues regarding finances and children is necessary, but this can alienate couples further and cause conflict.

There are, therefore, alternative methods, which may be preferable.

Separating couples may wish to use a dispute resolution process option, such as mediation or

EXPERT VIEW Julia Middleton Associate solicitor Ward Hadaway Tel: (0191) 204 4318 Email: julia.middleton@wardhadaway.com

collaborative family practice, to resolve any issues.

Mediators are trained and neutral third parties, who meet with separating couples to help them work out practical issues arising from their separation.

For those who would prefer to have the support of their lawyer by their side throughout, collaborative family practice can be considered.

This is where the parties and their lawyers engage in a series of meetings to discuss and agree the details of their separation, leaving the parties in control of the outcome, rather than a judge in court imposing a decision upon them.

In the collaborative process, couples have access to family consultants to assist with the emotional impact of the separation and also specially trained, neutral financial advisers, if necessary.

Some couples are able to resolve their separation amicably between themselves or through negotiations through their lawyers.

It is not a case of "one size fits all" and couples contemplating separation should be aware of the options available to them and, ideally, choose together the process most suited for them and their family.

What do businesses really want ... from a man that gives them money?

By Jonathan Gold, founder and director at Rivers Capital. unning a venture capital and loan firm can, at times, be an odd experience.

Unlike most small businesses, I spend a lot of my time trying to get money out.

The trick of course, as an investor, is getting it back in, with hopefully a return.

This does give me an interesting perspective on small businesses. After all, we have seen over a thousand business plans and entrepreneurs in the last five years, invested in 57 with £7.5 million of our own capital while attracting around £4 million from other private investors.

We also run a £4 million loan book and have some 340 loans to businesses at the moment.

That still leaves me around £2.5 million in loans to make in 2015 and just under £1 million in other investments.

What do they need and how’s it all going?

Well, the overriding feeling I get is ‘cautious’ from existing small businesses and lots of enthusiasm and optimism from new entrepreneurs and startups.

All too often, I think many people don’t really understand what it takes to attract investment or

R

even a loan these days. There are great exceptions to all this, not least in the over 400 businesses we have in our loan and equity portfolio.

What bothers me are the businesses that won’t seek to expand, or feel they can’t, due to a lack of cash or the knowledge of how to get it. We need them to step forward, too, as the North East can’t

50

afford to leave out these businesses from the recovery.

That is what we are here for. My mission, since I came up here 12 years ago, is to help attract and manage capital for businesses and also educate them on how to do this and better manage their cash in the process.

I understand that business owners can be reluctant to look critically at the business and how it all works. Who am I to say they could improve?

Well, I’m someone who has seen it done by many who have taken the bold step to change and made it work.

For all these reasons, we run half-day courses alongside our investment activity. People who go on them and then raise cash find it tough but the majority (we check from time to time) say their business is better for both experiences.

Statistics still show that businesses that take more cash are more successful than those who don’t.

For more information about access to finance, please visit www.riverscap.com

LAW & FINANCE

Identity theft – are you protecting yourself?

Why more vigilance is needed, according to McDaniels Law. he advent of the digital age has made communication almost instantaneous. At the touch of a button, information about pretty much anything is freely available.

The biggest drawback, however, is that with such unrivalled freedom, checks on the sources of information can be overlooked. What appears to be genuine and from a reliable source can be easily masked There have been various reports of institutions ‘losing’ personal data; bank accounts, account passwords and even computer login details. The ability to pretend that you are somebody else, sometimes on a mass scale, is more prevalent than ever. It is so important to keep your details safe. But what do you do if you find somebody’s impersonating you?

Enter Martin McAloon, once an integral part of 80s pop legends Prefab Sprout. In midNovember, Martin was contacted by a wellknown fan and journalist who’d received an email, from what appeared to be him, asking for help identifying and supplying back catalogue and rare recordings of Prefab Sprout. Eventually

T

becoming suspicious, the fan checked with Martin to see if the account was genuine.

“I was taken aback that anyone could be bothered to impersonate me and the lengths they’d gone to was one thing, but primarily at the prospect of other damage that could be caused in my name,” said Martin.

51

“The impostor had gone to a lot of trouble to masquerade as me, including setting up an email account using my data. Looking at the email and its content, I can see how most people would have been fooled.”

Martin contacted Niall Head-Rapson at McDaniel & Co (pictured), who told Martin to get in touch with PIPCU (Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit) based in the City of London.

“On the face of it, this was a case of seeking to procure copyright material by deception and just the sort of incident that PIPCU was designed for,” said Mr Head-Rapson.

Within a day of having the fraud notified to him, Martin had contacted the police and they are now dealing with the incident. However, this scenario is not rare and vigilance is needed to ensure those who seek to gain by such deception should not prosper.

For more information, visit www.mcdanielslaw.com or call (0191) 281 4000

LAW & FINANCE

Investment points to remember in 2015 According to Michelle Steggles, private banker at Barclays Wealth and Investment Management.

EXPERT VIEW Michelle Steggles Private banker at Barclays Wealth and Investment Management Web: www.barclays.com

e have characterised the current economic/market moment as the ‘Great Divergence’. It is the time when growth trajectories around the globe are starting to part ways. As they do, we may well see differentiated returns across both regions and asset classes. With the velocity of growth splintering among nations, there are a handful of ideas to keep firmly in mind.

Volatility, by its nature, is unstable. Periods of low volatility are dangerous; they lull investors into believing market risks have subsided. Quantitative easing programs have likely muted volatility, as money created through these schemes has created a bid for financial assets. Volatility is, or at least should be, volatile.

Interest rates are in a period of transition. In the euro zone and Japan, interest rates will likely remain repressed by central bank quantitative easing. In the United States, the transition to a more market-based pricing of money is under way as quantitative easing has come to an end, and the advent of higher interest rates is likely only months away.

W

Financial history has demonstrated that prolonged periods of cheap and easy money create all sorts of mal-investment that are – often painfully - revealed when market forces begin to assert themselves again. ‘Low for longer’ can no longer be the mantra of the fixed income set.

Diverging interest rates will impact currency prices. The near-parabolic rise in the tradeweighted US dollar since early July aligned well with the realisation that the United States was beginning to pull away from other developed markets in terms of its growth trajectory and that interest rates will likely follow. Money tends to follow economic growth and interest rates. Both of these are set to trend higher in the US in 2015.

Geopolitical developments can be fodder for arresting headlines, but the promise and the reality of these developments often fail to manifest themselves on asset prices. Russia, ISIL and Ebola were all real and difficult human issues in 2014, but none really changed the course of financial markets.

Beware of extrapolating the immediate past into the future. The path of events rarely

moves along a straight line. Whether it is interest rates, oil prices or asset-class returns, the temptation to extrapolate current price trends far out into the future is considerable, and no one community does that better than Wall Street or the Financial City of London.

Higher interest rates, due to faster growth, are not a problem but a blessing. A great deal will be written about the impact this will have on equity markets. The first interest rate increase will be the hardest for the market to digest, as it forces the formation of a new consensus. A Federal Reserve official recently opined that when the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, it will be a historic event.

We think that it will be a normal event in the context of a recovering economy. Faster economic growth that brings with it more investment, consumption, employment and profits, with or without higher interest rates, is always better than low interest rates and weak growth. Beware the zeitgeist of muddling groupthink.

Whatever the future(s) hold for investors in 2015, keeping this handful of principles in mind will help to separate signal from noise.

Barclays does not provide tax or legal advice. We therefore recommend that you obtain independent tax and legal advice tailored to your needs.

52

TECHNOLOGY NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Advantex secures £500,000 worth of new business Fast growth for IT and infrastructure specialists.

S

Work to provide IT services for a North East car dealership is among new contract wins worth in excess of £500,000 for Advantex Network Solutions Ltd. The Gateshead-based firm, one of the region’s leading suppliers of IT and communications services, has been working for the region’s most successful Peugeot dealership, Simon Bailes Peugeot, across the company’s four sites in Northallerton, Guisborough and Stockton.

The contract has included a major upgrade to the dealerships’ PC technology network, as well as a new internet infrastructure and enhanced secure Wi-Fi connectivity for staff and visitors.

Advantex’s head of IT, John Prescott, said: “This exciting project will see touchscreen PCs installed and connected in their showrooms to enable customers to interactively select and build their own cars.”

“The showrooms will be securely connected together to allow the Simon Bailes Peugeot teams to better communicate with each other, allowing

Advantex’s John Prescott (left) with Simon Bailes and Bridget Carlton

staff to flexibly work anywhere with access to all their emails and documents.”

A third phase of work will see the expansion of the existing internet-based phone services (VoIP) to the Northallerton showroom and the ability to call from site to site to reduce telecom costs and provide reliable and fast communications for the company.

Managing director, Simon Bailes, said: “We’re currently undergoing a period of development and investing heavily in our

operations systems so that we can continually provide the highest levels of customer service. Advantex is helping us to do exactly that and has been exceptionally proactive in developing our systems.”

The contracts are the latest success for Advantex, which is looking to boost current turnover of £4 million by 20 per cent in the next year and expand its workforce of 45 people as work starts to ramp-up in the coming months.

Solutions for Accounting invests in software support to help with growth

S

olutions for Accounting – a Top 10 Sage Business Partner – announced its arrival in the North East by winning a major IT support contract for County Durham-based DJH Group.

The business and financial management solutions provider, which opened a new office in Newcastle in 2013, was appointed by DJH Group to support its Sage 200 system that was struggling to cope with significant growth in orders for its metal gifts, models, toys and hardware.

Solutions for Accounting worked with

The team at DJH.

54

DJH to identify the problems before suggesting implement workable solutions to build efficiencies into the existing software system, which incorporates Financials, Commercials and Manufacturing modules and Spindle Document Distribution.

Iain Barker, managing director at Solutions for Accounting, commented: “We’re extremely pleased with how this project has gone and are proud to count DJH Group as a client. Our support is having a clear business impact and providing a driver for further business improvement.”

TECHNOLOGY

Garry Sheriff, managing director of ITPS

Data centres: what’s in it for you?

In the latest in a series of articles explaining more about data centres, Garry Sheriff, managing director of data centre specialists ITPS, takes a look at what to look for in a provider. o, your business is struggling to manage growing data management requirements effectively, and you are considering switching from in-house, on-premise ICT in favour of a data centre model that provides a safe, secure environment with uninterrupted access. When looking to put your systems and data in what are today’s digital fortresses, what should you look for in a provider?

Not every data centre relationship is a happy one, and this is often due to lack of understanding on the client’s part about what is involved. Today’s data centres offer a flexible service range, from server or rack hosting, to colocation, where the client’s servers are managed by its own staff, or a full service model where the client uses the data centre hardware to run some or all of its business applications, supported by the provider’s own team of specialists.

There are a few key issues to address when interviewing potential providers:

S

• Consider the longevity and track record of the provider. Are they a young business with a small team, or do they have a large number of high calibre, industry-certified experts in a cross-section of technical disciplines?

• Are their data centres UK owned and managed, or will your data be entrusted to an overseas base, managed by people you have never met?

• Communications are crucial - is the data centre carrier-neutral, giving you direct, fast access to

national and international telecoms operators, networks and European internet exchanges?

Ask about capacity – beware of providers cutting costs by avoiding investment in communications. Our data centres are connected by a 10Gbps+ link to give our clients access to super-fast, always available communications.

• If your equipment is housed in the data centre, can you access it when you need to, what are the security arrangements? Check out whether there are biometric security, visitor logs and CCTV in place, ideally plus escorted access and individual security locks on all racks.

• Ask about the power usage equivalent (PUE) rating. Data centres are heavy energy users, and the PUE rating measures how efficiently energy is used to power and cool both IT equipment and the building infrastructure.

The optimum PUE score is 1.0, meaning no energy loss whatsoever. Realistically, that score is not yet possible, but with manufacturers constantly developing smarter technology, data centres such as our new £4 million operation in Chester le Street can boast a PUE rating of just 1.2, against a global average of 1.7.

• What are the power arrangements, and what would happen in the event of a power failure?

Your provider should be able to demonstrate resilient power, cooling and connectivity arrangements, which should be backed up

56

with on-site technical staff to ensure 99.999999 per cent systems availability.

• Ask what data centre infrastructure management (DCIM) systems are in place?

Providers should be using specialist software giving them the ability to monitor, measure and control their operations in order to optimise performance.

• One of the most crucial queries is what business continuity (BC) and disaster recovery (DR) plans are in place to cover the data centre itself, should it suffer an interruption.

Anyone selling BC and DR services should have ISO27001 certification in place, as a mark of their expertise and commitment to quality.

Considering placing your systems and data in the hands of experts is not a decision to be taken lightly, and these are just a few of the many questions that any data centre provider should be happy to answer.

If you want to see what a state-of-the-art data centre looks like and find out how it could give your business a competitive edge, come and talk to the North East’s leading experts in data centre services for complete peace of mind that you are making the right decision.

For more information, visit www.it-ps.com, email contact@itps.co.uk or tel: (0191) 442 0250

TECHNOLOGY

BYOD: Open your mind to opening your networks Andrew Robson, CEO of North-East based IT consultancy, Perfect Image, discusses the growth of Bring Your Own Device schemes and how companies can embrace a mobile workstyle. oday's computing has evolved, moving from a fixed single location to full corporate connectivity on the go, due to the increasing use of mobile devices in the workplace over the last five years. In fact, mobile device sales, including tablets and mobile phones, are now greater than that of new PCs and other desktop computers.

There’s no escaping it – we live in a digital world and, as a result, the way in which we work is changing. We’re no longer bound to our desks, rather, we access data from a range of different devices. Employees want to be able to use mobile devices at work, and employers want to be able to provide these devices for a more productive and better connected workforce.

A mobile computing environment facilitates work from the comfort of any location, with any device, so long as there is a connection.

With the presence of high speed connections and the proliferation of wireless hotspots, the promotion and inevitable growth of mobile computing is assured.

However, it does raise questions for a company and its IT department on how to manage the use of mobile devices in the work place. Tablet and smartphone manufacturers have made mobile working so simple; mobile users have set their own tablets and smartphones up to connect and access what was once under corporate lock and key,

T

without any formal permissions or compliance.

Of course, this presents a number of security issues to take into consideration, due to the prospect of unknown devises crossing the border between home-life and work-life, for example, the ability to wipe data from devices if they’re lost, as well as controlling the applications used on them. The question is, if a business allows its employees to bring their own mobile devices into the work place – otherwise known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) – how do you separate their personal apps from work related apps in a safe and secure environment?

The fact is, BYOD is here to stay and is set to become a normal element of a flexible work-life balance. Companies can and, importantly, should open their minds to the concept of opening their networks, figuratively speaking. Rather than shunning the BYOD concept and finding out it’s happening in the workplace anyway (or worse, not knowing employees are using their own mobile devises to access networks and therefore risk systems being abused), at Perfect Image we recommend BYOD schemes should at least be considered, with some basic building blocks adopted to embrace mobility and therefore protect against misuse.

A good mobile device management solution allows users to centralise remote control of all smart phones and tablets, and achieve real-

57

time systems management, including remote device reset, device locking, and device wiping.

It also allows users to conduct ‘over-the-air’ hardware, software and network inventories, as well as effective software management, including software delivery and automated applications repairs. In addition, a good mobile device management solution provides reporting and KPI measuring facilities.

In all, the traditional 9 to 5 working day sitting at the same desk all day, every day - isn’t the way most of us work now, and Perfect Image understands the challenges that this presents. Productivity and connectivity are key; companies want to be able to use their IT systems when they want, where they want and how they want.

BYOD and mobile computing will continue to grow for reasons of enhancing corporate communication efficiency, alignment to the Green Agenda and meeting other real business needs. It can also be used by employers to provide a better level of flexibility and therefore a more productive working environment.

To find out more about how you can integrate BYOD and mobile working successfully – as well as safely and securely – in your business, visit: www.perfectimage.co.uk/mobile-workstyle

TECHNOLOGY

It’s time for a change Says Pete Watson, CEO of Atlas Cloud. services and opportunities are available to business leaders at their doorstep.

Therefore, rather than trying to fix a broken system, businesses need to embrace this change in IT to get the most out of the talent and resources available to them to remain competitive in the marketplace. By putting this inevitable change off for another year, companies risk being left behind.

This year, think about IT It’s the time of year where we reflect on the past months, assess highs and lows, create resolutions and vow to do better this year. At the same time, the beginning of a new year is the perfect time for businesses to reflect on their processes and performance and look at how they can improve and grow.

One crucial but often neglected business area is IT. So many business leaders try to avoid undergoing major changes and often accept an underperforming IT infrastructure, yet IT is essential for business operations and success while employees seek to be empowered with the tools to do their job.

This year, do IT differently 2014 has been a progressive year for technology and we’ve seen large advancements in Wi-Fi accessibility, 3D printing, wearable technology and cloud computing.

The North East in particular has taken well to keeping up with technology as, according to a 2014 article in The Guardian, it is ‘the best kept secret in tech’, meaning that excellent

This year, make IT better Ask yourself:

EXPERT VIEW Pete Watson CEO Atlas Cloud The Hosted Desktop Specialists Tel: (0191) 283 0191 Email: hello@atlascloud.co.uk Web: www.atlascloud.co.uk

58

• Am I confident in my IT decision making as a business owner?

• Does my IT system enable my staff to work productively?

• Do I feel like I get value from my IT? Although daunting, reviewing your IT is not something that can wait another year. Use 2015 as the opportunity to make a fresh start.

Looking ahead, cloud computing may be the next step for your business.

TECHNOLOGY

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

SAMSUNG GALAXY A5 esigned to meet the demands of Twitter addicts and Facebook fanatics, as well as empowering younger, trendconscious consumers to easily capture meaningful moments and share their daily lives with their friends and loved ones, the new Samsung Galaxy A5 offers sleek design, superior hardware and the most advanced functions to support social networking. Along with its sister product, the Galaxy A3, the A5 is Samsung’s

D

slimmest smartphone to date, boasting refined full metal unibody designs that are 6.7mm and 6.9mm thin. Perfect for taking the ultimate ‘selfies’, it is equipped with an advanced 5MP front-facing camera and a range of innovative photo-taking features, including Wide and Palm Selfie, Animated GIF and Rear-cam Selfie, which enables users to capture photos in high resolution by automatically detecting and focusing on their (or someone else’s) face. It’s

60

also equipped with a Super AMOLED display and Adaptive Display technology to deliver clearer images and better angles for more vivid content, a Quad Core 1.2 processor for seamless multitasking and a faster browsing experience and exclusive Galaxy features, such as UltraPower Saving Mode, Private Mode and Multiscreen. www.samsung.com

MEDIA NEWS

O for outstanding O PR wins ‘Outstanding Consultancy of the Year’ at CIPR Pride Awards North East.

T

he team at Newcastle-based creative PR agency, O PR, received the overall gold award for 'Outstanding Consultancy of the Year' at CIPR Pride Awards North East, held at The Biscuit Factory last month.

CIPR Pride Awards North East is the only UKwide awards scheme that recognises excellence in public relations and communications work across Scotland,Wales,

Northern Ireland and six English regions.

The team, which shortlisted for seven awards on the night, also picked up the 'Best Use of Digital' gold award for their work on the launch of www.bimcrunch.com for architecture and design business, Space Group, and the 'Best Event' gold award for the Newcastle store launch for global fashion brand, Dr. Martens.

A social media campaign for

Northumberland #BestNland also claimed a silver award in the ‘Best Consumer Relations Campaign’.

Managing director at O PR, Kari Owers, said: “We’re delighted to be named ‘Outstanding Consultancy in the North East’ again. We’ve had a great year of growth, exciting new clients and recruitment of new faces and this is a brilliant way to enter into our tenth year in business in 2015.”

Sanderson Young wins national PR award

S

anderson Young’s in-house media department has been awarded with the national PR award at the Mayfair Group conference, held at the RAF Club in Piccadilly, London, last month.

As founding members of the 130-strong independent network of estate agents, Sanderson Young excelled in the category and beat off competition from agents all

over the country.

The annual award is presented to the agent that actively promotes and gains the highest level of free editorial of its properties from the national press, including features in The Telegraph, The Sunday Times, The Guardian and national glossy magazines, such as Country Life and Coast.

This significant accolade recognises

62

Sanderson Young’s strength in high-quality presentation and promotion of its properties, endeavouring to provide clients with the highest levels of service and exposure.

As the only agent in the North East to be part of the prestigious Mayfair Group, with national and international links, Sanderson Young is committed to adding value to their bespoke marketing strategies.

MEDIA Managing director, Brett Jacobson (centre)

Unlocking digital potential Managing director, Brett Jacobson, talks about how Mediaworks has gone from strength to strength, and explains why your company should be thinking digitally for 2015. f you’ve found yourself questioning how to boost your site’s visibility, you need to join the digital dots and find a solution that works for you and your customers. We all use Google, so every business needs to be search engine accessible. Thinking critically about your online strategy for 2015 is the first step to unlocking your digital potential, but is it enough?

You need an online campaign that understands your brand, your customers and your business objectives. Getting down to brass tacks, you have to figure out exactly what your business challenges are before implementing any strategy. Mediaworks is

I

rooted to strong digital foundations and, as a digital partner to all our clients, we’re happy to lay the building blocks needed to ensure they enjoy the same durable success.

Prior to planning any campaign with a client, we do some straight talking. We don’t entertain cloudy promises or half-baked ideas, which don’t appreciate your objectives. By asking a few direct questions that get the synapses firing, we make those first moves towards an algorithm that works for you. If you think about what you’re currently doing to rank well in Google and acquire backlinks, as well as why your company exists, those dots start to look a little more aligned — as long as

64

you answer truthfully, that is!

It is important to us that we practice what we preach: we’re honest with our clients and ourselves and also understand people like to work with people. We buy from other people and trust other people, so, no matter how good a service you’re offering, if your delivery team are frostier than January, clients won’t warm to you. By continuously developing our staff, we’re not only playing our part in the development of the North East, but also refreshing our services with the changing digital landscape in mind.

While our North East location has always been, and will always be, our USP,

reinvigorated services are now being offered from our London office, following a huge staff investment in 2014. Significantly strengthening that London presence is sales director, Darryl Sparey, who, while only joining in September 2014, has already ushered numerous big wins through the door — including one automotive giant.

However, that doesn’t mean our efforts up North have taken a back seat: a second sales director, Scott Holland, who is based in our Newcastle office, has also signed some huge deals from the utilities and legal sectors since joining.

From sales directors to first-time workers, every single team member is an important part of the Mediaworks DNA, because it is them who are unlocking the business potential. Our hungry workforce have come from all industries and joined us via various methods.

We offer creative apprentices, university graduates and seasoned pros, who have learned on the job an opportunity to show us the future of online marketing. By providing them with the tools needed to build strong foundations, they are helping shape the way we work and how we achieve the success we have enjoyed so far.

Due to the delivery of our staff-led business goals, and the motivational culture bred within our teams, we not only unveiled a new service menu for our clients, including reactive online reputation management (ORM) that protects your brand’s digital footprint, and deal-sealing conversation rate optimisation (CRO), but talented Mediaworks

has secured several big wins that are paving the way for a very positive looking 2015.

As well as welcoming more new business along with fresh talent, increased event planning and conference, attendance has improved our media relations. Plus, following our Best Use of Search win at the Big Chip awards in 2014, we have been shortlisted for four significant industry awards — including the prestigious Northern Digital Agency of the Year title for 2015.

It’s no secret that we’ve placed significant value on awards and communication for 2015; honest transparency and two-way conversation is not only key when spreading the Mediaworks message, but it’s vital to cracking digital.

Essentially, to join the dots and unlock your businesses’ potential, you have to be real and keep innovating. Don’t try to work around Google or be sneaky; identify objectives and be truthful about your efforts. You need to be straightforward about your products, thorough with online campaigns and enthusiastic about the people driving them.

It’s easy to fall by the wayside if you don’t keep up and with more changes to the market predicted - it’s important to never get too comfortable. Google is always evolving and it’s our mission to ensure we remain on the cutting edge of technological advancements and creative developments. Overlooking digital potential, or investing resource into the wrong places, will result in a stagnating strategy that makes the next moves tougher to make.

A high-level digital strategy that details how

65

online media and social platforms can be used to achieve the goals of your organisation is pivotal to any digital success. For a business to succeed in today’s world, it is important to have a strong digital footprint building upon solid foundations.

There are five important elements of a digital campaign that can help you unlock potential, consisting of mobile considerations, organic search, social media marketing, content marketing and lead nurturing. If those dots are combined correctly, they create a cohesive digital marketing strategy, but it’s how you use them that has the biggest impact on your campaign’s success.

Unlocking the potential caged in a successful digital campaign is important not only because it feeds into an overall business strategy, informing investment, technology and broader business goals, but because it connects you to your customers.

Joining the digital dots is what we’re about.

We look further than just your website and consider all of the online channels that can be used to connect with your audience while ensuring that there is consistency within your brand message.

We’re geared up for everything the online landscape has up its sleeve, so if you’re ready to unlock your digital potential and ensure you’re using the most up-to-date techniques that will drive your success in the New Year, we’re certainly happy to talk to you.

For more information, visit www.mediaworks.co.uk or call (0191) 404 0100

EVENT

Lord’s Taverners Christmas Party

T

he UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, The Lord’s Taverners, got the Christmas party season off to a riotous start at the beginning of December with its annual Christmas party, held at Newcastle Civic Centre, which raised approximately £32, 000.

The event was attended by over 600 guests who thoroughly enjoyed being entertained by local comedians, Brendan Healy and Josh Daniels, along with guest speaker, the former England rugby player, Martin Bayfield.

The Lord’s Taverners is the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, whose objective is to give disadvantaged and disabled young people a sporting chance.

For further information on any upcoming events, contact regional chairman, Jamie Graham, at jamiegraham@surgo.co.uk Photography by Trevor Roberts.

66

67

MEDIA

Ask Silver Bullet Managing director, John Dias, answers your marketing queries.

Q. I’ve read that ‘interactive marketing’ is the way forward, but have no idea what it is?

Unfortunately, our industry has developed a habit of using techno-babble in marketing terminology. Presumably, this is to make themselves seem cleverer than they actually are or, maybe, to follow the legal model by descending into virtually a foreign language which they claim is necessary for clarity, but can only be translated by employing their expertise at exorbitant rates. If your marketing advisor can’t explain a proposed campaign in readily understandable terms, maybe it’s time to look for someone who can.

However, I digress. Interactive marketing is, basically, about starting a conversation with your customers and clients to find out more closely what it is that they actually want, rather than just what you are initially offering.

Amazon is often cited as the classic example, where purchasers record their preferences and are then shown book and other item selections that match these and their most recent purchases. Similarly, many online retail sites will take notice of your purchase history and suggest matching or complementary items, while traditional retailers are also beginning to follow this trend by contacting customers with offers they know will be of interest from their purchase history.

While interactive marketing works best (and is most easily undertaken) online, it’s not limited to the internet and works in any situation where a seller begins a dialogue, digital or otherwise, with their customers, often to improve the service they are giving.

It is also, of course, the exact opposite of the traditional forms of advertising (now increasingly referred to as ‘monologue marketing’), where a brand simply gives out a

one-way message, usually by massive media exposure.

So, is it the way forward and if so, why?

Well, it is certainly an improvement on monologue marketing, as it is more efficient and takes customers’ preferences into account.

Consumer time isn’t wasted reading, viewing or listening to items and offers that are of no interest to them, while their preferences can also actually affect the sellers’ offerings.

For the seller, it is the ultimate in customer profiling, enabling them to spend their hard earned marketing budget promoting goods or services that are of direct interest to their target market. And, for good measure, it’s also better for the environment, saving hundreds of tonnes of paper for direct mail and other marketing material that is virtually instantly discarded.

But what about capital equipment, services and other business-to-business (B2B) offerings? The good news is that it’s exactly the same principle. A company buying or leasing a fork lift truck, for example, may well be

68

interested in warehouse racking, while one purchasing lighting certified for hazardous areas, may reasonably be expected to be in the market for other ATEX certified equipment.

Similarly, the close liaison between accountancy and legal services can be perfectly exploited by cross marketing to each data base – if an individual requires accountancy services, he or she may well need to complement them with legal advice.

The dialogue here is everything and a useful way of starting it is by giving information away. A recent example we received was from a roofing company, which sent out electronically a fact sheet on the new British Standard for Slating and Tiling (BS 55340) to a database of Architects Journal subscribers.

While it was of limited interest to ourselves, had we been architects or another organisation directly involved in construction, this would most probably be useful information, which we would retain and maybe contact the roofing company when a suitable project arose.

The beauty of this is that the information, while seeming clever and of value to the recipient, will already be in the public domain (if you know where to look) and be part and parcel of the sender’s everyday work and, therefore, of little actual value, despite the perceived value from the recipient.

In other words, give a bit to get a bit. Which is exactly what this column is all about.

If you are considering interactive marketing, want to know more about advertising or have another marketing question, email your questions anonymously to hello@silverbulletmarketing.co.uk or tweet us (not so anonymously) @SilverBulletPR, using #AskSB

MEDIA

Getting to grips with the dark art of SEO Sarah Hall, managing director of Sarah Hall Consulting Ltd, the PR and marketing consultancy that builds profiles and profits, examines why SEO should be on your to do list for 2015. earch Engine Optimisation (SEO) is an essential of modern marketing, but many people think it’s a dark art akin to alchemy. But it doesn’t have to be and it can make a crucial difference to the number of people you reach with your online content.

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has produced a handy guide to getting started with SEO, put together by online analytics specialist Andrew Smith MCIPR. Being able to access helpful resources like this are one of the reasons why, if you’re in PR, it’s good to be a CIPR member or if you employ a PR, for them to be one. Here’s an overview of what this particular guide has to offer: Optimising website content with keywords that Google’s algorithms pick up to lift your site higher in its page rankings is at the heart of effective SEO. When you consider just how often people use Google search when they’re making a buying decision, or researching a product or a business, it makes sense to get up to speed.

And Google can help you. It provides free tools to analyse who is clicking on your content and how to improve your reach. According to the CIPR guide, the search engine’s Media Planning Toolkit should be an essential part of your arsenal, along with the Consumer Barometer, which gives

S

insights into what is driving your online customers to buy.

Google has more than 200 signals it uses when ranking pages in search but, unfortunately, there isn’t a publicly available list.

According to the 2014 Searchmetrics report, Google currently favours brands and sites with longer content that it believes to be useful to searchers. But that isn’t set in stone – Google is constantly tweaking its search algorithms and you’ve probably heard about some of the key updates that have appeared in the last few years, such as Hummingbird, Panda and Penguin.

Your PR consultant can advice on and implement a number of website adjustments to improve its position in search rankings, using free tools such as Screaming Frog that audit what is successful.

Media relations can also play a particularly important role, because online coverage is able to generate high quality backlinks to your site and these are known to be key to enhancing search visibility.

Social media is now ubiquitous and, while Google says it doesn’t use shares from the likes of Twitter and Facebook to rank pages, the reality is that the more shares you can achieve, the more people get sight of your brand and are likely to

69

click links to your content. As such, there is an indirect contribution to SEO. At the heart of SEO is getting your keywords right. You need to know what words people are using to search and tools to help you work this out include Google Trends, Google’s Keyword Planner and Moz. It’s also essential to look at what your highlyranked rivals are doing – what words are they using and do you have a realistic chance of overtaking them? Check out Market Samurai’s SEO Competition module which can help you decide whether it’s worth the time and investment to take on the big boys.

Finally, SEO isn’t a job you can start and then forget about. It requires constant monitoring and managing if you are to get the best out of it.

Google likes fresh, regularly updated content that is relevant to the target audience; plus you’ll need to keep tabs on the type of visitors you are attracting. Are they ‘valuable’ visitors that can be converted into clients?

It may seem like a daunting job, but getting your SEO programme in place and staying on top of it will play major dividends for the future.

To find out more about the CIPR and how it can help you, visit www.cipr.co.uk

MEDIA

Seven deadly sins to ditch in 2015 Start 2015 on the right foot and ditch these seven deadly sins of marketing for some New Year resolutions. s the saying goes, if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get you’ve always gotten. The New Year is a perfect time to reflect and review the last 12 months’ marketing activity, understanding what did or didn’t work, ahead of re-grouping and starting afresh in January.

A

Pride – are you still talking about yourself?

It’s ok to shout about your successes a little, but companies who do nothing but sell, sell, sell, are going get ignored, dismissed and overlooked by consumers and prospects.

The best marketing is that which is useful or entertaining and it must always of interest to your customers’ lives or their business. Deliver helpful tutorials or advice pieces, provide insights and opinion or offer up a simple solution to a FAQ with no ulterior motive. This non-promotional content becomes shareable, extending both your brand and your expertise.

Wrath – don’t get angry over missed opportunities This year, embrace natural storytelling opportunities head on. Map out 2015 month by month, taking business objectives, holidays, seasons, anniversaries and editorial calendars into consideration. Start by inserting recurring events and milestones, then add in new ones that allow you to broaden your PR approach.

Factor video into your marketing plan and embrace vlogging, video news releases or short, shareable video tips. Google likes video (it owns

YouTube!) so it’ll aid your digital visibility if you regularly create and share short videos in your marketing and PR strategy.

Greed – share the pie Good marketing has never been more human and gaining trust is vitally important to your PR strategy. Millennials are increasingly aware of the impact their buying choices can have and they want to buy from organisations that are doing what they consider the right thing.

Embedding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in your business strategy and taking the time to give back to communities, charities and organisations will draw people to you for the right reasons - emotional purchases start with whether customers ‘like’ your brand.

want from you in the future.

And, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Customers are more than likely to appreciate your efforts to understand how you can better the service you provide to them.

Gluttony - ditch the junk Don’t be greedy; decide which marketing platforms are right for your brand and your customers, rather than consuming everything.

For example, you don’t need to be present on every social site to simply put a brand name to an online face. Instead, focus time and energy into building a personable presence on platforms that will be seen and heard by the people you want to. Do the same with your PR and content marketing – only send out great stuff if you expect people to share it.

Lust – blog on Envy - dust off your website Don’t lust after your competitor’s digital connections - make 2015 the year you develop your online media relations. The influence of bloggers and tweeters is expanding and will continue to do so, as far as we can see. Form and strengthen long-term relationships with key online influencers in 2015, or stay a year behind.

Sloth – don’t ignore feedback Are you guilty of not fully appreciating customer feedback or just glancing at research reports? If you think you know your customer, chances are you don’t. In 2015, resolve to take the time to listen and truly understand your customers, how they use your company or service and what they

70

Do you find yourself turning into the greeneyed monster when you see competitors’ websites? If so, take action in 2015 by not only updating your website, but thinking about rehauling to make it the go-to site for your customers and potential future customers.

Understand how search engines work and use this to your advantage. Include unique and frequently updated content and keep your blog both relevant and interesting – if you don’t know what to write, ask a great PR agency to help you!

For further details on how O PR can work with you to banish your seven deadly marketing sins in 2015, visit www.opr.co.uk

MEDIA

Don’t miss the boat on social media Why an online presence is so important in business, says Micky Knowles of JAM Marketing.

EXPERT VIEW Micky Knowles JAM Marketing Tel: (0845) 900 2127 Email: info@jam-marketing.co.uk Web: www.jam-marketing.co.uk Twitter: @JAMMarketingUK

or SMEs, social media marketing is massive (or it should be); a short-term, yet powerful, craze that businesses can’t afford to ignore and not take advantage of while it’s still in the limelight.

Social media sites didn’t appear overnight, but it seems there are a lot of companies that aren’t using it to its full potential, if at all. Social media has developed a reputation, by some, for being an overnight flyby, passing marketing interest and, therefore, an unprofitable one.

However, when you look a little closer at some statistics, you should begin to form a very different opinion. According to Statista.com, over 1.8 billion people have accessed social media, with Facebook having over 1.35 billion active users.

Couple that with findings from Hubspot.com – 92 per cent of marketers in 2014 claim that social media marketing was important for their business, with 80 per cent indicating social media usage increased traffic to their websites.

If you’re still thinking “I’ll leave that ‘til next month”, think again: • Your competitors are already doing it. Take a look today and you’ll see your main competitors are already posting and tweeting, which means those who are on the ball are poaching your potential customers. If, for some reason, your competitors are not on social media, then there is even more of a reason to get started—the market and business is yours for the taking.

• The sooner you start, the better. Social media is

F

a way of building online relationships and you acquire more relationships/potential trade as your followers tell their friends, and they then tell theirs and so on. So start today and you’ll begin growing your online audience.

• It’s cost effective and simple. You don’t have anything to lose by getting involved in social media today. The amount of time and money it takes to create a basic profile and start posting is minimal, compared to more traditional marketing methods. Just a few minutes per day at key times (depending on your audience) is all it takes to start becoming effective for your business.

What benefits does it really bring?

Increased brand recognition - Social media platforms are new channels for you to showcase your brand. Becoming recognised on social media is vital, as it makes you easier to find and more accessible for potential customers. Multi-channel social media posting not only gives you greater brand recognition, but also creates a more familiar approachable feel to your brand.

Improved brand loyalty - According to a recent study from the University of Texas technology, brand that post, tweet and engage on social media enjoy higher loyalty from their customers.

Companies should take advantage of the tools social media gives them when it comes to

72

connecting with their audience. A strategic and open social media plan could prove influential in morphing consumers into being brand loyal (www.depts.ttu.edu).

Decreased marketing costs - From my experience dealing with clients across a wide range of industries, spending a few timely minutes per day helps generate both increased traffic to my clients’ websites, while also generating inbound calls as well. Dedicating a few hours a week to developing your content means you’ll start seeing the results of your efforts with cold hard cash. To take things one step further, you can even pay to advertise on Facebook and Twitter, which is cost-effective too. My advice is to start small and you’ll never have to worry about going over budget in the early stages. Once you get a feel for how things work and what’s best for your business, you will begin to increase your budgets.

Better search engine rankings - Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), as we all know, is the best way to capture traffic from search engines like Google and Bing etc, but did you know being active on social media can, potentially, help to improve your SEO? If you want to organically rank highly for certain keywords or phrases, having a strong social media presence, with regular industry specific posts and information, will help you climb the rankings.

EVENT

Seb4CHUF charity ball The Seb4CHUF charity ball, held at the Gateshead Hilton last month, was a celebration of more than five years of tireless fundraising from Seb4CHUF.

T

he group was established by Ivan and Nadine Hollingsworth to help raise funds for the Children’s Heart Fund Unit (CHUF).

Their son, Seb, had life-saving heart surgery at the Freeman Hospital at birth, just over five years ago.

Since then, the couple's friends, family and supporters of Seb4CHUF have worked tirelessly, through charity balls and arduous coast to coast challenges, to raise the necessary funds for the Heart Unit’s new play facility, which was officially opened by Seb recently. www.seb4chuf.org.uk

73

PROPERTY

Great rural architecture is back, but not as we know it Willy Browne-Swinburne from Rural Solutions talks about the opportunity to build a house that will become a true legacy of this age. ur generation has achieved some notable designs in urban development, but the countryside has not enjoyed anything other than restrictions since the war. New policy seeks to change that and, with luck, may give the new Elizabethans a rural legacy to be remembered by.

So what will 2015 have in store for the market? The fact that the economy has expanded by three per cent in the last year – making Britain one of the best-performing economies in Europe – has fuelled expectation that the commercial property revival can be maintained.

There’s Regency, Restoration, Georgian, Victorian and Elizabethan, but what is going to be the legacy of the Elizabeth second age?

In urban design, there is a substantial modern legacy and, although one has to question its shelf life, there can be little doubt that The Sage in Newcastle, The Gherkin and The Shard in London, to name the obvious ones, are great examples. They will tell the story of this generation and identify our taste and influences for years to come.

However, the real bastion of this country’s great architectural legacy came as much through rural projects as urban. The wonderful houses of the great families are some of our most important tourism assets. Houses like

O

Blenheim, Castle Howard, Chatsworth and Harewood shape people’s views on what it is to be English as much as they shape the landscapes in which they sit.

What, then, is the equivalent in the 21st century countryside? 2012 saw a change to this, as the government released its National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which, due to the shortage of housing for our burgeoning population, instructed local authorities to take a more positive approach to rural planning.

Furthermore, it set out a special paragraph in the policy that encouraged ground breaking and innovative design in residential development. In short, it encourages the highest quality modern architecture in the countryside. It even goes so far as to allow, in exceptional circumstances, the building of new country houses in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Conservation Areas.

This doesn’t give architects or their clients the licence that Lutyens, Nash or Walpole enjoyed, but it does offer a tempting challenge.

With one hand, it prevents bad design blotting the landscape and, on the other, encourages real innovation and a chance for us to develop the architectural vernacular of this generation.

The constraints these days are more prosaic than in the past. We no longer have to win great battles, lead nations or explore the far ends of the earth to earn the right to build a ‘legacy

74

house’. Nowadays, our battle challenge is not with Napoleon - it is the regulatory authorities, the committees and, indeed, anyone who feels they deserve an opinion.

At Rural Solutions, we have been involved in some of the most groundbreaking and fascinating designs for rural houses. Working with great architects our planning team is particularly well versed in the area of ‘paragraph 55’ development.

Furthermore, we are now getting approvals on applications in these very sensitive areas of outstanding natural beauty, which would not have not been possible in the past.

In the North East, Saddler Brown Architects have led the way at a national level and are truly inspiring, but make sure the right team is behind them or any other architect in terms of managing the planning process.

At Rural Solutions, we pride ourselves on turning models and drawings that sit in office receptions and filing cabinets, into reality.

A client with the vision, an architect to interpret it and a planning team to actually make it a reality is a sure fire way towards a new Elizabethan age in rural architecture.

Willy Browne-Swinburne heads up Rural Solutions in the North. For more information email wbs@ruralsolutions.co.uk or visit www.ruralsolutions.co.uk

PROPERTY

Positive outlook for commercial property in 2015 Says Neil Hart, director at Bradley Hall. he year 2014 was a good one for the North East commercial property market.

Enquiries were up, confidence rose and deal-making was back in Vogue again.

Growth was achieved on the back of increased confidence in the business community and an appetite for expansion. Companies won more orders, increased their workforce and, in many cases, moved to bigger and better premises.

So what will 2015 have in store for the market?

The fact that the economy has expanded by 3 per cent in the last year – making Britain one of the best-performing economies in Europe – has fuelled expectation that the commercial property revival can be maintained.

We should guard against complacency, however. 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. Continued low growth in the Eurozone and a deepening recession in Japan have fuelled fears of a slowdown in Britain – but all the indicators point to steady, if unspectacular, expansion in 2015.

T

The upcoming General Election has created uncertainty surrounding Government policy, but hopefully the next incumbent will do several things to keep the commercial property revival going. The retention of business rate relief in enterprise zones, for example, would encourage the creation and growth of industry clusters in

75

key sectors, such as manufacturing, electronics and software.

We also need a relaxation of planning laws. It’s vital that the review of the General Permitted Development Order (GDPO) – announced by current Chancellor George Osborne – goes ahead. 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.

In addition, the market needs to address a significant shortage of Grade A office space to keep up with demand. In the last couple of years, there has been an increase in the number of businesses looking to expand into high-quality premises.

All in all, though, the future looks bright for commercial property in the North East. The New Year has brought renewed optimism that the market revival can be sustained throughout 2015.

For more information, call (0191) 232 8080 or visit www.bradleyhall.co.uk

PROPERTY

Landlord investment critical in generation rent era Fran Mulhall, operations and lettings manager at GFW Letting, the urban property rental specialists, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, explains why this is a crucial time for North East landlords who need to ensure they’re making wise property investments.

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

ith an increasing number of young professionals unable to get on to the property ladder, this year will see the private rental market boom as the tenancy demand increases across the region.

Recent statistics show that becoming a homeowner is currently a remote possibility for most people, given the financial impracticalities. Indeed, a quarter of all 25 to 54-year olds* believe they will never own a home.

The era of Generation Rent is here to stay, at least for the next few years, so it’s important that North East landlords capitalise on the opportunities it presents.

Buying to let can be very profitable in the long-term, especially at a time when the number of tenants outweighs the number of available properties on a five to one ratio, but only if landlords make the right property choices.

They need to understand the numbers and structure their investment or investments wisely.

Buying property to let is a lot like running your own business - you need to plan, make financial forecasts and look at your cash flow and ensure this is structured sensibly to take into account general wear and tear and future capital expenditure that would, generally, be advisable in long-term property investment.

Buying a house or flat to rent to tenants is a huge commitment; there are hundreds of things

W

to manage and be aware of, such as financial legislation, political influences and insecure interest rates.

Landlords also need to ensure that they’re able to find and retain good quality tenants and handle maintenance and repairs issues efficiently. Choosing a lettings agency, therefore, to advise, support and guide you through such situations is really important.

At GFW Letting, we carry out detailed and accurate research of the property investment landscape, which enables us to inform landlords of what investments are best to make, where and why. We explain to landlords what they need to know when it comes to purchasing a property and the key aspects they need to consider.

The team at GFW Letting has a wealth of experience in the property, legal and economic sector, which allows us to provide a genuinely informed opinion on investment choices.

When it comes to investing in property, landlords need to thoroughly understand the yield and return on investment. Our latest piece of research, for example, analyses the association between capital growth and yield in specific streets across several locations in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Scrutiny of the demographics of these streets, combined with analysis of capital growth and yield, will provide investors with an understanding of investment sign posts and factors that will help them to assess return on

76

investment now and, vitally, into the future.

As well as our regular in-depth research and analysis reports, we have also introduced the GFW Letting Residential Property Investment Calculator. This helps investor landlords to prudently choose their investments and advises them on how to manage their investment assets going forward.

To use the calculator, landlords will need to be clear on the purchase price of the property and a realistic rental income per month.

With over half of UK landlords looking to expand their property portfolio this year, fuelled by increased tenant demand, rising rent prices and a growing shift in sentiment around property ownership, North East landlords need to seize the right opportunities with the appropriate agent direction.

In late January, we are holding a seminar on our latest piece of research which will be very useful for new and existing landlords looking to invest in 2015.

If you’re thinking of investing, you will receive specific advice at this session on what to do and what not from the GFW Letting team.

We hope to see you there and help you to get the New Year off to a positive start.

To register your interest in the seminar, email Fran Mulhall at franmulhall@gfwletting.co.uk * SCM Direct research September 2014

PROPERTY

Building the future With the New Year in full swing, a North East construction firm is set to continue its high standards as it moves into its sixth year of business.

hile some will be trying to get in shape and make changes after a busy festive period, Livingston House Construction’s resolution will be to keep doing what it does best - offering a quality service to its clients in the industry.

With a combined experience of over 40 years in the civil engineering and construction businesses, you could forgive Livingston House Construction for resting on its laurels. However, William Mallam has no such plans; the Birtleybased firm continues to go from strength to strength, building on the foundations laid during the half a decade of business.

Primarily a civil engineering and ground works contractor, Billy of Livingston House covers new roads and sewers, drainage works,

W

block paving, kerb laying and more. It also has clients, both locally and nationally, with companies such as Willmott Dixon, Lumsden & Carroll, Esh Build and Turney Wylde Construction all getting on board.

Livingston House prides itself on the quality and reliability of its work. It’s something that starts from the top, with all managers striving to

77

give clients the utmost respect and understanding where their needs are concerned. This, in turn, leads to a standard of work that meets - and in most cases exceeds the expectation of the client.

A fully CHAS accredited company, Livingston House also take the safety of its employees and clients seriously. It’s another thing that ensures the work carried out by the company is to the highest standard of quality that matches the clients’ initial requirements and expectations.

To find out more about Livingston House and services it offers, visit www.livingstonhouse.co.uk, call (0191) 4928229 or email info@livingstonhouse.co.uk

COVER STORY

Eat, sleep and drink wine

From its bespoke private dinners, hosted by expert in-house sommeliers, to specialist tastings to tantalise the taste buds, Hotel du Vin Newcastle is the ultimate destination for discovering and enjoying the wonders of wine.

78

ine: it’s been the lifeblood of the brand Hotel du Vin since the very beginning. Co-founded in 1994 by master sommelier, Gerard Bassett OBE, the luxury hotel chain has played host to some of the best wines from around the globe for more than 20 years and still remains dedicated to providing its guests and diners with the chance to explore and celebrate the very best of the red stuff (or white, depending on what you fancy), today.

2014, which marked the brand’s 20th year, saw Hotel du Vin Newcastle not only broaden its wine offering, but introduce a host of new and unique ways to make wine more accessible to its guests than ever before - and it's a theme that is set to continue throughout the coming year.

Whether you’re a baffled beginner or a budding connoisseur, Hotel du Vin Newcastle’s specialist wine tasting packages promise something for everyone, providing a minimum of four guests with a chance to learn more about familiar tastes and, perhaps, uncover some new favourites.

What’s more, each package is hosted by one of the hotel’s expert sommeliers, including head sommelier, Radek Krzyzueski (left), who will not only guide you through your simple vinos to your complex vintages, but who will be on hand to debunk the myths, demystify the jargon, answer your questions and, ultimately, help you appreciate better what you’re drinking.

Perfect for those who long to discover which wines they like and which they don’t, Hotel du Vin’s introductory package (from £30 per person) concentrates on the principal and most popular grape varieties of the world. Each guest will be taken through four red and four white wines, designed to provide confidence in basic tasting and recognising the difference between flavour profiles.

The concept behind the hotel's intermediate package (from £60 per person), meanwhile, is to take tasters through the more coveted and familiar blends (12, to be exact) from six different corners of the globe, as well as a handful of new varieties to whet the appetite. While the focus still remains on flavour distinctions, attendees will also learn how and why the single grape varieties complement each other in a blend.

A must for anyone interested in sampling the so-called 'big wines' of the world, the hedonistic package (from £80 per person) takes attendees on a gustatory journey through six single varieties and blends from the world's most famous wine regions, providing a great opportunity to sample the more expensive and sought-after bottles.

For a truly unique experience, the hotel's bespoke package (which starts from £35 per person but varies in price, depending on guests' choices) allows attendees to focus on a country or a region of their choice and for the sommelier to take them on a fun, vineous journey to learn about the fruits of that particular land. Whatever origin you have a penchant for - Italian, Spanish or even Australian - this package is ideal for anyone looking for a little indulgence.

In addition, Hotel du Vin also offers mini tastings, designed with couples in mind. Guests can choose from a 25-minute session (from £40 per couple), allowing them to sample two red and two white wines, or a one-hour experience (from £50 per couple), in which they are offered three red and three white wines to savour and enjoy.

Other specialist tastings, meanwhile, include the ‘Le Classique’ cocktail masterclass (£35 per head, minimum two guests), hosted by Hotel du Vin Newcastle’s experienced bar manager, Ben Craighead (right). Ideal for groups of friends or family members, the fun and interactive package includes a sample menu of four archetypal cocktails – the mojito, the cosmopolitan, Long Island iced tea and a berry caprioska – as well as a live demonstration of the drinks being made and a chance for guests to recreate their own versions to enjoy.

Lastly, the hotel’s whiskey tasting package (£35 per person, minimum of two guests) offers everyone, from couples to clients, the chance to kick back and sample five varieties of whiskey from the renowned Lowlands, Highlands, Campbel Town, Speyside and Islay regions. As well as a stellar sample menu, the package includes an informal discussion about the history of whiskey and the distillery process.

All tasting sessions, with the exception of the cocktail masterclass,

are held around the Laroche tasting table – one of Hotel du Vin Newcastle’s most show-stopping spaces and the epicentre of its wine offering.

Situated within the hotel restaurant, Bistro du Vin, the glass-fronted room offers a charismatic setting for entertaining a small, informal group of up to six people – whether friends, family or clients.

Surrounded by just some of the hotel’s vast and eclectic range of whites, reds and rosés from around the world and equipped with individual spittoons and taps, the intimate, yet informal, space allows – and encourages – guests to become truly immersed in their own, authentic wine tasting experience.

Described as a ‘working wine room’, the venue allows for the hotel’s sommeliers to take guests on a pilgrimage around some of the world’s finest vineyards without ever leaving the room, as well as the chance to locate the perfect bottles to accompany and complement diners’ chosen cuisine.

The room is also a place in which to dine, offering an exclusive menu for small parties of up to six people. The four-course menu (£65 per person) features a range of seafood and French-inspired meat dishes, including butter poached lobster and côte du boeuf, and the appointed sommelier will work with each diner to pair the best wines with their chosen plates.

Committed to its aim of making wine more accessible to everyone who walks through its doors, Hotel du Vin Newcastle is also proud to offer all guests – regardless of whether they choose to dine around the Laroche tasting table or in the bistro – an extensive selection of white, red and rosé wines by the glass, starting from £5.95. A great alternative to ordering a standard bottle of house red to accompany a meal, the hotel’s impressive and multicultural variety allows diners to try something new and, perhaps, unexpected.

W

WINE DINNERS After a successful calendar of wine dinners during 2014, 2015 looks set to be equally as rich in opportunities for novices and aficionados to gather together to sample the delights from some of the world’s most celebrated wine regions and makers.

The monthly dinners, which start from £69 per person and continue throughout the year, are held in the hotel’s bespoke private dining rooms and serve up a five-course dinner for guests to enjoy, comprising canapés, starters, intermediate courses, mains and desserts.

Here’s a taster of where Hotel du Vin Newcastle will be taking guests during 2015: February 2015: Rhone Valley, Southern France March 2015: South Australia with Penfolds Wines April 2015: Chile May 2015: South Africa With so much to offer, it’s no surprise, then, that Hotel du Vin Newcastle continues to invest heavily in its staff training and, in turn, customer service. In addition to group meetings and after-hours practice sessions, the hotel sponsors willing staff through the WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust), enabling them to study wine and beverage-related courses and gain qualifications to not only become more knowledgeable, but more engaged and passionate about the drinks they are serving to customers on a daily basis.

Commenting on Hotel du Vin Newcastle’s continuous efforts and dedication to its wine offering and experiences, general manager, Rob Tait, said: “Culture has shifted; wine is more prominent, more accessible. We’re embracing this and making it fun!”

For further information and bookings, visit www.hotelduvin.com/newcastle or call (0844) 736 4259

79

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Living the Rockliffe Life in 2015 If you fancy doing something new this year, do it at Rockliffe Hall. rom refined, yet relaxed, dining to sensational spa-ing and challenging golfing, Rockliffe Hall is the premier hotel, spa and golf resort in the North East, offering five-star style, surroundings and service with five-star events for 2015.

The New Year promises stacks of new things to do, whether you fancy kicking back in the spa, enjoying live music or treating a loved one to dinner. To help you get your calendar started, we’ve selected some highlights from Rockliffe Hall’s up and coming events.

F

Welcome to the West End Get ready to rock! Audiences around the globe have applauded them and now you too can enjoy the delights of the stars of musical spectacles, such as The Buddy Holly Story, Jersey Boys and We Will Rock You, as the West End lands at Rockliffe Hall. On January 23 and 24, you can dance in the aisles as ‘Welcome to the West End’ showcases the music of Frankie Valli, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and more. Enjoy a two-course dinner, dancing and more.

The Ultimate VIP Do you have a special birthday coming up? A wedding? An anniversary? Or, maybe you’re looking to have a little ‘me time’? If so Rockliffe Hall’s brand new Ultimate VIP package offers sheer indulgence, including

champagne in your room, a ‘Tranquil Moments’ spa ritual to indulge in, pre-dinner cocktails, dinner at The Orangery restaurant, a bucks fizz breakfast the next morning, followed by a late check-out and spa use until 12pm. Why trek further afield when you can be treated like a VIP right here in the North East?

My Muddy Valentine Why not try something different this Valentine’s Day and get muddy? Rockliffe Hall’s ‘My Muddy Valentine Spa Break’ allows couples to enjoy deeply relaxing treatments in the spa, get steamy during a Mud Rasul treatment for two and indulge in a romantic dinner. If you desire, you can adjourn to your room and enjoy breakfast in The Orangery the next morning.

Pamper thy Mum Don’t forget Mother’s Day on March 15! A spa day (or stay) makes for a great gift and, regardless of how long you stick around for, allows you to enjoy a award-winning Comfort Zone facial and manicure, brunch, lunch or dinner, and full spa use throughout.

Food to dine for!

Foodies can enjoy informal, yet informed, dining at all three of the resort’s restaurants.

80

The Orangery, nestled in the Old Hall, is surrounded by history and continues to surprise and delight with its calming ambience. Afternoon tea can be taken in any of the sumptuous lounges, Rockliffe’s own cocktails (designed by expert mixologists) can be enjoyed in the cosy cocktail bar and dinner, comprising honest, local produce, is served in the warmth of The Orangery itself.

For a different take on Rockliffe Hall’s food offering, head to the Spa Brasserie for tasting plates, refreshing salads and dishes of the day, as well as the infamous ‘Rockliffe burger’.

Lastly, for a ‘gastro-pub’-style experience, make your way to The Clubhouse, which serves up a feast of British delights, from soups, salads and old-fashioned sandwiches, to pies and after-dinner treats. It also boasts breathtaking views across the hotel’s golf course.

With no wintergreens and realistic green fees, the hotel’s golf course is one of the best in the North East. Whether you’re an experienced golfer or a hesitant beginner, let Rockliffe Hall’s plethora of professionals help you master the game.

So, there you have it – a little introduction to some of the delights at Rockliffe Hall for 2015.

Now, let’s make it one to remember!

For more details, or to book any of the events, visit www.rockliffehall.com or call 01325 729999

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

It’s not an illusion Yes, the rumours are true: 80’s legendary group, Imagination, featuring Leee John, are set to hit the Sage Gateshead in March 2015. ront man, Leee, is bringing the big time to the North East, accompanied by the superb eight-piece band that now makes up Imagination. The show will not only bring the house down on March 20, but lift the roof off the Sage, too.

Imagination, who formed in 1981, shot to prominence and stardom in the early 80s with their first big hit, It’s Just an Illusion, which climbed all the way to the dizzy heights of number two in the UK singles chart.

The highflying single was closely followed by the monster smash hit, Body Talk, in the same year. Now, music lovers are set to see the incredible multi-talented front man do what he does best as he takes to the stage at the Sage Gateshead to transform the Tyneside venue into the 80s for one night only.

Leee’s soulful voice is as fantastic as ever, having kept himself busy over the years continuing to showcase his talent across the

RnB artists, with a single called Romantic, which is out now. He’s also producing a film with UPL Film’s called Flashback, focusing on the history of UK black music, which includes Eddy, Grant, Billy Ocean, Beverly Knight and Ruby Turner to name a few.

It’s fair to say, Leee John is one of the hardest working men in music, touring internationally both as Imagination and as Leee John, showing his continuous diversity across multi genres from the pop stream, as well as his more classic presentation in the jazz world, none better reflecting this than with the release of his last critically acclaimed solo album Feel My Soul.

F

globe. In between this tour, he’s also doing an album with the British Collective, which includes Jr Giscombe, Omar and a host of UK

82

Tickets for Imagination featuring Leee John at the Sage Gateshead on Friday March 20 2015 are priced from £19 to £22. To book, call the Sage box office on (0191) 443 4661 or book online at www.sagegateshead.com

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Interview:

Mark Hird Mark Hird, managing director of Tavistock Leisure, talks to North East Times about building his business and the rewards entrepreneurship brings.

don't feel like I've ever worked a day in my life,” says Mark Hird, a man who’s found the holy grail of making a good living out of something he loves. When those things are beer and food, it's enough to make even the least envious person feel a twinge of jealousy.

The reality, of course, is that nobody ends up with two hotels and seven pub restaurants employing a total of 250 people without grafting, especially in a sector renowned for hard work and long hours. What Mark has done is create successful businesses out of the things he loves and now, with a successful microbrewery to supply his venues' beer as well, this is business meets the good life.

“I

Did you always want to have your own business, or was there a particular trigger?

I always wanted to go into catering. One of my grandfathers worked in sales for a national food producer and the other grandfather was national catering manager on the Pullman trains, before he became one of the first lecturers in catering at Newcastle College. I knew hospitality meant long hours, so I had a vision that if I was going to work long hours, then I was going to work for myself and get the benefits.

Finding the right people is one of the biggest challenges for businesses. How do you find talent?

We try to find people who are quite raw, then grow and develop them by identifying what their own plans are and what they need in terms of training and development. Everyone in the group who works more than 20 hours a week has a training and development programme. We work closely with NVQ training providers and national apprenticeships.

We've formed a good alliance with Sunderland University and a number of our key personnel,

including our brewery sales manager and our marketing manager, were post-graduate interns from the university.

How do you retain good people?

Do you have formal rewards and incentive schemes in your business?

We used to have a Christmas party, which was usually just a night of drinking. Out of 250 staff, we realised the same 100 were coming, so it wasn’t engaging everyone. So, this year, we are having an awards dinner - “A Night at the Grafters” - to celebrate and recognise our staffs’ hard work and achievements.

How have you funded your businesses?

We attracted Regional Growth Funding to launch Sonnet 43. When we bought the businesses from Tavistock Leisure and Durham Estates, we got a loan for £3.5 million from NatWest, who have been nothing but fantastic for us. They fully support what we're doing and treat our relationship as a partnership.

Most businesses have ups and downs. Which highs have you celebrated and what’s been the worst low?

The highs come from the recognition we're receiving at national level. I've won a few entrepreneurial awards but, as a business, we won two Great Taste Awards for our beers in 2013, which were confirmed in 2014. We were runner-up in The Publican Best Microbrewery Owned Pub Company and have won a best cask pub award for Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland.

When we felt the recession coming, we decided to downscale, take out any businesses that weren't profitable and concentrate on the core business, which were hotels. When we

84

were battening down the hatches, I was quite disengaged because it wasn’t where I wanted to be. But, out of that we have changed and formulated a new company with a strong direction, so it wasn’t all bad.

What did you learn from both the positive and the negative experiences?

Positive things, like awards, spur you on to do even better and push you to reach the next level. In the recession, we stripped the meat off the bone and became fighting fit, which was a good process to go through. I don’t think we will return to how we were; we will always be lean in the future. It also gave me the time to think about what I really wanted to do.

How have you made your businesses be innovative and stand out?

I realised that a lot of the guys who start microbreweries are interested in and dedicated to brewing, but a lot don't have marketing or brand acumen; they're literally brewing and selling. I wanted to build a brand. There was a time when I wouldn't have spent money on branding, but since we've been working with Ian Smith and the team at Surreal Creative, I've come to realise the value of working with great people.

We're buying a pub in Consett in 2015 and we're working very closely with Surreal on that, as well as realigning the Roker Hotel brand and developing a brand for a new range of craft keg beers. Surreal live and breathe Sonnet 43; they understand what it's all about because they've been integral to its creation. I usually manage interior design, but at the Roker Hotel, I've brought in Collective Design from Newcastle our clientele there is complex and, obviously, we want to bring in new customers. Meeting everyone's needs is a challenge, so I felt I needed some expert help.

What have been the biggest benefits to your business from technology?

Financial control and sales systems, like EPOS, have become very advanced and give you a lot of control, which helps you improve your margins. Social media is a huge and important part of the business. We used to use text marketing a lot, which we found to be a great tool during the recession as it works particularly well with short lead- time offers, as long as you’ve built up your customer database of mobile numbers. We also use an interactive, online training platform for customer facing staff.

Where will growth come from?

With the brewery, we have a lot of untapped markets in different parts of the country. Our sales manager and I have just completed an exports training course. In the UK, producers

only pay half duty up to a certain level of production and, as we are rapidly approaching that level, we have identified exporting to the US, New Zealand and Australia, Canada and Europe as critical new markets for us.

Where or to whom do you look for inspiration?

I do come up with a lot of ideas myself, but my father-in-law was very successful in business and is now turning that success into significance in South Africa. He started the Tyne and Wear youth football leagues and built a facility in Newbottle. Now, they send the boys’ old football boots to children in South Africa. He also runs soup kitchens in the townships.

Where do you see your future?

In five years time, with the brewery and our target of 12 pub restaurants, the business will

85

be very scalable and through VCs or company backing, we will be able to take it to national level.

What does success look like for you?

For me, it’s about sustainability, being able to help and support local producers. We have a good level of success now and we’ve very much set ourselves up to be significant in other people’s lives. It’s not all about the profit, but being able to make the profit puts you in a better position to try and be significant.

Mark Hird is a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, a unique group of like-minded people who come together through peer-to-peer mentoring and a series of inspirational events to share best practice, create valuable connections and grow their business. For more information, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Start the New Year by booking up for the trip of a lifetime From May 2015, you’ll be able to fly direct from Newcastle International Airport to New York with one of the world’s largest airlines, United Airlines. tart 2015 off by booking an exciting trip to ‘the city that never sleeps’ and be amongst the first to fly on this new transatlantic scheduled service.

Flights will leave Newcastle Airport five times a week, between Saturday May 23 and Monday September 7 2015, and be flown using a Boeing 757 aircraft with 16 lie-flat BusinessFirst seats, 45 Economy Plus seats and 108 Economy seats. All seats have their own in-flight entertainment systems offering a wide choice of entertainment.

A great arrival time in New York of 12pm means you can enjoy a late lunch in Manhattan or, alternatively, make a connection on United Airlines and partner airlines to over 300 cities across the United States, Canada, Central and South America.

So, whether you want to explore The Big Apple, head for the bright lights of Las Vegas, the theme parks and beaches of Florida or the Grand Canyon, United Airlines can take you there from Newcastle.

On the return leg, you will step off the aircraft at 7.30am, after a flight of around seven hours, knowing you’re almost home; no long drive back

S

to the North East, no long wait for a connecting flight. What could be better than that?

David Laws, chief executive of Newcastle

Flight Facts: Outbound Daily, except Wed/Thu between May 23 and September 7 2015 Newcastle 09:10am - New York Newark Liberty International 12:00 noon Inbound Daily, except Tue/Wed between May 22 and September 6 2015 New York Newark Liberty International 07:20pm - Newcastle (following day) 07:30am International Airport, said: “This is a tremendous vote of confidence from one of the world's largest airlines in

86

Newcastle International and our region. If this service proves to be as popular as we predict, then we have every hope that it will be expanded over the next few years.”

“We need you to make the most of these flights and help us demonstrate the demand exists. Book now for summer 2015 and enjoy an exciting trip to New York, or beyond, with United Airlines.”

Bob Schumacher, United’s managing director of sales, UK and Ireland, said: "We’re very excited to offer the people of North East a nonstop service from Newcastle to New York/Newark next summer.”

“United is committed to providing the best travel experience for customers, with an industry-leading seat in United BusinessFirst and trans-Atlantic flights from more cities in the UK than any other airline. Our new service from Newcastle will not only offer convenient, direct access to New York City, but also great connections via Newark to destinations throughout the Americas.” www.newcastleairport.com

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Business lunch

Sabatini Jessica Laing visits the Quayside’s ristorante, bar and pizzeria. s the saying goes, a little of what you fancy does you good. And, I don’t know about you, but sometimes, when hunger strikes, you can’t go far wrong with Italian cuisine.

What is it about pizza and pasta that just hits the spot?

You can imagine my delight, then, when my two colleagues and I were invited to visit one of Newcastle’s most renowned Italian eateries – Sabatini - to enjoy a spot of lunch one (rather hungry) afternoon.

Housed within one of the Quayside’s many grand and historic buildings, overlooking the River Tyne, the family-run business has been serving up authentic Mediterranean cuisine and enjoying continuous glowing reviews in the process - for over 20 years.

It’s celebrated food offering, combined with its friendly, informal atmosphere and convenient central location, has resulted in Sabatini becoming one of the culinary destinations in Newcastle for just about everyone, from groups of friends and family, to couples and businessmen and women.

Once seated, my colleagues and I were presented with the restaurant’s plentiful main menu, which spans three pages and is filled to the brim with all the Mediterranean staples,

A

from hot and cold antipasti to speciality pizza and pasta, along with an impressive number of inventive fish and chicken dishes.

While I dug in to a bowl of potato skins (old habits die hard), which arrived crisp and golden with a delicate garlic mayonnaise dipping sauce, to begin, my colleagues opted for two seafood-inspired starters.

My colleague’s ‘Fristo Mitto’ – comprising a tumbling tower of prawns, crunchy deep fried white bait and soft, gently battered calamari – was most impressive, providing plenty of variety and texture, and brought to life with a generous squeezing of lemon.

My other colleague decided on ‘Fregola ai frutti di mare’ – a typical Sardinian dish, we learned, cooked with mussels, prawns and baby squid. Marrying a tomato base with fresh seafood and oozy parmesan, the risotto-like dish delivered mouthfuls upon mouthfuls of fresh flavour and, thanks to the mussel shells and sprigs of basil, was beautifully presented.

After spying a couple of our fellow diners tucking into good-looking pizzas, I follow their lead and order the ‘Via Vento’ for mains.

Uniting chicken and crispy rashes of bacon (don’t be fooled by the word ‘pancetta’ here) with sweet, caramalised red onion and garlic herb butter, sure, it wasn’t the most

88

sophisticated pizza, but, for me, it certainly ticked the boxes: meaty and marvelously moreish, despite being a little on the oily side.

My colleagues, meanwhile, perused the restaurant’s pasta and chicken options, before finally settling on ‘Malloredus Campidanese’ (small shell pasta, infused with saffron and tomato, with smoky Italian sausage) and ‘Pollo alla zafferano’, comprising chicken breast, smothered in a saffron-infused cream sauce, joined by sautéed wild mushrooms.

Both portion sizes were just right (enough for lunch) and the mild flavours, although simple and somewhat familiar, made for two very satisfying meals.

We rounded off our meals three indulgent desserts: sticky toffee pudding, drenched in sweet butterscotch sauce, creamy vanilla panna cotta, served with a slick of summer red fruits, and a wickedly sweet chocolate fondant, complete with a thick, runny centre.

Combining good value cuisine, steeped in traditional Italian flavour, with a laid-back vibe and stunning views, it’s not hard to see why Sabatini has continued to flourish throughout the decades.

For more information, or to book, visit www.sabatinis.co.uk or call (0191) 261 4415

Bucce di Patate

Fritto Miso

Fregola ai frutti di

Golden fried potato skins with garlic mayonnaise

Deep fried white bait, calamari and prawns

A risotto-like dish, with mussels, prawns and baby squid

£4.90

£8.50

£10.50

Via Veneto

Malloredus Campidanese

Pollo allo zafferano

Chicken, caramalised red onion, garlic herb butter and crispy pancetta

Small shell pasta with fresh sausage, chilli, saffron and tomato

Chicken breast with sautéed wild mushrooms, pancetta, saffron and cream

£8.75

£9.50

£16.95

Chocolate fondant

Sticky toffee pudding

Creamy vanilla panna cotta

Rich chocolate sponge with a soft, runny centre, served warm with vanilla ice cream

Served hot, with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream

Served with summer red fruits

£5.50

£4.95

£4.95

89

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

A complete events SoLution As home to one of the North East’s top-flight football clubs, the Stadium of Light is no stranger to publicity, but it’s the venue’s activities away from the pitch that are now making headlines. ince being purpose built in 1997, the Stadium of Light (SoL) has established itself as a market leader for hospitality and events, earning countless accolades, including Finest Commercial Tourism Venue in the North of England at the recent Enjoy England Awards.

Its hosting of high profile concerts by world class acts, including One Direction, Bon Jovi and Rihanna, have also given the stadium an internationally renowned reputation and helped put Sunderland firmly on the map as a ‘go to’ venue for every kind of large scale gathering.

This year, the Stadium of Light (SoL) will be building on this outstanding record, with another series of important developments, including the construction of a new Hilton hotel in its grounds and a highly-anticipated performance by Grammy award-winning rockers, Foo Fighters, which takes place in May. Before that, the Stadium’s commercial team and its specialist subsidiary 1879 Events Management, are focusing all their efforts on ensuring they can continue to provide a complete event ‘SoLution’ for private and corporate clients from across the UK.

S

Using the wealth of experience gained from previous events, including countless business dinners, conferences and exhibitions, 1879 Events Management has developed a new range of packages, specifically tailored to make full use of the venue’s versatility.

In the case of exhibitions, conferences and similarly structured events, this can include a full audio-visual service, complimentary internet access, office facilities and first-class food, with a choice of functions rooms available to host up to 1,000 guests.

For more informal gatherings, such as dinners and celebrations, the Stadium of Light can adapt to cater for even larger numbers, with the option to utilise the terraces and even erect a stage on the pitch (if the event is held outside the normal football season).

As an added incentive, the firm has introduced a wide range of winter deals for events at the Stadium of Light, including discounts on daily delegate rates, for any booking confirmed by the end of March.

Full details of these offers can be found by calling the venue directly on 0871 911 1555, emailing conf&banq@safc.com or visiting

90

www.thestadiumoflight.com If however, despite its easy access and plentiful free parking, the Stadium of Light proves too far to travel, then 1879’s awardwinning chefs and managers - many of whom are trained at the firm’s dedicated Hospitality Academy – can also be readily dispatched across the North East.

This has already proven successful at a variety of outside events, including leading LGBT festival Newcastle Pride, where the team provided catering and other hospitality services for up to 65,000 visitors at Newcastle’s Town Moor.

The same high standards of service can now also be enjoyed at National Glass Centre, Sunderland and The Beach House, Roker, where 1879 Events Management currently offers daily breakfasts and lunches, along with hosting a variety of private and corporate events.

For further information about 1879 Events Management, including its services at National Glass Centre and The Beach House, visit www.1879events.com, email info@1879events.com or call 0871 911 1269 or follow @1879Events on Twitter.

WELL-BEING

Golf specific conditioning Duncan Edwards, director of Bodyguards Fitness Services Ltd, is a health and fitness coach with over 15 years’ experience in the industry. Here, he tells you how to take your game to a new level, avoid injury and improve fitness levels. eing fit for golf allows for a more consistent, improved level of performance. With improved postural alignment and increased core strength, you can expect to increase power output, club head speed and, thus, drive distance while also avoiding the common injuries that can keep you off the course for prolonged periods.

More muscular endurance allows you to maintain better concentration for a full 18 holes and, with better flexibility and balance, stroke mechanics are improved, giving you more consistency and accuracy.

"Amateur golfers achieve approximately 90 per cent of their peak muscle activity when driving a golf ball. This is the same lifting intensity as picking up a weight that can only be lifted four times, on average, before total fatigue. Yet, golfers fail to consider that they strike the ball an average of 30 to 40 times each round with comparable intensity." Paul Chek, Golf Biomechanics Manual 2009 These levels of intensity and muscle activation are similar to those in sports such as football, tennis and martial arts. Yet, these sports often include physical conditioning to meet such demands, whereas golfers tend to start playing at an age where they no longer exercise or train in such a way.

B

alignment last month, this month we take a look at how to develop strength and power for longer drives and more consistency when recovering from the rough.

Endurance, strength and power As discussed last month, only once optimal spinal alignment, posture, core stability, muscle balance and range of motion are restored, can we look to improve golfing performance via a personalised exercise programme. Your programme must be designed and periodically progressed to increase endurance, then strength and finally power output, in that order. Everybody is different and we all have different levels of strength, endurance and speed of contraction in different muscle groups. However, each golfer’s swing has one common theme: spinal rotation. Unfortunately, possibly as a result of the majority of people nowadays earning a living by working at a desk, hunched over a screen or laptop, most amateur golfers have far from optimal spinal alignment and core stability. By using exercises that develop the ability to rotate smoothly and quickly with good spinal alignment, we can develop the ability to hit the ball harder, further and more accurately with significantly less risk of injury.

Your golf specific fitness programme So, what is golf fitness?

Having focussed on the importance of postural

Initially, your training should focus on building endurance in order to cope with the physical

92

demands placed on your body over the length of time it takes to complete a round. This phase should be followed by the development of strength via multidirectional resistance training, before finally looking to produce a powerful swing via exercises that require speed and explosive rotation of the trunk. The exercises selected must retain specificity toward producing optimal golf swing mechanics in terms of posture, stability, balance and spinal rotation. There are too many programme design factors to list here, but it should be stated that your exercise programme must be specific to you, focusing on your weaknesses and your postural issues.

At Bodyguards, we offer personalised Golf Conditioning programmes designed specifically for you. They involve a detailed assessment of your posture, your flexibility and ranges of motion, your muscle strength and, most importantly, your core stability. Once this information has been collected, we'll write you a custom made correctional exercise programme, including a bespoke stretching plan to restore your posture and musculoskeletal balance and then, via one to one personal training sessions, we'll guide you through a carefully designed exercise programme, periodically progressed to develop your fitness from stability/endurance to strength and then finally power generation.

Duncan Edwards, director, health coach & exercise specialist, Bodyguards Fitness Service Ltd. For more information, visit info@bodyguardsapt.com or tel: (0191) 239 9000

T R AV E L

A stay at Rothay Garden Mike Grahamslaw and his family visit the luxurious Lake District hotel. othay Garden Hotel, on the banks of the Rothay River in Grasmere, is a top fourstar Lake District Hotel. From quite modest beginnings in the 1960s, when it began public life as a vegetarian guest house, through to its days as a two-star typical British holiday hotel in the 1980s, and now its life as a leading four-star property, it has undergone an amazing metamorphosis under its charismatic owner Chris Carss. Chris has spent over £3 million redeveloping the original 1850 country house, privately owned by one of the landed gentry.

His visionary plans have turned an ordinary hotel into an extraordinary one that has won many accolades, including Cumbria Tourist Board’s Hotel of the Year award.

Its 30 rooms and suites all offer great en-suite facilities including ethical toiletries, hair dryer, multi-channel flatscreen television, free internet access, complimentary welcome tray, including a variety of hot drinks and mineral water, as well as fluffy bathrobes and slippers.

Many of the bedrooms are on the ground floor. One is fully DDA accessible and half the rooms have superb six-foot beds, while the remainder has luxurious queen-size beds.

Like me, Chris is a native Geordie. He fell in love with the seductive charms of the Lakes many years ago and has never left the area since.

This was our first family trip to the Lake District, although I had some previous experience from an earlier visit in my Sixth Form days some 25 years ago.

After checking into wonderfully appointed loft suites on the top floor, we started our trip in the proper manner, with a selection from the hotel’s new Afternoon Delights menu in front of the open fire in the hotel lounge.

The delicious pairings of drinks with tasty snacks made us feel like lords and ladies of the Manor. Great stuff.

R

The soporific fire had made a return to our room for a gentle early evening snooze essential, but we soon sprang back into action after showering and changing before making our way down to the magnificent Garden Restaurant, where I met the very personable proprietor.

This immaculate restaurant has a welldeserved reputation for fine dining and is only one of a few Grasmere hotels with two AA Rosettes.

But it is much more than just a traditional hotel restaurant. Its contemporary furniture and clean lines and great views overlooking the hotel’s two acres of grounds make it a very elegant place to dine and I can understand why it is so popular with both locals and holiday makers alike.

Andrew Burton is its head chef and is one of only 300 masterchefs of Great Britain.

He honed his considerable culinary skills at top London hotels such as The Savoy, The Connaught and The Berkeley and also at Gleneagles in Scotland.

He joined Chris 21 years ago, so he is obviously doing something right!

His imaginative dishes are prepared using only the finest of regionally-sourced produce and Andrew is especially proud of his unrivalled network of dependable and reliable local suppliers.

Over the three nights we stayed there, we dined regally on some superb gourmet dishes with wine to complement from a cellar extending to nearly 200 bins.

The range of wines from around the world will satisfy the taste and budgets of everyone and I really liked the personal notes against each wine. Plus, a new innovative facility has recently been installed which enables a wider selection of wines to be offered by the glass.

This £10,000 investment is called the Cruvinet and it uses a nitrogen system to displace oxygen from an open bottle (the main

96

cause of ‘corking’) to ensure the wine is as fresh as when it was first opened.

Overall, a truly exceptional dining experience.

I must also mention its hearty Lakeland breakfasts, which really set us up each day for some fairly strenuous (for me) daily activities.

To give you an example of some of the nonMikeGrahamslaw-like activities undertaken, we scaled two of the nearby peaks.

This part of our mini break was an absolute revelation to us all. My daughter, Holly, and wife, Lisa, who are not the most natural outdoortypes, got into the spirit of things and bought all the gear.

Amazingly, I loved it too and actually found hill walking incredibly enjoyable and even therapeutic.

My son, Jack, amazed all of us by wearing old worn out trainers and still romping to the summit ahead of us all on both days.

After each trip, the family returned to Rothay Garden Hotel and rehabilitated our four weary souls in its new Riverside Spa facilities.

This facility somehow manages to bring the outside in with its amazing floor-to-ceiling windows that allow superb views of the surrounding fells, while soaking away the strains of aching muscles and stressed minds.

Rothay Garden Hotel also serves as a great base to explore other parts of the Lakes and during our three day mini-break, we thoroughly enjoyed visits to Keswick, Ambleside and Windermere where we ventured out on a most enjoyable cruise across the lake.

Just call me Mike Bear-Grylls from here on in!

This had been a memorable trip for all the right reasons and we will almost certainly return for further dubious delights of fell walking and other non-pub-like activities.

Check out Rothay Garden Hotel for yourself on www.rothaygarden.com

97

MOTORS John Squires (left), chairman of Benfield Charitable Trust, and Anthony Sargent, general director of Sage Gateshead, with staff and participantsfrom Sage’s Community Music Sparks programme.

Sage Gateshead's 10th Birthday Appeal motoring ahead with Benfield The North East’s largest independent motor group donates £50,000 to Sage Gateshead’s 10th Birthday Appeal. enfield Motor Group has helped to secure the future of one of the world’s leading music education programmes in the North East by donating £50,000 to Sage Gateshead’s 10th birthday appeal. The donation forms part of a permanent endowment for the Tyneside venue’s performance and learning programme.

More than 70 per cent of this programme takes place outside of the organisation’s iconic building and has helped secure its standing as a centre for musical excellence, both nationally and internationally.

As well as helping communities across the North East learn and develop through music, Sage Gateshead has also become a leading advisor on the creation of similar programmes in Brazil, Austria and other countries around the world.

And, because of a 50 per cent match funding agreement with Arts Council England to support endowments in the arts, Benfield’s donation is worth £75,000 in real

B

terms to this important cause.

General director of Sage Gateshead, Anthony Sargent CBE, said: “We are very grateful for this donation from our great friends at Benfield, which means we will need just under £2 million to hit our target by the July 2015 deadline. If we achieve that, Arts Council England will match fund another £950, 000. All of this will mean that the work we do will remain at the forefront of music education and maintain our impressive international reputation for both education and performance.”

“We have come an incredible way over the last ten years and Benfield’s donation to our birthday appeal will help us to continue our important work over for the next ten.”

Chairman of Benfield Charitable Trust, John Squires OBE, said: “This Centre for music excellence is not only of vital importance to our region culturally, but surveys have shown it also plays a significant part in the economic regeneration of the area. The

98

Benfield Charitable Trust has supported The Sage Gateshead since its foundation and is delighted to continue by responding to the 10th Anniversary Appeal.”

Alongside Benfield, Sage Gateshead’s 10th Birthday Appeal has been supported by many of the North East’s major philanthropists, including the Barbour Foundation, The Vardy Foundation and the Stuart Halbert Foundation.

Support also comes from the thousands of people visiting the venue in its anniversary year and a special set of benefit concerts by Sting, who brings his Broadway musical ‘The Last Ship’ to Sage Gateshead in April 2015.

Leading the support for these concerts is international cruise-line company, Cunard, which commissioned many of the greatest ships from the Swan Hunter Shipyard in Wallsend.

Additional support comes from Port of Tyne and Shepherd Offshore.

For more information, visit www.about.drivebenfield.com

MOTORS

All New Mazda3 Fully redesigned and evolved in every way, the all-new Mazda3 is built to raise expectations. ombining thrilling driving experience and handling with outstanding fuel consumption and superior environmental performance, it’s easy to see why the all-new Mazda3 – the first Mazda to offer internet connectivity through a compatible smartphone is going down a storm in the motoring world.

Inspired by the eye-catching ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’ design, the sport hatch back defies convention. With an exterior that brings a sense of motion appealing to all drivers. The body has been sculpted to create the idea of strong and powerful movement. The wide stance hints at the exciting driving performance and manoeuvrability.

Step inside the Mazda3 and relax in the spacious and finely crafted interior. Get a greater sense of luxury with the premium look of the satin chrome and soft-touch materials.

Settle into the sporty seats, available in luxurious fabrics or rich leather for the Sport Nav models, and admire the details of the driving environment.

Conveniently placed between the front seats is a large seven-inch LCD colour touch screen and the Multimedia Commander, specifically designed to for easy use and to keep you up to date with essential driving information including speed, turn-by-turn navigation and emergency warnings. Not only is this an

C

advanced piece of technology, it’s displayed in your eye-line.

Smart connectivity means you will be able to access a range of online services through your smart phone. Including AhaTM, a cloud-based service with more than 40,000 stations including radio stations, podcasts, audio books and personalised location-based services. The AhaTM app will also allow drivers to safely check Facebook and Twitter feeds. With mobile connectivity like this you’re free to enjoy an entertaining and safe driving experience.

Mazda is known for providing a dynamic driving performance - putting fun into driving first. Having been inspired by the Japanese notion of Jinba Ittai – ‘horse and rider as one’.

This creates a special bond between the Mazda3 and the driver, making this sport hatchback such an exhilarating driving experience, with exciting, responsive road handling and exceeding the expectations this sporty design creates.

The Mazda3 includes safety features, such as the Rear Vehicle Monitoring system, giving you more awareness of all vehicles behind and to the side of the car. The Lane Departure Warning System also lets you know if you’re leaving your lane and the Emergency Stop Signalling System flashes your hazard lights if you suddenly brake hard, ensuring not only you and your passengers

100

are safe but also the drivers around you.

Every model of the Mazda3 will feature the Smart City Brake support. This is designed to minimise the effects of low-speed collisions.

Continuingly monitoring the gap and speed of the vehicle in front, it applies the brakes if it detects a collision is likely. All safety alerts are displayed on the Active Driving Display and with the passive car safety features such as the extra-strong SKYACTIV-Body Shell, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the driving with the knowledge that you and your passengers are protected.

The i-stop switches off the engine when idling in traffic, the driver will hardly notice this as the Mazda3 i-stop restarts the engine quicker and smoother than most stop-start systems. The efficient car does this to keep CO2 emissions low from just 107g/km1. The impressive environmental performance is achieved by using the pioneering technology i-stop and the advanced SKYACTIV Technology.

Mazda is defying convention in so many ways. From its exhilarating driving experience making this a fun car to drive and the outstanding fuel economy, helping you save money in the long run. It’s car safety features and superb safety performance makes this the ideal car for families. www.hodgsons-newcastle.co.uk

MOTORS Nick Clennett, lead officer for the Go Smarter programme

Share Smarter Nick Clennett, lead officer for the Go Smarter programme, Tyne and Wear’s sustainable transport initiative, explains what car sharing is all about and how it can create a more sociable and less stressful commute.

Firstly, what is Share Smarter?

Share Smarter is a car-sharing scheme, specifically running in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, set up to help frequent commuters on their journey to and from work.

People who register on the website (www.sharesmarter.co.uk) can contact other commuters who make a similar journey and then travel to work together. This helps cut fuel costs, parking costs, pollution and congestion and allows you to make new friends along the way.

Who can use Share Smarter?

Anyone can use our Share Smarter website, but Go Smarter is specifically encouraging people who make daily journeys to and from work in their cars to do so more sustainably.

Car Share is particularly attractive to those working at large organisations, people who do shift work, and those situated on business parks.

Can you list the five key benefits of car sharing?

There are some really strong benefits to car sharing, which include: • Reduces congestion and saves valuable time at the beginning and end of your day • Reduces fuel costs and parking charges by sharing the day-to-day expenses • Reduces the mileage and every day wear and tear on your vehicle

• Reduces traffic pollution and carbon emissions, helping to contain the increasing pressure on the local community and environment • You can enjoy a more sociable and less stressful way of travelling.

How does it work?

Once you have completed the registration form on www.sharesmarter.co.uk, your details are entered into our database. The registration is very straight forward and each individual can submit their preferences, such as whether they would like to travel with a male or female, are a driver or non-driver, smoker or non-smoker etc. You will then be presented with a list of people who meet the criteria of your request. From this list, it is then up to you to contact each other and come to a car share agreement that is convenient for you both/all.

Do people who are registered have to car share every day?

No. Car sharing is very flexible and we only pair you up with people who request to share on the same days as you. The same applies for the hours you work.

What about car sharing costs – how are these split?

It’s up to you how you agree to split the costs, but there are ways that other people have used that work well, including:

102

• On a reciprocal basis, where you drive one week and the next week your car share partner drives • If there is only one driver, then he/she may charge their passengers for the journey. We currently recommend that 10 to 15p per mile is a fair contribution, plus splitting any parking fee equally, as long as you don't charge your passengers more than the running costs of the vehicle.

How can employers get involved?

This scheme is just as beneficial to employers as it is to staff. It can improve your green credentials, cut down on mileage expenses and free up congestion around your work place.

There is also the social aspect for staff interacting outside of working hours, which can lead to a happier working environment.

Share Smarter can set up a free sub-scheme for any organisation with more than 100 employees, based on a single site or for organisations based on a large business park.

Many members of staff feel more comfortable sharing with people who work for the same organisation, and a sub-scheme such as this means that staff have the option to search and be contacted only by their colleagues.

We can even provide businesses with posters, flyers and other promotional materials to help get your car share scheme off the ground.

For more information, visit www.sharesmarter.co.uk, email contact@sharesmarter.co.uk or call (0191) 277 8997

MOTORS

SEAT’s new Leon X-PERIENCE arrives at Jennings Jennings Motor Group introduces the new Leon X-PERIENCE. he waiting is over for motorists wanting to get their hands on latest addition to the popular SEAT model line-up - the new Leon X-PERIENCE is now available to test drive at Jennings SEAT, part of the Jennings Motor Group.

Venturing into the world of the off-road estate market for the first time, SEAT’s new lifestyle estate compact SUV with permanent four-wheeldrive and off-roader looks starts from £24,385 onthe-road and is available to test drive at Jennings SEAT’s Cargo Fleet Lane branch in Middlesbrough.

Joining the high-selling Leon model line-up at the dealership, franchise manager at Jennings SEAT in Middlesbrough, Craig Johnson, said; “The new X-PERIENCE joins the high-selling Leon model line-up at the dealership. Customers were able to pre-order the new model in September and, due to the volume of enquiries we have taken since then and in the lead up to its arrival in the showroom, we just knew it was going to be a success.”

With four-wheel-drive and extra ground clearance, the new Leon X-PERIENCE is capable in all road situations and poor weather conditions. The new model’s interior and exterior, retains all of the ST’s style and versatility, including its sizeable 587-litre boot, which rises to 1470 litres, with the rear seats folded at the pull of a single lever.

Other elements singling the latest model out as the ultimate Leon ST are integrated fog lamps and twin chrome tailpipes, together with

T

substantial air intakes at the front.

The range-topping estate is immediately recognisable, through its all-road looks.

Protection mouldings on the door sills and wheel arches give it a robust look, plus aluminium look touches for the rear bumper and lower front spoiler.

Customers can take advantage of two trim levels, including SE and SE Technology. The SE model features 17-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels, black roof rails and dark tinted rear windows, in addition to rear parking sensors and twin exhaust tailpipes completing the look.

The premium feel of the interior of the new Leon X-PERIENCE continues with dual zone climate control, leather steering wheel with orange stitching and X-PERIENCE logo and cloth upholstered front sport seats with simil leather bolsters. Rounding off its practical nature is Hill Hold Control and a chrome-loading sill for added protection when four-legged friends scrabble into the boot.

For an extra £1985, customers can upgrade to the SE Technology model, which brings a wealth of extras that would cost substantially more if purchased individually. SEAT’s Media System Plus with 5.8-inch colour touchscreen, DAB and satellite navigation, plus auto headlights, wipers and dimming rear view mirror are available with the SE Technology model.

The exterior includes SEAT’s unique LED headlights and tail lights, electrically folding door mirrors and 18-inch ‘X-PERIENCE’ machined alloy wheels.

104

Customers opting for the SE Technology have the option to upgrading with a £1250 Lux pack.

The comprehensive upgrade combines black leather upholstery with simil leather bolsters, heated front seats, headlight washers and heated washer nozzles, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and chrome roof rails.

Individual options include a panoramic sunroof, towbar pre-install, SEAT Sound audio system, while adventurous types going off the beaten track can enjoy a space saver 18-inch spare wheel.

Jennings SEAT sells the entire new car range at the Cargo Fleet Lane dealership. Everything from the Mii, Ibiza, Toledo, Leon SC and Leon Cupra to the new Leon ST, Altea, Altea XL and Alhambra models are on display and available to test drive.

In addition to the new car range, customers looking to purchase a quality approved used car can choose from a variety on display.

As a fully accredited Motability specialist, the Jennings SEAT dealership can also offer a wide variety of models across the range to customers who qualify for a vehicle through the Motability programme.

After sales is also taken care of with an on-site service, MOT, accident repair centre and parts department.

For more information about the range of products and services available at Jennings SEAT, visit www.jenningsmotorgroup.co.uk or call 01642 204 040.

WELL-BEING

Paying the price for a perfect smile Dr Ken Harris of Riveredge Cosmetic Dentistry reveals the risks of having teeth whitening treatments performed by non-qualified practitioners. hat perfect, Hollywood smile has become the dental equivalent of the Holy Grail – the “must have” look that everyone wants.

But one of the UK’s most qualified cosmetic dentists – based here in the North East - has warned that people who get whitening treatments at beauty or hair salons could end up with serious damage.

Dr Ken Harris of Riveredge Cosmetic Dentistry, which has surgeries in both Sunderland and Jesmond, has heard all of the whitening horror stories – including of people who have used everything from scouring powder to toilet cleaner.

What many people don’t realise is that nonqualified practitioners offering laser and bleaching procedures on teeth could also face prosecution because they are breaking the law.

Under the regulations set out by the General Dental Council, only qualified dental professionals can legally perform teeth whitening and bleaching procedures.

But, Dr Harris believes rising demand for a quick result has led to an overwhelming number of beauty salons and back street tooth whitening parlours carrying out treatments illegally.

“Laser bleaching and other whitening procedures need to be very carefully carried out," said Dr Harris.

"These procedures, while perfectly capable of giving people the results they want, can

T

cause serious damage to teeth if not performed correctly.”

“Over time, human teeth darken naturally from within as a result of the dentine beneath our enamel getting tougher with age, at which point professional teeth whitening procedures can help to brighten your smile by soaking through the enamel to the darker dentine beneath.”

“Understandably, people are looking for quick and cheap fixes to an aesthetic problem, which is why so many people opt for alternative practitioners. However, more often than not, poorly performed procedures can cause more harm than good.”

Regulations came into force in 2012, which meant that tooth whitening or bleaching products which contain between 0.1 per cent and 6 per cent hydrogen peroxide could not be used by anyone other than dental professionals registered with the GDC. Dr Harris is concerned that people buying home treatments from the internet, or having them carried out at the hairdressers or a beauty salon, could be leaving them, at best, spending money on something that doesn't work or, at worst, with a whole host of problems.

"Wild claims are made for all kinds of tooth whitening products, but only compounds of hydrogen peroxide will actually bleach teeth.

The truth remains that anything else will just not work despite claims that they do,” he said.

"The safest compound is Carbarmide

106

Peroxide gel at a 10 per cent concentration.

Higher concentrations do not make teeth whiter and may damage teeth. Despite this, concentrations of up to 50 per cent are available on the internet, but these can cause serious problems if used."

Dr Harris is recommending anyone considering tooth whitening needs to talk to a dentist, or check with the General Dental Council at www.gdc-uk.org to see if you are being treated safely and legally.

Ken Harris, who has over 30 years’ experience as a dentist, passed his MSc in Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry (with distinction) in 2014, which added to his BACD Fellowship makes him amongst the most qualified cosmetic dentists in the country.

He is currently one of only two accredited fellows of the BACD (British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) and holds full membership of BAAD (British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry). He is a member of the AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) and acts as UK clinical director for California Center for Advanced Dental Studies in San Francisco. Ken is also proud to be the first UK graduate and mentor of the prestigious Kois Center across in Seattle.

For more information about Riveredge Cosmetic Dentistry, or for advice on teeth whitening treatments, visit www.riveredge.co.uk