North East Times Magazine - July 2013 by North East Times Magazine

CONTENTS

July 2013 BUSINESS NEWS –

SAVE THE DATE –

Business events – mark them on your calendar

NORTH EAST VIEW POINTS –

Thoughts from the region’s business community.

SPOTLIGHT –

New centre set to boost economy.

10 QUESTIONS FOR... –

James Bough of Kelvin Lodge Dental Practice.

ONE TO WATCH –

Iona Sims, solicitor at Sintons.

ON THE MOVE –

New executive appointments

THE LONG GAME –

Alok Dhanda of Dhanda Financial.

STATE OF THE ART – COVER STORY –

Mike Lynch Advertising goes digital.

BUSINESS LUNCH –

100

Blackfriars Restaurant

INTERVIEW –

106

New executive director of Northern Stage, Susan Coffer.

ARTS –

108

MOTORS –

124

INTERVIEW –

128

Newcastle Falcons director of rugby, Dean Richards.

GET TO KNOW ME –

130

Pulin Trivedi of Bibby Financial Services.

CREDITS

Directors: Mike Grahamslaw, Mick O’Hare Editor: Alison Cowie Senior account managers: Martin Stout, Chris Turner Editorial: Jessica Laing, Elise Rana Hopper, Daneet Steffens, Dan Sheridan, Amy-Louise Ingram, Peter Wilson Senior designer: John Haxon Feature photography: Chris Owens Additional photography: PennyJane Photography (pennyjanedwards@me.com) Illustrations: Low Moon Over High Town (www.lowmoonoverhightown.com)

Office: 11 Causey Street, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 4DJ. | t: (0191) 284 9994 | f: (0191) 284 9995 www.northeasttimes.co.uk | @NETimesmagazine Front cover: Mike Lynch (Mike Lynch Advertising), by Chris Owens.

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) 284 9994. 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. © 2013 Published by North East Times Ltd.

BUSINESS NEWS

Funding milestone Multimillion pound fund celebrates 500th investment in North East

North East fund set up to support SMEs is celebrating its 500th investment – a milestone which marks more than £70 million worth of funding for businesses in the region. The £125 million Finance for Business North East programme is a suite of seven investment funds and was the first of its kind in the UK when it launched in 2010. It will continue to investin SMEs with the objective of supporting over 800 businesses and creating more than 5000 new jobs by the end of 2014. Andrew Mitchell, chief executive of North East Finance says: “We are very pleased to have reached such a significant milestone. The funds are on target at this stage of the programme and we will work hard to ensure a continued level of success. “This investment finance really does make a positive impact on the regional economy, and we would actively encourage businesses at every stage of development to consider how the Finance For Business Funds could help them grow.”

John Evans of Beanie the Flavour Co and Natalia Blagburn (Rivers Capital Partners)

County Durham-based coffee and flavour infusion company, Beanie the Flavour Co, is the 500th business to receive funding. The investment, through

the Finance for Business North East Angel Fund, will enable the Newton Aycliffe company to expand its range of products and explore new opportunities.

NE commuters are curbing lifestyle to fund transport costs

ommuters across the UK are making lifestyle changes to fund spiralling transport costs, with 57 per cent of North East commuters cutting back on essentials to be able to fund the travel costs – according to a new consumer survey from PwC. PwC’s Voice of the Consumer (VoC) survey published this week, found that 56 per cent of the region's full-time workers have experienced increased travel-to-work costs over the past year with 24 per cent telling researchers their travel costs had increased, ‘a great deal’.

Across the UK, around half of those in full-time employment said that had cut back on living essentials and luxuries to fund their rising travel expenditure. And despite the North having the lowest travel costs amongst the eight UK regions, with annual travel costs averaging £1009 compared to the South East (£1422) and the Midlands (£1376), 61 per cent of the North East commuters have reduced socialising and going to the pub to fund travel and 66 percent have cut back on eating out to afford commuter costs.

Uplifting support

South Tyneside mum has secured funding to develop her new bra design into a viable business. Juliet Hodson first came up with the specialist adjustable bra idea when she was asked to develop a business plan as part of her degree studies at Gateshead College. The 43-year-old secured £4000 from Gazelle for research and development at South West College’s InnoTech Centre in County Tyrone. She is now embarking on the first steps to becoming a successful entrepreneur with her business, Loyal Support.

Hotel bought from administration

he future of a boutique hotel in Newcastle has been secured after it was bought from administration by one of the region’s leisure groups. Grey Street Hotel in Newcastle city centre is now owned by the Malhotra Group – who are planning a seven-figure investment in the venue after it was forced to call in administrators late last year. The deal, overseen by law firm Sintons, includes the purchase of the entire Grade II listed building, part of which is leased by The Living Room bar and restaurant. Left to right: Alok Loomba, Sintons; Bunty Malhotra; Meenu Malhotra; Atul Malhotra; Christopher Welch, Sintons

City gets started

flagship Science Central

significant milestone, work has begun on the first building on the south east corner of the old brewert site. The 24-acre site which aims to become a new urban hub for scientific growth is due to open in autumn 2014.

Northern Pride set to boost local economy North East festival celebrating the region’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community could boost the Tyneside economy by around £1million, it has been revealed. Last year Newcastle Pride attracted around 23,000 visitors and organisers believe this year’s event (July 20) at Newcastle’s Exhibition Park will prove even more popular.

asington-based Castledene Group, one of the largest letting agencies in the region, has scooped Gold at the Lettings Agency of the Year Awards, winning the title of Best Medium Northern Lettings Agency 2013. The team also took home a Silver award in the Best Lettings Property Management 2013 category. The ceremony took place at the Lancaster London Hotel last month where the group’s managing director John Paul and staff members Adele Crocker and Bev Corkhill accepted the awards from entrepreneur and The Apprentice advisor Karren Brady.

In the driving seat

North East training organisation has announced it is to move to larger premises and double its workforce. Wings Training, which was established in 2012 by Stuart Hunt, will move to a new office in Sunderland city centre in August after outgrowing its headquarters in Newton Aycliffe.

wo Porsche car mechanics in their 20s, who left their jobs at a Porsche dealership to set up in business, have been supported by the North Tyneside’s Business Factory. As well as traditional start up advice the pair received extra specialist help from a commercial property consultant. This is part of an extended package of specialist support made available to new start-ups in North Tyneside.

Events company launches partner programme

Infrastructure plans announced

uilding work has now started on the

development in Newcastle city centre. A

Training company set to soar

Lettings agency scoops gold

underland Live has signed up key business partners to develop and enhance the city’s events programme. Formerly part of Sunderland City Council, Sunderland Live aims to bring in outside funding to support and enhance events such as the high profile Sunderland International Air Show.

he North East Chamber of Commerce has called for immediate action on a raft of Government infrastructure announcements to ensure maximum benefit for the region, after chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, unveiled a £100bn package of national infrastructure investment.

DIARY

Save the date Charity balls, business dinners and seminars. EXPOSURE EVENT

NETWORKING EVENT

July

Q9, Quorum Business Park, Newcastle Tel: 07523 072304 Web: www.exposure-events.com Price: Free Following last year’s success at St James’ Park, this year’s theme centres on transforming your business, in just six hours. The trade show features around 80 companies from across the region and beyond, so if you don’t want to miss out on this fantastic opportunity, with a host of fantastic speakers and power briefings, book your tickets now.

ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPER

July

As You Like It, Jesmond, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 500 7780 Web: www.entrepreneursforum.net Price: £45+VAT (members only)

Village Hotel, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 386 1144 Web: www.necc.co.uk Price: Free The aim of this event is to encourage an exchange of experiences, ideas and offers between members within a structured, yet relaxed working environment. The event will enable delegates to meet new contacts by networking around a mini-expo and taking part in a trading board exercise.

MIDNIGHT WALK

ENERGY SEMINAR

July

Civic Centre, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 246 9123 Web: www.stoswaldsuk.org/walks Price: £15 (£18 inc. a t-shirt)

Muckle LLP, Time Central, 32 Gallowgate, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 211 7930 Web: www.muckle-llp.com What can you protect? How do you manage social network usage? How robust are your employment policies and contracts? This employment seminar for the energy supply chain will help to address the following questions by discussing how to support the sector and protect your confidential information.

NSPCC FUNDRAISER

July

Village Hotel, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 386 1144 Web: www.necc.co.uk Price: Free

Spend an evening with Brian Jobling for a pinch of creativity, a dash of innovation and a healthy does of ambition. A true ambassador for the North East, his company, Eutechnyx, is the world’s leading independent racing game developer. As well as having its headquarters in Gateshead, the company also has studios in mainland China, Hong Kong and in Charlotte, USA, employing more than 180 people worldwide. What’s more, its Level Up graduate programme ensures it has the pick of young talent. Young and budding entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend this exciting focus dinner to gain inspiration and hear a success story of which the region can be proud.

It’s time to grab your cabaret dresses and your ruby slippers for this year’s St Oswald’s Hospice 10km Midnight Walk. From Broadway to the West End, participants (ages 10+) are encouraged to get out their musical-inspired attire for charity. Anything is welcome and the Hospice will attempt to break the world record for the world’s largest hand jive.

BUSINESS SEMINAR

July

Level One, City Library, Newcastle Tel: (0191) 277 4100 Web: www.pne.org Price: Free For over 30 years, Project North East has helped countless people through one-to-one counselling sessions. Are you interested in starting your own business? Are you interested in chatting with an award-winning business counsellor? Then book a free one-hour consultation session to find out how you can start, or simply expand, your business.

The aim of this event is to encourage an exchange of experiences, ideas and offers between members within a structured, yet relaxed working environment. The event will enable delegates to meet new contacts by networking around a mini-expo and taking part in a trading board exercise.

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

OPINION

North East view points PAUL WILEMAN MANAGING DIRECTOR B-SKILL NEWCASTLE

Local business men and women share their thoughts ...

Thanks to a variety of Government-funded schemes, youth unemployment is being addressed. B-Skill is an accredited provider of apprenticeship schemes helping many young people into work. Apprenticeships are an excellent way of gaining qualifications and workplace experience. As an employee, you can earn as you learn and you gain practical skills from the workplace. As an employer apprenticeships provide a motivated workforce with the practical skills and qualifications required for long-term success.

PAUL JAMES ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & PARTICIPATION LIVE THEATRE NEWCASTLE The longer young people are unemployed, the more likely they are to sink into a spiral of hopelessness and disillusionment – a very sad state of affairs that must be taken seriously. The Government needs to understand the considerable impact that the austerity agenda is having on our young people. The cure for youth unemployment: a caring and forward looking Government which is prepared to invest in the future by working closely with employers to create imaginative job creation schemes …we need to give young people hope.

SANDY DUFF NEET STRAND LEADER SAGE GATESHEAD On a local level young people need to be re-engaged into education. Alternative training providers, like The Arches project at the back of Sage Gateshead, can provide a bespoke environment and suitable support for those individuals who have found they have clashed with the traditional school system, after all there can never be a ‘one size fits all approach’ to education and we see an increasing number of young people who slip through the cracks in their teens. Through music and art we are tackling the basic obstacles to employment such as basic literacy and numeracy as well as building self confidence and esteem.

How can we reduce the levels of youth unemployment in the region?

ROY SANDBACH 2013 DAVID GOLDMAN VISITING PROFESSOR OF INNOVATION AND ENTERPRISE NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL

There are many expert and committed people in education making great strides in disrupting this pattern of youth unemployment. I would suggest focus in three directions: First we must guide students to choose wisely. There are North East business sectors, life sciences, energy, IT, engineering, creative design and others, where opportunities abound for well-trained young people. Second, we should build aspiration: show young people what and how they can achieve. Third, we must encourage young people; initiatives to build their confidence are vital.

VIC YOUNG MANAGING DIRECTOR VIC YOUNG (SOUTH SHIELDS) LTD

JOHN DUNS DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR BREWIN DOLPHIN NEWCASTLE

It is essential that we all take responsibility in ensuring that we provide opportunities to fulfil a young person’s maximum ability. As a business owner and an advocate of training and development, I have worked closely with Gateshead College to create a three-year apprenticeship scheme. It provides local young people with the relevant training and experience necessary to achieve a career in their chosen field, while benefiting our business with the skills and expertise we require.

At Brewin, we employ 350 people, the majority of whom were born and raised in the North East. Private businesses and the public sector must work together to reduce the levels of youth unemployment. It is important that businesses like ours liaise closely with educational bodies to create opportunities for our region’s young people.

SPOTLIGHT

Land of opportunity A proposed £10.5 million landscape discovery centre looks set to create jobs and boost local businesses as well as teach visitors about the local environment and conservation. n independent report commissioned by Northumberland National Park Authority and YHA (England and Wales) has revealed that a proposed new Landscape Discovery Centre in Northumberland National Park has the potential to significantly boost the local economy with a substantial increase in tourism spend and job creation. Findings from the Economic Impact Assessment report prepared by New Skills Consulting and The KSA Partnership and published last month, estimate that The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre has the potential to attract up to 120,000 new visitors annually when it opens in 2016 and create up to 156 new jobs in 2016/17, rising to 173 per annum by 2021/22. It is predicted that The Sill could contribute a total of £3.35 million to the local economy in its first year, rising to £3.68 million per annum by 2021/22.

The Sill will replace the existing 1960s visitor centre and Youth Hostel at Once Brewed in the central section of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site, with an emblematic building

aimed at transforming and inspiring how people engage with, experience and learn about landscapes and conservation across Northumberland National Park. During the building phase, which is planned between 2014 and 2016, the capital project investment of £8.88 million to fund the development and construction of the facility will support the equivalent of over 100 jobs in the region, with £4.8 million contributed to the Northumberland and wider regional economy. Local businesses and attractions are also set to benefit from the new development. By showcasing local producers and service providers in the planned cafe, shop and exhibition space, hosting farmers’ markets and developing themed itineraries for visitors to explore the wider Northumberland area and region, the report also predicts the positive impact of The Sill on enterprise in the local area.

As a result of visitor demand created by The Sill, the report predicts the creation of 18 new businesses or start ups from 2016, with existing businesses in the region benefiting from the influx of tourists to the area and the opportunity to sell and showcase their produce and services. John Riddle, chairman of Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “The Sill is a project of both national and international significance and the Economic Impact Assessment report confirms what our detailed strategic planning predicted in terms of the positive outcomes for the local and regional economy. “The Sill will offer a unique visitor experience, and our aim is to attract not only day visitors but those wishing to stay and explore the region for longer periods of time. The local community is at the heart of this project and working in partnership with local people and businesses, The Sill will act as a hub for people to go out and explore Northumberland’s stunning landscapes including local attractions, retail and hospitality services. It also hopes to sell local products and services, which has the potential to significantly enhance the region’s economy.” As well as the strong impact of The Sill on the North East’s economy, the report highlights a range of additional benefits the project will

bring including the potential for extensive learning and participation activities, supporting around 3500 learners on residential trips and 1300 learners on educational day trips. The 86bed onsite Youth Hostel is set to support these project aims. Significantly, the project also presents the opportunity for vocational training in traditional skills, which also has the potential to benefit the local economy in the longer term with increased productivity, increases in wages and the opportunity for new rural business start ups. Lucy Howard, from Longsyke Farm, located close to the current Once Brewed site, explained some of the benefits The Sill presents to her business: “The Sill will give the local economy the boost that is needed by bringing in additional visitors to the National Park, not only during the peak seasons but at all times of the year. As a business operating in this area, we are very excited by the opportunities presented by The Sill. “As well as our holiday cottage business, we also run a working farm and for us, any project that raises awareness of the rural environment, is a very positive thing. Lots of people have a relatively low awareness of agriculture and with the potential to open up our farm to current and new visitors and possibly even sell our local produce at The Sill’s new site, we believe it will benefit us by acting as a shop window for all

that we have to offer. It's my hope that the Sill will give rural businesses in this area the chance to showcase the things that make them unique, giving visitors the opportunity to understand our stunning landscape while raising awareness of where their food comes from.” The development phase of the project has been made possible through funding from The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Over the next 10 months Northumberland National Park will undertake extensive consultation with the local community and businesses, gaining their views on the plans and feeding into the design and build process as well as the types of activities they would like to see the facility host, before a final design solution is submitted in a second round bid to the HLF in December 2013. Northumberland National Park Authority and the YHA are seeking to secure an additional £2.5 million in funding for the full project costs and to make their vision for The Sill a reality, the project needs your support. You can support The Sill by volunteering, attending one of the project’s consultation events or making a donation towards the £2.5 million target. For more information about The Sill, visit www.thesill.org.uk, find The Sill on Facebook or follow The Sill on Twitter @thesillproject

EVENT

New-look North East Timesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; breakfast Key clients are the first to see the redesigned June magazine. lients joined staff from North East Times at an exclusive breakfast event last month to celebrate the launch of the redesigned magazine. The June issue of North East Times was a bumper 156-pages and boasted new page designs and editorial platforms. Those attending the morning event in the the Executive Lounge at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel, were the first to see the newlook magazine, which has been at the heart of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business community for the past 32 years. The feedback from guests was overwhelmingly positive. The redesign is part of wider changes to Accent Magazines, which will shortly be rebranded as Accent Media Group to reflect the expanding services the company offers.

INTERVIEW

10 questions for ...

James Bough Dr James Bough is a dental surgeon at Kelvin Lodge Dental Practice. He qualified from Newcastle University with a merit in Clinical Dentistry in 2007 and joined the Gosforth practice in 2012. James specialises in dental implants, conscious sedation, orthodontic techniques, advanced restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics.

What was your first break in business?

What attracted you to your current role?

What has been your career highlight?

I know it sounds obvious, but my first break was qualifying from Newcastle University with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree. Being quite a specific degree, it provided me with a foundation for my professional career pathway and it opened the door for my first job.

Kelvin Lodge Dental Practice is a prestigious dental practice which was established more than 50 years ago. It has an excellent reputation, not only among its patients, but also by other dentists – one of the hardest things to do in any profession and business is impress your professional and business peers. I was therefore well aware of Kelvin Lodge Dental Practice, even from the time I was undergoing my undergraduate degree. Throughout my degree and early professional career I always aspired to work at a prestigious and forwardthinking dental practice. I was first made aware of the position when I was approached by Mr Coulthard, one of the practice partners to be interviewed.

I have been extremely fortunate to have had numerous highlights such as holding an honorary clinical lecturer position at the dental hospital, being asked to lecture for the Postgraduate Institute for Dentists and more recently, being appointed as a clinical opinion leader for Ivoclar Vivadent (an international company responsible for a large proportion of the dental materials and development). However, being offered the position at Kelvin Lodge Dental Practice is probably the biggest highlight to date; discovering that I had been successful over the other 100plus applicants.

And your career lowlight? In the later stages of the final year at university, everyone applies for a job for when they qualify. The process is a mad rush, where all the final year dental students apply to specific practices when they are announced to have positions available. It is an extremely anxious and nervewracking time. Before the process began, I favoured a certain practice which, when it came to the crunch, was not available, this was obviously disappointing. However, I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason and actually in the long run I would not have achieved the experience and undergone the training to date had I not followed the path I have.

What do you enjoy most about your role? I really enjoy spending time with my patients; not just helping them to address their ‘concerns and wishes’. When I meet my patients’ demands it is extremely rewarding to see them so happy with the outcome, but also the interaction and social aspect of the job. Every day is different and I have a fantastic group of support staff at Kelvin Lodge, which makes everyday enjoyable.

What's your biggest challenge?

Who are your heroes, in and out of business?

Ensuring that everyone around me is happy. Each person has different demands and expectations, so I have to make sure that I first read and interpret these expectations correctly, in order for me to then achieve them.

I really admire Paralympians, in particular David Weir. They are inspiring and prove that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. There is so much competition in business now, particularly with big corporates, but I like the personal feel of local small businesses. I admire individuals who are prepared to take a risk and start up a new business venture.

What is the best piece of business advice anyone has ever given you? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Try not to have negative thoughts and always believe in yourselfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This was fantastic advice and has always helped me to remain positive and forward thinking and I believe it has played a major role in getting me through university to where I am today.

What does the future hold for Kelvin Lodge? We carry out all treatment procedures using the latest techniques and materials, however, the new digital age is constantly changing the way dentistry is evolving and I am excited to see the developments and changes in the future. I am really optimistic for the development and future of Kelvin Lodge; we have a number of ideas for how to develop and change the practice in order to provide more services for our patients ... so watch this space!

What do you do to relax? I enjoy keeping fit and healthy and have many outdoor hobbies. Because I live in Tynemouth, I regularly go down onto the beach. I also really enjoy skiing and travelling â&#x20AC;&#x201C; when I get the chance! For more information visit www.kelvinlodge.co.uk

EVENT

Suzanne McKenna and Karen Torley

Left to right: Newcastle Development Board, Ammar Mirza, Kath Lowthian, Tim Gray, Hilary Florek, Kevin Pattison and Nitin Shukla

Philp Bowe and Tim Gray

Lisa Corﬁeld and Adam Serfontein

Marie Curie summer drinks reception Charity event is attended the leading lights of the law and financial sectors. eaders in the legal and banking services from across the region gathered at Mansion House for a summer drinks reception in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. The evening was organised by the Marie Curie Hospice Newcastle Development Board, led by Chair Kevin Pattison. The board of senior volunteers support the essential work of the Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle based in Elswick in raising much needed funds for the inpatient and day care services. As well as enjoying the beautiful music of Anna Corcoran guests, heard from Divisional Manager Karen Torley, who explained the sad fact, every five minutes someone in the UK dies without the care they need at the end of their life. That’s why Marie Curie Cancer Care urgently need to reach more people in the North East – and why the Development Board are asking the local corporate community for their support. Whether you give your money, time or simply your voice, you can make all the difference to people with serious illnesses in your area.

Left to right: Neil Warwick, Kath Lowthian and Adam Serfontein

Left to right: Ashley Wilton, Suzanne McKenna and Bill Lowe

Left to right: Fiona Rennison, Karen Torley and Kevin Pattison

Neil Warwick, Hilary Florek and Charles Penn Left to right: John Strange-Leathes & Angie Strange-Leathes and Jez Verity.

PROFILE

One to watch

Iona Sims In a series of interviews with talented professionals set for major things in their respective industries, Daneet Steffens talks to a solicitor at Sintons who specialises in sports law.

n 2001, with a University of Bath business degree freshly under her belt, Iona Sims was considering a legal career – “I was fascinated by the law elements of my degree” – but also wanted her own company. “I thought, ‘I’m 22, I’ve got nothing to lose and I can return to the law.’ So I did, I started my own company.’ It really was that simple. She kicked off A Bit of A Do, an events management venture, with an eye-catching wedding for rugby player Mike Catt, and a perfect business storm ensued. “It took off brilliantly through word-ofmouth,” recalls Iona. “I ended up organising England-based weddings for people all over the world. I had clients in New York, Monte Carlo … it was just fabulous.” Alongside weddings, benefit years for Catt and others followed, as did work with cricketers. Her business put Iona at the heart of the sports industry – and her career has remained centered there ever since. While she thrived on the liveliness of events management, Iona, who grew up in Malvern, Worcestershire, never lost her interest in law, and in 2005 she made the move to Northumbria University for her conversion course. Impressively, she spent her first Newcastle year maintaining her business, pursuing her law degree by day, managing events in London and Bath by night and weekends. Only exam time – and realising that she wanted to give the law her all – brought that to a halt. She landed a traineeship with Watson Burton where, thanks to her sports industry knowledge and experience, secondments to Sunderland AFC and the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative’s FIFA World Cup bid followed (“I

advised on all the contracts – the city agreement, the stadium agreement, the training facilities agreement. It was really interesting because I learned so much about Newcastle as in a city. It just fascinated me how much goes on here; it’s just an incredible place.”), as did advising NUFC on the Olympic contracts. Then, in 2011, after working as NUFC’s commercial adviser, she joined Sintons, helping to form its specialist sports division. Her current position is the perfect nexus of her grounding in business, sports and law. “I love being a solicitor,” she says. “I love the complexities of agreements, I love drafting, I love negotiating – and what’s interesting is when you’ve run your own business, you’ve been doing those things all the time. It’s given me such a strong foundation for being a solicitor: I think commercially and then I apply the law, rather than looking at the law and trying to fit it into a commercial sense. “I understand how business works, that different departments need to think collaboratively, that you need to have a good understanding of what the business wants to achieve in its entirety.” Combining that astute business sense with a legal career that’s inextricably tied to sports, Iona clearly thrives on the inherent activity. “I understand how sportsmen and sportswomen function and approach things,” she explains. “I understand that the industry is dynamic and volatile – people are in jobs one minute and not the next, and that applies to both players and management. It changes all the time and things have to be done quickly.” Even in her downtime, Iona’s pace doesn’t falter. When she’s not working, you’ll find her running half-marathons – she’s clocked up ten so far – or running after her 16-month-old son,

Freddie. “Since he started walking in November,” she laughs, “he’s not stopped. He’s definitely going to be sporty.” Motherhood hasn’t made a dent in that determined and entrepreneurial ambition that once drove a graduate into business: “Every bit of me is dedicated professionally to what I do: developing the sports team here and making sure I deliver a fabulous service to our sports people and our clients. It gives me real satisfaction. But also love being a mum. I think you can give 100 per cent to both.” Working with clients such as NUFC, Newcastle Falcons and Durham County Cricket Club players, Iona prides herself on advising, “a range of sports individuals and organisations at every level, from grassroots to professional, including motor sports.” For her, Sintons is the place to be: “I was really keen to join Sintons because I like what they’re about, I like the culture. It’s very friendly and approachable, and that makes you want to work harder. It makes you feel part of the firm.” It’s also the place that’s brought her love of business, sports and law together in a most satisfying manner. “I think what’s really important is you’ve got to move with the times and jump at opportunities that come your way,” Iona offers, appreciating both her proactive career route as well as her current post. After all, it encourages her best work which, in turn, allows others to do their personal best: “Here, I can advise people on their legal issues and they can focus on their sport. If I can take the pressure off by making sure the behind-the-scenes things are taken care of, they can just go ahead and be at the top of their game.”

APPOINTMENTS

On the Move Your monthly guide to appointments and promotions.

LEE CAMPBELL

GRACE KENNEDY

MARK JAMES

Triage Central Ltd has appointed Grace Kennedy as managing director. The company, which delivers welfare to work programmes in Scotland and the North East, welcomed Grace in December 2012 as operations director. Prior to joining the company, after 25-year career as a senior civil servant, Grace worked as deputy director at Jobcentre Plus Scotland and director at Jobcentre Plus North West England, where she was responsible for budgets in excess of £400 million.

d.ffrento/ogy, part of the e>erything d.fferent group, has appointed Mark James as the company’s director of insight. Joining from media research agency, Other Lines of Enquiry in Northumberland, Mark will take up an entrepreneurial role and will be responsible for managing and growing the insight team, driving revenue and undergoing general management responsibilities. Mark joins the company with over 11 years of experience in marketing research and insight, having worked with the likes of Sony, ITV and The Telegraph.

OWEN GOODING

PAUL FAULKNER

JOANNE APPLEGARTH

Rockliffe Hall’s award-winning Brasserie manager, Owen Gooding, has been promoted to manager of The Orangery at Rockliffe Hall. The role is a newly created position, following the triple AA Rosette restaurant’s relaunch earlier this year. In his new role, Owen will be responsible for managing and coordinating breakfasts, conferences, afternoon teas, drinks and private dining. Owen is the current holder of the North East Hotels Association ‘Service Excellence’ gold award.

Darlington-based pensions administrator, RPMI, has appointed Paul Faulkner as head of pensions operations for rail services. In his new role, Paul will be responsible for delivering high-quality pensions administration services to the multi-employer, Railways Pension Scheme, which includes 200 different sections and has assets worth nearly £18 billion. Paul brings 28 years worth of experience in corporate pensions to the role, 22 of which were spent at management, senior management and director level.

Newcastle-based law firm, Collingwood Legal, has appointed Joanne Applegarth to help service growing client demand. Joanne – the first new recruit to join the firm since it doubled in size of its Newcastle Business Park offices - will be working across Collingwood Legal’s portfolio of public and private sector clients, both within and outside of the North East. Prior to joining the firm, Joanne spent almost a decade with one of the region’s largest law firms, specialising in employment law.

Hotel and Golf Club, Linden Hall, has appointed Lee Campbell as head chef at its two AA Rosette restaurant, Linden Tree Pub and all of its conference and banqueting. Lee, who was crowned North East Chef of the Year in 2010, is a member of the NECTA North East Catering Trade Organisation committee and enjoys doing charity work several times a year, helping with the catering for Walk the Walk Midnight moonwalks in London and Edinburgh.

EVENT The home team

Kevin Scott (BLP Northern Ltd)

Muckle LLP plays at St. James' Park

Danny Tobin (Hargreaves Services Ltd)

The commercial law firm organises a match to fulfill boyhood dreams!

Jonathan Hays (Hays Trave Ltdl)

uckle hosted a special experience for clients who were invited to play a match on the St. James' Park pitch. Recently retired NUFC player Steve Harper joined the teams to give them a pep talk in the dressing rooms before the match began. The score was one all at full time so went to penalties, providing the opportunity for everyone to try to score into the Gallowgate-end goal.

Michael Lynch (Persimmon PLC)

Michael Weatherhead (Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All Good Ltd)

Nick Carter (Manchester City FC Ltd)

The away team Nick Levett (The Football Association Ltd)

CHARITY

A charitable summer David Hodgson of Read, Milburn & Co accountants and advisers is embarking on three intrepid trip this year, from Columbia to Scarborough – all in aid of charity.

ne of the specialisms of the coastal accountancy practice, Read, Milburn & Co, is acting as accountants and advisers to a great number of local and regional charities. However, one of its partners,David Hodgson, is not content with only his professional involvement and so this summer is setting out on not one, but three separate trips for charity. Last month, David travelled to the America’s Grand Canyon to undertake a ten-day fundraising trek on behalf of the Children Today Charitable Trust, to raise funds to allow them to provide equipment to UK children who are physically disadvantaged. The group this year included six legendary football captains who lead teams to provide ‘friendly’ competition on the daily challenges. Leading the teams were Lawrie Sanchez (Wimbledon/Northern Ireland manager), Bob Bolder (Liverpool/Charlton), Don Goodman (West Brom/Wolves/Sunderland), David Oldfield (Manchester City/Leicester), Dave Beasant (Wimbledon/Chelsea/Nottingham/England) and Marco Gabbiadini (Sunderland/Derby

County). The demands of the event involved mountain biking, kayaking and trekking over rough terrain, all under extreme 90 degree desert temperatures. According to David, trekking back out of the one-mile deep canyon proved to be the greatest challenge. This is the forth such challenge for David with Children Today with previous trips to South Africa, the jungles of Malaysia and last year’s trip over the Andes to Machu Pichu in Peru. Perhaps the least memorable of these trips for David, was the one to Malaysia in 2011 when he returned with compound skull fractures – a detail which he managed to avoid this year. This month, David will embark on his second charity trip, this time, for 2 weeks to Columbia in South America. He and members of his family, will travel in a group of 15 who will be working with a local charity that has a school and several homes for street children in Bogota. The charity is ran by Richard Sanderson, who hails from Cullercoats and his American wife, Janine, who act as mother and father to 180 or so deprived children.

This is the first visit to the Columbian charity for David, although he has taken a keen interest in this work since his daughter spent some of her gap-year there before going to university. Commenting on the trip, David said: “There are some amazing stories of children previously plucked from trash cans, living in cardboard boxes in subways or from shacks on the mountainside, whose lives have been totally rescued and turned around by this work. “The Grand Canyon was a physical challenge, but I think in Columbia I will not be able to avoid an emotional challenge thanks to what I experience there.” The third charity event in August sees David take a party of 35 pensioners on a Priory Coach holiday to Scarborough. This is, again, a trip that David has undertaken on previous occasions and is organised through the Victor Mann Trust for pensioners of the former Whitley Bay borough and for folk who perhaps would not otherwise have a holiday. You will no doubt read an account of these adventures in subsequent editions - watch this space!

BUSINESS

Are you serving your customers? Asks Rod Findlay, consultant at Your Sport Consulting

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

experienced two examples of memorable customer service in the last month that made me start thinking about how different businesses approach and view their clients. There cannot be many jobs that do not rely on returning customers. One of my favourite quotes is from Henry Ford who said: "It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages." Too often that doesn't seem to be the mantra of those dealing with the public.

apology – even though Benfield had not done anything wrong; they secured the first available car after I had placed my order. Volkswagen care so much about customer service that I was telephoned a few weeks after collection to score the service. Service, attention to detail, and communication had been excellent from the moment I walked into the showroom – from the receptionist to the manager. Buying a new car is a big moment and this was a company that understood that and wanted you to enjoy the experience.

Good service On the other hand I do not know if Benfield Motors are aware of that quote but they certainly adopt the principle. I don't mind embarrassing them for good service when I bought my new car. Having test driven a VW Tiguan I wanted to place an order. Unfortunately, VW had shut the system down for year end and a delivery date could not be provided. Benfield rang the next working day to explain there would be a six-week delay. Disappointed, I explained I still wanted to place the order but that I needed a vehicle as I needed to do a lot of driving in the next month. Benfield came up with a solution. I then received regular updates on progress always accompanied by an

Unfortunately for me, the second example of customer service was not so positive. As the company does not have a right of reply, I will not name them. The company had not arranged their processes to best serve the customer and many companies are guilty of that. It is a similar issue to that above but with a completely different approach. I placed an order for some goods and was told that it might take ten days; that they would push for early delivery as it was urgent; and that the company would call me early in that period to update me. They didn't. After ten days I called

and was told that one part of the order was available but the second was not. They could not explain what the problem was or whether or not it could be resolved. The person dealing with the order had left for the day and there was no manager on duty or anyone with authority to help resolve my complaint. There were so many areas of poor practice that I didn't know where to start – a fact acknowledged by the manager when she called me three days later. They have since gone to the ends of the earth to resolve the issue but had they put in half the effort at the outset they would have a happy customer rather than someone keen to resolve the problem so he never needs to return!

Solve the problem There is a common phrase that 'the customer is always right’. I do not believe that is true and I don't think most customers expect that sort of approach. However, customers do expect you to come up with a solution to their problem. And if you can find that solution at the same time as being seen to care about the problem then you might find you have a loyal customer for life. Put another way: don't try and find buyers for the service you offer; offer a service that meets the buyers’ needs.

LEGAL & FINANCIAL NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Business recovery specialists expands to Newcastle Robson Scott Associates opens a Tyneside office.

company that provides specialist advice to businesses and business owners in times of trouble is expanding from its Darlington base to open a new office in Newcastle. Robson Scott Associates is responding to demand for its services on Tyneside and Wearside having built a strong reputation in County Durham and Tees Valley. Founded by directors Eamonn Wall and John Shepherd (pictured) in 2005, the company expects to grow its £1 million turnover by 15 per cent in the next 12 months. It is also looking to recruit a senior advisor immediately to add to its 11-strong team and anticipates creating more roles in the future. The company, which is based in Duke Street, Darlington, specialises in business advice and insolvency services for limited companies, sole traders and partnerships across the UK. Eamonn Wall said: “Our expansion to

Newcastle is a very exciting development for the firm. In the last eight and a half years we have grown into one of the most

successful North East companies dedicated to providing insolvency services and specialist advice to business owners.”

Clarke Mairs welcomes a new solicitor

Archers solicitor gets elderly approval

Celebrations for Evolution

North East law firm has welcomed a new solicitor to lead its private client services division. Emma Pringle, a specialist in private client law, has joined the team at Clarke Mairs LLP based in Newcastle city centre. Emma previous worked in both Newcastle and Carlisle branches at a leading North East legal firm and spent five years as an associate solicitor in Cheshire. She completed her degree at the University of Northumbria and qualified in 2006. She is an expert in advising clients in areas surrounding wills and estate planning.

newly qualified solicitor at a Tees Valley law firm is celebrating today after being the third person in Archer’s wills probate and trusts team to be accepted into the Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) professional group. Wendy Edwards is now an Associate Professional member of the SFE.The firm has three of the five Stockton-based solicitors who are members of the SFE. Wendy said: “With my admittance as a solicitor, I am delighted to be accepted into the SFE. They have their own strict code of conduct to ensure that the elderly are dealt with honestly and fairly.”

ees valley accountancy practice Evolution LLP has picked up one of the most prestigious awards in the region’s professional services sector. For the second year in succession, the firm has been named Independent Firm of the Year at the North East Accountancy awards. It was also shortlisted for the Accounting and Finance Employer of the Year award. Over the last 12 months, the firm has developed several new service areas including its online accounting solution, eTime, and taken on seven new members of staff with more expected to follow in the coming months.

LAW & FINANCE

Predicting the future in uncertain times Why a long term vision and a diverse investment portfolio will help you when faced with unpredicted stockmarkets, by Ian Lowes, managing director of Lowes Financial Management.

n interesting exercise to undertake at the start and end of any year is to review the predictions of commentators about where they think the stockmarkets will be in 12 months’ time and where they actually end up in relation to those predictions. Invariable, the majority of commentators get it wrong. This is understandable because, as the past few years have demonstrated, stockmarkets are unpredictable. Interestingly, the commentators are in a win-win situation, since if they get it right they can crow about it and if they get it wrong, there is always a market-based anomaly they can cite as the reason their prediction was off track. Sitting here in the middle of the year the stockmarkets have had a good six months, although they have fallen off again on fears around how long the US might continue its Quantitative Easing plan. As you might expect, there have been commentators on both sides of the fence as to where the markets will go next. A glance at the five-year FTSE 100 chart shows that the blue-chip index has fallen off every summer since the financial crisis. Can we expect the same this year and will we see the FTSE surge again over the rest of 2013? This is anyone’s guess. Perhaps the best way to think about making forecasts regarding the stockmarkets is like weather forecasting. As anyone with a smartphone knows, short-term forecasts can change regularly as new data comes in to the weather channels. This means that they cannot get it right all of the time, nevertheless, over the longer period we expect that they will have

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

been more accurate than not. This is why our investment team does not try to time the market nor takes a short-term view of investing – we consider five to 10 years as a minimum sensible investment period. Our clients come to us to help them over the years to build and protect their accumulated wealth. Therefore, our approach is to build portfolios of investments that look best able to achieve those ends. And, because there are risks inherent in investing, we look to spread the risk in a portfolio across a range of investment sectors, types and products, so that should one fall off the others might keep the overall portfolio on track. Hence our portfolios might include UK as well as overseas investments, growth and income seeking strategies, and commercial property, as examples. What we don’t do is try to predict how the markets will be from one year to the next. Neither do we try to stock pick the up-andcoming companies. We believe it is far better to

use collective investments, run by fund managers whose sole job it is to assess the markets and make those choices usually backed by a team of dedicated researchers. There are various vehicles that can be used in achieving this spread of investments, from tracker funds and other ‘passive’ investments, which aim to stay close to the performance of a particular index, through funds invested in fixed income investments such as bonds (company and government debt), to actively managed unit trusts/mutual funds and investment trusts where the fund manager aims to beat the benchmark index and so deliver higher returns. One type of vehicle we specialise in at Lowes is structured products. These are investments typically held for five to six years which offer a stated return given set market conditions, which means investors always know where they stand and what they will receive when the investment matures. Primarily benchmarked against the FTSE 100, they provide the opportunity to achieve a positive return in flat or low growth markets (and with some products even in negative markets) and will provide varying degrees of capital protection should markets take a tumble. You can research and compare these products on our website: www.CompareStructuredProducts.com. Having a well diversified portfolio both in terms of asset classes and investment vehicles is the strategy we like to employ for our clients. Spreading the risk in this way can help build a valuable investment portfolio for an investor’s future financial needs.

LAW & FINANCE

The step-parenting trap Rebecca Tarn looks at the legalities of Parental Responsibility when you’re not a child’s biological mother or father.

EXPERT VIEW Rebecca Tarn, Assistant Solicitor Major Family Law Tel: (01661) 82 45 82 Web: www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk

ho remembers The Brady Bunch? The US television series featuring a large ‘blended’ family was the ultimate fairy tale in step-family living. Conceived in the mid 1960s, the idea arose after the programme creator read that 30 per cent of US marriages at the time had a child or children from a previous marriage. The reality may seem a far cry from the screen perfection of The Brady Bunch, and cries of, “You can’t tell me what to do! You’re not my Dad!” actually have more truth to them than the wily child may realise. In law, the concept of parenting is bundled up into something called Parental Responsibility. This is defined as "... all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property". If you were looking for guidance on what it means to be a parent, that definition is not going to win any awards. If you consider being a parent, however, it starts with choosing a name before the baby is even born; whether the baby will be breast fed, raised vegetarian; whether it will be baptized, circumcised, or raised without religion; where the child will live, be schooled, how he or she is disciplined … these are all parental decisions that affect the child and are envisaged by the Children Act definition of Parental Responsibility. At its most basic, being a parent means you have a duty to protect, maintain and provide for your child. In modern living, the role of parent may be

taken on by more than just the mother and father: step-parents are common, and in many cases, a step-parent may completely substitute the parenting that has been lacking from a biological parent. However, even when a step-parent has featured prominently in a child’s life for a long period of time, that person has no legal standing in respect of the child. This can have implications in a

“It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.” Johann Schiller

surprising number of everyday situations: consider the situation where the step-parent regularly does the school run. Without the consent from the child’s biological parent, the school can refuse to release the child to the step-parent. Equally, the school cannot accept consent forms signed by a step-parent without the authority of the biological parent. Imagine also that the step-parent is caring for

the child and the child has an accident requiring a trip to A&E. The step-parent cannot give the hospital consent to carry out treatment or administer drugs to the child, and the consent of the biological parent would first need to be sought. For the purposes of the law, you are classed as a step-parent if you are married to the child’s biological parent. If you have consistently played a significant parenting role in the life of your stepchild, there may be a number of benefits to that role being legally recognised. If everyone who has Parental Responsibility for the child agrees, a legal agreement can be drawn up and ratified by the court granting the stepparent Parental Responsibility alongside the biological parent or parents. This does not diminish either the other parents’ rights and responsibilities towards the child or their duty to maintain, but it can be significant for both the step-parent and the child in acknowledging their relationship. Even if the absent parent doesn’t agree, it’s still possible to obtain Parental Responsibility if the court is satisfied that it is in the child’s best interests to make such an order. At Major Family Law, we embrace supporting the family in whatever guise that takes. We can provide expert advice on what it means to be a step-parent and we can guide you in obtaining Parental Responsibility. We have even devised a fixed fee package for step-parents. Contact us to find out more.

LAW & FINANCE Michael Cope

Mark Chandler

Breakfast at the Hilton Mark Chandler, head of business development at Ellis Bates Group, interviews Michael Cope, the newly appointed managing director of the Newcastle and Harrogate-based Ellis Bates Financial Solutions Ltd.

Mark Chandler: What is your background? Michael Cope: I was born in Hexham, grew up in Winlaton and schooled in Blaydon before moving down to Yorkshire as a teenager. My career in financial services began in 1987, working for Guardian Royal Exchange and Legal & General before joining Brigham Brining & Co Ltd, a Harrogate based firm of independent financial advisers in 2001. I joined Ellis Bates Financial Solutions Ltd as a director following Ellis Bates Group acquisition of Brigham Brining in 2008 Mark: Do you have a particular area of expertise? Michael: I have a particular interest in the analysis and delivery of investment solutions for our clients, whether they are structured as pure investment or as part of a retirement strategy. Ellis Bates has, over recent years, developed several unique investment portfolio strategies, called Utopia Strategies. They are supported by a rigorous and methodical process that uses bespoke in-house technology. This was specifically designed for optimising returns on our clients’ investment portfolios in relation to the level of risk taken. Our trustee clients find this service of particular value which, in conjunction with our annual review service, provides trustees with credible evidence to demonstrate they have discharged their duties and obligations.

Mark: How would you say that Ellis Bates sets itself apart from other independent financial advisers? Michael: Changes in legislation over the past decade and before have thrown many challenges upon the IFA community. At Ellis Bates we have grasped and embraced these as an opportunity to strive for excellence and so have a strong compliance ethic and culture of treating customers fairly, which is highly regarded by our clients and professional introducers. The rigorous compliance process and function is delivered and monitored by our internal specialists and underpinned by external audit via a third party regulatory advisory firm. Over the years, we have built an enviable reputation in providing large company services with small company values and attention to detail. The relationships we develop with clients are based upon ‘trusted adviser’. Acting in close counsel with our clients’ affairs enables us to view their plans from an in-depth and wider perspective. An interdependent relationship is key to delivering meaningful financial planning and knowing when to call upon the expertise of complimentary professionals such as accountancy and law firms. Mark: Ellis Bates has now been established for 33 years, as the new managing director what plans do you have to build upon the

historical success of the organisation? Michael: We have clear plans to further develop and grow the business, which we have shared with all of our staff. Our business plan presents the vision of what we want to become and by sharing it with everyone creates a sense of shared commitment, direction and inclusion. We are also currently recruiting for a number of new positions in administration, training and marketing. I am very much looking forward to building upon the past 33 years of this successful business and I am confident in driving forward our plans at this pivotal point in the continued growth of Ellis Bates. There could not be a better time to take on the position Mark: Do you have a role model or mentor? Michael: I can think of many positive influencers from whom I have benefited throughout my career. There are perhaps too many to mention but they know who they are. Mark: What are your interests outside of work? Michael: I enjoy most sports and coach a local youth football team. Ellis Bates Financial Solutions Ltd. is based in Grainger Chambers, Hood Street, Newcastle, NE1 6JQ. Tel: (0191) 232 8391, www.ellisbatesgroup.com

LAW & FINANCE

The monthly report With Richard Clark of Barclays

What is risk? Risk is an important but misunderstood word in finance. Important, because investors should try to avoid it unless they are well paid for taking it, so we need to be clear about what exactly ‘it’ is.

EXPERT VIEW Richard Clark Private banker Barclays Web: www.barclays.com/wealth

Volatility is merely a turbulent journey Frequently, we are told that risk is volatility, a measure of the amount that investments fluctuate along the journey at short horizons. But if this is what we expend effort avoiding, we’re focussing on the wrong thing. A good analogy might be an urgent sea voyage where every minute counts. Going full engine into waves creates turbulence along the way that is unpleasant, but is not risky unless this turbulence increases the risk of a slow journey. If your aim is a pleasant journey, then by all means take it slow; but if your chief aim is a getting there on time, then you are better advised to invest in tablets for seasickness! Investment volatility is distressing. But it is not risk. Unless we need the money along the journey then the fluttering of sentiment along the way is not what matters at all. What matters is the chance our portfolio is not worth much when we need it. The potential for low values in the long-term increases the risk, while the potential for high values decreases risk … regardless of the volatility of the journey.

Risk is the chance of a poor final outcome Imagine all possible future paths a portfolio may take over the next five years. Risk is about how many of all those possible future paths end up with low values. If we mistake volatility for risk and seek to avoid it, we will weed out portfolios with rough journeys regardless of the

outcome, good or bad. We have mistaken comfort for success. We should not take on risk unless it increases the average portfolio return sufficiently to compensate us for the chance of bad outcomes. To do this we need a precise way to measure the likelihood of bad outcomes. Armed with this, we can choose the portfolio that offers the best returns, after compensating us for the risk we are prepared to take. The traditional way of measuring volatility is to calculate the standard deviation of fluctuations along the path. This looks at the return each period and compares it to the average returns. Deviations away from the average count as risky. The further away from the average, the more this adds to the standard deviation. Calculating risk of bad final outcomes frequently uses the same computation except that, instead of looking at deviations from the average path over time, the standard deviation is computed by looking at where the various paths can end up. Paths that end up at the average outcome, do not add to risk, but paths, like the upper and lower paths in the figure, that end away from the average outcome do. The further the deviation from the average, the more this possible path adds to the ‘risk’ of the portfolio. So by choosing a portfolio with a low standard deviation of outcomes, we’re weeding out portfolios that have a high dispersion of

possible future values, in favour of those that are likely to end up with a value close to the average. At first glance, this seems sensible.

Don’t weed out the flowers However, when looking at the possible paths that we exclude by minimising standard deviation, we notice something less reasonable. We’re filtering out portfolios that offer a chance of ending up on a really good path as well as those that have bad outcomes. Standard deviation doesn’t distinguish between good and bad outcomes, it just penalises variation. The possibility of good outcomes is simply not risk: and we certainly shouldn’t be minimising it by filtering out portfolios with good upside outcomes along with those which have high potential for bad outcomes. Instead we need a risk measure that increases when there are lots of bad outcomes, but ensures that good outcomes have the effect of reducing risk. The possibility of encountering the lower path increases the risk of a portfolio, but the existence of the upper path should actually decrease risk. Minimising such a measure means we weed out portfolios with lots of worse than expected outcomes, but doesn’t have the counterintuitive implication that we throw away portfolios just because they have variability in outcomes. At Barclays we have developed just such a risk measure, Behavioural Risk, which is grounded in the extensive evidence from the field of Behavioural Finance about how investors should actually think about risk when making risk-return trade-offs in their portfolio. It enables us to build portfolios that focus on what really matters to investors: not volatility along the journey, but the value of our wealth at the destination; and not mitigating the dispersion of possible outcomes, but reducing the chance of bad ones.

Barclays Wealth Management is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Share prices and the income from them can go down as well as up. Readers are advised to seek professional investment opinion before entering into dealings in securities mentioned in this article, which may be unsuitable in their personal financial circumstances.

LAW & FINANCE Left to right: Steve Freeman, Jo Whitﬁeld, Katharine Lowthian, Julie Gallon and Tim Gray

Sintons acquires Lowthian Gray The two law firms join forces to create a highly specialised divorce and family law unit in the region. he acquisition of Lowthian Gray by Newcastle-based Sintons will bring together two of the most esteemed family and matrimonial law providers in the region. Lowthian Gray will relocate from its current Jesmond base into Sintons’ offices opposite St James’ Park. Founder Katharine Lowthian will become a partner in Sintons, with senior legal assistant Julie Gallon also joining the team. Together with highly experienced Sintons’ partners Steve Freeman and Tim Gray, and associate Jo Whitfield, the team will offer exceptional family law capability in the North. The acquisition marks a significant milestone for Sintons, which has grown organically for more than a century and is now one of the top three law firms in Newcastle. Lowthian Gray was formed six years ago, and last year recorded its most successful ever year. The firm, which was hailed by the esteemed Legal 500 as being ‘first class in the field of family law’, has an unrivalled reputation for its work in family matters

including divorce, complex financial settlements and disputes involving children. It is also widely known for its client base of high net worth individuals including entrepreneurs, leading business figures and high-profile sports people. Katharine Lowthian revealed she has repeatedly declined offers from other law firms to merge, saying she chose Sintons because of its strong business client base and commitment to private clients. She said: “We are delighted to be joining Sintons at such an exciting time of growth and expansion and accessing their wide range of capabilities and legal disciplines will enable us to provide essential services that a niche firm is unable to offer and will strengthen the excellent personal service we already provide – we know we are joining a firm which shares our commitment to clients. “Last year was Lowthian Gray’s best-ever year, but it is now time to take the business to the next level. We are looking forward to joining a team of superb lawyers and creating a family law team which will stand out from

the rest.” Steve Freeman, head of the Personal and Family department at Sintons, said: “This is a fantastic move for both Sintons and Lowthian Gray. We have known Katharine for many years and she and her business are regarded in the highest possible terms. Working together as one family law department, we are confident we will achieve an unrivalled reputation.” Phil Ridley, practice director at Sintons, said: “After more than a century of organic growth, this is a milestone for Sintons in its history. It is a very exciting opportunity for us and again demonstrates our ambition to grow. “Our expertise and client offering will be significantly strengthened through the addition of Lowthian Gray. Katharine is an outstanding family lawyer and the importance she and her team place on putting their clients first and providing a personal service fits exactly with Sintons’ ethos.” For more information visit www.sintons.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Leading lawyer retires One of the North East’s most highly regarded lawyers is retiring after a 43-year career with Sintons. im Dias, hailed as being one of law’s true gentlemen, is leaving the Newcastle-based law firm Sintons after a career spanning more than four decades, including six years as chairman, from 2006 to 2012. A personal injury lawyer, Jim joined the firm – then known as John H. Sinton & Co – in 1970. He was made a partner four years later and has gone on to become one of the most highly regarded lawyers in the North East. Jim, who is also a deputy district judge, was described by the Chambers law publication as being, “a technically strong, pragmatic and pleasant lawyer – a true gentleman of the profession. Outstanding, thorough, straighttalking and fair.” Jim, who last year received a special achievement award from the Newcastle Law Society, said: “Throughout my time at Sintons, I have been fortunate to work with some outstanding lawyers and people who will remain friends for life. The firm has grown significantly during my time here, resulting in huge positive change. I am, of course, sorry to be leaving, but I have little doubt I will be kept

busy in my retirement – particularly as a father of three children who still live at home!” After leaving Guildford College of Law, Jim, who hails from Carlisle, joined Sintons. The firm, at that time, was a niche firm specialising in defendant personal injury work on behalf of insurers. He has continued to specialise in such work up to the present time, making partner in 1974, and then chairman 30 years later. During his four decades with Sintons, Jim has seen great change in a firm that now employs 200 people with 28 partners. It has also relocated a number of times prior to moving into its current home at The Cube, opposite St James’ Park, and has become one of the top law firms in Newcastle. “Sintons is now very different to the firm I joined – as well as our continuing defendant personal injury work for major insurers, we are now a broad based firm with specialisms and strength in many areas of law and work with leading businesses, families and individuals across the North East, wider UK and around the world,” he said. “Looking back, even things like computers, emails and photocopiers, which are now taken

for granted, were all unknown when I first started.” Jim, who leaves the firm on July 5, has no definite plans for his retirement, but says he would like to indulge his interests of travelling, reading good books, attempting to reduce his golf handicap and improving his computer skills. He also intends to spend more time with his wife Catherine, a GP, and their children aged 20, 19 and 17. Jim is already a Trustee of The Hadrian Trust, and plans to do more charitable work for that and other worthy causes in the North East. “Sintons has been a fantastic firm to be part of, and I consider myself very lucky to have worked alongside such good people for so long. I know Sintons will continue to go from strength to strength in the years ahead,” he said. “I remain grateful to John Cawood (a retired Sintons partner) who, to this day, is my guru, for giving me the opportunity as a young law graduate to enter a great profession, and also to my colleagues, past and present, for the help and support they have given me over the past 43 years.”

LAW & FINANCE

A sunny outlook? Brewin Dolphin’s divisional director, Gary Fawcett, takes a look at how the markets are faring in 2013.

EXPERT VIEW Gary Fawcett Divisional director Brewin Dolphin Tel: (0191) 279 7440. Email: gary.fawcett@brewin.co.uk Web: www.brewin.co.uk/newcastle

quity markets began the year in a buoyant mood and surged upwards for the first three months of 2013 until a little bit of profit taking set in during mid March on the back of lower economic growth in China. Since April, equities have continued their upward trajectory with the FTSE 100 Index hitting a 13 year high in May at 6840 points. However, the Federal Reserve recently stated that it will look to taper its bond purchasing programme and world markets have fallen as a result. Investors have become accustomed to quantitative easing (QE) and the challenge for the world’s central banks will be how to wean investors off this without causing too much upset in world equity markets. For the moment, central banks are still supportive and are likely to step in should the world’s economy start to slow. It is for this reason, as well as the fact that equities still look to offer superior income and growth returns compared with many other classes around, why we believe equity markets can continue to do well over the medium term. Looking at UK equities, the prospects for these remain positive, although, as with most risk assets, volatility is likely to be more pronounced due to the current uncertainty regarding QE. Overall, the improving

economic environment in the US and the stabilising Eurozone are likely to underpin the prospects for UK shares. Turning to the largest economy in the world, North America, the outlook remains extremely positive. The US economy is creating significant wealth as a result of the housing market recovery and rising employment. Previous drags on growth have included high inflation for non discretionary spending – principally higher food and energy prices – but these have actually fallen over the past 12 months. Cheap energy has facilitated a manufacturing renaissance which should be positive for the dollar, for US companies and eventually feed into higher wages. Japanese equities have rallied strongly since November, gaining almost 50 per cent since the appointment of Shinzo Abe as prime minister last December. He is pro-growth and has instructed the Bank of Japan to press on with quantitative easing in order to hit an inflation target of 2 per cent. This has helped to weaken the Yen, which should in turn help to boost exports. Despite the recent sell-off, the market has received this well, and only time will tell if Mr Abe is successful in reinvigorating the Japanese economy. Looking at the UK’s biggest trading partner, the Eurozone, we have recently seen positive

revisions within the manufacturing sector indicating stability is returning to Europe following an 18 month recession. Towards the end of the summer last year, Mario Draghi, the President of the European Central Bank, said that he would do “whatever it takes” to support the Eurozone and this continues to provide some reassurance to Europe and the wider financial system. The brighter monetary environment is encouraging, and although the long-term prospects for the region remain far from resolved, many companies in Europe are global operators and are therefore affected by what is happening in the wider world rather than in the specific countries where they are listed. Turning to a different asset class, the Brewin Dolphin Asset Allocation Committee recently increased its weighting to the commercial property sector as they believe the improvement in the UK economy is starting to create higher demand for property nationwide. Current rent reviews should reflect the more optimistic economic tone. The decline of Sterling also means UK assets have become much cheaper than they were a year ago and therefore more attractive to potential overseas buyers. So, on balance, we certainly think the market’s glass is more than half full as we wait to see what the second half of the year has in store.

EVENT

Left to right: Brian Dickenson (WDL), Mick Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hare (North East Times), Ben Stokes (DCCC) and Mike Grahamslaw (North East Times)

Durham CCC Golf Day

Left to right: Rob Brotherton (Brewin Dolphin), Paul Collingwood (DCCC), John Duns (Brewin Dolphin) and Gordon Brown

The cricket club hosts its annual golf event.

Left to right: Phil Hourigan (Natwest Scotland), Alan Hynd (Rowlands Accountants), Michael Richardson (DCCC) and David Nair

urham County Cricket Club held its annual golf day at Chester-le-Street Golf Club last month. Representatives from local businesses teamed up with Durham players. The event was eventually won by the Rowlands Accountants team.

Left to right: Frank Curry (Brambledown), Richie Pitt (Brambledown), Phillip Lowes (Brambledown and Steve Harmison (DCCC)

Left to right: Mark Pryce (United Carlton), Ken Rose (Sage), Gordon Muchall (DCCC) and Matt Wootten (United Carlton)

Left to right: Phil Mustard (DCCC), Chris Liddle, Mike Elliott and Ben Maxted (Permatt)

Left to right: Tim Davis, Chris Rushworth, Will Tombs and Jamie Patterson (Muckle LLP) Left to right: Alastair Kerr, John Tye, Keith Davis (Port Of Tyne) and Graham Onions (DCCC)

LAW & FINANCE

The fight against counterfeiting Niall Head-Rapson reflects on design rights infringement.

EXPERT VIEW Niall Head-Rapson Partner McDaniel & Co Email: nhr@mcdanielslaw.com Tel: (0191) 212 5594 Web: www.mcdanielandco.co.uk

t has been estimated that counterfeits of all types may be costing the UK economy £30 billion and over 14,000 jobs. So it was welcome news when the Queen’s Speech provided for new legislation – the Intellectual Property Bill – to help designers in their fight against counterfeiting. After its second reading in Parliament recently, the Bill received support from the Law Society’s Working Party on Intellectual Property whose remit is to monitor developments in Intellectual Property and formulate a stance on these. The design industry employs more than 230,000 people who generate around £33 billion for the UK economy. We see innovation daily in all walks of life – from new cars to kitchen appliances – yet despite the figures and the time and effort invested in new product development, design has been viewed by the law as the poor man of innovation. While Copyright and Trade Marks carry criminal penalties with the potential of unlimited fines as well as up to 10 years in prison or conviction, Design Right infringement has not until now, carried any specific criminal penalty - counterfeiting organisations have been allowed to copy without the threat of facing the full force of the law and it has been left to the design owners to take steps themselves. Even then, the penalties are only civil,

which has not proved much of a deterrent. The problem is that the legal framework for designs consists of a myriad of UK legislation, EU legislation and case law. There is also a distinction between registered designs and unregistered design rights (UDRs). However, the UK government recognised that designs were a potential area of growth and that there was a need for reform. The Bill addresses three main areas: • To simplify and harmonise the UDR law • The enforcement of registered designs • The provision of information on design protection The fact that the Law Society’s Working Party is generally supportive can only be a good thing although they advise that further clarification is needed around certain words and phrases before implementation. They also suggest ‘adequate resources’ be applied to support criminal penalties for deliberate copying, but what are they and how would they work? And when it comes to enforcement of registered designs, the Bill seeks to create a voluntary, non-binding ‘designs opinions service’ which would offer an objective perspective on the strength of a case before commencing legal proceedings.

This will simply not work, because the advisory panel will not be qualified lawyers and in all likelihood will only have a fundamental grasp of case law where European legislation applies. Design-led businesses need to have a good Registered Design policy to send a clear message to would-be counterfeiters. Registered Designs are quick and relatively cheap to obtain and with this new law, it will add to the protection for design-led businesses. Dids Macdonald, CEO of advisory organisation and lobbying group, Anti Copying in Design (ACID) and Vice Chair of the Alliance for Intellectual Property, is pleased that that the Government has taken a positive first step to protect designers against design copying but would like to see this apply to those who rely on unregistered rights, which comprise the majority of designers in this country. Newcastle-based entrepreneur and ACID member Helen Preen of Breastvest, which sells breastfeeding underwear, believes the new law will be a significant deterrent for those who simply ride on the back of other people’s innovation. The big issue for me is that it is still not possible to bring a private prosecution for trade mark or design infringement, but the new Bill does go some way in the war against counterfeiting.

EVENT

Hay & Kilner summer fayre The law firm holds a charity event in aid of The Percy Hedley Foundation. ay & Kilner recently held a summer fayre at Newcastle Preparatory School in Jesmond to raise money for The Percy Hedley Foundation. The event attracted hundreds of people who had lots of fun in the sun, helping to raise over ÂŁ3000 for Percy Hedley. Hay & Kilner would like to thank all who donated raffle prizes and Newcastle Preparatory School for its great support.

LAW & FINANCE

Understanding

automatic enrolment New pension requirements, involving automatic enrolment, offer a golden opportunity for employers to engage employees with their total reward package. David Hodgson of RSM Tenon explains how to get the most out of your communication strategy. f youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever wondered why so many of your employees donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even look at their benefits options, let alone make selections, automatic enrolment could be the answer to your prayers. This is one of the best opportunities you are ever likely to get to change the way your employees think about benefits. While the administration and compliance challenges around automatic enrolment are considerable, companies that focus on simply ticking the right boxes are missing a trick. You can add real value by starting a meaningful conversation with your employees about the total value of the reward package you offer.

understanding to discuss complex benefits? Having answered these questions, you will understand your starting point, be able to set appropriate and realistic objectives. We recommend a three-stage process: Raise awareness: Start raising awareness at least six months before the intended start date. Your strategy should focus on alerting your employees that you need their attention for something important. The aim should be to catch their eye and generate excitement and interest about what comes next, so try to avoid too much detail in the early stages.

Valuing reward The Pensions Regulator has said that it expects to see at least 75 per cent of employees enrol into a pension scheme as a result of automatic enrolment. Any organisation that has implemented a benefits package will know what a challenge that represents. Getting it wrong is likely to result in your payroll and HR teams being inundated with queries when people see their take-home pay reduce by the amount of their contributions. It is advisable to plan a creative and engaging communications programme to ensure your employees understand and value their new pension in the context of their total reward package.

Targeted, individual messages Build your strategy around the needs of your

EXPERT VIEW David Hodgson Head of Group Pensions RSM Tenon Tel: 07921 840 023 Email: david.hodgson@rsmtenon.com Web: www.rsmtenon.com

individual employees. If you already have a benefits programme, you will know which of your employees are actively engaged with benefits and which are not. These two groups will need different communications plans. Think about what your employees need. Do they all have access to computers? Do they like to use them? Would some prefer a face-to-face approach? Do they all have sufficient

Take responsibility: Your communications need to get across the detail of the options available to employees and the implications of their choices. For automatic enrolment, they need to take responsibility for their retirement plans. Depending on the make- up of your wider reward programme, you could also look to include details of any health and wellbeing initiatives and any insurance options for employees and their dependents. Take action: Allow around one month for your employees to take action. Early take up is a good indicator for engagement, as employees who value their benefits feel able to make the time to select their options. Research suggests that employees who prioritise their benefits selections feel more valued by their employer. This has a direct impact on motivation and productivity; generating a return for what will be a significant pensions investment.

LAW & FINANCE

Muckle invests in the sector

energy

The law firm appoints a new specialist solicitor. ommercial law firm Muckle LLP has extended the expertise within its Energy Team, with the appointment of a new corporate associate solicitor. The appointment of Amy Wanless is a sign of Muckle's confidence in the North East energy sector and adds depth to the expertise already available to clients at the Newcastlebased law firm. She brings a wealth of national and international experience in mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, joint venture agreements and commercial agreements, with particular expertise within the energy sector. Amy has worked extensively on large projects within the renewable and low carbon energy sectors, particularly in biomass, onshore wind and solar. She advised BNP Paribas Clean Energy Fund on the completion of the purchase of the 40MW Sleaford straw-fired Renewable Energy Plant – the first project financed UK biomass deal at that time for five years.

On solar energy, she has set up joint venture agreements with international investors looking to develop UK projects, as well as advising these clients on the onward sale of their projects. She has also advised on the purchase of solar projects for clients looking to acquire and build solar farms, including REC Solar Germany on its

acquisition of projects in the UK. Previous to her appointment at Muckle LLP, Amy was seconded to Element Power (a global renewable company backed by US private equity house Hudson Capital) as sole interim legal counsel. While at Element Power, Amy advised on joint venture investments and project disposals for wind farms and solar projects in the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Finland. Amy has also worked on gas and coal projects. Her work included a six-month secondment at EDF Energy; negotiating high profile and complex transactions as part of their generation supply team. Amy has also advised National Grid on gas metering contracts. Amy said: "I am excited about working at Muckle LLP. It has the best corporate reputation in the region, as well as having a well established and expanding energy team. It’s a fantastic opportunity.” For more information visit www.muckle-llp.com

LAW & FINANCE

A cloud in the Blu Sky Jon Dudgeon reveals the leap that Blu Sky Chartered Accountants has taken to save time and give seamless service.

am going to do something we all need to do more of and that is speak of a very positive experience. Five months ago we decided our server was too slow, and we were spending too long updating. As our business is growing we needed a new solution – we have recommended our clients move to the Cloud, so why shouldn’t we? There were of course three main concerns: cost, speed and security. The cost issue was easy. Moving to the Cloud would remove the need every three to four years to spend more than £10,000 on a new server and hardware. Add to that the time we would save on manpower updating and the hidden value of flexibility and mobility, the cost question answered itself. Speed: surely accessing a server that’s not in our IT room via broadband will never work? But it’s quicker and more reliable than ever. Put simply, we are more efficient. We

Jon Dudgeon

even have a second broadband line now, just incase our current one fails. Security and back up: physically we have

two servers. One in the UK and one outside the UK. There are no manual backups, and we have a virtual IT department supporting and sorting issues for us 24 hours a day. Digitally, the same security issues exist: cyber crime can hit you wherever your server is, whether it’s in your cupboard or on the Cloud. In short, it was a no brainer. The switch over a weekend was seamless. One last back up on Friday afternoon, a few new settings to get used to on Monday, and we were away. The performance is quicker, and it’s the same for all employees whether they are working on their laptop, iPhone or iPad from the office, at home, at a client’s business, in a café, in the UK or overseas. The firm is now truly mobile. My message is to find a reputable supplier, embrace and don’t fear the Cloud … it is our future. For more information visit www.bluskytax.co.uk

INTERVIEW

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

Alok Dhanda Principal at Newcasle-based independent financial advisors, Dhanda Financial

PAST graduated from Northumbria University in 1985 in Business Studies and Accountancy and became a consultant for Albany Life, having attended a training course for a week at Potters Bar in Hertfordshire. At that time there were over 300,000 UK financial advisors, and there were no professional exams to sit. The worldwide stock markets were buoyant, and the products we had in our armoury were mainly simple ones. Examples included basic term insurance, whole-of-life insurance, endowments and pensions. In the absence of mobile technology, the working environment was less frantic and people had a lot more patience than nowadays. In October 1987, Black Monday marked the biggest stock market crash of that period, and clients became more cautious. At Albany Life, I was promoted to a senior consultant, and subsequently became the assistant branch manager at the Newcastle office in 1994. In 1998, the firm was purchased by life assurance giant Canada Life. I left Canada Life in September 2000 to set up my own practice, Dhanda Financial, as clients were becoming more aware of the need for bespoke independent financial advice.

PRESENT imes have changed dramatically, and there are now only 27,000 UK financial advisors. This is partly due to the impact of the recession over the past four years, but it is largely because of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) which was introduced in January 2013. The RDR brought in many stringent forms of regulation, and the sector has changed beyond recognition. Everyone is required to be professionally qualified to work as a financial advisor, and many IFAs are now becoming Chartered Financial Planners. The profession now has more of an ‘advisory’ focus. In the past, the industry was plagued by reports of gross mis-selling of products such as endowments, as these plans had huge upfront charges and healthy commissions. Nowadays, work is predominantly fee-based. This means that anyone seeking financial advice must pay a fee, in the same way as they would pay for the services of lawyers and accountants. When assessing financial circumstances, advisors must now conduct an in-depth, structured analysis of each client. The industry has become a well-respected profession, and there is much more emphasis on maintaining high standards of service with good quality professional advice.

FUTURE lients will continue to expect more interaction with advisors in the future, and they will show increasing interest in investments – particularly in ethical investing. Technology will continue to advance. No doubt everyone will eventually be able to operate their entire offices from one digital device. However, technology cannot replace face-to-face interaction, which is irreplaceable in terms of developing client relationships. Due to the RDR, I believe we will see fewer advisors in the market. Those who remain will continue to work towards achieving higher goals and standards, and IFA practises will command a good selling price for those who wish to retire. I’ve been in this profession for 28 years, and have looked after some clients for four generations, which is testament to the fact that no matter what changes occur within the profession, tailored, bespoke financial guidance and high standards of personal service – with a professional qualification – will always be at the heart of what we offer.

TIMELINE 1985: Consultant, Albany Life 1994: Assistant branch manager, Albany Life 1998: Albany Life taken over by Canada Life 2000: Set up Dhanda Financial

LAW & FINANCE

New partner at Rowlands Andrew Little joins the restructuring and insolvency department at the North East accountancy firm. What attracted you to Rowlands Accountants?

What are your ambitions both professionally and personally?

Who has influenced you most and why?

Rowlands is well established and the partners are passionate about clients and clear on the firm’s direction. This, coupled with the fact they deliver excellent results without the need to shout about it, really appealed to me. The reputation of the firm is that of recognised experts providing relevant business advice across the whole spectrum of a multidisciplinary accountancy practice - my desire is to add to this.

My ambitions have always been to be the best at what I do and to take pride in the advice that I give.

Coming from a working class background in South East Northumberland there was never any family expectations of a professional career – we were the typical semi-skilled, blue collared worker. So, for their support and longterm faith in me, it has to be my Mam and Dad. Sadly Dad passed away over a decade ago so never got to see how far the journey could go.

How is the accountancy firm different to others? We are different in a number of ways. The partners all take a ‘hands on’ approach and we are continually thinking about next generation talent, which means we are supported by an experienced team with real strength and breadth. Unlike others we also offer wide local geographic coverage with six offices across the region and we always look at the wider context to find the most appropriate solution to a client’s situation. Finally, dare I say we also very much buck the traditional perception of accountants – we’re not dry and hard to talk to but enthusiastic and (hopefully!) enjoyable to do business with.

What do you think the future holds both for the accountancy industry and business generally? Like in many industries, we are in a state of flux and the role has changed somewhat. In general practice you need to be acutely aware of the real world business decisions facing your clients and the interactions between personal and business aspirations. The days of box ticking are numbered. More widely, despite the expectation that the difficult economic climate would have created a large number of insolvent companies and individuals, this is not the case. Instead, the country has a number of zombie companies those who may be technically insolvent but have been permitted by their funders to continue to exist within the low interest / low inflation economy. These businesses are able to service borrowings but make no contribution to repayment of capital. As such, an increase in either interest rate or inflation while market values remain depressed is likely to produce a surge of both corporate and personal financial failures.

Tell us one thing that people wouldn’t know about you. I had a pilot’s licence before I had a driving licence because I was lucky enough to be granted an RAF Flying Scholarship at the age of 16.

What should businesses consider when choosing an accountant? Look for someone professional who breeds trust and confidence and is prepared to have an open and honest relationship. A good indication about whether you’ll be happy with the service is whether they do what they say they will in the timescale promised. For further information visit www.rowlandsaccountants.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

UNW gives something back The accountants help a women’s refuge in Newcastle. taff at UNW took part in a garden tidyup event at a Tyneside domestic violence and abuse charity, after raising almost £5,000 for families there. UNW workers went along to Newcastle Women's Aid in the city to help the organisation (which offers a safe and secure space for women and children living at the refuge after escaping abusive situations) get its garden set for summer. The tidy-up marked the culmination of six months of fund raising by the St James' Boulevard-based accountants and business advisers, who have held a number of events over the last year including coffee mornings, sporting activities and a giving tree, where its staff and clients bought presents for the refuge children at Christmas. They also took three families to see Northern Stage's production of The Borrowers in December. Together the staff's events have raised £2300 for the charity, which have then been doubled

Left to right: Newcastle Women's Aid's Abby with UNW's Naomi Daniel, Andrew Wilson, Polly Washington and Aaron Jowsey.

by the firm to bring the total raise to £4600. The cash will be used by the refuge – which can accommodate six families as well as single

Planning your

women at any one time – to buy much needed equipment for the bedrooms for women who often flee abusive situations with very few of their own belongings. UNW managing partner Andrew Wilson said: “The refuge's garden is a really special space because it offers children, who have left a violent or abusive home, a sense of safety and freedom again. “It also offers a stepping stone back into the community, and gives families who have often previously been isolated the confidence to go out and visit parks and local community facilities, so it's really important this garden is ready for summer.” Newcastle Women's Aids children and young people's worker Abby said: “We have been very touched by the generosity of UNW staff and clients who, without doubt, have helped to make the children's time here extra special. It really does make such a difference.”

outdoor event

Nickie Gott, from creative event management company She’s Gott It, gives her tips for holding a garden party or wedding.

ell, finally we have seen a bit of sunshine and here's hoping we get a bit more! It gives us all an excuse to get out into our gardens and for the braver ones among us to plan ahead and organise a party, a wedding or even an event for large numbers, hoping and praying that the sun will shine and the rain holds off. For those people, I applaud their tenacity because the joys of the British summer can cause many a sleepless night when we lie in bed and listen to the raindrops the night before the big day. There are so many added complications when it rains, but if you really want to make sure the day happens, despite the rain, then there are things you can do to still make your event a success. Pop-up gazebos make a great purchase and can be put up quickly to provide shelter for the

EXPERT VIEW Nickie Gott Managing director She’s Gott It Tel: (0191) 385 6619 Web: www.shesgottit.com

barbecue or those all important photos. Weighing them down with bags of sand is a good idea and if they don't get used, then empty them out and create your own beach themed party complete with buckets and spades. If you are planning an event for larger numbers then hiring a marquee and putting it up a couple of days before to keep the ground dry really helps. Then, if the sun does come out, take off the sides to create a great canopy. I've been involved in events in rain, snow, gale force winds and even a heat wave (for this we had to bring in air-conditioning into the marquees) and contingency planning is always key to a successful and stress free day. Make a list of all of the things that might impact your day and then put a plan next to each. Once it's done you will have a great night’s sleep and enjoy the day, no matter what.

TECHNOLOGY NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Technology support for local schools

Knowledge IT has been awarded contracts to deliver managed IT support services to two local schools: St Joseph’s in Hebburn and St. Wilfrid’s in South Shields. After searching for a local IT provider, both schools eventually settled on Knowledge IT, in the hope of receiving a more bespoke service. Knowledge IT has gained an enviable reputation working in the education sector and its ‘One Touch’ service, managed at its North East network operations centre by a dedicated team of support professionals, proactively monitors clients’ networks. With growing reliance on schools’ ability to provide vital educational resources, Knowledge IT ensures that there is no downtime during school hours. As part of the move, St. Joseph’s now backup all of its data to one of Knowledge IT’s North Eastbased data centres, and both schools now benefit from refreshed in-house systems, resulting in a significant increase in network performance and speed. Technical staff

from both schools have also received training and mentoring from Knowledge IT’s team. Frank O’Neill, headmaster at St Joseph’s, said: “We have experienced a real

saving in costs since moving to Knowledge IT and knowing we can have an expert onsite within the hour gives us great peace of mind.”

Playing its cards right

Collaboration in creative sector

Double win for TSG

s a result of the popularity, success and retail experience of their national Gift and Loyalty schemes, Cramlington-based MBL Solutions has launched Inspired Retail: a one-stop-shop for retail businesses. Inspired Retail offers an end-to-end solution, from Gift and Loyalty Cards and EPOS systems to e-commerce sites. MBL Solutions - now one of the leading players in the UK Gift Cards and Loyalty industry works nationally with UK retail giants, Sainsburys, Caffe Nero and Debenhams, as well as growing smaller businesses, such as Phoenix Taxis in Blyth and Circle 360 Champagne.

Left to right: Frank O’Neill, Head of St. Joseph’s School, Kevin McAndrew, Operations Director Knowledge IT and Brendan Tapping, Head of St. Wilfrid’s school

pecialist IT services company, eastQuayIT, is bringing the North East’s creative masterminds together for a free seminar with Adobe and Wacom, to learn about the latest IT innovations at Ouseburn’s Toffee Factory this month. The company will be hosting a lunchtime seminar for the region’s digital media, advertising and PR agencies on July 4, which will include guest speakers Matt Balcombe, Computers Unlimited Adobe business manager, and David Oduro, Wacom channel development manager. Both speakers will demonstrate the newest products and be answering any questions about the software. To register for the seminar, visit www.eastquayit.com/adobeand-wacom-event/.

T services specialist, TSG (Technology Services Group) has been named by Sophos as their Small Business Partner of the Year 2013. TSG work with more than 5000 small and medium-sized customers across the UK and the award recognises their commitment to protecting them for the increasing level of security risk faced by business in today’s evolving technology environment. Sophos also recognised national technical director at TSG, Paul Burns, for his contribution, at Sophos’ annual awards ceremony in Athens, Greece.

TECHNOLOGY

State of the Art What’s new in the world of techology and gadgets.

XBOX ONE icrosoft has unveiled the highly anticipated Xbox One, described as ‘the ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system’. Voice activation from the upgraded Kinect allows you to turn on the console by simply saying ‘Xbox on’ after which you can watch integrated live television, hold group Skype calls, watch films, surf the internet and, of course, indulge in some top-notch gaming. You can even do more than one of these at a time thanks to the the multi-screen feature. Announcements about launch titles are to follow.

www.xbox.com

SONY VAIO DUO 13 ony's new VAIO Duo 13 is a thin and light hybrid ultrabook which boasts an innovative Surf Slider design allowing you to transform between ‘slate’ and ‘keyboard’ working on the 13.3-inch screen. A pressuresensitive digitizer stylus also enables you to draw, sketch or handwrite memos – making this the ultimate in versatility when you’re on the move.

www.sony.co.uk

NOKIA LUMIA 925 he Lumia 925 is a new interpretation of Nokia’s award-winning flagship 920. The new incarnation, with Windows Phone 8 and a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, introduces a sleek metal design and showcases the latest PureView camera which uses advanced lens technology to capture clearer images even in low-light conditions.

www.nokia.com

DH2 ake 2 Technology has launched the DH2 Android 4.2 internet TV Box and mini PC with 5 megapixel camera and QWERTY keyboard. The device is Wi-Fi enabled allowing you to log into your Google account and start streaming movies, 3D games and rent movies from Google Play, Netflix and other internet film channels.

RRP £79 www.vibejam.com

MEDIA NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Digital boom for media companies A report by PwC predicts the growth of the entertainment and media market, thanks to smart technology.

ccording to PwC’s latest Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2013-2017, growing digital revenues will power the entertainment and media industry's overall growth in the UK. PwC expects the UK entertainment and media (E&M) market to grow by 4 per cent compounded annually (CAGR) from 2013 to 2017 to a value of £65.5 billion in 2017. In 2012, the UK had the second largest E&M market in EMEA at £54bn, behind Germany, and it will maintain this position to 2017. Asam Malik, director PwC Newcastle, said: “Across the world, consumers’ access to entertainment and media content and experiences is being driven to new heights by our ever increasing access to the internet and the explosive growth in ownership of smart devices.” In the UK, advertising will grow by £3bn

over the period at a compound rate of 4.4 per cent per annum to reach £17bn. Consumer spending on E&M will be slower-growing, adding £2bn at 1.8 per cent compounded annually to reach almost £33bn.

Empowering both advertising and consumer spending is internet access spending, which will grow over the period to £15 billion, driven by access on mobile devices more than doubling to £9bn in 2017.

Karol joins the onesie revolution

ewcastle’s Karol Marketing Group has expanded its client list by adding ‘onesie’ making specialists The All-in-One Company to its portfolio. Globally successful, The All-in-One Company make luxury bespoke and readymade all-in-ones for men, women, children and babies. The Northumberlandbased company allows the customer to design their own customised all-in-one, which is then handmade and delivered to their doorstep. Karol Marketing will undertake

Left to right: Rachel Lister (Karol), Laura Kingston (Karol), Kate Dawson, (The All-in-One Company) and Charlotte Cunningham (Karol).

consumer PR activity for the brand – which was starteded by Kate Dawson in October 2008 – across the UK. Karol Marketing’s managing director, Stefan Lepkowski, added: “The All-in-One Company presents our team with many exciting opportunities. The brand is a PR dream – we have an array of unique selling points to work with and we believe that The All-in-One Company offers something truly special. We look forward to achieving the coverage that this fantastic concept so fully deserves.”

Google+ event

round 15 clients and contacts of Sarah Hall Consulting Ltd have attended a Google+ event at Northern Counties Club in Newcastle. Designed to introduce those present to the platform –

which has not yet been well adopted by businesses in the UK – content included how and why a presence on the social network is critical to search engine optimisation, particularly in light of the

recent launch of Google Author Rank. The breakfast briefing also covered a whistlestop tour to getting up and running on Google+ and how to build the right type of followers.

MEDIA

Keeping it personal Despite growing its team and winning national contracts, Cargo Creative maintains close relationships with its clients. Daneet Steffens talks to the creative agency’s director, Paul Hart, to find out more.

Paul Hart believes in the personal touch. The director of Cargo Creative founded his agency with inherent values that include transparency, honesty and the kind of attentive and direct interaction with clients that keeps the work process clear and, as Paul says, “straight down the line.” That is something that the creative agency has always sold really well, he explains: “We’re not a massive agency with lots of layers of account management. There are five of us, each with our own expertise, so it’s just a matter of the client speaking to us – we meet them and listen to them as a team – and then we do the work. “It makes it easy to keep an eye across everything that’s going on within the business, everything that’s happening on a particular project.” That approach has always impressed clients. “They get a good response time,” says Paul. “There’s lead time on work, obviously, but if something needs to be done like that” – Paul snaps his fingers – “we can deliver.” And that has always been the force behind Cargo: “It’s all about delivery – safe, reliable delivery. Moving a brand or company from A to B and getting in there in a safe manner.” Originally from Tynemouth, Paul was always interested in design, in information graphics and illustration in particular. He studied editorial design and information graphics at Newcastle College, then worked in London newspapers before spending four years at BBC News Interactive. Five months after he started there, 9/11 hit, a real trial by fire so to speak, and an experience Paul will never forget. “There’s no getting around it,” he says. “Being in the newsroom that day was the experience of a lifetime.” When he returned to the North East, he was invited back to his alma mater, to teach this time, and he relishes interacting with the next wave of designers, as well as encouraging their careers: a new appointment at Cargo is former student, Carl Rutherford, who was recruited to expand Cargo’s creative front. After three years of invaluable experience at another agency, with clients ranging from Sunderland and Newcastle City Councils to Dance City and Leica, Carl, affirms Paul, “adds depth to the team that enables us to support our clients’ needs.” Cargo brings that same integrity, loyalty and commitment to its work with clients, not just building and laying the groundwork for effective design, branding and marketing tools, but ensuring that every aspect of that implementation remains dynamic. “One of the elements we deliver is websites,” Paul says. “Everyone wants everything on their website – they want to deliver news, they want a blog, they want social media. But then it comes to a point where you have to ask, ‘Is that company set up to deliver on all of those internally?’ “We’ve found that that is where we can work alongside that company – we keep their website and their digital communications fresh. And this is something we drive home: we’re not a one-hit wonder, we’re not about getting a site up to then say, ‘There you go, see you later,’ and move onto the next thing.

“For us, it’s about maintaining that relationship. We’ll work out the regularity of the Twitter feed or news updates, but we’ll draw from the company’s specialist knowledge, and listen to their specific needs. They drive the information, we do the promotion.” It’s an acknowledgment, as Paul points out, that nobody knows a business quite like the people who are in that business. He’s also noticed that Cargo attracts clients with a similar ethos. “There’s a security company we’re with and their strapline is, ‘We say what we do and we do what we say,’ and we very much share that approach – if we say we’re going to do something, we do it.” It leads, he says with quiet confidence, to the smoothest and most productive working experience possible - one that’s driven by open, clear and direct communications. “We are all specialist people doing specific jobs; we are, and our clients are. Working with us, our clients know they’re getting someone who’s spot-on in their game.” Eyes firmly on the future, earlier this year – and as its top priority – Cargo took on a business development director, Steve Blanks. With more than 20 years’ experience working on brand, strategy and marketing both nationally and internationally, Steve’s recruitment signals a new step forward for Cargo – already recognised by several new major clients coming on board – and an outward affirmation of what sets Cargo apart: “We are listening to our clients and recruiting specifically to answer their needs,” Paul explains. “Our business development is, in fact, an investment into their business development as well. We want ensure we’re aware of opportunities for our clients. We’ve always delivered a specific service for clients. Now we also look at how it all fits together in the bigger marketing mix, taking into consideration the client’s direction and ambitions. It gives you an edge: we’re not just saying to the client, ‘What do you need?’ We’re also saying, ‘Let’s look at what you need, because we might be able to bring these new elements to the table.’” Though Paul considers Cargo a predominantly North East-based organisation, he’s proud of the range of clients the team has built up across multiple sectors, including finance, security and law – legal giant Ward Hadaway is a recent addition – and notes that Cargo is currently working with a Cornwall-based marketing firm on a global brand project. But that personal approach never falters. “Online is important,” Paul asserts, “and we all have to be aware of that and engage with it, but there’s nothing that can beat shaking someone’s hand, sitting down face-to-face with them, listening to what they have to say and getting an understanding of that person’s values.” In that direction, for Cargo, lies good business. For further information visit www.cargocreative.co.uk

Left to right: Steve Blanks, Erin Kirtley, Paul Hart, Carl Rutherford and Rich Walker.

COVER STORY

THE

EVOLUTION OF

MIKE LYNCH ADVERTISING MIKE LYNCH REVEALS HOW, BY COMBINING TRADITIONAL AND MODERN MEDIA, HIS ADVERTISING AGENCY OFFERS THE COMPLETE PACKAGE TO ITS CLIENTS.

which launched in May, and has extensive experience and training in e-marketing services. James can undertake detailed research on the current digital performance of a client, producing a full diagnostic report. The agency will then advise on appropriate strategies to fulfill a client’s specific criteria. That is not to say that Mike Lynch Advertising has abandoned the more traditional advertising methods (press, radio, television and outdoor) which the agency has excelled in over the years. Instead, the agency is able to combine its expertise in both traditional and new media to offer a complete package for clients looking to get their messages across to the public effectively and efficiently. This ‘complete package’ approach by Mike Lynch Advertising has proved popular with many clients already taking advantage of the augmented offering. “When we launched the SEO/PPC service in May we started by notifying our existing clients. It’s been very well received and a number of companies have taken it up. “We will, of course, be looking at attracting new clients, but at the minute, we’re busy working for our existing client base.” The move into SEO/PPC services has also allowed Mike Lynch Advertising to better compete for tenders, which are highly prized in the world of agencies. Most recently it retained the contract with the Business & Enterprise Group which was automatically re-tendered once the previous three-year contract Mike Lynch Advertising had with the independent national business services group ended. Looking to the future and Mike knows that there are opportunities to further expand his agency’s services within the digital arena: “At the moment, we are making sure we fully absorb and integrate the SEO and PPC side of the business which will then, no doubt, lead to other opportunities!” Who knows what the 18th year of Mike Lynch Advertising will bring.

t has been 17 years since Mike Lynch left his role as group regional sales director for Metro Radio to begin his own media agency. He has since developed Mike Lynch Advertising into a hugely successful enterprise, working with a string of national and regional clients including Eastern Airways, Mill Volvo, NE1, Theatre Royal, Baltic, Nexus and the BE Group. Mike and his team, many of whom have worked at the agency since the early days, boast extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of the media. They offer a personal service and will develop close working relationships with clients so that they can prepare and implement bespoke and effective advertising strategies. Mike prides himself on being at the forefront of changes within the media and is constantly working to identify new trends that could benefit clients. “Of course we are reactive to clients’ demands but we are proactive, too,” explains Mike. “It’s particularly important with the way things are now and the everchanging landscape of the media. “We’re always exploring new avenues and discussing whether there are things we should be offering. It’s important that we keep our clients updated with what’s going on. We act as their eyes and ears. We tell them how something will impact their business, something they really appreciate.” Mike Lynch, along with the rest of us, has witnessed the digital explosion of recent years. He has also kept a close eye on the increasing importance of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Pay Per Click (PPC) marketing for companies with a web presence (whether to sell products or services or simply as a source of information). While the agency previously used external partners for its SEO requirements, Mike believed that this was the right time to bring these services in-house and has invested in the appropriate software. The move was partly driven by the increase of enquiries by existing clients for such services. Another catalyst was Mike’s son, James, joining the firm. James Lynch heads up the new SEO/PPC division,

For further information on Mike Lynch Advertising visit www.mikelynchadvertising.co.uk or call (0191) 243 2444.

MEDIA

Stuck in a

marketing rut? Samantha Davidson, managing director of Horizonworks, explains that you must review your marketing strategy regularly to avoid getting stuck in a rut.

EXPERT VIEW Samantha Davidson Managing director Horizonworks Tel: 08450 755955 Email: hello@horizonworks.co.uk Web: www.horizonworks.co.uk

ou’ve got your strategy in place and things have been ticking along. So far so good, but is ‘ticking along’ all you want for your business? Sometimes it can be tempting to think ‘job done’ once your marketing strategy is in place and then move on to the next thing on your to-do list. However, if you don’t review it on a regular basis, your marketing strategy can quickly become out of date as your business and the market develops. Just asking yourself a few key questions can help you avoid getting stuck in a marketing rut:

• Revisit your marketing strategy – are you doing everything you originally set out to do? If there have been any major developments in your company or the market, does the strategy need to be revised to take this into account? • Is your marketing activity being carried out in a planned and coordinated way, or is everything happening as and when the opportunity comes up, or as and when you get time? If so, it might be worth putting a

schedule of activity together to help keep things on track. • Ensure you’ve got the appropriate mechanisms in place for evaluation – is the activity you’re carrying out contributing towards achieving your objectives? • Consider the customer journey – are there any opportunities being missed for repeat business, or to incentivise your customers to refer new customers to you? Put yourself in the position of one of your customers – are they getting the right amount and type of communication, value and service from your company? Carrying out a short communications audit with a small sample of customers can be useful in identifying how they perceive your company and the communications they get from you and helping you decide whether you need to adapt your strategy accordingly. • Look at what your competitors are doing and look at their strengths and weaknesses in comparison to your own. What is it that they’re doing that you’re not? Look at their brand compared to yours – if they are viewed as more relevant in the minds of

your target audience, perhaps it’s time for a re-brand? • Consider developments in the market and do some horizon scanning to see what is coming up over the next year, two years, three years that could impact your company, your products, your customers and start to plan for this. If you don’t plan for change in the market, your competitors will. Making time to review your marketing strategy on a regular basis and ensuring it is constantly tuned to meet the needs of your customers can help your company stay in front. Drawing on our expertise across the full range of marketing channels, Horizonworks provides a free marketing health check to businesses which includes a review of your marketing strategy and feedback on what improvements are required in order to achieve your overall business objectives. Combining a strategic approach with creative thinking, we can provide recommendations and ideas that will make your business stand out. Stuck in marketing rut? Get in touch with us to find out how we can help you.

MEDIA

For marketing ideas that stick ... think the marketing, PR and advertising agency, Jam Marketing.

orth East based marketing, PR and advertising agency Jam Marketing (UK) Limited aim is to ensure your business receives the coverage and exposure it deserves. Offering both full and long-term marketing strategies which are individually tailored to suit your requirements perfectly, the team at Jam Marketing has an inexhaustible bank of experience and creativity, ensuring their innovative ideas get your business noticed. Whether you’re just starting out in business, would like to revamp your brand image or launch a new product or service, the Jam marketing experts can answer all of your questions, while formulating a strategic plan. As a fully registered advertising agency boasting impressive buying power, Jam Marketing are confident that whatever your budget, it has a package or campaign suitable for you. Covering all aspects of marketing and PR, from social media to web design as well as full brand identity creation and press conferencing, Jam Marketing are one of the best known agencies in the North East. With an ever expanding and diverse portfolio, Jam Marketing has experience working on behalf of diverse client base. Providing its services to single one man bands,

your business. The reliable, friendly service delivered with a no-nonsense approach and marketing ideas that stick is what sets Jam Marketing apart from all other agencies in the region. The ability to commit fully to all campaigns, confidently deal with their clients’ needs while providing a first class service is what makes the ‘Jammy Dodgers’ so unique. Also acting as registered providers for NBSL funding, Jam Marketing are fully equipped to be able to explain to you the routes of finding appropriate support to help grow your marketing campaign and boost your business plan.

corporate clients and prestigious leisure venues, the North East based agency is extremely confident that the priorities of your business will become its priorities. Currently offering a free, no obligation marketing evaluation of your business, Jam Marketing will assess the needs of your company, your budget and your expectations to provide you with a clear, manageable and effective plan to truly help you stand out from your competitors. Working alongside your business, the team at Jam aims to act as a vital and integral part of

For more information on how the Jammy Dodgers can help your business build its brand, plan and manage your corporate events or for any other enquiries please call 0845 900 21 27, email info@jammarketing.co.uk or visit www.jammarketing.co.uk. Jam Marketing (UK) Limited is located at Metro Radio Arena. You can find Jam Marketing (UK) on Facebook or follow @JAMMarketingUK on Twitter.

MEDIA

The role of PR

in recruitment Whether you’re hiring or job-seeking, PR is critical to success, says Sarah Hall, managing director of Sarah Hall Consulting Ltd.

ne area of public relations (PR) that is often forgotten is internal communications. It’s regularly the case that when asking a company to outline their target audiences, employees just don’t feature despite the fact their performance is critical to the marketing function. What I mean by this is that if you’re telling everyone about a superior product or service and the staff aren’t aware of it or if the customer journey doesn’t live up to expectation, then you very quickly score an own goal. Good PR can be very powerful in recruiting and retaining the right staff but depending on the industry, finding skilled hires can be challenging. In difficult economic times it can also be hard to get the green light for sourcing the staff you need to achieve your business objectives and expansion plans. In light of this I spoke to recruitment specialist Bryony Gibson from Bryony Gibson Consulting for her views on achieving the right culture fit. Bryony said: “With the economic recession times have been tough, resulting in companies scrutinising their HR spend to a much greater degree than they would have done previously. Understandably every new employee has to be 100 per cent right, without compromise. “For anyone seeking employment, qualifications are crucial along with the relevant practical experience, which is why those with apprenticeships or sandwich experience from University may be more desirable to employers than those with academics alone. But even the combination of qualifications and experience is not enough in

EXPERT VIEW Sarah Hall Managing director Sarah Hall Consulting Tel: 07702 162704 Email: sarah@sarahhallconsulting.co.uk Web: www.sarahhallconsulting.co.uk Twitter: @hallmeister

the current climate to secure a job. “Interestingly enough, this is where PR becomes important as much for the individual as for the business. The ability for potential employees to display their personality from the outset and demonstrate how they can fit into the culture of a business is essential. A lot of this stems from attitude; would you rather sit next to a negative individual or one who is positive and oozes energy? Attitude and personality; neither come at a cost, but they can be harder to find than qualifications and experience. “As such, while an organisation needs to present itself in the best light in order to appeal to the high quality workforce it wishes to attract, so must a person show exactly what attributes they can bring and demonstrate what kind of brand ambassador they could be for the firm. “My advice to clients is that the recruitment process should not only specify the necessary

skills and qualifications required for the job, but also provide an opportunity for candidates to showcase their character. In order to expect applicants to be open and honest businesses will need to do the same - showing just enough of their personality so that jobseekers feel they can connect. “Understanding a person’s personality is really the key to whether they will fit within the business and stay long-term. Organisations need to ensure that potential employees align with their company’s vision and values, management style, team ethics and workplace environment. Cultural fit is critical to the longterm success of employee engagement, productivity, motivation and retention. “All that said companies mustn’t lose sight of the technical task in hand. The person they like the most still needs to be able to do the job, which brings me back to the start; recruiting has to be 100 per cent right, and finding those that meet this target and will ultimately be able to help a business grow is often easier said than done.” Bryony’s words are grounded in experience and hopefully helpful to organisations wondering whether their recruitment process needs updating or enhancing. Individuals in the job market should also pay heed too and look at the options they have for showcasing their personal brand. Social media offers great promotional opportunities when used in the right way – but then that’s a column for another day! For more PR and marketing related news and articles, please visit http://blog.sarahhallconsulting.co.uk.

SPORT

Get your running shoes ... Roger Tames of Box To Box Media joins hundreds of others for a Parkrun event. he Olympic legacy may be in doubt with participation levels in sport supposed to be down, but every year there seems to be more runners hitting the streets. The recent tentative arrival of summer has enticed a few fair-weather athletes to dig out their trainers while plenty more will be conscious how time can fly before the daunting autumn challenge of the Great North Run arrives. Sport England’s recent Active England survey paints a slightly deflating picture of declining numbers taking regular part in sport which makes easy copy for those newspapers who thrive on negative stories. Yet 40 years ago, anyone out for a run would have been considered either a serious club athlete or a freak! In this region, Brendan Foster’s inspirational annual half-marathon changed attitudes to exercise for ever. Personally, it was Brendan’s coach, the late and very great Stan Long, whose lunchtime jogging sessions from Gateshead Stadium got me hooked on to a lifetime of regular running. Now, at the opposite end of the scale to the Great North Run, a more recent arrival on the running scene is once again proving a major

motivation to getting people active. Parkruns are only 5k and take place every Saturday morning at 9am. And unlike most things in this world, they’re completely free to enter! In the UK alone nearly 200 different locations stage this simple run for fun and so far, around 300,000 runners have taken part. You may have seen them on the Town Moor in Newcastle, where I only recently made my

Parkrun debut. It was raining yet there were still nearly 400 of us. All you have to do is register online where they give you a barcode slip to bring along which is used to confirm your time. All the results are published on their website which records your personal progress. All sorts turned up from young runners looking for a weekly sharpener to the barefoot guy pushing his young offspring in a buggy. There was all ages, all abilities and certainly all shapes and sizes. Like the best ideas, Parkrun is brilliantly simple. There are still plenty of other local events around to get you inspired. The Run Northumberland series for example are low-key, inexpensive races in delightful settings where you still get a t-shirt. And there’s no doubt preparing for an event will sustain your commitment to train. Whatever the surveys and the doom-mongers insist, I’ve never known so many people keen to keep active. See you next Saturday morning! To find a Parkrun near you go to parkrun.org.uk

MEDIA

Don’t lose faith in tradition Stefan Lepkowski of Karol Marketing on why it’s dangerous for businesses to put too many eggs in the social media basket.

ick and tired of being told social media is essential for your business? Don’t despair, your instinct may end up being well founded. Social media is now considered by many as being an important part of the public relations mix. Depending upon your industry, a presence on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or other major channels can make all the difference but with social media, one size doesn’t fit all. Aimlessly building up follower numbers, without any appreciation of their relationship to your industry, doesn’t necessarily justify your investment. Neither does telling the world what you might be having for lunch – unless you happen to be a food critic. Take it a step further and the inane, poorly composed tweets from the intern who has been tasked with social media might drastically alter the perception of your brand ... and call into question your command of the English language. It’s not the end of the world if you own a theme bar; perhaps more damaging, though, if you run a firm of solicitors. You wouldn’t allow a press statement from your business to be released without being signed-off, so why exercise no control over your social media content? It’s also worth noting that social media is evolving at a lightning pace. MySpace was once the most visited social networking site in the world, and was bought by News Corporation for $580 million in 2005. Overtaken by Facebook, it was sold in 2011 for a fraction of that price, prompting Rupert Murdoch to call its purchase, “a huge mistake”. There is now evidence that Facebook may have peaked in the UK, with analysis firm SocialBakers reporting a fall of two million monthly visitors from November 2012 to April

EXPERT VIEW Stefan Lepkowski Managing director Karol Marketing Group Tel: (0191) 265 7765 Email: stefan@karolmarketing.com Web: www.karolmarketing.com

2013, and newer channels such as Instagram are gathering momentum. Focus groups in the US have even indicated that many teenagers now find Facebook too ‘stressful’ to manage and that they dislike the number of adults now using the channel. They are moving to new platforms. Other social media channels will undoubtedly emerge, but we should be wary about pouring too much money, time and resource into the ‘next big thing’ if, within a few years, the landscape – and demographics – may have changed yet again. It could prove to be a costly investment. There’s no doubt, however, that traditional media, such as the national newspapers, have taken their fair share of knocks in recent years and may be perceived by some people as ‘old hat’, battling for attention against the interactive glitz of social media. And if we just look at the numbers, it’s no surprise that businesses feel like they must have a strong social media presence – no matter what they are selling – causing them to invest heavily in the medium, whether that entails diverting staff resources to create a resident ‘tweeter’ or employing external experts. Twitter boasts 500 million users,

Facebook in excess of one billion. Over at LinkedIn, 225 million professionals are logging in to look for jobs, leads and networking opportunities. Google+, though not generating talking points in the way that Twitter does (you don’t often hear of ‘Google+ spats’ between footballers), still has more than 500 million members. Employed correctly, social media can of course have huge benefits. Creating a quirky, attention grabbing PR campaign which boosts sales, issuing ‘live’ statements at a time of crisis to reassure customers, building an awareness of how your company is perceived ... they’re all ways in which channels such as Twitter or Facebook can be very effective. But social media shouldn’t be viewed as the ‘be all and end all’. Sever ties with tradition and you may live to regret it. Exposure for your business in a national or regional newspaper, consumer magazine or respected trade title can often be far more effective than simply throwing everything at your ‘social media presence’ and hoping for the best. It provides the ability to reach a mass audience – The Daily Mail’s average circulation is more than 1.8 million, The Sun’s more than 2.25 million – engage with a specific readership via a trade publication, and of course, add credibility to your brand. Consider the value of your product receiving a favourable and detailed review in print from an acknowledged expert, a journalist who will shoot straight from the hip and who has the ability to influence your target audience. Of course, once an article is written, it can be disseminated via social media ... but the trust placed in its source makes the message far more powerful. It’s healthy to embrace social media and to use it well, but there needs to be a balance.

STYLE

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

Kardashian Kollection Cream Blazer, £55, Dorothy Perkins

Colour Block Envelope Clutch Bag, £27, Accessorize

Verity Top, £139, Fenn Wright Manson

Pink Triangle Ring, £6.50, Diva at Miss Selfridge

hether you’re attending an office party, meeting clients for dinner or getting together with colleagues for drinks after work, make sure you arrive in style by turning the everyday suit into eye-catching evening wear. Exude professionalism and glamour at the same time by feminizing the blazer and trouser combination. Short blazers, billowing blouses and tapered trousers teamed with light colours, such as cream, taupe and dusty pink, are all great ways to soften your look and achieve understated sexiness. When it comes to accessories, smarten up and uniform your outfit by choosing a chic, envelope-style clutch bag and a pair of neutral-coloured shoes, with an appropriate heel.

W Cream Tapered Trousers, £35, Wallis

MODEL ATTIRE Blazer, £28 Trousers, £18 Sequin Stripe top, £14 All from F&F at Tesco

Overstep High Heels, £65, Office

WORKSPACE & CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Flooring company expands Signature moves to new premises in Darlington.

multi-million pound flooring company which helped stage the 2012 Olympics has made a long term commitment to the North East after securing premises to expand its Darlington-based operation. To accommodate rapid growth over the past 12 months, Signature Systems Europe Ltd has re-located to a new flagship warehouse and office facility off Haughton Road, in Darlington, with help from North Yorkshire-based property development company Landteam. Signature is a subsidiary of Signature Systems group, LLC, New York, one of the world’s largest manufacturer of temporary flooring. Its products include carpet, artificial turf, heavy-duty access mats and permanent gymnasium flooring, It also supplies vehicular and pedestrian trackway and supplied more than 2,000,000 sq feet to the Olympics in 2012 at 27 venues across London. Signature Systems’ UK director, Tony

Tait Walker talks to North East manufacturers

ndependent accountancy practice Tait Walker which has offices in Newcastle, Tees Valley and Morpeth, hosted a roundtable on Wednesday June 12 to bring together some of the region’s key manufacturers and supporting bodies. The event aimed to give manufacturers the chance to discuss their concerns and regional issues facing the sector with local government and non-government bodies. Attendees were also encouraged to discuss practical ways to improve manufacturing in the North East’s for a report to government and other key decision makers.

Booth, said: “Signature Systems UK is a fantastic company doing some amazing work around the world and it’s great for

Darlington that we can offer the kind of facilities to attract businesses like this and that meet their needs.”

BIM recognised for Digital Innovation

IM Academy was recognised for ‘special innovation’ in the Constructing Excellence North East Awards through its use of cutting edge digital technologies in an international design competition.The 48hour competition was to design and virtually build a Museum of Architecture, on a man made Island 120 Metres off the coast of Doha. BIM Academy, a collaboration between Northumbria University and Ryder Architecture established in 2010, used state of the art Building Information modelling (BIM) and comprised senior academics and technologists from Ryder, Cundall, Mott Macdonald, NBS, Colour UDL and Turner and Townsend.

Site manager wins award

ob Mitchell from Taylor Wimpey’s Clarence Court development in Easington has been honoured with an NHBC (National House Building Council) Pride in the Job Quality Award. The awards are presented following a judging process by NHBC inspectors who perform spot checks and assessment of developments throughout the year. The quality awards also provide homebuyers with the assurance that the development provides quality homes and excellent customer service. The scheme has raised the build quality of new homes in the UK for over three decades. The regional events take place in the Autumn, while the Supreme Awards Gala final will be held in London in January 2014.

BUSINESS

Familiar face bows out John Hardy has retired as the MD of Portland, but will remain with the company on a consultancy basis.

ohn Hardy has bowed out as managing director of the multi award-winning Portland Consulting Engineers. However, not content to hang up his slide rule just yet, he will remain with the firm for the next two years on a part-time consultancy basis. Since leaving school at the age of 16, John has worked continuously in construction amassing a significant amount of experience and carving out an impressive career. Passionate about his profession, he is only too happy to pass his knowledge on to the next generation of structural engineers and has been the inspiration to many who have followed in his footsteps. Launching Portland 10 years ago, it was his desire to the see the firm succeed and gain recognition for the innovative structural design work the team delivers across a range of sectors including social housing, commercial, industrial and education. That desire has been achieved with no less than six industry awards in the past 12 months. Notably, Portland was

awarded Consulting Engineer of the Year 2012 by Builder & Engineer and was awarded 2013 Consultancy Practice of the Year earlier this year by Constructing Excellence in the North East. During his career he has both witnessed and warmly embraced the advancement of

technology within the sector as it moved from the slide rule to the smart pad with the arrival of sophisticated Building Information Modelling software. Speaking about his time with Portland, he said: “I feel I am bowing out at the right time: the board of directors has a clear strategy in place for the ongoing success of the company, our efforts have been rewarded with industry accolades and we have recently created a further three jobs which is hugely satisfying. “With a desire to nurture the next generation of engineers, further to my part-time role with Portland, I am also giving up time to be part of an advisory panel for Northumbria University’s Civil Engineering Degree, where I will offer support and industry experience to provide the students with the necessary skills to compete in what is rapidly becoming a more technically advanced workplace.” For further information on Portland Consulting Engineers, visit www.portlandconsulting.co.uk

PROPERTY

Let it ‘Wright’ Property advice from Kerrie Dixon, office manager at Wright Residential. rom starting my advice columns exactly one year ago, I thought I’d give a recap of what I’ve mentioned over the months and the do’s and don’ts when looking for a property. Landlords: remember to keep your standards high. Decorating your property with neutral colours is always a good idea. It allows potential tenants to incorporate their own furniture no matter what the colour. Keep it clean: a dirty house will not help you get people in and no matter how nicely your asset is decorated, an unclean floor, or grubby dishes in the sink will do you no favours. As a landlord, you will know that with every property you own, you run the risk of potential rent default by your tenant. Even the best credit checks and references cannot predict a tenant falling on hard times. If your tenant was to lose their job, get divorced, or fail to vacate the property at the end of the agreement, would you be able to cover your expenditure? Trying to recover rental arrears can often be difficult and usually very expensive, without any definite guarantee of success, but there is an easy way to protect your rental income: Rental Guarantee Insurance (RGI). With RGI, the scheme usually covers all rental income in the

event of a non-payment by your tenant. Moving on to tenants’ advice: If you are looking to move in to a rental property for the first time, you probably won’t be aware that you may be stung with high charges by the provider. These are often hidden within lengthy contracts, but sometimes, not mentioned at all. It should be expected by the tenant that they will pay an initial administration fee, which can vary depending on the agent. When you sign an agreement, many agencies will not tell you that

once it is time to renew your lease, you need to pay yet another administration fee. Along with renewal fees, there is also a hidden check out fee, whereby the agency/landlord will charge you for vacating the premises, too. Remember to ask what all the fees will be upfront so you can budget for them before signing any legal documents. Finally, whether you are a landlord or a tenant, when looking for a letting agency to either let a property from or manage your portfolio of properties, try and go with an agent that is registered by ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents). ARLA is a professional membership and regulatory body for letting agents and agencies in the UK. An ARLA membership is only achieved by agents who demonstrate that they have a thorough knowledge of their profession, and can conduct their business according to best management practice. As Wright Residential is governed by ARLA, you can rest assured that your property is in safe hands. For further information call Kerrie on (0191) 214 59 59 or email: kd@wrightresidential.co.uk

PROPERTY

A word from Hannah Hannah Lamb of Charles Lamb Residential Lettings on the importance of using a Gas Safe Registered Engineer.

orking in property management for over 13 years, I have seen my fair share of cowboy contractors and the dangerous position that their work can leave landlords and tenants in. I recently read an article about gas engineers and there are least 7500 illegal gas fitters working in the UK and 8.4 per cent of work carried out in the North East were found to be ‘unsafe’. When it comes to gas safety, we are potentially putting our lives at risk by not being vigilant and ensuring that the contractor is qualified to carry out the necessary work. All Gas Safe Registered Engineers will carry a photo ID card which must be shown on request. It will tell you who they are, their licence number, security hologram and a start and expiry date. On the back it will tell you what your engineer is qualified to do and that their qualifications are up to date. The simplest way to avoid using an illegal fitter is to check the Gas Safe Register. You can do this in three simple ways using the

engineers: 1) Visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk 2) Call 0800 408 5500 3) Text 85080 As a letting agent, it is my responsibility to ensure the engineers I employ are qualified and Gas Safe Registered. My landlords and tenants

rely on us to do all the necessary checks prior to instructing an engineer and checking the safety certificates once they are completed by the engineer to ensure there are no errors in the paper work. If my landlords want to use their own contractors, I still have a duty of care to my tenants to ensure that the engineers that the landlord wants to use is registered and qualified. If this is not the case, I will advise the landlord that he either gets an alternative engineer or dis-instruct myself from the management. If you are looking for a qualified and reliable gas safe registered engineer then I can recommend my contractors without hesitation: SFS Home Assist (0191) 406 0888, Gas Safe Registered Number: 301879; R U Cold Ltd (0191) 265 5957, Gas Safe Registered Number: 521154; J P Westall Ltd (01434) 602 740, Gas Safe Registered Number: 7133 Contact Charles Lamb Residential Lettings on (0191) 281 6200.

PROPERTY

Graduates are good for business ... says Damiano Rea, managing director of Heaton Property Ltd recent CBI survey has indicated that more than two thirds of graduates would like more support from their university in understanding the world of work in areas such as customer awareness, team working and self management. As our business model for expansion puts graduate recruitment front and centre, the findings of the survey should have been cause for alarm but, in our experience, the opposite is true. We plan to grow from our current nine employees to 14 within the next 12 months and these positions will be filled by graduates. Our latest team members are graduates Nichaela Robson and Lauren Bailey, both of whom have a BSc in Estate Management from Northumbria University. The lettings market is changing fast both for students and young professionals, since both groups now have a high expectation of the quality of their accommodation. By recruiting graduates we gain staff that are fully qualified and conversant with laws,

Lauren Bailey (sitting) and Nichaela Robson.

regulations and practices of the estate management sector. As important, our graduate recruits are close to our target market, since they were recently students and are now young

professionals. Lauren is working towards becoming our digital communications lead when she will coordinate social media, website, YouTube and lettings portals. Listings of available accommodation will be updated in real time and available on any electronic device. Nichaela is training to oversee the Heaton Property Pro-Share Plus scheme, where young professionals take on the tenancy of a larger property. Tenants get a single monthly bill which covers rent, utilities, Council Tax, internet and cleaner. It is billed as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;houseshare without the headacheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and accounts for almost 20 per cent of all new lettings. Heaton Property has developed a close working relationship with staff at Northumbria University and we hope to provide insight into what the professional lettings segment requires from graduates. For further information Tel: (0191) 240 0665, or visit: www.heatonproperty.com, email: office@heatonproperty.com

EVENT

ABCurry Club Asian Business Connexions members attend the latest networking event. sian Business Connexions hosted the hugely popular, sell-out ABCurry Club on May 30 at The Beacon. The exciting PIE (Primary Inspiration through Enterprise) Project was launched by Bill Midgley, that aims to engage and inspire primary-aged pupils. Tyneview Primary School in Walker is piloting the project. Alongside Bill, guests heard from Lesley Lister (MBC), Rob Klieser (Newcastle College), Martin Farrar (Excelsior Academy) and Ammar Mirza. After the presentations, guests enjoyed delightful authentic curry dishes created by the superb Solomons Lounge. ABC is a not-for-profit social enterprise that aims to connect, support, and promote the Asian and wider Business Communities.

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

A taste of history

he sleeping quarters used by the medieval Black Friars of Newcastle are now being offered to businesses for meetings and training days, as part of a lunch package at award-winning Blackfrairs restaurant. The restaurant’s meeting room can accommodate up to 16 people boardroom or 40 theatre style and is free of charge when six or more people have lunch within the restaurant. Having served

as the dormitory for Black Friars, from 1239 to 1550, the meeting room is possibly the oldest meeting room in Newcastle. Overlooking the cloister garden, the dormitory meeting room provides an escape for board meetings, briefings and presentations. Alongside the dormitory, Blackfrairs can also offer businesses teambuilding courses within its workshop and banqueting hall, including cooking challenges, wine and beer tasting and taster sessions - for groups from six to 50.

Seating from 10 up to 50 people, the banquet hall’s offering of either a set menu throughout the week or a bespoke meal, is proving popular for private dining and other corporate events. Additionally, companies fancying a staff night out with a difference can enjoy authentic medieval banquets in the restaurant’s candlelit banquet hall, served by local monks. Nighttime entertainment, including medieval fancy dress, can also be booked.

Brand new development

Celebrating in style

Quayside Seaside returns

ynyard Hall has received planning permission to undergo a £4 million development to build a range of new attractions. The plan will see the creation of a state-of-the-art cookery school, a grand marquee, which will house up to 400 guests and a visitor centre, which will include gift shops, a café, farm and delicatessen. The country house hotel, situated in Tees Valley, will also be given a new rose garden, complete with water features, Italian terraces, picnic areas and the biggest variety of roses in Europe. When complete, the development will create 40 full-time jobs and 20 part-time jobs.

line-up of entertainment has been revealed to celebrate Hardwick Hall Hotel’s Oyster Festival’s tenth birthday on September 20. Highlights will include comic pianist and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, Kev Orkian, soul diva Diane Shaw and Celtic folk-rock band, Wildcats of Kilkenny, who will all perform in the Big Top style marquee. Charity has always played an important role at the Oyster Festival and this year’s chosen charity is the Newcastle United Foundation, which uses the region’s passion for football to help disadvantaged children and young people. Guests can also look forward to a three-course, meal and drinks throughout the day.

E1’s Quayside Seaside has returned for the third year running. The pop-up beach – part of NE1’s awardwinning pocket park programme – has taken up its usual residence on the Quayside, adjacent to the Pitcher and Piano. Equipped with deckchairs, a volleyball court, bucket and spades and palm trees, this year’s beach is 20 per cent bigger, extending to 250 square metres of sand and decking. Locals and visitors will be able to enjoy the beach until September 30, in which time it will play host a number of activities, including a beach volleyball league for local city centre businesses.

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

An Indian summer Indulge in some spicy Indian cuisine at Asha in South Shields. otorious for minimum sunshine and maximum rain, the North East weather makes many of us wonder if we even have a summer at all! If you’re hoping for a hot, Indian summer this year, you may only experience this by dining in one of South Tyneside’s finest Balti houses: Asha. Conveniently located on Ocean Road, in South Shields, Asha is less than a five minute walk away from the bustling beach and thriving town centre. If you’re looking for a break from the children or somewhere to take the whole family on a budget over the summer holidays, why not head down to Asha and take advantage of the daily specials and tasty set menus? This summer, from Monday to Wednesday, between 5.30pm and 11pm, for as little as £6.95 per person, you can enjoy a carefully crafted three course banquet. Dishes such as Jalfrezi, Bhuna or for the spice connoisseur the popular Vindaloo are included in the inexpensive set menu. If you’re looking to sample some dishes from the à la carte menu, Asha is proud to offer its exclusive items which include light, refreshing starters of lamb Shinghara, Kakra and Mirch mushroom. Signature main appetisers include the Asha mix special, salmon Salon and vegetable Thali.

Asha offers a wide range of beers, wines and spirits as well as the famous Indian lager, Cobra, which makes the perfect accompaniment to your favourite curry. Located alongside many other curry houses on Ocean Road, Asha has been one of the longest standing since opening in 1993. The elegant and lavish decor and loyal customer base make the restaurant stand out from the crowd. Asha not only serves up authentic Indian cuisine but flavour-infused Balti dishes which are available to eat in the restaurant or collection to enjoy in the comfort of your own home. The fabulous customer service from the staff in Asha makes customers return time-after time, and the positive feedback left on online platforms helps attract new diners. Customers can dine in the intimate padded seating booths or the open tables in the centre of the room. Furthermore, there is a second dining area which is ideal for large bookings and special occasions.

Asha is located at 168 Ocean Road, South Shields. For further information call (0191) 455 1600 or visit www.ashabaltihouse.co.uk. Alternatively, search Asha Balti House on Facebook or follow @AshaBaltiHouse on Twitter

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

A week in the life

Bill Scantlebury, Owner and brewer, Cullercoats Brewery Ltd. Monday

Wednesday

Friday

Tea in bed followed by a dash to the brewery to skim some yeast off Friday’s brew. Then it’s home in time for breakfast with wife Anna and six-yearold son Ben, who will get my brain working with a steady stream of 20 questions: ‘When did the Big Bang happen? Do spiders have brains?’ We walk up to school, then its back to my home office (kitchen table) to open my spread sheet of pubs. The morning is spent ringing round landlords for orders, planning my deliveries and replying to emails. After lunch, I’ll visit a couple of pubs to see how the beer is selling, or to try and win over a new landlord, collecting empty barrels if I pass any pubs I deliver to. I’m home by 5pm.

Another day of delivering, in Newcastle and then northwards. I love this trip, Bamburgh and Seahouses never fail to deliver on the scenic drive front. Delivering takes up a lot of time but, over the 18 months I’ve been brewing, it’s enabled me to get to know landlords and managers personally. We have a school leaver starting work with us soon, so that Anna and I can focus more on our business development and corporate links with RNLI – we’ve raised over £7000 for the Lifeboats charity so far with our ‘3p per pint’ donation policy.

6am: It’s brew day so the sooner we get going the sooner the weekend begins. We crack on and raise a cheer if we manage to ‘mash in’ (get the malt mixed with hot water, the first stage of the brew), before 8am. The brewing process is a mix of huge activity and lulls, when I can reply to emails and have a cuppa. Anna and I each have our own roles, things we like/dislike doing so we work well as a team, although it will be ‘all change’ with the new recruit. I get the ‘boil’ underway by 11am and add different hops for aroma and flavour. They’re always English varieties as all our beers are traditional ales with all English ingredients. The hot liquor is then crash cooled as it is transferred to the fermenting vessel. The last step is to add the yeast which I've harvested from the previous week’s brew, and stored in the fridge. Phew! Brew day is physically demanding and we get home at 4pm pretty exhausted. A pint of beer is the refreshment required. Then a pasta supper, and 20 more questions from Ben, plus a chapter of Harry Potter before putting him to bed at 8pm. Then it’s the weekend and a well earned rest. Unless someone wants ‘emergency beer’ delivering ... which happens quite often.

Tuesday I sort out invoices for the day’s deliveries, then get down to the brewery to load up. I’m then off up the Tyne Valley, sometimes via Durham or Sunderland. I stop to chat to landlords if they are around. Lunch is a sandwich at the wheel and I reply to any emails and texts and tweet a little on my phone; my smartphone has made running the brewery so much easier. I always have a minor panic every time I can’t find it – which is several times a day!

Thursday Anna and I head straight to the brewery and get down to the final stage of cleaning barrels: hot caustic washing. The barrels have to be spotless and sterile before we fill each one by hand. The beer is piped out of the fermenting vessel, finings (a clearing agent) are added to each barrel, and then they are sealed. By 1pm we’re nearly done and can stop for lunch (in the sun if we're lucky). Then I jump into the fermenter and start scrubbing. It has to be clean as a whistle, and ready to take the next brew. A few more deliveries on the way home and I’m done by 6pm

www.cullercoatsbrewery.co.uk

EVENT

Left to right: Fred Dickenson (EEIBA Chairman) and Julie Shields (EEIBA Vice Chairwoman)

Left to right: Neil Stamp (Dextra Lighting), Ed Miley (KYOOB) and Stuart Bolam (Norstead)

EEIBA event North East electricians have come together to raise £3500 for its industries’ benevolent fund. Left to right: Kristina Simpson and Karl Snowden (Park Design)

Left to right: Alan Hawkins (Armah Switch Gear) and Jim Tumelty (LPC)

lmost 200 people attended the North East branch of the The Electrical and Electonics Industries Benevolent Associations’ (EEIBA) annual lunch gathering, which recently took place at the Assembly Rooms in central Newcastle. The EEIBA was created to assist its members from the electrical or electronics industries who have suffered hardship or distress, often through work-related accidents. The event was such a success that the EEIBA is now planning its first Christmas lunch for its members and has already booked its place at the Assembly Rooms in December.

Left to right: Guests of Newey & Eyre

Left to right: Jim Harvey (LPC) and Mark Redshaw (Ventaxia)

Left to right: Phil Travis (Apex), Craig Smith (Tyne Tees Electrical), Paul Watson (Apex), Ian McGray (Tyne Tees Electrical) and David McMorrow (Tyne Tees Electrical)

Left to right: Ken Chambers and Dave Elsom (Vaughn Engineering)

Left to right: Lee Davis (Dougal & Railton) and Craig Leighton (Park Electrical)

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

A destination for all occasions Horton Grange Country House Hotel and Restaurant has plenty to offer its guests. estled in the countryside surrounding Ponteland is the classically, goodlooking Horton Grange. With its high ceilings, sandstone walls and beautiful restaurant flooded with light, it’s an elegant place for a get-together at any time of year. The Grade II listed house is available to hire in its entirety for special events, from weddings to birthday parties and conferences. The idyllic grounds and gorgeous Georgian proportions provide a setting which add a touch of class to proceedings and are matched by delicious food and attentive service; guaranteeing an occasion that will exceed expectations. No stone is left unturned in the team’s quest to make your day as perfect as it can be, with every detail from special dietary requirements to decorative themes considered and executed

with an unrivalled level of perfection. Horton Grange is almost fully booked for weddings but a few dates do still remain between June 2013 and April 2014 and the hotel is offering these at a specially discounted rate of £4495 for 50 day time and 80 evening guests. Horton Grange’s next Wedding Open Day is on Sunday, September 8 from 1pm to 4pm where you can discuss your requirements with their dedicated wedding team. With a regular programme of special events and open all-year-round for lunch, dinner and afternoon tea, Horton Grange is the ideal place for a romantic dinner, a girlie lunch or a spot of tea and cake followed by a stroll in the gardens. The hotel also boasts nine beautiful bedrooms which are all stylishly designed providing the

perfect opportunity to make a night of it. Upcoming events include the fantastic Anna Reay who will be appearing for the first time on Saturday, September 28 and then again on October 18. A magnificent evening of fine food paired with great entertainment at only £35.50 per head, which includes a three-course dinner and Champagne and canapés on arrival. Why not make the most of it and spend the night in one of the hotel’s beautifully furnished bedrooms for a special rate of only £84 including breakfast on either of the dates above? Horton Grange Country House Hotel & Restaurant is at Berwick Hill Road, Ponteland. For information call (01661) 860686, email: info@hortongrange.co.uk or visit www.hortongrange.co.uk

The art of perfection Indian delights from Sachins. he award winning, renowned Punjabi restaurant, Sachins, on Newcastle’s Forth Banks, has continually delighted diners for over 30 years. It has a loyal base of regular customers and has hosted several famous faces over the years. From their intimate and opulent restaurant, Sachins boasts a meticulously crafted menu inspired by the variety of India regions. The menu is filled with flavoursome dishes, signature accompaniments and side dishes as well as Sachins’ superb range of rotis; the freshly baked breads that are served piping hot have become hugely popular. Offering a delicious range of chef’s specialties, each dish prepared in the Sachins kitchen is nothing less than a work of culinary art. Murg karahi; diced chicken cooked in Punjabi spices, tossed in an iron karahi and served medium dry over a bed of onions is delectably popular. Another of Sachins’ best loved dishes is lal goshat; a traditional Punjabi hot dish with diced lamb, marinated in yoghurt, red chillies and spices that are delicately slow cooked. For seafood lovers, Sachins offers the deliciously moreish chingiri makhani; a speciality from the tandoor, it comprises Punjabi

spice marinated king prawns barbecued, tossed in butter, served with sauce and, for a touch of elegance, the dish is garnished with an edible silver leaf. The warm and cosy interior is inviting, while remaining stylish and elegant, making Sachins the perfect venue for any get together or celebration. The restaurant is also available for private functions and events. If you’re looking for an intimate venue for any special occasion or for corporate hospitality, please speak to a member of the Sachins team. The popular Sachins @ Home initiative was launched in 2011 and since then, the service has seen hundreds of private events catered for. The dedicated and experienced Sachins staff is on hand to bring their flare and techniques from the restaurant to your home or event venue. Providing catering options for dinner parties of six to an evening celebration for 60 guests, Sachins motto is: “If their venue can take it, then we can provide it!’’

Sachins Restaurant is located on Forth Banks, Newcastle. For more information contact (0191) 261 90 35, visit www.sachins.co.uk or follow the restaurant on Facebook or Twitter @Sachins_NCL

WINE & DINE

Recipe of the month Devilish chocolate cake by Dr. Oetker Serves 12

3 Divide the mixture between the tins and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until risen and just firm to the touch. Turn out on to a wire rack to cool completely.

Ingredients: Dr. Oetker Cake Release Spray 75g cocoa powder and extra to dust 175g baking margarine 850g caster sugar 3 medium eggs, beaten 250g plain flour 4 sachets (4 tsp) Dr. Oetker Baking Powder (Gluten Free) 4 tsp Dr. Oetker Liquid Glucose 6 medium egg whites 1 sachet (1 tsp) Dr. Oetker Cream of Tartar 5ml (1 tsp) Dr. Oetker Natural Vanilla Extract 465ml water

4 For the icing, put the remaining sugar, Liquid Glucose and 115ml of water into a saucepan. Heat gently, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and boil until the temperature reaches 115°C on a sugar thermometer. Remove from the heat. 5 In a large heatproof bowl, whisk the egg whites with the cream of tartar until very stiff – as if making meringue. Still whisking, carefully pour the sugar syrup on to the egg whites. Add the natural vanilla extract and continue whisking for 4 to 5 minutes until glossy and stiff.

Method: 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan, gas mark 4). Spray two, 3 x 20cm (8inch) diameter victoria sandwich tins with Cake Release Spray to grease. Sift 75g cocoa into a bowl and whisk in 350ml of the water.

2 Beat the margarine with 400g sugar until well blended. Whisk in the eggs and the liquid cocoa mixture. Sift the flour and baking powder on top, and carefully blend the ingredients together to form a thick batter.

6 Use some of the icing to sandwich the cakes together and put on a serving plate. Generously spread the remaining icing all over the cake to cover. Dust with a little extra cocoa powder before serving.

THREE OF THE BEST: ICE BUCKETS

£16, John Lewis.

£18.99, www.drinkstuff.com

£59.99, www.drinkstuff.com

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Business lunch

Blackfriars Restaurant Alison Cowie samples the historic Newcastle eatery.

oused within a former Dominican friary (established in 1239), Blackfriars Restaurant draws on its historic roots with rustic wood furnishings, exposed stone work and Medieval details. You'll not find anything quite like it in the centre of Newcastle. Its city location also makes it the perfect spot for a business lunch, whether a long and leisurely one, choosing from the lunchtime and early evening set menu (£15 for two courses, £18 for three), or a quick bite to eat with colleagues from the Working Lunch menu (£8 includes a soft drink or £10 for a glass of wine or 275ml beer). My two colleagues and I were in no particular rush, so picked the first of these options (although one of us did decide to exchange his main for a Working Lunch dish). From the choice of seven starters, we

indulged in a wonderfully vibrant beetroot risotto and an agreeable fish cake. However, it was the home-cured duck ham with spiced cheery chutney and crispy duck leg, with its rich, deep flavours that stole the show. My colleague and I sat across the table looking on with envy as the dish was happily devoured. The tables were to turn, though, as my colleague who had chosen the duck starter was also the one who was tempted away from the set menu in order to try the pulled pork dripper (holding the Taleggio cheese) with house ‘salw from the Working Lunch menu. Delightful as the beautifully slow cooked meat, housed within a homemade bun was, it was simply too small! And while it may have been an ample meal for someone with a more petite appetite, my colleague wished he’d had the option to bulk up the dish up with some chips or the like.

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He instead had to watch as we tucked into our more substantial meals. My iconic Geordie Pan Haggerty, topped with a poached egg, was sublime and my fellow colleague’s 6oz Northumberland rump steak with chips was also much enjoyed. Desserts were a must, if only to appease my still-hungry friend. He chose the strawberry Eton Mess (albeit, a little too tangy for his taste) while I picked the dark chocolate fondant (the 10 minutes it took to prepare was well worth the wait). My other colleague opted for the cheese board (a £3 supplement but with seven local cheeses, celery, grapes, breads, biscuits and chutney – you’ll be hard pressed to find a better one in Newcastle). Blackfriars Restaurant is on Friars Street, Newcastle. Tel: (0191) 261 5945, web: www.blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk

North Sea fishcake with home-made tartare sauce A good-sized fishcake and lovely tangy sauce.

Pan Haggerty, greens, soft poached hen’s egg, mushroom and sorrel sauce. An upmarket take on a traditional regional dish, it balanced hearty and delicate flavours; a real treat!

Strawberry Eton Mess A bit too much tart strawberry and not enough cream and meringue.

Beetroot risotto My colleague admitted this wouldn’t be something he usually ordered but he found the beautifully presented dish a delight.

6oz Northumberland rump steak, tomatoes, hand-cut chips with garlic butter.

Home-cured duck ham, spiced cherry chutney and crispy duck leg A triumphant dish using top quality produce.

Pulled pork dripper and house ‘slaw So nice its diner could have easily managed another one!

This unashamedly ‘bloke’s grub’ was perfectly executed.

Dark chocolate fondant, salt caramel and peanut butter ice cream. Celebrating a perfect marriage of flavours, it was worth the 10-mintue wait.

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A selection of English cheese. With seven wonderful cheeses, from soft to hard via goats’ and blue, this was the king of cheese boards!

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

A progressive year to date Ken Ellington, general manager at the Copthorne in Newcastle, discusses how 2013 is progressing at the hotel. How have you found 2013 trading this year? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a challenging year within the local marketplace, with so many new hotels now trading. Driving occupancy levels has been a push at times, with the client base (both commercial and leisure) increasingly last minute in nature as they hold out for the best deals. We have found ourselves having to be increasingly competitive, pricing rooms accordingly. The challenge in such a time is to hold your nerve, and to ensure that a property prices itself in accordance with its level of quality.

How has the Copthorne progressed during 2013 so far? From the team side, we have been working on consolidation at all levels, following a period of extensive change last year. We have had relatively little change across this year, with one new senior manager about to come on board marking our only significant move this year. Our guest service feedback, both

internal and external has seen a tremendous shift, and I am really pleased with how this has progressed. Our aim was always been to be one of the friendliest hotel teams in the North East, and positive service continues to be by far and away our most regular piece of customer feedback. From the property side, we have seen the busiest year in a long time. So far this year we have upgraded the bedroom heating/cooling system in all 156 bedrooms and across the hotel, upgraded both guest lifts, installed new top of the range Hypnos beds in all bedrooms, upgraded the furniture in a large number of bedrooms, and we have new flatscreen TVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going into all bedrooms at the start of July. From here, we are awaiting the final signoff for our last phase of new bedroom carpets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 94 were completed last Autumn (along with most of the public areas), with 62 remaining to be completed. Some external building works are also to commence shortly, following which we will be starting work on establishing our pavement presence by the riverside. Our

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leisure club is also to be undergoing some upgrading works.

Where would you like to see the Copthorne this time next year? The aim has always been to positively reposition the hotel, to fully capitalise on its position and the fact that all of the bedrooms overlook the Tyne, which is its unique selling point. With the local market having stabilised to a degree (with new hotels slowing down), and the required product works having been completed, we should be in a strong position to compete with great confidence, and a very clear identity. Also as the Stephenson Quarter development progresses, it can only be a good thing for the hotel as part of the ongoing regional focus on this side of the Tyne Bridge. Contact Ken via ken.ellington@millenniumhotels.co.uk. For more information on the hotel visit www.millenniumhotels.co.uk/copthorne newcastle

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

A ravishing

refurbishment Following a £250,000 refurbishment, Holiday Inn Newcastle upon Tyne has unveiled a brand new look in a bid to improve comfort, create a relaxing environment and further enhance its excellent reputation.

ccupying a peaceful rural setting, bordered by 16 acres of countryside and Northumberland coastline close by, Holiday Inn Newcastle upon Tyne is an idyllic getaway for families and couples alike. Those looking for a little bit more hustle and bustle, however, will be pleased to discover that the hotel is only six miles from Newcastle city centre, with the A19 and A1 roads just minutes away, making it an ideal base for those visiting the area. What’s more, because Newcastle International Airport and Newcastle Central rail station are also close by, the hotel is the perfect pit stop for international guests and those travelling on business. The spacious hotel is home to a variety of impressive facilities, including 11 meeting rooms, a lounge, bar and restaurant, event space for up to 400 people and wireless internet throughout. There is also a free car park available and, in addition, guests can enjoy complimentary access to the hotel’s health club, which boasts a gym, indoor heated swimming pool, sauna and steam room. While it has always been praised for its cleanliness, catering and hard working staff, thanks to a recent six-week refurbishment, staff believe the 154-room hotel’s new, contemporary surroundings now match its

warm welcome and professionalism. Post-makeover, the hotel’s tiled flooring has been transformed into new, plush carpet, black and white photographs now adorn the walls, and its restaurant, bar and lounge have all been treated to new furniture – including smart sofas and chairs. A beautiful Mural, devoted to famous North East landmarks, has

also been created for all to see. Dark wood accents, accentuated with modern and soft furnishings make Holiday Inn Newcastle upon Tyne a stylish and comfortable abode for everyone. Keen to remain spotless, the hotel has also invested £80,000 into demolishing and rebuilding its toilets. Its dated business centre

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and coffee shop have also been removed, resulting in free space for guests to wait on taxis and relax during check-in. The refurbishment has been extremely well received not only by hotel staff, but also by guests. Interest in the hotel’s Sunday lunches has soared and, in the first week, after discovering the changes made to the hotel, a couple booked their wedding reception. Armed with a brand new look and the same, quality service that it has been offering for almost 40 years, future plans for Holiday Inn Newcastle upon Tyne include refurbishing all bedrooms over the next three years. Holiday Inn Newcastle upon Tyne remains committed to being a ‘great hotel that guests love’. Whether you are a tourist visiting local attractions, part of a couple or a family looking to celebrate a special occasion, or even a businessman or women needing somewhere convenient and comfortable to stay, Holiday Inn’s Newcastle upon Tyne can offer a guaranteed package of superb facilities, an unbeatable location and, now, luxurious surroundings. Holiday Inn Newcastle upon Tyne is located on Great North Road, Seaton Burn, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE13 6BP. Tel: (0191) 201 9988

INTERVIEW

Daneet Steffens talks to the new executive director of Northern Stage, Susan Coffer, about her career and the importance of nurturing creativity in the region. Susan Coffer distinctly recalls the critical moments which shaped her career, from a mind-blowing performance at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal by the London Contemporary Dance Theatre, to being mentored by theatre and arts legend Richard Pulford who gave her a two-week placement in the Royal Festival Hall’s marketing and press department when she was a lowly box-office grafter. But the key tipping point came when she was publicity officer and deputy front-of-house manager at the Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich in the late 80s. “Essentially what that meant was I went in at nine in the morning and left when the last person left the bar at night,” explains Susan. Animated and loquacious, the newly–appointed executive director of Northern Stage, is terrific at bringing telling moments to vivid life: “We operated out of a cupboard next to the box office, and press releases were produced on an old typewriter – that was my grounding in arts marketing.” And what a fabulous grounding it was; She thrived in the busy environment – because it was a small company, she learned every aspect of what it takes to create good theatre – under the assured, risk-taking hand of director Dick Tuckey. “He had built up this incredibly loyal audience of people who, yes, they loved their Agatha Christies and their Alan Ayckbourns, but Dick was very good at getting new plays coming out of London, so David Mamet was in that mix, and the David Hares – we were the first regional theatre to do Racing Demon. “I learned that you can surprise people – it’s about the audience trusting the work that you do and the way you present it and the way you talk to them. Those were really big lessons for me.” One day Susan was presented with a carousel projector and told to, “go out and do talks to the community.” And, armed with a pack of slides which covered every theatrical element from script selection through production and wardrobe design to opening night, that’s exactly what she did. “I used to talk for 40 minutes or so – I was huge with the WI, can I just say? – and I must have gone to just about every village hall in Suffolk in the five years that I was there.” The success of that outreach project has stayed with her: “People told their friends about it and came to see shows and then they’d ask for a tour. It was old-fashioned public engagement, and it worked.” Progressive posts at Basingstoke’s Haymarket Theatre, Aldeburgh’s Music Festival and – her dream job at the time –

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with the Rambert Dance Company followed, and at each position, Susan built her administrative and managerial skills, gaining a respect for open communication and transparency, an ethos that she embraces to this day – “it’s fundamental to the success of an organisation, that openness.” At Rambert she also learned how to develop an organisation – “how you start to look at what its ambitions are, how you play a role in supporting those ambitions and making them a reality.” By 2006, when the refurbished Northern Stage was looking for an administrative director, Susan, a Hebburn native, made the move home. This year’s newly-created post, working alongside new creative director Lorne Campbell, is, she says, “a natural progression. I’ve been responsible for a lot of the business side of the operation, and I see my role as supporting the artistic vision, managing the infrastructure. In any one day I might be a building manager, a property developer, a networker, a fundraiser, an HR manager … it’s about the people who deliver the work, and how you make those people happy in your organisation.” The effort she’s put in for the past seven years has contributed to “a team that functions together, that trusts each other – and there’s such a commitment to getting the show on, no matter what.” Steeped in the work that goes into creating good theatre and showcasing innovative productions, Susan is excited by Northern Stage’s remit – “the programme is ambitious. There’s a freshness and a newness to what we do” – and while she loves the outside productions that Northern Stage plays host to, she relishes its commitment to local emerging artists. “Because of cultural investment, a new generation is creating its own voice. We don’t want to lose that; we don’t want it moving out of the region because there is nowhere for them to create, develop, present that work, express themselves. It’s there, it just needs to be recognised, like Kate Craddock and the GIFT Festival. It’s those people who are entrepreneurial, who have so much to give and who help us to continue to blaze a creative and cultural trail in the North East.” Might that entail hauling out that ancient slide carousel? Susan’s reaction is immediate. “Yes! I think there is real value in it. I know in this digital world it could be done in a different way, but I think there is something about going into a room and talking to people about what it is that you do, engaging with them and creating enthusiasm for what you’re doing, that really works.” And if anyone can do that, she certainly can.

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ARTS

Arts previews Elise Rana Hopper looks forward to some of the region’s biggest cultural events.

THE BIG REUNION/JESSIE J

9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL

MARK WATSON

Durham’s cricket ground continues to build its reputation as an open-air concert venue this month with two consecutive nights of pop goodness as part of their Summer Nights Live programme. Still surfing the comeback wave of ITV2’s unexpectedly successful reality show The Big Reunion, Nineties chart-toppers 5ive, Blue and Atomic Kitten bring the party on Friday night, followed on Saturday night by singer, songwriter and all-round pop heavyweight Jessie J, taking a break from mentoring on The Voice UK to show off her own skills instead.

Gender equality, office politics and massive ‘80s hairdos are the basis for this musical comedy, based on the hit movie and featuring an Oscar, Tony and Grammy Award nominated score written by the legendary Dolly Parton. The story of three office workers who team up and hatch a plan to turn the tables on their sexist, egotistical boss, 9 to 5: The Musical stars Jackie Clune, Amy Lennox, Natalie Casey and Ben Richards, and in cameo from her desk in Dollywood, La Parton herself. According to Dolly, the show is “perfect for anyone that's ever wanted to string up their boss, which is almost all of us.”

You may know him off of the radio, off of the telly or as the bloke who undertook a 25-hour endurance gig at London’s Pleasance Theatre to raise money for Red Nose Day’s 25th anniversary earlier this year – or who dared to attract the ire of Frankie Boyle’s Twitter followers. If all of that’s passed you by, all you need to know about the comedian, novelist and sports pundit Mark Watson is that he’s passionately energetic, lovably neurotic and funny to boot, and he’s bringing his multiaward-winning stand-up to Whitley Bay this month for a special one-off gig as part of the Mouth of the Tyne festival.

July 15-20 • Theatre Royal, Newcastle • from £12 • www.theatreroyal.co.uk

July 10 • Whitley Bay Playhouse • £15 • www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk

July 19-20 • Emirates Durham ICG, Durham • £25 (Fri) £32 (Sat) • www.durhamccc.co.uk

ALEX KATZ: BENEATH THE SURFACE

BALLETLORENT: THE NIGHT BALL

HONEY BOP TRIO

Following the success of his recent show at Turner Contemporary, mima shows another dimension of the American artist Alex Katz, a figurative artist usually associated with the Pop Art movement, with the UK premier of 36 drawings from his personal collection that reveal his expertise as a draughtsman, as well as large-scale oil paintings and tiny collages that reference two of his heroes, Matisse and Monet.

Inspired by two of their most loved and immersive works, The Ball and La Nuit Intime, balletLORENT’s new site-specific performance event is a 70 minute show set cabaret-style in the round, featuring passionate couple dances, wallflower solos and exuberant ensemble dancing influenced by countless movement styles. As a celebration of the beauty and intimacy of social dancing, the evening continues with a rare opportunity to be partnered by one of the company’s ten professional dancers as the dancefloor and bar remain open and the DJ plays on.

Of the numerous home-grown highlights of this month’s SummerTyne Americana festival, what sets Honey Bop Trio apart isn’t just the double bass twang and lap steel sway of their good-time Americana but rather the June Carter to their Johnny Cash: frontwoman Hannah Rickard. Hailed as the ‘sweetest voice in the North East’ by the Jumpin’ Hot Club, 25-year-old Rickard is also a talented songwriter, fiddle player and guitarist who has collaborated with artists across the spectrum. Check Honey Bop Trio out when they play alongside Anth Purdy on the SummerTyne River Cruise.

July 11-12 • Wallsend Memorial Hall • £16 • www.northernstage.co.uk

July 20 • board at Pitcher & Piano • £18.50 • www.sagegateshead.org/summertyne

July 19-Oct 13 • Mima • free • www.visitmima.com

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BUSINESS

Lola’s Place opens its paws! A successful open day for luxury dog day care centre, Lola’s Place: your best friend need never be alone again. ast month, Sandy Lane in Gosforth was transformed as it entertained local dog owners viewing the new state-of-the-art Lola’s Place Dog Day Care and Grooming Centre. 200 guests were welcomed to Lola’s Place by the fully trained staff who were on hand to show them around this fantastic new facility, after which the owners and their families were treated to a fully catered barbecue. Lola’s Place supervisor Sue, who has 15 years experience as a veterinary nurse, revealed: “I think the Open Day was a great idea to give everyone time to have a good look around and a chance to chat to the staff. It is so important that we make well-informed decisions about the care of our pets. We were thrilled with the feedback and success of the day,” Emma Riley, who owns Lola’s Place along with Libby Lucas, explained: “We are so pleased how popular our grooming spa was on the day; we have been taking bookings nonstop ever since. Our professional groomers are going to be very busy!" Every dog's first day at Lola's Place is a FREE DAY, during which qualified handlers will carry out a thorough assessment in order to maintain a safe and friendly environment for all. In addition to the day care and grooming services, Lola's Place is also able to offer one-to-one training for any dog that may require some extra help to pass the assessment.

For more information on Lola's Place visit www.lolasplace.co.uk. You can also find Lola's Place on Facebook and Twitter. If you would like to speak to someone directly, then call (0191) 236 3969 and one of the trained staff will be more than happy to help.

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EDUCATION

News from

Dame Allan’s Schools Dr John Hind, principal of Dame Allan’s Schools, reflects on a momentous year for the Schools. Excellent results This time last year we were saying farewell to our Year 13 students who were leaving the Sixth Form. Their anxieties during the wait over the summer for their A level results were unfounded. They achieved the Schools’ best ever A level results with 30 students achieving all A*A grades. Indeed over half the papers this cohort sat were awarded A*A grades. One notable success was Youngseo Yoon who secured a remarkable five A* grades in maths, further maths, physics, chemistry and biology before heading off to Edinburgh University to study medicine. As a consequence, Dame Allan’s was the top performing school in Newcastle based on the Government’s chosen measure of the average A level points scored per candidate. I am particularly proud of all our Sixth Form students who have contributed to an outstanding record: for five of the last seven years Dame Allan’s has been the top school in the Department for Education’s Performance tables for Newcastle Schools. This is a remarkably consistent record of our academic excellence.

and then again at 11 when they join either the Boys’ or the Girls’ School. At 16, when they are ready for new challenges they are once again able to join a new school: the co-educational Sixth Form. Now over 20 years old, our co-educational Sixth Form is one of the leading independent Sixth Forms in the region. The girls and boys from the senior schools come together again to study in a new coeducational environment. They are joined by students from other schools around the region, all sharing new experiences and challenges in the superb facilities of the purpose built Queen’s Building.

landmark year for Dame Allan’s when we opened another new building: the superlative new Junior School and Nursery. This school was designed and built around the needs of young children, creating an inspiring yet secure learning environment inside and outside the class room. With its own play areas, sports fields and outdoor classroom set within a mature, wooded, six acre site, the school provides a stimulating yet supportive and secure environment in which pupils are able to grow and develop. At the heart of life in the Junior School is the principle that learning should be fun.

Learning should be fun

308 years young

The start of the academic year in 2012 was a

While the pupils and staff in the new Junior School and Nursery were enjoying the challenges of many ‘firsts’, such as their first Carol Service and their first concert, we were already making plans for our annual Founder’s Day service at Newcastle Cathedral. I believe that it is important to remember our founder’s foresight and vision. I, like so many of our former pupils and staff, have cause to be grateful that the aims and ethos we celebrated in Dame Allan’s tercentenary year, and they still hold true today, now 308 years after Dame Eleanor Allan founded the Schools that bear her name. The Schools were founded in 1705 to provide a ‘proper education’ for boys and girls in the city. In the following centuries the governors and staff have endeavoured to continue to provide the best

New Schools Each September I look forward to welcoming new faces to the Schools within the Dame Allan’s foundation. Our students are particularly fortunate to have the opportunity to start a new school at three, when they join the boys and girls in the nursery

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education for all pupils, preparing them to succeed in the world beyond the school gates. As an historian, it is gratifying to note that the Girls’ school is believed to be one of the oldest independent girls’ schools in the country, setting the expectation that girls should be encouraged and supported to achieve their full potential. The debate about girls’ education, in particular their under representation in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects regrettably continues today. However, in March I was delighted to welcome the shadow minister for science and innovation, Chi Onwurah MP, to Dame Allan’s, who presented sixth former Lizzy Mansfield with two prestigious Gold CREST awards from the British Science Association (BSA). Lizzy, who is studying physics, chemistry, maths and further maths, clearly impressed the MP. “If we are to compete on a world stage, we need to realise all our scientific potential. Lizzy’s achievement shows that young women will succeed in science if they are given the right opportunities and environment,” said Chi Onwurah.

Inspirational As the school year draws to a close I am reminded how important that environment truly is. At the start of the Easter Holidays the Allanian Society, for former pupils, held their annual dinner when two of the speakers were the outgoing head girl and head boy. Head girl Ruby Lawson recalled with evident enthusiasm the broad range of opportunities she had: “I’ve played hockey and netball in Singapore and Malaysia, skied in France and been privileged enough to tour around Europe with the inspirational organisation Relais. I love how everyone, no matter their starting ability, is encouraged to do things to not only develop academically but as a person too.” The Relais she refers to is an organisation set up by former resistance fighters and deportees so that the horror and atrocities of war should not be forgotten, and to promote peace and

understanding between the European youth of today. Dame Allan’s is the UK’s representative on Relais de la Memoire. Relais has played an important part of the life of the Schools since 2004 and students have been privileged to meet some remarkable heroes of the resistence movement including Stéphane Hessel and Abel Farnoux. The Schools had the honour of being represented at the state funeral of Stéphane Hessel, following his death in March, which took place at Les Invalides in Paris. Stéphane Hessel: co-author of the Declaration of Human Rights, diplomat, human rights campaigner and former French Resistance fighter, died at the age of 95. He was Ambassadeur de France, a Commander of the Légion d’honneur, and a Grand Officer of France’s Order of Merit. Stéphane Hessel made a deep and lasting impression on me. He greatly honoured our schools by accepting our offer of honorary Old Allanian status. He spoke to me personally to accept the offer and to express his gratitude for it. For a man whose honours and international renown were so great, to speak personally and with such genuine humanity regarding our own relatively modest recognition was the mark of a truly great generosity of spirit. To have met Stéphane was to have shared in that generosity and to have been enriched by it.

He was a truly great man; I personally and all my pupils and colleagues are the better for having known him.

Joy When Stéphane Hessel spoke at our Speech Day, he encouraged every pupil to learn poetry, explaining how this lifted his spirits during his time in the concentration camps. As I write this I have just returned from a spectacular combined arts evening where parents were thrilled by the impressive range and standards of our musicians, artists, theatre students and dancers. The talent of these students has been recognised on a wider stage, with musicians touring Italy last summer, the drama company performing at Northern Stage and the continuing success of the dance companies. The art department has had a remarkable year, with a commission to design a crib for Newcastle Cathedral, and work exhibited at the Holy Biscuit and Newcastle City Library. Their talent and love of the arts shone through the undoubted dedication and hard work. Indeed I am still hearing tales of Liberace, one of the hosts of the evening! Joy is not a word usually associated with education, yet I was struck by one description in our recent ISI Inspection report when the inspector described pupils’, “joy in working together co-operatively”. Outgoing head girl Ruby has said that one thing she learned during her time at Dame Allan’s was the importance of having fun. I will leave the last word to her: “I don’t think I could have been better prepared for life outside of school than I have at Dame Allan’s. I think I have developed not just academically but in terms of my all round ability, whether this is time management, communication, or respecting others. I’m happy to move onto university, knowing no matter what life throws at me I’ll always be an Allanian!” For more information on Dame Allan’s Schools visit www.dameallans.co.uk

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EVENT

Central High’s Masquerade Ball Charity ball proves to be an evening to remember osted at the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle, Central High’s Masquerade Ball, in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, began with an enthralling reception of fire eaters, dancers (Central High girls, of course) and music. Following the drinks reception, guests were treated to a delicious meal and further entertainment provided by Steve Keys, magician and compere for the evening, an aerial dance performance and an exciting game of Heads and Tails (the eventual winners, Angela Charlton and Stephen Deakin, donated their prize of £250 to the Teenage Cancer Trust). An auction and more entertainment followed. Central High would like to thank all who attended and supported the event by placing advertising and offering auction and raffle prizes. Special thanks also goes to sponsors DE Pharmaceuticals, Oaks Properties, Fawdon Pharmacy, Tofco, KwikFlow, Cellular Solutions and ITPS and to our organisers: Kamni Puri, Neera Dhir, Stephen Deakin, Gillian Lord and Janice Graves. More than £5000 was raised on the night to support the Teenage Cancer Trust at the RVI.

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EDUCATION

Small enough to care ... large enough to excel The Gosforth-based independent day school for girls, Westfield, looks back at a successful school year.

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estfield school takes a wellrounded and forward-thinking approach to learning and extra curricular activities. The school is never short of exciting news and activities and, vitally, impressive examination results. Marion Farndale, headmistress of the independent school for girls, said: “Recent examination results have been exceptional. We have witnessed almost 50 per cent of recent A level pupils achieving A and A* grades. It is a terrific achievement for the girls. It also demonstrates the excellent work of the Westfield teachers. I am sure this year’s GCSE, AS and A2 exam results will be outstanding too.” Westfield School has a warm and friendly culture, aiming not only to provide a rounded education but also to nurture the girls. Marion continued: “There are many dimensions to a strong education and we support this by encouraging the girls to be involved in a number of groups from drama, music and sporting activities to external activities such as the Young Enterprise, Unesco and Comenius projects and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. “Our involvement with Round Square, a world-wide association of more than 80 schools on five continents, allows us all to share the same philosophy of education, combining academic excellence with challenge, adventure and community service. This enables Westfield girls to participate in many overseas projects only available through membership of Round Square.” During their Christmas holidays, Emma Briggs and Ruth Henderson, both 17, travelled together to work on a Round Square International Service Project in India. They spent three weeks helping to complete the construction of new classrooms in the remote community of Katapathar in the Garwhal region of Northern India, close to the Himalayan foothills. At the same time, Elena Campbell, also 17, visited Cambodia and travelled to the littleknown community of Prokeab in the Trapeang Thum district, some 90km south of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, where she joined a team who helped to complete the construction of a new community care centre for the villagers. This summer, Senior House girls will be working on projects in Costa Rica and South Africa and six delegates will be attending the International Round Square Conference in Miami in the Autumn. Junior House girls have been very involved in the Comenius Project and have had the opportunity to visit schools in Germany and France and invite pupils and staff from these schools to visit us here in Gosforth. During the summer holidays, three of our students will become UK delegates at the Children’s International Summer Villages in

Canada, New York and Mexico City. Closer to home, we were delighted to hear that our Home Economics students were successful in the Co-op Fairtrade Recipe Competition and their entries will be considered for inclusion in the Fairtrade Cookbook to be published in October. The Senior House performance of High School Musical wowed audiences as did a variety of musical events that have taken place throughout the year. Senior House girls also had a thrilling experience at a workshop with Opera North. Junior House celebrated another fantastic achievement with three winners in the Junior Painter of the Year Competition at The Royal Academy of Arts in London. They have also thoroughly enjoyed being involved in the Primary Engineering Programme for North East schools. There have been so many exciting adventures, activities and events throughout the year which have been enjoyed by all the girls from Nursery right up to the Upper Sixth. This year’s Young Enterprise Company, Dip It, excelled with sales of their range of tie-dyed and dip-dyed T-shirts, exceeding all expectations. At the Regional Finals, they received awards for Best Trade Stand and Best Overall Company beating the competition from other local schools. They will represent the region at the National Finals in London in July, for the second year running. Sporting achievements have been numerous and girls have enjoyed many opportunities to try their hand at different sports throughout the year, including golf and surfing! The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme also continues to flourish with a very high take up for this challenging and very rewarding Award. The team of six girls competing in the Round Square Adventure Race in Snowdonia won the Girls’ Race having swum, paddled, climbed, cycled, cooked, camped and carried out night navigations, demonstrating their skills on all disciplines: team spirit, sportsmanship, campcraft and cooking. It was a fantastic achievement. As the academic year draws to a close, Westfield says goodbye to the Upper Sixth girls who are moving on to university and beyond. They celebrated their time at the school by dancing the night away at the 007 Bond themed Westfield Association Camellia Ball.

Westfield wishes them the very best of luck for the future! For more information on Westfield call (0191) 255 3980 or visit www.westfield.newcastle.sch.uk. You can also follow the school via Facebook and Twitter.

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EVENT

Corporate finance summer drinks Tait Walker hosts client event. n Wednesday, June 12, Tait Walker Corporate Finance hosted an event at Livello in Newcastle for professional contacts from around the North East. Â Guests were treated to drinks and an outdoor barbecue and, even better, the rain held off â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for most of the night!

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H E A LT H

Take steps to a happy

heart

Cardiology consultant Dr Raja reveals how Spire Washington Hospital’s new Healthy Heart Clinic is helping combat the UK’s biggest killer.

Who is the new Healthy Heart Clinic at Spire Washington Hospital aimed at? Our new Healthy Heart Clinic is for anyone who has any concerns about heart disease. This might be because they have lost a family member due to the illness, are a smoker, suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes or just want to put their mind at rest by having an early check. We generally see people from their early 30s onwards but particularly those over the age of 40, mainly because the risk of heart disease increases with age.

What should patients expect when they come to you? When patients book in they are asked to complete a short questionnaire, which they bring to their first appointment with a cardiologist. This is discussed at length to help us develop a full patient history and includes questions about diet, exercise, height and weight, medications and family history among others. In short, the information we gather allows us to use a risk calculator based on ethnicity, where the person lives and lifestyle elements.

Are any tests carried out? We conduct a number of tests, which are critical to evaluating someone’s risk factors. These include measuring blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and a BMI check. Furthermore everyone is given an ECG, which is a test that records the heart’s electrical activity and tells us whether there are any issues with its natural rhythm. Once all this information is collated, we are able to place each person into a low, medium or high-risk group and advise appropriately. We also offer Cardiac CT calcium scoring for individuals who wish to have the screening done. This test detects calcium deposits in the arteries of the heart, which is a marker for coronary heart disease.

What type of advice and treatment is provided? Everyone who comes through our door is given information about how they can improve their lifestyle such as through diet and exercise and sometimes that is all that is required. However those deemed medium risk are usually offered a CT calcium scan to help us ascertain if any further treatment may be needed. The people placed in a high-risk category are almost always started on medications to get their risk under

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control in the shortest possible timeframe. Follow up appointments are arranged according to each individual’s needs and sometimes ongoing care is carried out by the person’s GP because that’s most appropriate. It’s all about patient preference and choice.

Can lifestyle changes really make that much difference? Heart disease is one of the leading causes of premature deaths worldwide. Research has proven that educating people about the various risk factors involved and persuading them to adopt a healthier lifestyle can reduce the likelihood of it developing by around 25 per cent. This is why shifting the focus from treatment to preventative measures will ultimately give people a better quality of life. What we are trying to do at Spire Washington Hospital is help put people’s minds at rest by allowing them to be well informed about their health and by educating them about healthy lifestyle choices that can help them be fit for the future, which is what everybody wants. For more information about Spire Washington Hospital’s Healthy Heart Clinic, visit www.spirewashington.com or to make an appointment call (0191) 418 8636.

BUSINESS

John Crummie selects Geneva Digital The top local travel executive seeks the expertise of the digital agency. eneva Digital has been selected by ex-managing director of DFDS Seaways and top local travel and tourism expert John Crummie to produce a website for a new strategic consulting business. Newly launched, John Crummie Consulting aims to support clients with advice on developing and implementing strategic solutions that enhance profitability, sustainability, competitive differentiation and positioning. John hopes to pass on some of the unique knowledge he has gained from over 30 years working as a senior executive for major travel, leisure and tourism brands that included, most recently, a long-standing position as managing director of European Ferry Company DFDS Seaways. Specific areas of expertise and advice offered by the business include:

sales and customer service activities to achieve objectives • Critiquing supply chain networks to help improve efficiency and effectiveness and helping ensure the right skills, capabilities and tools to implement activities are in place to move the business forward.

• Developing strong branding and positioning

to exploit differentiation opportunities • Undertaking marketing analysis to identify and evaluate strategic options addressing opportunities and challenges • Selecting the optimum blend of marketing,

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Geneva Digital has created a professional and functional website for John Crummie Consulting which takes into account all of the latest developments in search engine optimisation and mobile technology. Geneva will be working closely with the business, over the coming months, and in addition to developing the website further, as the business grows, they will also be applying a fast and effective formula for Top 3 search engine rankings and conversion rates to maximise new business enquiries. Call Geneva on 07860 311066 for more information.

WELL-BEING

Don’t lose your beach body on holiday Holidays are about relaxation but not to the detriment of months of hardcore training and healthy eating. Here are Be Fit’s Antonia Pellegrino’s tips to minimise damage to the waistline when you’re away!

Take a pro-biotic before you go

Drink responsibly

Studies have shown that taking a pro-biotic a month or so before you travel encourages healthy gut bacteria and can help you to minimise tummy upsets – should you happen to come across unfriendly bacteria.

You’re on holiday so no one expects you to be super strict if you do enjoy a glass or two. However what you drink can make a huge difference to the waistline. For example, drinking beer has the same effect on the gut as bread and sugary cocktails can contain up to 500 calories per drink. A cleaner drink would be vodka with fresh lime and soda. Again, at the risk of sounding like a party pooper, try to drink water between drinks. Remember, the body will not burn fat if it’s trying to detoxify alcohol.

Drink lots of water The body dehydrates in heat. We lose essential salts and minerals through sweat. Many cool down with a beer, glass of fizz or a cocktail but alcohol dehydrates the body. Make sure that you stay hydrated to avoid the bloat. Drinking sparkling water such is a great way to stay hydrated. Put sparkling water in a Champagne glass if peer pressure gets too much.

Start the day with lean protein Smoked salmon, chicken, eggs, natural yogurt with nuts are all better choices than cereals, toast or pastries. Avoiding gluten on holiday also helps to keep the beach body in check. Gluten can inflame the gut, which can undo all of the hard work that you have done to tone and sculpt your body. The best carbs are those

Try something different

Take advantage of the local produce

You don’t have to always hit the gym on a holiday, unless of course this is how you relax. Kayaking, yoga, swimming, walking and even Pilates on your deck chair are great ways to relax actively, enjoy the sun and soak up some well earned vitamin D3.

Fresh fish and salads or vegetables are a great way to fuel the body in the sun. Again, filling up on breads and pastas at lunch, are a sure fire way to pack on the holiday pounds.

If all else fails, we will be here at be-fit when you get back to whip you into shape. For a pre-holiday blast or nutritional advice please contact be-fit on (0191) 213 5300.

in vegetable form such as broccoli, peppers, rocket, spinach etc. Even for breakfast!

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MOTORS

Behind the wheel by Jessica Laing

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ASTON MARTIN V12 VANTAGE S Aston Martin is taking sports car performance to extremes with the announcement of the new V12 Vantage S. The new model replaces the outgoing V12 Vantage in markets around the world and, with the exception of the One-11 hypercar, arrives as the fastest road-going Aston Martin yet offered. Providing one of the most engaging sports car experience in the British luxury carmaker’s current range, the new V12 Vantage S delivers exceptional sporting agility and powerful race car technology, used routinely in Aston Martin’s competition cars. The model is equipped with an AM28 6.0-litre engine, a brand new automated manual gearbox and exhaust system, and showcases three-stage adaptive damping, allowing drivers to tailor the car’s dynamic character and govern the level of power steering assistance offered. Externally, the muscular and bespoke sports car boasts a twoseat, two-door coupe body style, extruded aluminium door side-impact beams and 19inch, 10-spoke forged alloy wheels, with diamond-turned finish. Inside, you’ll discover new, electrically adjustable seating, with two leather grade options and, for the first time in a V12 Vantage S, stunning black pedals.

F.Y.I. Max power: 565bhp Max torque: 620nm Max speed: 250mph Acceleration: 0-62mph Height: 1250mm Width: 2022mm (including mirrors) Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres

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MOTORS

Dax Pearce, Benﬁeld’s general manager at the new Chrysler & Jeep showroom.

New franchise for Benfield The North East Motor Group adds Chrysler and Jeep to its dealership network. he addition of Chrysler and Jeep to Benfield’s Warwick Street showroom in Newcastle, managed by Dax Pearce, means Benfield now represents 16 different franchises across its 34 dealerships throughout the North East of England, Yorkshire, Cumbria and South West Scotland. Part of the Fiat group, Chysler and Jeep are seen as a very good fit for Benfield’s flagship 14 car Warwick street showroom, which already

houses sister Fiat brands Alfa Romeo and Maserati. Benfield’s chief executive, Nigel McMinn, said: “We are delighted to announce the addition of Chrysler and Jeep brands to Benfield’s growing portfolio of franchises. The range of cars is very exciting and it is especially positive for us to offer a dedicated specialist range of premium 4x4 models to our retail and fleet customers, which we believe will be very popular.”

Steven Graham, sales manager at Chrysler and Jeep, added: “We are delighted by the opportunity to work with Benfield who are a highly regarded regional brand and well established North East business. “We are certain that the new partnership will be a great success and go on to establish a greater awareness of Chrysler and Jeep brands across Northumberland, Sunderland and Durham areas.”

Giant leap for St. Oswald’s enfield, has kindly donated the top prize of a brand new Kia Picanto, worth over £8000, as the star prize for this year’s St Oswald’s raffle – tickets of which are on sale now. Viv Williamson, head of Fundraising and Retail at St Oswalds said: “We are enormously grateful to Benfield Motor Group for donating a brand new car to St Oswald’s, for this year’s draw. We need to raise £6.5 million each year to continue to operate and rely on such support to be able to do so. “Raffle tickets cost just £1 and we’re hoping to raise over £40,000. All monies raised will go towards providing specialist care for adults and children across the North East.”

Triple jump Olympic gold medalist, Jonnathan Edwards hands over the Kia Picanto keys to Viv Williamson of St Oswald’s for the annual rafﬂe.

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Benfield’s marketing executive, Matthew Squires, explained why Benfield’s Charitable Trust has chosen to support St Oswald’s this year: “Benfield Motor Group is an independent, family-run business which was founded in the North East over 50 years ago and remains firmly rooted here. St Oswald’s is a local hospice which is very much part of our community, with a long history of providing quality care to families from our region. Other prizes include £250 plus dinner, bed and breakfast at Close House and £150 plus complimentary Benfield Service. The annual raffle will be drawn at St Oswald’s Christmas Market on Saturday, November 30.

SPORT

Golf Course Guide:

Hexham Golf Club “As fine an inland course as you can find,” according to Harry Vardon, designer of the original course at Hexham in 1907. Location

Competitions

Hexham Golf Club is on the B6531, 20 minutes west of Newcastle and with easy access from the A69 via the B6531. It is approximately one mile west of Hexham.

Hexham is host to the English Seniors Championships in 2014. A selection of open events for gents, ladies, mixed and seniors are held annually.

Setting

A word from the pro

The Spital course has a magnificent setting on the south bank of the Tyne, overlooking the stunning Northumberland countryside. The course makes full use of the rolling contours and thousands of mature trees to provide a challenging course.

Andy Paisley, head professional: “Hexham is generally regarded as one of the finest parkland courses in the North of England. Top professionals and club golfers see Hexham as a very fair, yet tough test of golf. “In addition to being one of the most scenic courses in the area I believe we have the best maintained course with excellent greens.”

Length of course The course measures 6200 yards from the white tees.

and top level tuition. Other facilities include a practice ground, putting green, buggy hire and trolley hire.

Course type

Toughest hole

Eighteen hole championship parkland course.

The third hole is regarded as the toughest hole on the course. The tee shot demands a right to left shot into the prevailing wind, which is the most difficult shot for most amateurs. The second shot is a tough uphill shot, protected by a steep faced bunker and a fast sloping green. Good luck!

Facilities The Grade I listed Clubhouse boasts a recently refurbished bar, lounge and restaurant, and offers function and meeting rooms. There is also a snooker room and squash courts. The Pro Shop is well stocked with the latest merchandise, and is one of the few places in the North East that has the GC2 Launch Monitor system, which is used by 30 of the top 60 players in the world. This facility attracts top level amateurs and professionals from around the region for both custom fitting

Fees Green fees are £35 per round, £45 per day. Buggies are £20 per round, £30 per day. Corporate and society visitor packages are available from £28 per person. Membership offers are available including a three month trial for £125, Twilight membership for £295, Country membership, reduced fees for under 31 year olds and a limited no joining fee offer.

Signature hole Contact details Hole 18, Par 4, ‘Spital Home’, 344 yards. This magnificent closing hole requires a tough decision. Do you risk trying to drive the green or play safe? An accurate tee shot is needed, avoiding the out of bounds to the left, with a large, heavily bunkered green as your final challenge.

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Hexham Golf Club, Spital Park, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 3RZ Tel: 01434 603072 Email: info@hexhamgolf.co.uk Web: www.hexhamgolf.co.uk

EVENT

Team ITPS

Team North East Times

Disability North Golf Day A day of golf at Hexham Golf Club, in aid of charity.

Team Stagecoach North East (winners)

ongratulations to Stagecoach North East, winners of this year's Disability North Golf Day. It was a really great day: the sun was shining and it was the closest competition yet. The event held at Hexham Golf Club, was a great success and raised over ÂŁ2000 for the charity.

Team Cellular Solutions

Team Scotts & Co.

Team Todd & Cue

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INTERVIEW

FALCONS TAKE FLIGHT IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, NEWCASTLE FALCONS DIRECTOR OF RUGBY DEAN RICHARDS TALKS TO DAN SHERIDAN ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD NOW THAT THE CLUB ARE BACK IN THE BIG TIME. DEAN RICHARDS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GOING UP TO THE AVIVA PREMIERSHIP …

We haven’t had too many players in the Championship’s top 15, and that indicates that it’s been a real team effort. Having said that, Scotty MacLeod was the Player’s Player and Coaches Player of the Year and he’s been outstanding. But so too have the likes of Mark Wilson, Carlo del Fava and Warren Fury, so there’s a number of guys who you could look at and say their performances have been pretty consistent at a high level.

A lot of the guys wanted to repay the club by getting us back up, and there was relief from the people who put the season together from a coaching perspective as well as the players. The pressure was quite intense. As much as the season has been fantastic, when you come to the play-offs everything you’ve done before that counts for nothing. So it’s been a different year and emotions have been high. Whichever way you look at it, the play-offs are a massive banana skin, and while people are putting foundations in place, all they do is create a bit of revenue for those people who have no thoughts about the future.

ON THE CALIBRE OF THE NEW SIGNINGS SO FAR … I’m delighted with the players we’ve managed to secure, but I’ve had a couple of players drop out of deals over the last few weeks as well, and that is a bit disappointing. A lot of that stems from their agents not doing their homework properly and offering false promises and hopes to players. That makes you question the worth of agents. But overall I’m delighted. We’ve still got two or three positions to fill, and we hope to get that done over the coming weeks. Our academy is also working very well and realistically, if we could have 60 to 65 per cent of the side made up of exacademy players in five or six years time then that would be a huge achievement.

ON NAVIGATING THE PLAY-OFFS DESPITE WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP BY 24 POINTS … It was a case of knuckling down and getting on with it, but the play-offs make a mockery of what some clubs are trying to achieve. They’ve been designed and orchestrated by certain clubs so they can generate a bit more cash in order to survive in their present format. In terms of preparing teams to go up into the Premiership and giving them an equal standing, it’s a real kick in the teeth. We finished later than any side in the Premiership, then we have recruitment to sort out before starting our pre-season late, so all of your preparation is thrown out of kilter. When you take that into account, you can understand why London Welsh went up and came straight back down again, and hopefully that won’t be the case for us.

ON PREPARING FOR NEXT SEASON … I think it’s wrong ahead of a season like this to set targets, so I won’t do that. The most important aspect is creating the right culture, whether that’s the work ethic, the values or understanding what our vision is. It’s about creating the right building blocks, so that when push comes to shove, and you’re in the depths of winter playing a top three side with your backs against the wall, you know how to stand up and be counted. That doesn’t just happen on the field, it happens off it as well, right across the board. There will be challenges next season, but the culture is improving to the point where we will stand firm and we will be counted.

ON THE PLAYERS’ ATTITUDE OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON … It was important for us to set a goal to go the whole season unbeaten in the Championship and unfortunately we fell at the final hurdle in our last league match against Bristol. That was probably the right time to lose our one and only game because it gave us a kick up the backside ahead of the play-offs. But our goal set the tone for what we were trying to achieve and it gave us an understanding of what consistency is all about, which we’ll need next season. The players have been asked different questions over the last year compared to past seasons. Going forward we’ll build on that, with new players coming in to add to the style of play we want to take into the Premiership.

ON THE REGION’S APPETITE FOR RUGBY UNION … Before I came here everybody told me that it was purely a soccer culture, and while that culture clearly exists, alongside it you have a huge rugby following as well. People tend to forget that. From Alnwick to Carlisle to Barrow and all the way back over to Mowden Park in Darlington, there’s a massive rugby culture and one that is thriving. The area needs a Premiership club, and hopefully we’ll remain there next season and beyond, but I’d also like to see Leeds come up as well to create a bit of a northern stronghold.

ON THE STAND-OUT PLAYERS OF THE 2012/13 CAMPAIGN …

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INTERVIEW

Get to know me ...

Pulin Trivedi Head of business at Bibby Financial Services North East

When I was growing up I wanted to be a cricketer. I played almost daily from the age of six and have memories of ‘matches’ in the local park with my dad and brother. I’ve yet to meet another seven year old who enjoyed test match cricket! Unfortunately, I’d stopped playing by my mid 20s and have never really taken the game up again in any serious capacity. I still enjoy watching the game in my spare time and playing with my son.

My first job was working for a firm of chartered accountants in London as a graduate trainee in 1992. I had decided to work in finance and chartered accountancy was a sensible route into finance. It was my first insight into the working world and I quickly realised the level of dedication and effort needed to be successful.

I’d tell my 18 year old self to take my own advice. I had an opportunity to travel with friends at 18 which I declined. Looking back I think I would have benefited from doing this (and the fact they had a great time!). Ever since, I have always advised friends, family and

colleagues younger than me to go with their heart. There’s plenty of time when you’re 18 to find your way in life and there’s so much on this planet which we have limited opportunity to see once you have responsibilities.

I’m not inspired by any single person, but rather achievements I see by other individuals whether it’s an ordinary person, famous sports person, actor, politician, family or colleague. I’m generally more inspired by the ordinary person who achieves above and beyond what is expected. I admire people who stand up to make positive changes, as summarised by Edmund Burke’s quote, ‘All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing’.

My greatest achievement is, hopefully, yet to come. I have a lot more to offer in all aspects of my life.

When I need a helping hand I can always rely on my wife. Helen has always been supportive in both my personal and professional life.

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My favourite record is Happy Mondays’ version of Step On. I think this is simply because I associate the song with the fond memories I had at the time it was released in 1990. I have the song in the car, on my iPod and on my phone. It still puts a smile on my face each time I hear it and features regularly at any Trivedi event!

In my spare time I enjoy socialising with friends and family and spending time with my kids and supporting them in their various activities outside school. I have recently taken a serious interest in cooking and enjoy trying my hand at new recipes, particularly outdoor or curry recipes, which I enjoy sharing with friends with maybe a cold beer or two.

In five years’ time I see myself still working hard! I thoroughly enjoy being involved within the local business community and hope to be doing so for many years to come. For further information on Bibby Financial Services call (0191) 516 9933 or visit www.bibbyfinancialservices.com