North East Times Magazine - September 2013 by North East Times Magazine

CONTENTS

September 2013 8

BUSINESS NEWS –

SAVE THE DATE –

Business events – mark them on your calendar

NORTH EAST VIEW POINTS –

Thoughts from the region’s business community.

SPOTLIGHT –

Development for Scotswood.

10 QUESTIONS FOR... –

Georgina Dunkley of The Tonic Communications.

ON THE MOVE –

New executive appointments

ONE TO WATCH –

Kevin Anderson of Samuel Phillips.

STATE OF THE ART –

THE LONG GAME –

Damon Roberts of Thistle Middlesborough.

SUNDAY LUNCH –

Jesmond Dene House.

COVER STORY –

Newcastle High School for Girls.

INTERVIEW –

106

Graham ‘Shippy’ Anderson of Jumpin’ Hot Club.

MOTORS –

110

GET TO KNOW ME –

130

Dave Gibson of Blu Sky Tax Limited.

CREDITS

Directors: Mike Grahamslaw, Mick O’Hare Commercial director: Martin Stout Editor: Alison Cowie Senior account manager: Chris Turner Editorial: Jessica Laing, Elise Rana Hopper Senior designer: John Haxon Feature photography: Chris Owens Additional photography: Tommy McClements

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: Hilary French (Newcastle High School for Girls), 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

Gender pay gap higher than average in the UK Research highlights the disparities between men and women’s pay in 20 industrialised countries.

omen earn relatively more money when they choose careers not dominated by men, new research, by Warwick Business School, University of Cambridge and Lakehead in Canada suggests. A study of 20 industrialised nations found that in countries where men and women worked in different occupations, there was not such pay inequality between them. Women in the Czech Republic, Austria and Netherlands, all fared badly in comparison to men as they are more likely to work in the same occupations as men. The gap between their pay and men’s is higher than average, with the UK’s gap also higher than average among the 20 countries. The biggest inequality in pay was found to be in Japan, with Slovenia being the fairest to women. In fact, on average, women earn slightly more than men in Slovenia.

Mexico, Brazil, Sweden and Hungary also saw average pay between men and women almost equal. In these countries

men and women work in different occupations to a greater extent than in many of the other countries looked at.

Late payments exacerbates NE SMEs Delays are the number one cause of poor cashflow, according to research.

ccording to new research by Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance, almost a third of SMEs in the North East are experiencing cashflow problems, with over half of these firms attributing this to late payment. The data is taken from the bank’s biannual Business in Britain survey, which questioned over 1700 firms across the country in a variety of sectors about issues affecting them. The research shows a slight fall in the number of firms experiencing cashflow difficulties in the last six months. The latest results show that 30 per cent of firms had problems with their cashflow, compared to 32 per cent in January 2013. Of those SMEs experiencing cashflow

difficulties, over half (60 per cent) attribute these problems to late payment. The number of firms attributing cashflow problems to late payment has increased from 52 per cent six months previously. Late payment is still the single largest cause of cashflow problems for these firms. Mike Scowen, regional director for Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance in the North East, said: “Firms can help to ensure they are less likely to encounter late payments by setting out clear payment terms with customers, and carrying out background checks. For many firms, invoice finance can also help them manage the payment gaps, allowing firms to borrow against the value of current invoices.”

Celebrate its heritage with new design

orth East tea experts Ringtons has overhauled its packaging for only the third time in five decades. The new packaging aims to celebrate the rich heritage, while incorporating modern styling. Adorning all Ringtons’ products, the new packaging has been designed by local advertising firm Lateral Advertising. Ringtons’ Lisa Thornton said:“We are incredibly proud of our heritage and the fact Ringtons remains a family business to this day so retaining a sense of our history in the new design was vital, which is why we used old original photographs and the Ringtons crest in the design.

NAC gets yes to BIC

training and outsourcing company, headquartered at the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) in Sunderland, has expanded on site following a new partnership with Nissan’s Sunderland Plant. The NAC Group, which has occupied 3,122 sq ft of office space at Anderson House on the BIC site since 2003, has taken over an additional 2,400 sq ft of space in Unit 5, in line with the launch of the Youth Evolution Scheme (YES), which provides unemployed school leavers with the work experience and the chance to apply for a job at Nissan’s Sunderland plant.

Northumbrian Water pledges £1 billion

orthumbrian Water has committed to invest around £1 billion in services to its customers in the North East between 2015 and 2020. The company says this huge investment will create jobs among its network of suppliers and contractors, as well as encouraging new businesses into the area.

Blooming great boost

lyth Star Enterprises, which provides support to local people with mental health and learning difficulties, has become the latest beneficiary of Rio Tinto's legacy fund. The charity been awarded £41,301 to extend its range of horticultural services, providing training, work experience and employment opportunities to service users.

Training scheme celebrates its 10th birthday

joint work placement initiative between North East property company Adderstone Group and Northumbria University is celebrating its tenth year by welcoming onboard this year’s influx of work placement students. The scheme, which sees students from a host of built environment related courses receive on the job experience and invaluable training during a yearlong work placement, has welcomed four work placement students undertaking a variety of built environment courses at Northumbria University.

Pensioner fulfills her dream

South-Tyneside pensioner has stuck with her ambitious New Year’s resolution – and is now running her own market stall. Bridget Brosnan, 79, has opened the stall as part of the Love Shopping Tyneside Campagin, and donates a share of her profits to charity.

The sky’s the limit

atural Technology Developments Ltd (NTD) based in Ponteland, is field testing its innovative dual generation panel – allow users to generate electricity and hot water – after it secured £300,000 from co-investment fund Northstar Ventures, the Technology Strategy Board.

Youngsters have eyes on brighter future

orpeth businessman Ross Jennings is helping a group of schoolchildren from a disaster hit Russian town see a brighter future themselves after providing them with free spectacles. The director of the Morpeth branch of Specsavers has given 10 youngsters from Chernobyl free eye tests followed by a pair of prescription reading and sun glasses each.

Athletes get Banks’ support

orpeth Harriers & Athletic Club introduced new pole vault stands and landing area after receiving a £5000 grant from Banks Mining. It is part of the club’s continuing development, with the help the company’s Community Fund.

DIARY

Save the date CHOCOLATE TASTING Sept

Charity balls, business dinners and seminars.

FREE TRAINING Sept

The Orangery, Rockliffe Hall, Darlington Tel: 01325 729999 Web: www.rockcliffehall.com/whats-on Price: £22.50 per person

33 New Bridge Street, Newcastle City Library Tel: (0191) 230 6410 Web: www.nea2fguide.co.uk Price: Free

A sparkling wine reception followed by a two coursed lunch at The Orangery. Renowned chocolate connoisseur Sarah McAllister will make a guest appearance and share her passion for the coca bean, with a brief history of chocolate. Samples will be handed out and you will learn how to properly appreciate the art of chocolate.

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS Sept

The Kitchen @Obsournes, Jesmond Tel: (0191) 232 5690 Price: £12 per ticket

This eight-week training course is ideal if you’re starting out with a new business venture. Run by PNE enterprises, in partnership with Newcastle City Council, this course covers everything from planning, marketing and IT to finance, law and small ways to make your business a big success. Courses start on the September 9 and run every Monday for 8 weeks.

ENTERPRISE CLUB BUSINESS LUNCH

Sept

BIC centre, Wearfield, Sunderland Tel: (0191) 516 6200 Web: www.nea2fguide.co.uk Price: Free

New College Durham Web: www.necc.co.uk Price: £20 per person

Ideal for anyone thinking about selfemployment or have just started their own business. This monthly session will allow you to network, obtain new skills and receive inside knowledge from guest speakers. The Enterprise Club will also offer firsthand support and encouragement, as well as tips on a wide range of business topics.

PEOPLE FOCUS Sept

Gateshead College, Baltic Campus Tel: (0191) 500 7782 Web: www.entrepreneursforum.net Price: £95 per person

The North East's bright young things will be given a chance to shine this autumn, when a brand new networking club, launches on the North East business scene. Targeted at 20 to 35 year-old business professionals, SHINE plans to host a series of inspiring and motivational events geared specifically at helping young people develop their business and personal connections along, with learning the art of networking amongst their peers. SHINE organisers all have a common goal - to bring the decision makers of tomorrow together under one roof - and will kick off proceedings at The Kitchen @Osbornes, Jesmond, when guest speaker and entrepreneur, Jules Quinn, of TeaShed, will be talking about the power of networking. Guests will enjoy a welcome cocktail on arrival and a hot and cold buffet. All net proceeds will go to The Princes Trust.

The success of your organisation or business rests not only on your product or service, but in your people. People are often cited as a business' biggest assets and this session will analyse a range of topics, from motivation and recognition to development, organisational culture and maximising performance.

Join Mark Hoban, Minister of State for Employment, for a business lunch and a talk about the youth contract through various business incentives. Aimed at 18 to 24 year olds, the lunch will be followed by a question and answer session and the opportunity to network and interact with other businesses.

ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS Sept

20 Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Tel: (0191) 500 7780 Web: www.entrepreneursforum.net Price: £75 per person Celebrate with some of the finest business minds in the region, at the annual Entrepreneurial awards dinner. The price of the night includes the awards ceremony itself, the Entrepreneurs' Forum's 'If We Can, You Can' presentation and fundraising. In aid of The Nuru Fund, in partnership with COCO; supporting African entrepreneurs with investments in their local community.

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

OPINION

North East view points POLLY WESTERGAARD CLIENT RELATIONSHIP EXECUTIVE NORTHERN DESIGN CENTRE

Local business people share their thoughts ...

JUSTIN BARLOW DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MUCKLE LLP Social media will be here long after we've gone. Just look at how the younger generation acts. They don't distinguish between friends in the playground and international friends they have only met online. Never having met someone doesn't stop teenagers building relationships by communicating with their thumbs – through Xbox or Twitter, to name a few. These are tomorrow's business people! So jump forward a few decades and consider whether the question, ‘Is talking on the phone here to stay?’

Social Media will no doubt grow, develop, and evolve. And I don’t see it disappearing any time soon. In ten years the likes of Facebook and Twitter will most likely be almost unrecognisable as the versions we use today. But this fad has and will continue to become a way of life not just for individuals, but for businesses too.

NIGEL HUDSON MANAGING DIRECTOR MINTPRICE.COM Social media isn’t just here to stay but something to be embraced. As a newly launched brand, Mintprice.com has customer engagement at its heart – we recognise that listening to and working with our customers and prospects will build loyalty and help us to grow our business over the long term. The social media platforms on offer provide a fast, efficient and highly targeted way of doing this and in real time too.

KIRSTY RAMSEY

Is social media here to stay?

SARAH HALL

MARKETING MANAGER TAIT WALKER Social media is most certainly here to stay and at Tait Walker we have adapted so that the company is a truly ‘social business’. The professional world is changing; the digital age has taken over and this has seen Tait Walker embrace a number of social media sites, particularly Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, as part of our communications strategy.

KARI OWERS

MANAGING DIRECTOR SARAH HALL CONSULTING LIMITED

MANAGING DIRECTOR OPR Social media has created a seismic shift in the way we communicate as human beings, and the impact is irreversible. But it will change and evolve, and naturally that will be dictated by the people. We are finding many of OPR's clients are realising that they don't need to jump onto every single social channel, because they are listening and learning what works for them.

Absolutely. Which means there are more important questions to be posed, such as how social are you as an organisation? How do you use the latest (and most relevant) technologies to engage with your audiences? Customers are no longer passive consumers – online platforms have given people a voice. Brands generating loyalty (and building the bottom line) are those which encourage participation, listening closely and acting accordingly.

SPOTLIGHT

New dawn for Scotswood A £265m redevelopment to build a sustainable neigbourhood in the west end of Newcastle begins. ork has begun on a £265 million redevelopment program which is set to create a 1800-home sustainable neighbourhood over the next 15 to 20 years. The public/private partnership driving the initiative is The New Tyne West Development Company (NTWDC), which comprises Newcastle City Council, Barratt Homes and Keepmoat. With backing from the Homes and Communities Agency, the plan is to provide mainly family homes with over 60 per cent being three and four-bedroom houses. The first phase will comprise 377 homes, of which 319 will be for sale while 58 will be available for rent and shared ownership through the Fabrick Group). The design provides green links through to the existing neighbourhood and tiered gardens across the sloping 66 hectare site. And, as well as high quality, eco-friendly family homes, the project will also include community and commercial facilities, parks and public open spaces. As part of the eco-commitment, NTWDC has teamed up with E.ON. The energy company has signed a commercial agreement to provide heat and hot water to the new build homes through a district heating network that comprises combined heat and power (CHP) technology. This will reduce carbon emissions by up to

35 per cent and deliver significant energy cost savings for the residents on lifetime heating and hot water costs. Construction of a supporting energy centre, on the site of the old abattoir on Whitehouse Road, is expected to begin in the spring. Once commissioned, it will be capable of providing hot water and heating to all 1800 homes on the 66 hectare site. In addition, it will ensure all houses reach level four of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes. The longer term aim is that, once around 600 homes are completed, the centre will become a combined heat and power plant, meaning Scotswood will have its own

neighbourhood electricity generating plant. Throughout the building project, New Tyne West Development Company will continue to work with the local community, schools, training and employment providers, along with business support agencies to increase opportunities for local people and firms. Duncan Bowman, development director with NTWDC, said: “I am delighted that, after all the hard work and preparation, we are at a point where house building can begin on this fabulous site. All those concerned deserve great credit for making this happen, not least the local residents who have shown great patience and support when things have taken longer than hoped – as is always the case on major projects such as this. The next few weeks and months will be exciting times for us all as we see a new part of Scotswood take shape.” Speaking of the work beginning at the site, Cllr. Nick Forbes, Leader of Newcastle City Council, added: “This is an important milestone in the rebuilding of Scotswood and we are very grateful for the hard work and commitment of the local community in helping us reach this point. In our Local Plan, we have prepared the ground for a successful future with a commitment to creating 14,000 new jobs and building 21,000 new homes for a growing population, with most of those muchneeded homes on brownfield sites like Scotswood.”

INTERVIEW

10 questions for ...

Georgina Dunkley Georgina Dunkley is director and head of the North East office at The Tonic Communications, which she co-founded with Kelly Hill (based in East Midlands) in June this year. With more than 11 years experience working in PR, Georgina is responsible for driving new business to the agency which provides media, relations, strategy development, copywriting, event management, SEO and content creation and seeding, social media and stakeholder relations services.

What was your first break in business?

What attracted you to your current role?

What has been your career highlight?

And your career lowlight?

After graduating from Sunderland University in 2002 I began a work placement at Robson Brown in Newcastle who then offered me a full time trainee position.

After working in PR for over a decade at agencies spanning the UK I felt the time was right to set up my own business. After meeting Kelly Hill (my business partner) and after enjoying working together and earning each other’s mutual respect, we felt we had a complimentary skillset to one another and quite a unique proposition that would allow us to secure national clients (thanks to our blue chip brand experience) as well as regional work in our own locales (Nottingham and Newcastle) and the space inbetween!

Setting up my own business – it is very invigorating to be the master of your own destiny! I have also been lucky enough to work with some really interesting clients. One of my most favourite was the car manufacturer, Skoda UK. In addition to attending Skoda UK Motorsport trips in the Czech Republic, Scotland and Monte Carlo, I was fortunate to be part of the press team handling test drive days and press tours and events, one of the most notable being the Geneva Motorshow where Justin Timberlake and Shakira performed.

Difficulties in the economy over the past few years have meant that I have seen lots of extremely talented PR people and good friends of mine, face redundancy.

What do you enjoy most about your role? I really enjoy building relationships with my clients and fully getting under the skin of their business. My friends always laugh at my level of knowledge in areas they wouldn’t expect, but that’s the beauty of PR; if you’re pitching a story or writing a piece of copy then you have to fully understand the complexities of their brand.

What's your biggest challenge?

Who are your heroes, in and out of business?

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

What does the future hold for The Tonic Communications?

Currently, my biggest challenge is setting up a new business. Thankfully, I have a great business partner, supportive family and excellent client endorsements so I feel pretty privileged that The Tonic Communications has started so well.

I come from a very hardworking family in which my father was entrepreneurial and my mother was the main breadwinner, so feel they both led excellent examples. In a business capacity, Richard Branson is a favourite of mine, particularly as he places PR so high on the agenda in his organisation and is never afraid to put his head above the parapet.

One piece of advice I have been given a number of times is to just believe in myself and work hard. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really the mantra I work to.

We hope to continue to build The Tonic Communicationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; brand regionally in the North East and East Midlands, as well as nationally, and continue to grow both our client base and workforce.

What do you do to relax? The North East has such beautiful coast and countryside, so I enjoy walking and camping! I am also an avid theatre goer. www.thetoniccomms.co.uk

EVENT

2012 winner Patrick McLaughlin (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management) presents this year's winning team captain Aaron Oakes (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management) with the St. James’s Place Foundation Trophy

Enjoying a well-earned pint at the 19th hole!

Left to right: Gerard Killen, Barbara Williamson and Michael Dickinson (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management)

St. James’s Place Foundation Golf Day he Quayside office of St. James’s Place Wealth Management again hosted a Foundation Golf Day in July. Attended by clients and St. James’s Place Partners*, there was fierce competition on the Close House golf course. Thousands of pounds were raised on the day for the St. James’s Place Foundation, which the company will match. This will go towards the Foundation’s national fund-raising target of £4 million.

Left to right: Alan Wright, Dave Brown, Malcolm Hewling and Patrick McLaughlin (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management)

Left to right: David Handyside (Harlands Wealth Management Ltd), Dave McGough, Dave McMasters & David McCallum (Harlands Wealth Management Ltd)

Left to right: Peter Grieves (The Morpeth Practice), Jonathan Lupton, John Holland and Phil Moorhouse

Left to right: Shaun Wynne, Carl Turnbull (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management), Paul Dent and Stu Woodman

Left to right: 2012 winners, Keith Powell, John Heslop, Colin Powell and Ian Stewart

Left to right: John Best, Alex Noble, Kevin Guthrie (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management) and Brian Hodgson

Left to right: Ken Henderson, Gavin Maher (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management), Derek Maher and Anthony McKeown

Left to right: Pete Weldon Gary Neil, Colin Gall and Horacio Ribeiro

Left to right: Lee Dumbelton, John Thompson, Terry Minett and Jonathan Dowson (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management)

Left to right: Dhug Bennett (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management), Steven Dick, David Grifﬁth and Robin Yorke Left to right: Neil Bowman, Neil Russell, Geoff Dunn and Mark Ridley

Left to right: Peter Cole, Michael Sage (Sage Wealth Management Ltd), Gary Candlish and Ged Errington

Phil Pringle (Head of Business, St. James’s Place Wealth Management) presents Phillip Dawson with the prize for the best guest score on the day

Phil Pringle (Head of Business, St. James’s Place Wealth Management) presents Lee Dumbelton with the prize for the longest drive

Left to right: Malcolm Cresswell, Ron Bewley, Joe Jobling (Joe Jobling Wealth Management Ltd) and John Bookless

Left to right: Phillip Dawson, Greg Hibbert (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management), Jonathan Hurford and Matthew Smith

Left to right: Matt Hawkins, Stephen Bell, Peter Wilkinson and David Goodwin (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management) Left to right: Mark Beverley (Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management), Phil Jackson, Chris Ward and Jonathan Fletcher

*The title ‘Partner’ is a marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

APPOINTMENTS

On the Move Your monthly guide to appointments and promotions.

TIM AISBETT

ANGELA FOSTER

JUDITH DOYLE

RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) matrics North East – a networking and support group for local surveying students, trainees and those newly qualified - has appointed Tim Aisbett as its new chairman. In his new role, Tim will work with the committee to plan a wide range of social and professional development events and ensure that the committee regularly meets with local university students to offer support to those about to make the transition from student to surveyor.

Teeside Society of Chartered Accountants has appointed Tindle’s Chartered Accountants partner, Angela Foster, as its new chair to lead all 737 members for the next year in office. Angela, an experienced chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor, has worked in practice for more than 12 years in Teeside. She became a partner in 2007 and now oversees all accounts, audit, company secretarial, payroll and compliance work.

Gateshead College has appointed Judith Doyle as its new principal and CEO. Judith, from Low Fell in Gateshead, is the college’s first female principal and brings more than 25 years’ experience and expertise in further education teaching, leadership and management to the position. Currently, Judith is a key figurehead in the development of the Gazelle entrepreneurial colleges’ initiative, transforming the college curriculum to give students the best chance of success in the jobs market.

STEVE MURRAY

KEITH TAYLOR

CAROLINE COCKBURN

Homebuilder, Dunelm Homes, has appointed industry expert, Steve Murray, as chairman. The 56-year-old, originally from Sunderland, joined the homebuilding industry in the 1970s as an apprentice joiner, before rising through the ranks to become the youngest ever director of Leech Homes, aged 30. Steve’s appointment comes as Dunelm Homes looks to grow its sales presence across its 11 development sites throughout the North East.

BW Medical Accountants, a specialist accountancy and taxation company dedicated to health professionals, has appointed Keith Taylor, from Whitley Bay, as head of medical services. Specialising in the delivery of accountancy and taxation services to over 145 UK GP practices and healthcare professionals, Keith brings over 32 years’ expertise and a proven track record in the financial sector to the role.

PR and marketing agency, Karol Marketing Group, has expanded its team with the appointment of a new PR executive at its Newcastle office. Caroline Cockburn joins the firm with a broad range of experience in the industry and will be working on several key accounts. Caroline brings in-depth knowledge of education, property, corporate, tourism, travel and consumer PR to the agency.

PROFILE

One to watch

Kevin Anderson In a series of interviews with talented professionals set for major things in their respective industries, Jessica Laing talks to a solicitor and head of the construction law team at Samuel Phillips.

or Kevin Anderson, a determination to find his place in the construction industry was a destiny born out of the first-hand experience he acquired as a child. It started because of my father,” says Newcastle-born Kevin. “As kids – around seven or eight years old - we travelled the world following his job in engineering. We lived in Malaysia and places like that, where we’d visit him on building sites and watch him work, surrounded by drawings and enormous trucks. It was a fairly unique way of discovering the industry and I was fascinated by it at an incredibly young age.” By the time he reached his teens, long after his passion for construction had been affirmed, Kevin quickly realized the realities of the industry and knew he had to draw on his own strengths, as a young man, to find a more suitable way in into the field. “I was a better academic than I was a builder,” Kevin remembers. “While doing my A-levels, I knew I wanted to get into the industry, but I was terrible at physics and maths – and to work in engineering, you have to be a mathematician.” “However, I soon realized that, actually, I didn’t necessarily have to understand the mathematics of why that beam collapsed, I just had to know the legality of who was at fault for it collapsing. It was then that I knew I wanted to be a construction lawyer instead – it allowed me to use my own abilities in the industry.” With that in mind, Kevin went on to study law at Newcastle University, which not only

allowed him to work, but enabled him to selffund his Legal Practice Course (LPC) and learn more about the field that had captured his heart as a boy. “Newcastle University was – and is – an outstanding place to learn,” Kevin enthuses. “It has a fantastic law department; and it was there that I learned about the unpredictability of the job. You go in thinking you know everything about the law and then you discover the thousands of different situations that change everything: from the mood of the judge to a remark in a letter that proves a client is guilty.” After graduating and completing his LPC in York, Kevin enjoyed a stint at Masons, Britain’s leading construction firm at the time, in Leeds, before returning to his beloved Newcastle. “I came back because I feel like I understand and can help the businesses and the people of the North East. I am, after all, one of them.” Kevin soon landed a job at Watson Burton law firm, thanks to friend and mentor, Rob Langley, now partner and head of construction and engineering at Muckle LLP. “I spent almost nine years there, ultimately leading a team of lawyers” Kevin confirms. “Rob took me on newly-qualified and made me into a fully-functional associate, taking the lead on cases with seven figure damages in question.” With a desire to lead a team and a taste for more responsibility, Kevin joined Samuel Phillips Solicitors in March 2013, where he jumped into the role of head of construction. “I sit with the litigation team, where I act like

a sounding board,” he explains. “Part of my job is about helping litigators understand how to progress their cases and protect their clients, as well as advising them on when to fold and when to raise the stakes. I then also lead the construction practice, which involves dealing with everything from the clients, to their disputes, to their contracts.” Thinking back to what drew him to the firm, Kevin is proud to be a part of a small and focussed team, whose work remains true to his own morals and beliefs. “At Samuel Phillips, you’ll genuinely find that the head of one department sits with the head of another,” he says. “Everyone works together to ensure the best possible solution for the client – even if that means sending them to someone else. I’ve never come across another law firm that says, ‘actually, you’d be better off speaking to them than with us.’ We get to know the clients and their businesses really well – instead of just their problems – and I really like that attitude.” In the future, Kevin hopes to expand his department and has even set his sights on gaining partnership of the firm. However, for now, he is happy living in the moment and looks forward to embarking on, what could be, the most exciting chapter of his career yet. “A lawyer who thinks he knows it all, is a bad lawyer. But I’m really happy and I know I’ve made the right move,” laughs Kevin, who spends his after-work hours enjoying quality time with his wife and two sons. “The longer you’re in this career, the more interested in it you become and I have some incredibly intriguing cases on right now. It’s great work.”

BUSINESS

How to live before you die Rod Findlay, consultant at Your Sport Consulting, reflects on inspirational words from Steve Jobs.

EXPERT VIEW Rod Findlay Consultant Your Sport Consulting Twitter: @RodFindlay

try and get inspiration from lots of different sources and I recently came across TED Talks. TED is a not-for-profit company devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading and the best known side of its activity is TED Talks. In its own words it, “gives everyone ondemand access to the world's most inspiring voices”. One of the most watched is Apple founder Steve Jobs’ talk entitled, How To Live Before You Die, from Job’s Stanford University graduation speech. In it he urged students to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks. At 15 minutes long it is well worth listening to but I wanted to discuss his three core arguments.

Connecting the dots Steve Jobs explains that he dropped out of university early on as he didn’t see the value in it. Instead, he remained on campus and dropped in on courses that interested him. He gives a great example of sitting in on a calligraphy class, which led to the Mac having choices of typefaces. He didn’t know this at the time. You can’t connect the dots going forward, he argues; you can only connect them afterwards. This correlates with my own Obituary Theory. This is that whenever you read

someone’s obituary the path they have taken seems natural. But, I would wager, that most careers do not seem that obvious as you live them. If I had intended to get to where I am now when I graduated I doubt I’d have followed the same path.

Love and loss Jobs’ second story was about great loves in life and how you can lose them. He founded Apple but had a falling out and was sacked from the company in his thirties. Despite this, he explains that getting fired was the best thing that could have happen to him. He was free to be creative and formed NeXT and Pixar, and met his wife. Apple bought NeXT and Jobs returned to Apple. The success of Apple in Jobs’ second stint is well known and the dominance of iPhones a perfect example of that. But what kept him going is that he did what he loved. He urges people not to settle and to keep looking until you find what you love in life. My career has been about following my dreams: I wanted to be a litigator, I wanted to practice sports law and I wanted to work in sport management. I am concentrating on the things that I love – including writing for North East Times.

You will be dead soon

Steve Jobs’ final story in his speech related to his initial cancer scare and the lessons he learnt from it. He makes a great quote in explaining this: “Remembering you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose”. In the speech he revealed he asks himself every morning if he is doing what he wants to do with his life. If the answer for too many days running is ‘no’ then he knows something has to change. It is fairly obvious but he explains that our time is limited and urges us not to waste it living someone else’s life but to have the courage to follow our hearts and intuition. I didn’t realize I was doing this but about ten years ago, I was living someone else’s life. I used to practice medical law and I was blessed with the opportunity to help some people in difficult situations in life. But it wasn’t for me and I viewed my job as a conveyor belt. I could not do that for another 30 years and I resolved to change that. I now love my career.

Are you living these ideals? We only have one life. If you are already following your dreams and doing the thing you love, then you should feel blessed. If not, then you have to ask yourself if you are living your life or someone else’s?

PROFILE

Marketing... better together This is the philosophy that has been the driving force behind fast growing marketing company Horizonworks. Founder and managing director Samantha Davidson explains why this is at the heart of the company’s values.

Imagine a premiership football team without its manager or an orchestra without its conductor. They would exist but they would not perform as well as if they were together. Combining the knowledge and passion of one with the expertise of the other is the key to success. Horizonwork’s approach to marketing and working with our clients is no exception.

We have a strong track record in the science sector and work with some of the UK’s leading science networks including Bionow, Regener8, the N8 Research Partnership and Newcastle Science City. However, we operate in a diverse range of public and private sectors from manufacturing, industrial and technology to healthcare, professional and education. We believe our SME clients are ‘hidden gems’ – they are leaders in their sector on a national and international stage, but they come to us as they need to raise their profile and engage with their target audience. Using on-going communications for example sales materials, emarketing, social media, print advertising and PR that are targeted and consistent, we make sure we get the right message out to their audience. Over the past couple of months we have secured contracts with a range of new and exciting clients including Hyperdrive Innovation, OPUS Building Services, Devine Chemicals, TeleWare Plc, nine software, Gaia Heat and Tomlinson Hall to name a few.

Ahead of the game Over the past few years, Horizonworks has positioned itself as a company that is ahead of the game when it comes to marketing. The company has grown organically since it was established in 2010 and has doubled its turnover year on year with profits going straight back into the business to support our plans to become the leading marketing company in the North East. Our success is down to our people, clients, strong values and a clear vision. ‘Better together’ is at the core of everything we do as a business – from working with internal colleagues to working with our clients – and has been a driving force behind our growth and success over the past 3 years.

Better together Because our clients are really important to us, we do everything we can to make sure we’re important to them. So whether we’re working with a brand new start-up or an established multinational, we always take time to understand their market and their objectives. Our approach is to work with our clients to reveal new strengths, provide a fresh perspective and uncover the qualities that make their business stand out – we then develop a relevant, distinctive marketing strategy that will drive their business forward. Combining our knowledge and passion with our clients’ expertise is the key – which is where our philosophy ‘Better together’ comes from.

Small team, big ideas We are a small team with a big imagination, a passion for marketing and a desire to make a difference to our clients. The team has grown to ten including marketing and PR specialists, creative designers and digital consultants. What sets Horizonworks apart from other marketing companies is our model around ‘Your marketing team’ – which is our USP. We provide clients with an entire marketing department, so whether they require us to fit in with their existing staff or don’t have an in house marketing function, our clients get access to this resource without the overheads of employing a full marketing team. The team are all specialists in marketing – our client marketing managers, who look after our clients, all come from in-house marketing and PR roles rather than from agency backgrounds, as I firmly believe that with the service we provide having a team that has actually created and delivered a marketing strategy first-hand is paramount. I hand pick the teams that deliver our client work based on clients’ requirements and the areas of expertise our team has. Our clients always have access to the equivalent of a marketing director, marketing manager and marketing assistant to advise them and deliver their work. They are also able to draw upon our expertise across the full range of marketing channels through our creative design and digital experts.

The future is bright

Strong track record

As well as our head office in Newcastle, earlier this year we expanded our presence across the North of England by opening an office in Manchester, within Manchester Science Park. Over the next year, we aim to develop our client base, team and presence across the North of England further. We are also planning to recruit more staff in our headquarters at Newcastle to cope with the increasing demand for our marketing services, which include strategy, brand, design, events, PR and digital. We’ve grown considerably over the last three years and I have a positive outlook on the future. Horizonworks has a strong team on board who are all bought into the vision and values of the company and we have a great range of clients who are really supportive and exciting to work with. All these elements will provide us with a springboard for further growth and help us reach our ambitious future plans.

Our clients come from many different sectors. We work with them to analyse problems, research markets and find creative answers.

For further information please visit www.horizonworks.co.uk

Left to right: Steve Abbott, Dawn Tudge, Pete Mallon, Laura Nee, Samantha Davidson and Jen Dugdale.

LEGAL & FINANCIAL NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Raising the bar Hay & Kilner congratulate its newly promoted associates.

orth East law firm Hay & Kilner has recently announced two promotions within the firm.

Left to right: Lucy Gray, Martin Soloman and Holly Clegg.

Holly Clegg and Lucy Gray, who both started their careers at Hay & Kilner, have been promoted to associate solicitors. Holly is a member of the firm’s personal injury team and provides advice to clients on all aspects of personal injury litigation, including workplace incidents, road accidents and catastrophic injuries. Lucy is a member of the commercial disputes team. As well as handling contractual disputes, Lucy also deals with intellectual property and professional negligence matters. Martin Soloman, senior partner at Hay & Kilner, commented: “We are delighted to announce these promotions which are thoroughly deserved. Holly and Lucy have already contributed much to Hay & Kilner over a number of years and have proved themselves to be great assets to the firm.”

Corporate relief over stamp duty

wC has welcomed new guidance from HMRC over stamp duty land tax (SDLT) group relief, which should help kick-start corporate deals, such as a businesses looking to acquire a property owning company. It is now understood that buying companies instead of their individual assets is common commercial practice, meaning the SDLT group relief will not be denied to businesses who aim to acquire property-owning companies and move properties within the group. This ends the current uncertainty and should generate a boost in future corporate transactions.

Students take third on world stage

orthumbria Law students have showcased their negotiation skills to take third place at the International Negotiation Competition held in California, USA. Rachel Godschalk and Francesca Lilley competed against 20 teams from a myriad of different countries. Rachel and Francesca’s performance impressed the judges granting them a 3.66 to take third place. Germany came top with 3.44 and Singapore second with 3.55. Francesca said: “It’s been very exciting to get so far in the finals. We both felt lucky to be there.”

Archers law advises farmer

awyers at Archers Law has advised agricultural entrepreneur Derek Noble on his board appointment at JFS & Associates Ltd. The firm facilitated Mr Noble’s appointment, which will see him take a shareholding position within JFS and allow him to provide guidance and experience as they engage with farmers across the country. David Adams, an associate at Archers Law, said: “Derek is extremely respected within the agriculture and renewable sector and we wanted to make sure the conditions were right for our client to join the board.”

LAW & FINANCE

A new face at Major Family Law Experienced family law solicitor Lucinda Connell, who has recently joined the team at Major Family Law, talks to North East Times.

What inspired you to become a family solicitor? I liked the fact that there’s a lot of contact with clients and each case is different and unique. We all experience some family issues at some point in our lives and I wanted to be able to genuinely help people going through a difficult time.

What has been your most challenging case? I was involved in a complicated financial case where the parties were lottery winners. The divorce was acrimonious and a testament to the saying that money doesn’t buy happiness. At the other end of the scale, I was involved in a deeply disturbing case involving four young abused children.

Do you agree with the Government’s axing of Legal Aid for family cases? Absolutely not! It is unfair and morally wrong in a civilised society that only people with sufficient funds can access legal advice and representation. My fear is that many cases involving children will no longer be satisfactorily resolved and this will have a significant impact on those children in the long term, not only because they risk losing contact with one of their parents, but on an emotional and relationship level in later life.

Do you believe in marriage? Yes, I do. I think it takes a lot of hard work and compromise at times, but it is an important institution and helps to promote stability for families. That said, I don’t believe anyone should be expected to stay in an unhappy relationship.

What single piece of advice would you give to someone going through a separation? It may sound clichéd and self-serving, but I would say seek good legal advice at an early stage. Not knowing your rights and the fear of the unknown simply fuels anxieties at what is already a difficult emotional time. Seeking advice and information does not commit you to taking any specific course of action, but it does give you the tools to choose and to make informed decisions.

If you could change one law or pass a new one, what would it be? That’s a really difficult question. Law changes tend to be political and often controversial. I’m glad I’m not responsible for those sorts of decisions; my job is to try to achieve the best possible outcome for people in their specific circumstances within the existing framework of laws, and that is testing enough!

What do you like most about the job you do? It’s always stimulating: each case has its own peculiarities and the job never gets stale, particularly in light of ever evolving legal decisions and laws. It is immensely satisfying to see relieved and content clients at the conclusion of a case.

What are the most memorable moments of your career? Although I work in an emotionally charged environment, there are still moments that make me chuckle, such as the elderly man whom my client was divorcing who said, “I brought a home and a business into the marriage – all she brought was a Bush record player and the promise of self improvement, which never materialised”.

What do you like to do in your spare time? I have two young children so rarely get any spare time! If I do get a bit of peace and quiet, I like to savour it and read a book. I’m obsessed with books. If you would like to talk to senior solicitor and Collaborative child lawyer specialist Lucinda about your relationship concerns, contact her on (01661) 82 45 82 or email: Lucinda@majorfamilylaw.co.uk. Alternatively, visit www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Reducing your inheritance tax bill Ways in which your loved ones can receive more of your assets after you die, by Ian Lowes, managing director of Jesmond-based Lowes Financial Management.

ne area of financial planning that is crucial for anyone with accumulated wealth to consider is how that wealth is passed on to future generations or to their chosen beneficiaries. Tax laws have been tightened considerably in the past few years as the Government has looked to raise further revenue in its battle to pay off the UK’s outstanding debts. The freezing of the inheritance tax (IHT) nil rate band exemption at £325,000 until 2019 has been one way for the Government to raise revenue through taxes, in particular if property prices rise over the next five years snaring many more people in the IHT net. While there are several gifts that can be made that are exempt of IHT on death – most are for small amounts per annum. For many people who have saved hard all their lives, invested well – in all likelihood through an independent financial adviser – and traded on the property ladder to the point where they are mortgage free, these amounts are unlikely to shelter much from the IHT bill that will be received by their beneficiaries. What many people are looking for is a way to pass on larger amounts in a tax efficient manner. In simple terms, one way to do just that is to give their money away. Termed Potential Exempt Transfers (PETs), these gifts allow people to give money to others and, if the sums do not already fall within a tax exemption for IHT purposes, they will

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

become PETs. PETs are not subject to IHT at the time that you make them but tax is paid on the gift (by the person you gave it to) should you die within seven years. However, if you make a PET and survive for a further seven years it becomes an exempt gift and no IHT is due. This is all well and good if you have sufficient spare funds to make these gifts, because they have to be irrevocable, i.e. once the money is given it is no longer yours. For many people this is a cause for concern because there are so many unknowns in their own future – longevity (in general people are living longer and so need more money to fund their retirement), their health, the cost of possible long-term care – that they simply cannot take the risk of giving away their money now and possibly falling on hard times later in their lives as a result.

One way of reducing the IHT bill without giving away a large proportion of your assets all in one go is to use a Guaranteed Whole of Life insurance policy. With this type of insurance policy the policyholder pays a regular premium for the rest of their life and on their death the policy pays out a known lump sum. However, when written in Trust, this falls outside of a person’s estate for IHT purposes. This could make sense, for example, for anyone that has accumulated large sums within ISA wrappers. Assets within ISAs are not subject to income tax or capital gains tax on the investments but on death the accounts are closed and the investments form part of your estate for inheritance tax purposes. Hence by taking a regular tax-free sum from the ISA investments to pay the premiums for the Guaranteed Whole of Life plan, it is possible to extend the tax allowance benefits via the policy’s tax exemption. The advantage of a Guaranteed Whole of Life plan in this type of planning is that as long as the premiums are paid, which are exempt for IHT purposes, and the policy is written in Trust, your beneficiaries will receive the lump sum payment outside of your estate. Hence, with this type of policy you know the regular premium you will pay, you know the lump sum your beneficiaries will receive, the variable is the time frame involved, i.e. how long you will pay the premiums for.

LAW & FINANCE

The monthly report With Richard Clark of Barclays

Hope and reality: The Bank of England changes tack The Bank of England’s August Inflation Report contained no major surprises. As expected, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), under the leadership of new governor Mark Carney, formally introduced forward-rate guidance. The MPC will maintain, at a minimum, its current stance (low rates and current stock of asset purchases) as long as unemployment remains above 7 per cent. Forecasting that unemployment is likely to fall to this level by around mid-2016, the Bank of England (BoE) is signalling that rates should stay low, at least, until then. However, when the threshold is reached, rate hikes will not necessarily follow. Rather, the MPC plans to merely reassess the situation. The forward rate guidance is also conditional on none of the following three knockout factors being breached: 1) CPI inflation being 0.5 percentage points above the 2 per cent target; 2) medium-term inflation expectations remain anchored; 3) no significant threat to financial stability is building. If one of these factors is breached, the bank’s accommodative monetary stance may be withdrawn. Overall, the outcomes were largely in line with market expectations, but the existence of the knockout factors softened the dovish message. Despite the volatile trading session, the overall impact on UK yields was muted: yields tightened on the announcement of the unemployment threshold, sold off during the press conference and then moved back by the end of the trading session to where they

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

broadly started. Looking ahead, we see the impact of the forward guidance on the UK Government bond yields as non-linear and rather asymmetric. While the MPC may partially succeed in containing the yield on shorterdated bonds (have less than five years to run before redemption), achieving this for the longdate section of the market will be more problematic. Longer-end yields have historically been more correlated with yields in the US (which, due to rising US growth expectations, are vulnerable). In addition, the recent improvement in UK economic data should limit the impact of the forward rate guidance on UK bond yields. Indeed, yields on longer-dated bonds are more sensitive to the country’s economic growth prospects and – as long as the UK economy continues recovering – it is hard to envisage the UK ‘long-end’ remaining at current levels. Hence, our preference for the short-date bond market. After a difficult start to the year, sterling (GBP) strengthened following the publication of the August Inflation Report, breaching 1.55

against the US dollar. Although the MPC introduced forward rate guidance, it was the conditionality of the guidance, the upward revision to the UK GDP forecast and the softer tone of governor Carney in the press conference that drove GBP higher. Over the short term, we expect sterling to weaken and to move closer to the 1.50 levels against the dollar in the weeks ahead. In the US, we continue to expect the Federal Reserve to announce a tapering of its bondbuying (quantitative easing) programme next month, given the ongoing improvement in the US employment market. This is good news, not bad, in our view, and it may confirm our belief that the US economy is able to stand on its own two feet. As we see it, quantitative easing has been the financial equivalent of a crash barrier at the side of the road, not the motor of economic growth. Tapering quantitative easing in the context of a growing economy means that bond prices, may fall further, and not just in the US but across Europe, also. And, if prices fall far enough, they will continue to pull implied short-term interest rates in 2014 higher – whatever central banks may say in their ‘forward guidance’ about keeping rates on hold. Remember: central banks do not have complete control even over short-term interest rates and their medium-term forecasting ability is no better than anybody else’s. As central banks move away from aggressive economic stimulus activity, it surely triggers renewed volatility in stock market from time to time. However, even at today’s levels we see better long-term value in stocks than bonds.

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

Building a name on Tyneside The workplace law specialist, Simpson & Marwick, has been developing a reputation since opening its Newcastle office in 2011, according to partner Lex Dowie.

rofessional, approachable and exceptional are three words that sum up Simpson & Marwick. One of Scotland’s leading law firms, established in 1886, the law firm now has a presence in Newcastle, London and Leeds. Simpson & Marwick Solicitors LLP’s office in Newcastle opened in August of 2011. We advise clients on a wide range of litigation matters and are experts in the field of insurance litigation, professional liabilities, commercial dispute resolution, regulatory compliance and employment law. We deal with issues our clients face on a daily basis whether they are running an large of small large or small organisations, in the public or private sectors. Workplace disputes, injuries, real or

imagined, issues with customers and suppliers, insurance and regulatory issues are what we are here to resolve. In particular, the firm has one of the leading insurance defence practices operating across the country. In the two years since Simpson & Marwick opened offices opened in Newcastle, we have

grown fourfold in the city and we will continue to offer to our clients – in the North East and beyond – the incisive advice and service we have been delivering in Scotland for over 100 years. At Simpson & Marwick, we are on your side when it comes to resolving the sort of problems that company owners regularly face – such as in the areas of health and safety, employment, commercial disputes, personal injury, data protection, industrial disease, business immigration and environment. Our aim is to resolve issues with the minimum of fuss and maximum effectiveness. For more information on Simpson & Marwick Solicitors LLP, visit www.simpmarllp.com

LAW & FINANCE

Building a royal nest egg Advice for parents and grandparents on providing a more financially secure future for their little princes and princesses.

George Slack

ith the recent birth of the royal baby, George, Prince of Cambridge, making headlines around the world, the news focus is very much on babies at the moment. And while young George will never have to worry about money, other parents and grandparents may well be concerned about how to give their little ones a good start in life. Well wishers, however, are being warned to avoid the traditional baby gift of premium bonds by financial experts, Brewin Dolphin. George Slack, head of Financial Planning at Brewin Dolphin in Newcastle, says that the bonds, "are particularly popular with grandparents but the returns are barely better than putting the cash in a moneybox for the next 18 years." Instead, those who wish to provide for babies less financially fortunate than the new royal baby could consider investing in a pension that might make them a millionaire by the time they come to retire. Figures from Brewin Dolphin show that if parents and grandparents were to invest £300 a

month (£3600 per annum which is the maximum allowed) into a stakeholder pension for a newborn child from birth, when that child reaches the age of 55 in 2068 they could have a pension fund worth £1,670,000. In today’s money that could provide an income of £17,800 per annum or £13,300, along with a tax free cash sum of £107,000. Investing in a Junior Isa could also reap handsome rewards. If you were to invest £300 per month (£3600 per annum, again the maximum allowed) into a Junior ISA for a newborn child when they reach 18 the ISA could be worth £112,280* or £72,770 in today’s money – this assumes that the fund grows at 7 per cent per annum with inflation at 2.5 per cent. This capital will be accessible once the child reaches the age of 18 and so could be used to finance a child through university covering fees, accommodation and maintenance. The child born in 2013 would leave university in 2035 debt free. Alternatively, the Junior ISA can be converted into a full adult ISA with the full

annual allowance available to continue to grow free of taxation. An attractive option as reports earlier this year suggested that there may be as many as 30 ISA millionaires in the UK. George adds: “The first few weeks and months of a baby’s life are demanding but parents shouldn’t overlook their child’s financial future. The one thing every parent can be sure of is that the costs associated with children do not disappear at 18, so a long term savings plan is gift that really will keep on giving.” For more information contact George on (0191) 279 7370, george.slack@brewin.co.uk. Alternatively, visit www.brewin.co.uk *These figures show the potential benefits of investing in a largely tax-free environment over the long-term, and of course actual returns could be higher or lower than this depending on underlying investment performance.

LAW & FINANCE

True

to his word Richard Milner is a partner at TRUE.co.uk Personal Injury Solicitors which has offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Ipswich. Here, he gives an insight into the changes the personal injury sector is going through.

What services do TRUE.co.uk offer? We represent victims of all kinds of accidents who have suffered injury, ensuring they receive justice and recompense. We ensure our clients feel comfortable in exercising their right to claim, and can claim with integrity. They have been injured and have suffered financial hardship through no fault of their own and shouldn’t feel stigmatised by the process. Our support extends to arranging private rehabilitation and to recovering all losses and expenses incurred. We understand that our clients have already suffered a traumatic experience, so we keep things as stress-free as possible.

The personal industry marketplace is facing change. What is happening and why? The personal injury sector has seen rapid reform recently, largely in response to the perception of a ‘compensation culture’. Some of the changes include solicitors being banned from paying for the referral of personal injury claims, and there are new limits on the amount of solicitors’ fees that are recoverable in many types of cases. Some of the burden of paying fees and insurance to protect against costs in unsuccessful cases has been shifted from the at-fault party to the injured party.

Is there more the industry should be doing? We have allowed our profession to be demonised by the insurance industry. Certain people in the media would have you believe that every claim is connected with a scam. We think it’s time to turn the tide. We act for thousands of genuine clients who have suffered as a result of someone else’s negligence, sometimes to a permanently debilitating extent. We need to question whether a compensation culture really does exist and oppose further proposals that might prevent genuine claimants obtaining justice.

How is TRUE.co.uk different to other personal injury solicitors? TRUE.co.uk researched the market to find out what mattered to clients and we found that people could be deterred from making a claim because of how they would be judged by others. We set out to reverse some of the reputational damage and our approach embodies the ethos of how we have always done business – to win ethically and with integrity.

Campaign of the Year’, which is a reward for all of the hard work which has gone into the development and launch of the TRUE.co.uk brand. The criteria includes innovative thinking and a campaign which excels above those of our competitors. The personal injury sector is intensely competitive, so we wanted to stand out and tell people what we stood for, which is that our clients feel confident of their ability to win and justified in their decision to claim. Our TV campaign (https://www.youtube.com/user/TRUEsolicitors ?feature=watch), launched in May, is very distinctive in its approach.

What misperceptions would you like to address about personal injury solicitors and the claim process?

You’ve recently been shortlisted for a Modern Law Award ...

Firstly, we are not all bad guys. While there are organisations that employ dubious marketing tactics, we shouldn’t all be tarred with the same brush. Secondly, fraudulent claims are not that common. While there will always be certain individuals who attempt to defraud the insurance industry, the vast majority of claimants pursue genuine cases. And lastly, the claims process is not something to be feared. With the right solicitor by your side it will be a smooth process that will ultimately deliver justice.

Yes, we’ve been shortlisted for ‘Best Marketing

For more information visit www.true.co.uk

EVENT

Mincoffs’ hospitality event The law firm teams up with RCM Stocktaking to discuss the future of the licensed trade. CM Stocktaking and Mincoffs Solicitors has held the Second North East Hospitality Event in the Tyne Bar at Tyneside Cinema. The event, hosted by Alastair Gilmour, sought the views of the expert panel on The Future of the Licensed Trade. The panel included Richard Macdonald (RCM Stocktaking), Matt Foster (Mincoffs Solicitors), Bob Senior (Utopian Leisure) and Peter Hodgson (Dakota House of Design). The next event will be held in Autumn.

LAW & FINANCE

Corporate ﬁnance brieﬁng ... with Mark Irving, director at Irving Ramsay Limited.

great summer is drawing to a close and here we are back for the short run through to Christmas. For us at Irving Ramsay Limited, it’s going to be a very intense few months as two of our disposal mandates really begin to hot up. Both deals are now post the Heads of Terms stage, which is great news, but there is a lot of work to be done to manage and control these processes through to completion. It may sometimes be an understated part of the corporate finance adviser’s role but the job of project managing a process through due diligence is critical. This phase of the process, when the acquirer gets a far more detailed understanding of the mechanics of the business than it has to date, must be carefully and actively managed to ensure the agreed price is maintained through to completion. The due diligence phase can, of course, be wide ranging although in most of the transactions of the size that we advise on, it tends to be limited to financial, commercial and legal. One of the interesting features of this stage

of the disposal process is that it tends to begin to broaden the team of people involved – this helps share the burden, bring more specialist skills into play but also possibly impacts on your ability to control the process. Whereas early discussions through to Heads may have been restricted to principle and adviser, there is now the need for the wider advisory team to become heavily involved. It is therefore imperative that someone (your

corporate finance adviser) is acting as a hub to ensure that everyone is working in concert; everyone knows what they need to do and time scales and deadlines are being closely monitored. While it may seem a little simplistic, there are some basic project management tools that can be used to bring a consistency and clarity to the process which may work strongly in your favour. Agreeing an acceptable price in the Heads of Terms is an excellent starting point but, remember, it is no more than that. You must continue to work hard throughout the process to maintain that price and see the deal through to a conclusion. If you are thinking about selling your business and would like a candid view from a team of experienced professionals, please get in touch. Contact Mark on mark.irving@irvingramsay.com or call 07730 437 617. Alternatively, visit www.irvingramsay.com or follow Irving Ramsay on twitter: @IrvingRamsay.

LAW & FINANCE

In the bossâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chair

Andrew Love Senior business manager, Allied Irish Bank (GB)

What has been your career to date? I joined the Bank in 1985 in Ireland and worked for 15 years in the branch network, in quite a few locations, learning various roles before specialising in business banking. In 2000, I accepted a challenge to move to Allied Irish Bank (GB) in Newcastle, primarily driven by the opportunity to become more involved in corporate and business banking and develop my career. My tenure there lasted two years before an opportunity in Birmingham arose, where I was successful in gaining promotion to a management role. I spent 5 years in Birmingham developing new owner-managed business banking opportunities in sectors ranging from healthcare, manufacturing/distribution and professionals to hotels and leisure. I moved to Edinburgh to lead the business team there in 2007, initially with the goal of repeating the success of Birmingham. However, I ended up leading my team in supporting and working with our customers through a tough period of recession and the financial crisis. This refreshed and developed my skills in assisting and managing businesses through very difficult economic cycles. In February this year, the opportunity arose to lead the business for AIlied Irish Bank (GB) in the North East. I succeeded in completing my circuit of Britain and almost 13 years after arriving as a young lad from Ireland, I returned to Newcastle.

What attracted you to the role at Allied Irish Bank (GB)? Allied Irish Bank (GB) has been a superb employer and supported my own development fully, despite some tough times in banking. A big part of my role is seeing relationships with our customers flourish as their businesses grow and evolve, and this provides immense job satisfaction. Allied Irish Bank (GB) is a bank that supports business growth and I have had the pleasure over the years of assisting many customers whose relationship with the bank spans over two decades. Also, the bank retains consistency with its staff - I think this is one of the key success factors in having such strong customer relationships. I was especially pleased

to reunite with old colleagues in Newcastle this year after 13 years and to see how they have all developed and grown in their careers whilst developing those strong customer relationships.

What skills and attributes do you need to do your job? There are many words that could describe the ingredients for my role, but I would say that an honest, open mind, a will to develop self and others, patience, tenacity, attention to detail and a strong desire to succeed are needed.

What's been your highlight in this role? It's early days, but the main positives so far have been reuniting with customers and professionals I knew the last time I was here and seeing how successful they've become. Also, getting confirmation that AIlied Irish Bank (GB) is in a strong position in the UK with deposit balances well ahead of loans. This allows us to proactively lend to new business and support our existing customers. Being hungry for new business excites me and the highlights will no doubt continue as we drive our business forward.

What has been your biggest challenge? After several years of difficult times across the entire banking industry, the biggest challenge has been demonstrating that AIlied Irish Bank (GB) is a strong and serious contender in the business banking market. I have had to manage some very difficult situations since late 2008 and these, while presenting huge challenges, also presented fantastic opportunities for both self development and business resumption. AIlied Irish Bank (GB) in Newcastle is an established, local presence and my challenge is to develop this to its full potential.

How has the business banking industry changed since you began in the industry? How has AIlied Irish Bank (GB) adapted?

I have seen two recessions now, both of which have been very different in cause and outcome. The banking industry has endured fierce criticism in recent years and all banks, including AIlied Irish Bank (GB), have had to adapt their practices. The regulatory environment is changing and this, with technological advances, probably requires the greatest and most urgent change. We value and support our customers in the way we always did and our relationship focus remains strong. We have adapted our structures and technology to meet both physical and economic demands but to me, very importantly, we have maintained a consistent approach to how we provide for our customers and this is critical.

Do you think customer confidence has returned in banks? I think that customer loyalty has been tested. I also think that good businesses remain cautious about exposing themselves to further risk. Both of these facts are positive from my point of view and signify a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;lessons learnt' attitude. I think confidence is returning and that strong, good quality business will need and want honest, customer focused banking partners and that will generate a healthy and competitive banking industry again.

What are the short/long term future plans in your role? To support my customers, to win new business, to add more value through loans, deposit management, asset finance, invoice discounting, treasury services, card services â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all the expectations of a full service business bank, and to continue to improve and provide the best relationship driven business banking service in the North East! I will be launching an Owner Managed Business Fund this autumn, a limited offer combining flexible finance options and highly competitive daily banking aimed at supporting businesses in the North East. I would encourage businesses to approach me and my team directly if this is of interest. For further information on Allied Irish Bank (GB), visit www.aibgb.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Living together can be taxing Alice Clewes, associate solicitor and chartered tax adviser at Hay & Kilner, looks at the options available for cohabitees to reduce their inheritance tax liabilities.

EXPERT VIEW Alice Clewes Associate solicitor and chartered tax adviser Hay & Kilner Solicitors Tel: (0191) 232 8345 Email: alice.clewes@hay-kilner.co.uk Web: www.hay-kilner.co.uk

ncreasingly, couples live together, or cohabit, without marrying or entering into a civil partnership. There are many reasons why people choose not to marry or to enter into a civil partnership but in making that decision they may not realise there can be adverse implications, in particular on their deaths. Contrary to popular belief, a common law spouse or partner, as a cohabitee may be known, has no legal standing under the intestacy rules. The intestacy rules apply when a person dies without a will and they specify who is to receive the assets. If the cohabitees do not have wills, when one of them dies the surviving person will not be entitled to inherit under the rules, no matter how long they have been living together or the number of children they may have together. It is therefore essential to have wills prepared to make appropriate provision for the survivor. Even if wills are prepared the tax world also does not recognise the common law spouse or partner. So if one of the cohabitees dies leaving everything to the surviving partner and their assets exceed the tax free allowance of

ÂŁ325,000, there will be inheritance tax to pay. The first cohabiteeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assets which could include the family home may need to be sold to pay the tax. If the couple had been married or in a civil partnership complete exemption from inheritance tax would have applied. So aside from marrying or entering into a civil partnership is there anything that cohabitees can do to reduce inheritance tax when they die? The options available will depend on the personal circumstances of the couple. One option is to equalise their assets to ensure they can both make use of their tax free allowances when they die. This can be achieved by firstly purchasing any new assets in their joint names or, for existing assets, the couple could make gifts from one to the other. Such gifts will need to be structured carefully to avoid immediate tax. Secondly, wills should not leave everything outright to the surviving cohabitee as it will be subject to inheritance tax a second time on their death. Instead gifts to other family members could be considered or, if the surviving person will need access to the assets, a gift could be made to a trust and the

surviving cohabitee would be a beneficiary. Another alternative is to take out insurance to cover any inheritance tax so the survivor will not be forced to sell assets to pay the tax. The insurance should be written into trust meaning the proceeds themselves are not subject to inheritance tax. Relationships today can be very complicated where partners may be reluctant to marry, perhaps as it is a second relationship, or marriage may only eventually follow after an extended period of living together. The existence of children both of the existing and past relationships adds to the complex personal issues and great care needs to be taken to ensure affairs are structured as far as possible to minimise tax but also to achieve personal objectives. For example, a partner may wish to ensure that their own children benefit on their deaths and not necessarily the children of their partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous relationship. Hay & Kilner has a team of specialist wealth management solicitors who can provide tactful and tailored advice for your personal circumstances for both will and lifetime inheritance tax planning.

EVENT

Osaka opening A new Japanese experience for Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grey Street. riends, family and contractors were invited for celebration at the new Osaka Japanese restaurant. Around 150 guests enjoyed a taster menu, Champagne and canapes. Osaka is open 11am-11pm daily, serving lunchtime specials, Japanese afternoon teas and evening meals. Osaka, 69 Grey Street, Newcastle

LAW & FINANCE

Sintons lends a hand From cleaning windows, to tending gardens and decorating new buildings, staff at the law firm are always willing to lend a hand in the community, as part of its extensive CSR programme.

ver the past few months, staff from Newcastle law firm Sintons have supported a number of good causes in the North East. Through assigning 80 days of staff time each year to carrying out tasks to benefit good causes and support local communities, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is something that Sintons takes very seriously. Recent projects to benefit from the assistance of Sintons volunteers include Grace House North East Children’s Hospice in Sunderland, Craigielea Nursing Home in Gateshead, and BusyBodies Nusery in Fencehouses. In addition to the voluntary work, each year Sintons’ staff select an annual charity to be the focus of fundraising efforts. In 2012, over £7000 was raised for the Charlie Bear Cancer Appeal. The charity this year is Down’s Syndrome North East, which was chosen to support one member of staff whose son has Down’s Syndrome, and whose family have benefitted greatly from the charity’s assistance. The most recent project Sintons were involved in was at Craigielea Nursing Home in Gateshead, which provides accommodation for elderly people who require nursing, residential or dementia care. To help prepare for the home’s summer fair, four lawyers from Sintons helped with gardening at the venue, which

has been at the heart of the local community for over 70 years. Susan Jones, chief executive at Craigielea Care, said: “I think many of our residents who were watching from the windows were astounded to find out that the gardening was being done by a highly skilled and qualified legal team – I think it made their day. “We all agree that it’s full marks to Sintons for their community spirit and willingness to tackle projects such as this on a voluntary basis, and we are certainly very glad that they chose to come to spend the day with us at Craigielea and support this charity.” At Grace House, three of Sintons’ staff helped clean the windows of the facility, which will provide a ‘home from home’ for very sick children across the North East and will offer support to their families. The hospice, which will provide muchneeded accommodation for six children, is due to open later this year. Also on Wearside, a team of six people from Sintons helped with decorating BusyBodies Nursery in Fencehouses, ahead of its opening in September. The nursery is expanding into a new purpose-built facility to offer childcare for pre-school age children throughout the day. Alongside the one-off community projects, Sintons and its staff are also keen participants in the Right to Read initiative, the national campaign to help raise literacy standards in schools. Amanda Maskery, partner at Sintons and

chair of the firm’s CSR committee, said: “Our charitable and community work is something we are absolutely committed to, and is something our staff genuinely enjoy and want to be involved with. “Sintons has been part of the North East community for over 100 years, and we recognise the importance a firm like ours can and should have. We are very pleased to be able to help out with such valuable work – and it shows we certainly aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty!” In addition to the valuable community work Sintons carries out, and charitable donations it makes, the firm is a one of the leaders in its field in the North East in acting for charities. Charity clients in the region include the JGW Patterson Foundation, Percy Hedley Foundation and the Virgin Mary Trust. Sintons also works with Auckland Castle Trust and oversaw the development of the multi-million pound Gurdwara Temple in the west end of Newcastle, and continues to work with the charity and its trustees. Sintons are holding a Halloween Ball in aid of Down’s Syndrome North East on Friday, November 1 at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle. Tickets cost £60 per person. To book, contact Debby Wood on debby.wood@sintons.co.uk or Sophie Brocklebank on sophie.brocklebank@sintons.co.uk or call (0191) 229 7878.

LAW & FINANCE

Protecting your brand The importance of trademarks, by David Lant of Sintons.

t cost $15 to create the Twitter logo. For the iconic Nike swoosh, the designer billed $35. And the instantly-recognisable Google and Coca Cola brands were both created free of charge. While the founders of all four could probably never have foreseen the levels of global success they would achieve, the fact they all registered their brands under trademark as fledgling businesses has meant that they have protected themselves legally against brand infringements and costly battles with competitors. Coca Cola now enjoys 94 per cent brand recognition around the world, and spends well over $2bn each year on marketing. While there are numerous rivals and alternatives to its product, the fact its brand is so strong means it keeps its place way ahead of the competition. And protecting itself through trademark, Coca Cola is legally secure that its brand will always be as unique as it has been since 1974. Although admittedly few businesses achieve the success of Coca Cola, for a newlyestablished venture, the sky is the limit. The levels you may grow to are totally unknown, and for that reason, it is vital you legally protect your ideas before someone else tries to use them as their own. For a venture which is just starting out, registering your brand or unique offering is crucial, and it is even more important for those who have been trading for some time and have not yet protected what they are doing by trademark. Failure to do so leaves a business entirely open to copycats and competitors, and a potential costly legal dispute to attempt to fend them off. But sometimes, those legal attempts to rebuff competitors are not sufficient. The recent dispute between Nestle and Cadbury’s –

EXPERT VIEW David Lant Associate Sintons Tel: (0191) 226 3746 Email david.lant@sintons.co.uk Web: www.sintons.co.uk

the latest round in a long-running legal battle – saw Nestle unable to protect the shape of its four-fingered Kit Kat through trademark in the UK, following a challenge to the trademark application from its rival confectioner. As a result, the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) ruled that Nestle could not protect the design of its product, because, it said, a consumer relied on the word ‘Kit Kat’ and associated branding to distinguish it from others. So while Nestle’s brand – which is protected by trademark – cannot be copied, the shape of one of its main products can be. Such cases show that no matter what size your

business is, or however distinctive your product may appear to be, without proper legal protection in place, you are vulnerable to challenges. Once your trademark is in place, any infringement can be dismissed legally – but for those that are not protected, the common law of ‘passing off’ could be used. While challenges are much easier to fight when protected by trademark, passing off can still successfully guard against using a business or individual’s work without permission. The recent case of Rihanna v Topshop saw the High Court rule that Topshop was guilty of passing off, by producing t-shirts bearing the pop star’s image without her consent or endorsement. The retailer was found to have failed the ‘three point test’: One: does the claimant have goodwill, i.e. a reputation? Two: has the defendant misled the public? And three: has there been damage? – in that the judge deemed that customers may well have been under the impression that the t-shirt was official Rihanna merchandise, especially as Rihanna has her own clothing line with another UK high street retailer. As there is no law of image rights in the UK – and Rihanna would not have owned the copyright of the image that was used, as that would have belonged to the photographer who took it – passing off proved to be a successful means in this instance of protecting Rihanna’s image, which plays such a central role in promoting her own merchandise and fashion line. In such a hugely competitive world of business, brands simply cannot afford for rivals to gain at their expense. Protecting your own brand, and seeking legal advice if necessary, at the earliest opportunity is the only way to ensure that does not happen.

David’s trademark tips: • Check no-one is already using your brand or brand idea. • Brand registration is not essential, but will help protect you and your business from competitors. • Keep an eye on the competition to ensure they are not using your work as their own. • A company or web address alone is not sufficient and will not stop someone devising or using a very similar brand or brand name. • Investing in expert professional advice is always advisable to ensure you, your brand and your business are fully protected legally.

LAW & FINANCE Iona Sims, Will Welch and Alan Dawson (centre, front row) with the Newcastle Falcons’ squad.

Sintons and Falcons’ partnership takes ﬂight Newly-promoted Newcastle Falcons has secured a significant sponsorship deal with law firm Sintons, ahead of the club’s charge to re-establish itself in the Aviva Premiership in the season ahead.

he Falcons, the North East’s only topflight rugby club, has built on its longstanding relationship with the Newcastle law firm by announcing Sintons as one of its main sponsors for its key season ahead. Sintons will now have its branding displayed in and around the Kingston Park stadium, which will once again play host to top-tier rugby, and the Sintons logo will also appear on the back of the Falcons’ Premiership home and away shirts. Furthermore, the ongoing sponsorship of Will Welch, captain of the Falcons, has been extended into a fourth season. The 23-year-old has been backed by Sintons since emerging from the Academy, and has gone on to secure a regular first team place and become the club’s captain. Keen to continue to support emerging talent at the Falcons, Sintons has also announced it will sponsor Sean Brown, an 18year-old Academy player who has represented England at both Under 16 and Under 18 level. The law firm – which has a specialist sports division working with many grassroots

clubs, as well as a host of well-known teams and sports professionals across the North – has acted as legal advisor to Newcastle Falcons for a number of years, and has worked closely with the club on a number of projects. The new deal with Sintons comes at a crucial time for the Falcons, as the club looks to become an established Premiership name once more after spending last season in the RFU Championship. Duncan Edward, Falcons commercial director, said: “We have enjoyed a strong working relationship with Sintons for some time now and are thrilled to take that relationship to the next level as the club looks to make its mark on the Aviva Premiership. “Sintons’ decision to take on such a prominent role with the club and to sponsor both our captain Will and Sean, one of the academy’s most promising stars, reflects the great relationship we have built with them and the strong investment Sintons want to make in the future of the club.” Iona Sims, a specialist sports lawyer at Sintons, works closely with the Falcons’ board to advise them directly on all legal aspects of

their business. She said: “Sintons and the Falcons have a very close working relationship, of which I am thrilled to be part of, and this new sponsorship deal will help to cement that further. This is a very important season for the Falcons and we are very pleased to be able to support the board with all of their legal requirements, in addition to supporting the club by becoming one of their main sponsors.” Alan Dawson, chairman of Sintons, said: “We are very pleased to be able to agree this new sponsorship deal with the Falcons. We are passionate supporters of the club and have enjoyed a close relationship with them for several years, and we will back them in any way we can. “We share the Falcons’ pride at their promotion and look forward to watching Will and the team back in the Aviva Premiership, with our branding on their shirts and across all the stands at Kingston Park.” For further information on Sintons visit www.sintons.co.uk or Newcastle Falcons visit www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Left to right: Maxine Pott (Healthcare Group director), Phil Harnby (Healthcare Group manager) Sharon Kelly (Healthcare Group manager) Richard Humphreys (Healthcare Group tax manager) Iain Dorkin (Healthcare Group tax senior) and John Richards (tax director).

RMT division in good health The accountants and business advisors invests in its specialist healthcare division.

orth East accountants RMT has expanded its medical and healthcare services by recruitment three new experts in this area. RMT Accountants & Business Advisors is one of the UK’s leading specialist medical and healthcare accountancy practices, and works with many medical professionals across the North East and beyond – including over a third of all the GP practices in the region. And as well as enhancing its existing offering to healthcare professionals, the Gosforth-based firm is also aiming to further develop its services to other areas of healthcare, including opticians, dentists, pharmacy and the care home sector, as well as animal healthcare and veterinary practices. Led by director Maxine Pott, RMT Medical & Healthcare is founder members of the UK’s Association of Independent Specialist Medical Accountants (AISMA), and works with medical professionals of every kind, including GPs, hospital doctors, locums and consultants. Three senior practitioners have recently been recruited to join the existing 13-strong

medical and healthcare team as part of the expansion. Sector specialist Sharon Kelly has joined as a Health Group manager from a practice in Scotland, experienced medical accountant Phil Harnby has returning to RMT in a similar role and Iain Dorkin has been recruited as a Healthcare tax senior. Senior tax manager Richard Humphreys has also moved across from RMT’s specialist tax division to lead the Healthcare tax team, and will use his extensive healthcare sector knowledge to provide the wider range of commercial support that GP practices and medical professionals now need in response to the sector’s ongoing changes. Further appointments are planned in the coming months, which will take the RMT healthcare team up to at least 20 by the end of 2013. Maxine Pott says: “The medical sector has been a key area of our business for many years. We have a well established and extremely strong team in place, and the expertise we offer is recognised by the profession as being among the very best

available anywhere in the UK. “The way in which medical sector finances have developed in recent years, especially within primary care, has put a greater emphasis on proactive, strategic financial advice and business support, and the additional resources we are bringing in and dedicating to our medical and healthcare division reflect the increasingly complex financial responsibilities facing all medical professionals. “Using the expertise that we’ve developed in the medical division as a way to develop the business in other healthcare sectors is a natural extension of what we do, and our aim is to use the additional resources we’ve added to the practice to do this organically while still retaining a total focus on the needs of our existing medical clients.” RMT provides the full range of financial and business advisory services through its Specialist Tax, Recovery & Insolvency, Corporate Finance and Medical & Healthcare divisions. For more information, visit www.r-m-t.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Anne joins UNW The Newcastle-based chartered accountants and business advisors boosts its charities team with a new senior manager. he charities and not-for-profit team at UNW has been further strengthened with the recruitment of Anne Hallowell. Anne joins the expanding firm as a senior manager after spending more than two decades developing a charity specialism in private practice and within the third sector. She joins the Newcastle-based chartered accountants and business advisors from the North of England Civic Trust where she spent seven years with responsibility for all financial and governance matters internally. She also provided advice to other charities and community groups on governance, grant funding and management, mainly within the heritage sector, sitting on the board of the UK Association of Preservation Trusts, the national umbrella body for the building preservation trust movement. Before that, Anne spent 16 years at PwC, training in Leeds and moving to Newcastle in 1998, where she developed a charity specialism not only on North East clients but as part of the firm’s national charity team based in London. She was among the first in the UK

to gain the ICAEW Diploma in Charity Accounting. Anne said: “I am very pleased to have joined UNW as I know several of the partners from my PwC days. “In the current climate, charities need good business advice, not just auditing, so I will be looking at how we can provide some of these

additional services and add value with the experience I have gained working in a charity.” UNW partner Charles Linaker added: “We are delighted that someone of Anne’s proven expertise has chosen to join us. Over the last few years we have steadily expanded the number of charities for whom we act and the range of work that we undertake. Apart from audit, recent charity assignments have involved our specialists in VAT, employment taxes, business improvement consultancy and corporate finance.” UNW’s charity clients include Durham Cathedral, Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance and Newcastle Diocesan Education Board, Durham Diocesan Board of Finance, Northern Rock Foundation, The People’s Kitchen and a number of academies, including William Howard in Brampton. UNW holds free charity briefings at its Citygate offices and Anne will be speaking at the next one on Thursday, October 10 on the topic of ‘A question of balance - managing the finance function’. To book your place email: roduns@unw.co.uk.

LAW & FINANCE

Breakfast at the Hilton Mark Chandler, wealth manager and head of business development at Ellis Bates Group, meets Sharon Smith, Senior partner at Newcastle based Carr & Co Solicitors.

Mark Chandler: What inspired you to become a lawyer?

to expand what we have to offer clients. I have helped set up and develop the Living Well North group which is made up of independent companies: a financial advisor, accountant, specialist builder and care company to offer services tailored to older or disabled clients.

Sharon Smith: I was actually studying law as part of an HNC in public administration and discovered that rather than the dusty dry subject I had anticipated, it was all about people’s lives, their stories and problem solving. I was hooked and ended up leaving my job in the Ministry of Defence and studying for a law degree.

MC: What do you enjoy most about being a lawyer? SS: Exactly what got me hooked in the first place; people their lives; their stories and problems. You just never know what is coming through the door.

MC: Who inspires you in law? SS: I know she will be mortified to read this but, my business partner Valerie Wormald. It doesn’t matter what happens, she is never fazed.

Mark Chandler

MC: What services do Carr & Co Offer? MC: What areas of law do you advise on? SS: Civil disputes which can be anything from a business pursuing debts to neighbour disputes or accident claims. I also draft wills and deal with probate and powers of attorney.

SS: We are a general practice with offices in Blyth, Morpeth and Gosforth. We provide legal advice on family, conveyancing, employment and business start-ups. We are also, increasingly, working with other professionals

Mark’s closing view: It was interesting to meet with Sharon. Our association has proved good for her clients and for mine, whether they appreciate good legal advice and/or the value of professional wealth management. For more information on Ellis Bates, visit www.ellisbatesgroup.co.uk

LAW & FINANCE

Bringing business back to life Muckle’s Andrew Cawkwell reveals why now is the time to restructure your company. he economic uncertainty we have all been living under since 2008 has, in many cases, become the new ‘normal’ – but the time is now right for businesses to be positive, to look to the future and restructure. Banks are very choosy about which businesses to lend money to and market uncertainty causes businesses to be less willing to borrow money to fund expansion projects. The Government has been indecisive over the corporate recovery programme it wants but, despite all of this, the perceived increase in formal insolvencies has not occurred. There is much talk of Zombie Businesses. These are companies that in more prosperous times would have been wound up by creditors or the banks. However, banks keep them in business (as asset values would not generate a full recovery otherwise) to claw back loan repayments. Had these companies ceased trading, the banks would have received a smaller percentage of their loans. Keeping them going even on an unprofitable basis, means the banks should get more of their

EXPERT VIEW Andrew Cawkwell Partner and head of Restructuring and Insolvency Muckle LLP Email: andrew.cawkwell@muckle-llp.com

money back – albeit over a longer period of time. There have been recent signs of economic stability but the economy will only progress and prosper if businesses which have weathered the storm choose to look forward and prepare themselves for greater and better things. Businesses should now look at the balance sheet and decide upon the necessity to restructure to achieve their aspirations. The outcome of restructuring is an entirely positive process. It’s about reorganising legal ownership, operational and other structures to make a business more profitable and better organised for its needs. An effective restructure will result in a leaner, better organised company, focussed on its core business activities, with revised strategic and financial planning in place. These restructured businesses are more likely to be viewed as sensible targets for banks increasing their lending activity and venture capitalists looking to invest. Businesses should therefore urgently look at restructuring to build a platform for future success.

EVENT

George Washington’s Sportsman’s Dinner The hotel and spa hosts a special sporting charity event, in aid of Grace House he Mercure Newcastle George Washington Hotel Golf & Spa and Grace House celebrated its recent charity night at the hotel, to raise awareness and funds for the local children’s hospice. The Sportsman’s Dinner formed part of a number of events also involving also the Quality Hotel in Boldon. The night saw key local football legends Malcolm Macdonald and Mickey Horswill entertain the guests along with George McNeill, once the fastest sprinter in the world. Martin Hall, general manager at the George Washington said: “ The evening was a fantastic success and will provide much needed funds for such a worthwhile local cause and one in which the two hotels are delighted to be associated with.

BUSINESS Left to right: Gill Hall, Sue Timson, Peter Batty, Mike Jobson, Matt Hindhaugh and Virginia Robinson.

Coaches set to drive growth Oxford Innovation can guide your business, thanks to a new Northumberland office and recent recruitment drive. ne of the UK’s leading providers of specialist business coaching has set up a base in Northumberland to help the county’s entrepreneurs realise their growth potential. From its office in Ashington, Oxford Innovation will deliver the Business Northumberland High Growth Programme, part of a £1.35 million investment intended to stimulate economic prosperity in the county. For the programme’s two leaders, this marks a homecoming from careers that have taken them both far and wide in senior roles with multi-national organisations. Newcastle-born Mike Jobson has been appointed programme manager, having previously worked for Alcan, Colgate Palmolive, Guinness and Diageo in the UK and Africa. “My career has taken me to some incredible places but I have always considered the North East to be home,” says Mike. “Now I want to align my experiences with Oxford Innovation’s unique coaching methods to help local businesspeople unlock their full potential enabling them to achieve their aspirations.” Mike specialises in business planning, marketing, sales, consumer classification and route to market strategies. He is also experienced in performance management and leadership coaching, building high performance teams with the emphasis on individual personal development. Business coach Gill Hall was brought up in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and she too is delighted to be returning to her roots. “In many ways Northumberland has changed so much over the years with the

demise of some of our more traditional industries and the emergence of new ones,” she reflects. “However it’s the hard work, resilience and ingenuity that have always been a part of the fabric of Northumberland that will see our local economy flourish again.” As the former head of marketing and communications for Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance, Gill led a major branding project, delivered award-winning campaigns and launched product innovations. Gill specialises in helping clients develop and implement customer-led marketing strategies and has delivered successful marketing, branding and communications projects for commercial finance clients in the UK and Europe. Importantly, like most Oxford Innovation coaches, Mike and Gill both have experience of running their own successful businesses. In order to meet demand from clients, Mike and Gill have strengthened their Northumberland team with the appointment of three associates and an office administrator. Sue Timson joins the team as an experienced business leader and executive coach with a 20 year career in media sales, marketing and management. She specialises in commercial strategy, management and leadership development. Peter Batty’s areas of expertise include business strategy, commercial insight, change management and mergers and acquisitions. He has spent much of his career working in senior roles in large corporates, co-operatives, SMEs and charitable bodies. Matt Hindhaugh is a business mentor and thought leader in applied innovation working

with large organisations and established SMEs to turn challenges into business opportunities. He has coached businesses in areas as diverse as e-commerce, enterprise feedback management and supply chain management. Virginia Robinson joins the team from Northumberland County Council to provide office administration support. Oxford Innovation’s business coaching methods have already proved successful elsewhere in the UK. The organisation has worked with over 2500 high growth businesses and despite the challenging economic circumstances of the last three years, it has helped its clients to access over £100 million of funding, creating or safeguarding more than 400 jobs. Mike explains Oxford Innovation’s approach: “We focus on high growth businesses because these are the engine of the economy, creating jobs and generating wealth. These businesses come from all sectors but commonly use innovation as the driver for growth. We work with them to develop their inherent potential for growth and success and because no two businesses are the same our approach is unique in every instance.” The Business Northumberland High Growth Programme has been funded by ARCH, The Northumberland Development Company; the County Council and the North East European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). For more information about the Programme and Oxford Innovation, call (01670) 528403 or email northumberland@oxin.co.uk. Alternatively, visit www.oxinnorthumberland.com

TECHNOLOGY NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

IT investment to inspire learners A Gateshead secondary school has invested thousands in its ITC suite.

urrowfield School, which caters for pupils who have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, has enlisted the help of independent computer retailer, COMPUTER orBIT to provide state-of-the art computer technology to assist its students’ education. Committed to working with local businesses and within the education sector, COMPUTER orBIT has provided tablets, laptops, printers and Apple Macs, along with Microsoft Office software to the school. In addition, it has enhanced its security measures by installing anti-virus software and provided a trouble-shooting helpline. COMPUTER orBIT’s account manager for education Mushtaq Ahmid said: “Furrowfield School is a very forward thinking institution andunderstands the needs of its students to help them progress to fulfil their potential. We are passionate about working with local businesses not only to support others in our region, but for the convenience that it brings them in having us close by, providing a personal service and support to meet their needs.”

Historic city embraces modern technology

usinesses in Durham are set to benefit from a new website and app. Durham Business Improvement District (BID) has launched a new website and app with the aim to boost business in the city. The 'Durham City' app is free to download and available to Android, Apple and Blackberry and Window devices. The new website and app have been designed to appeal to both businesses and the public with an A-Z of Durham BID area businesses with information such as opening times, the ability to search by a specific category, maps with GPS, public transport and car park information plus details of upcoming events.

Steve Thursby (Furrowfield headteacher) and Mushtag Ahmid

Pub owner gets a better view

North East businessman has installed a new CCTV system from Hadrian Technology which allows him to monitor his pub and restaurant – wherever he is in the world. Rob Place, owner of The Sun Inn at Newbottle, near Houghton-le-Spring, can now watch full HD quality CCTV footage of his premises on his iPad, via a speciallydesigned app, through a system provided by the Sunderland-based CCTV specialists. Rob said: “Knowing everything is running safely and smoothly gives me the peace of mind I need. I can even look at my event lists, which show live footage or playback, while recording, from the beach on holiday.

Charity appoints ITPS manager

he Percy Hedley Foundation has appointed Susan Jopling, general manager at IT solutions specialist ITPS, to two of its key steering committees: the Audit Committee and the Annual Mistletoe Ball Committee, which last year raised more than £70,000. Susan said: “The Percy Hedley Foundation is such a well respected name in the region so it is a real honour to be asked to join its committee members. I hope I can bring some value and I’m looking forward to playing my part in its continued success as it provides vital services to those who might otherwise be left unsupported.”

TECHNOLOGY

How businesses can do more with less Garry Sheriff on the growth of outsourcing managed services to a specialist third party, and how it can help you.

n our work as IT solutions and services experts we are often asked to comment on trends or forecast the next ‘big thing’ in the IT industry. Every business wants to do more for less, and right now managed services is the sweet spot for those looking to squeeze IT budgets while maintaining a flexible, responsive and resilient infrastructure. Analysts predict that the £98 billion managed services market will continue to grow at double-digit rates for at least the next four years, and our experience bears that out. We have seen a big rise in demand from businesses looking for a trusted partner to support their IT function, with at least £1 million worth of recent revenue directly attributable to our managed services model. So what is managed services and why is it so popular? Managed services simply means handling some – or all – of the elements of your IT inhouse and asking a third party to manage the rest, and is often referred to as outsourcing. Organisations depend heavily on the internet and external communications for everything from their CRM and accounting systems to marketing and customer service functions. This has led to a rise in ‘big data’ and complex networking and security arrangements that can see business IT spread between ‘on premises’, in the cloud or a mix of the two. All of which requires high level expertise to manage. For example, Company A retains the management of its developed applications inhouse, and outsources the management of its

EXPERT VIEW Garry Sheriff Managing director ITPS Tel: (0191) 442 8300 Web: www.it-ps.com

IT infrastructure to ITPS. Company B relies on ITPS to handle its internet provision and security, while its in-house team looks after internal applications. Solutions are bespoke to each client so they can take as much or as little support as they need. We see managed services as a utility where the client is in the driving seat. Whichever model they use, we become their IT conscience by monitoring performance, offering insight and bringing new ideas to the table, all of which helps to boost performance and ROI. As well as giving them access to a 95strong team of experts, they also benefit from our continuous investment in super-fast, high capacity communications and a suite of ISO27001-certified data centres with workspace recovery. Finance directors in particular have been quick to see the balance sheet value to be had in bringing in external expertise to manage part of the IT function, allowing the in-house IT resource to support the ‘business as usual’ activity. Businesses bring in specialist advisors

such as legal and HR when needed, so it makes sense to apply that model to IT too. Why try to replicate decades of technical and industry knowledge, when you can work in partnership with someone who already bears the cost of maintaining that knowledge base? Over the years we have identified the one key element in successful outsourcing, and that is trust. Estate agents Dacre, Son & Hartley, which has 21 branches across Yorkshire, has worked with us for over a decade and they are clear about the benefits: “We regard ITPS as our own knowledgeable and expert IT department, but minus the overheads,” said Dacre’s finance director John Skinner. “We trust them to take away all the pain of IT management. My focus is on the bottom line, and working with them is the smartest way to maintain the best IT infrastructure for our business, without employing our own dedicated team. It makes no commercial sense for us to try and replicate the breadth and depth of technical knowledge and expertise that ITPS offers. Their strengths lie in building good relationships based on honesty and open discussion. Without that trust we would be unlikely to outsource an essential service such as IT.” All trends are driven by customer demand on the back of proven success, and the rise in managed services is no different. So if you are looking for an IT model that offers low capital outlay and predictable costs, which gives you access to high level expertise and has the flexibility to match your business strategy, managed services could well be the way forward for your business too.

TECHNOLOGY

Andy Walton.

On cloud nine How South Tyneside-based company Nine is bringing world class software development to the North East.

he North East is gaining a reputation for the quality of software expertise that exists in our region. A prime example is South Tyneside-based Nine, who are leading the way with a fresh and forward thinking approach to software development. Nine develops bespoke high performing software applications and solutions for clients who can’t find an off the shelf solution either because it doesn’t exist, doesn’t fit, costs too much or it doesn’t integrate with their existing systems. A nationally renowned company that specialises solely on creating bespoke software solutions, Nine bridges the gap between what a company wants to achieve and how it can be physically achieved via software, to give companies a competitive edge. Nine has worked with a broad range of customers around the world, spanning a diverse range of industries such as the oil and gas sector, public sector, housing, utilities, engineering and retail. From globally recognised brand names including P&G, Barbour, the NHS, Gentoo and BT to entrepreneurs with a great idea, for example Harlow Printing, NHS Gooroo, RHI and Car2U, Nine has developed world class software solutions that has revolutionised the way companies work, saving its clients millions of

pounds through improved efficiency and productivity achieved by connecting companies and their workforce. Nine’s underlying aim is not simply to complete the project; it looks to develop long term relationships with their clients. Its handpicked team of forward thinking experts work as partners to clients, listening to their ideas and taking a broad view of the market. Innovation is at the heart of the business and the team at Nine pride themselves on adapting and anticipating emerging trends to deliver cutting edge applications using the latest technologies. Andy Walton, managing director at Nine, explains: “The real difference with Nine is in that we don't have a pre-conceived idea of what we want to sell before we walk through our clients’ door. “We understand that each business, and their software requirements, is unique. We approach each project with a blank sheet of paper, asking lots of questions, challenging the clients thinking and taking the time to understand their business and its specific requirements. Using our expertise, we bring a fresh perspective and transform ideas into unique software solutions that deliver real investment value. Moreover, as their company grows and evolves the bespoke software can be

modified in line with the companies changing needs. “This is a really exciting time for Nine, we have experienced tremendous growth over the last two years and we continue to look forward and to plan for future growth. We are dedicated to helping our clients implement the right software solutions for their business and are always ready for the next challenge” As part of their continued growth strategy, Nine has recently strengthened its team with a number of key appointments. One such appointment is Helen Lee, who has been brought in to the new role of business development manager to help the company achieve its ambitions. Helen says: “Nine is a fantastic example of some of the world-class and truly innovative work that is taking place right here in the North East, and I jumped at the chance of becoming part of the team. Nine is growing at a phenomenal rate; it’s an exciting place to be, working alongside a hugely talented team and some great clients.” For further information or to find out what Nine can do for your business, call (0191) 495 5236, email team@nineworks.co.uk or visit www.nineworks.co.uk.

TECHNOLOGY

State of the Art Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new in the world of techology and gadgets.

WALKMAN E580 he Sony Walkman is back! And this time it promises up to 77 hours of battery life from a single charge. This is combined with crystal clear sound thanks to Digital Sound Cancelling Technology, which reduces out instrusive backgound noise by up to 98 per cent, and Virtualphones Technology that allows you to select the authentic ambiance of studio, club or arena. Sony has also made it easier to install songs, pictures, videos and pod casts with a new drag and drop service.

www.sony.co.uk

DAMSON TWIST rovide the ideal working environment for your employees with Netatmo Weather Station. Two sleek modules (one for indoor, one outdoor) monitor the temperature and send the data to your Smartphone or tablet via a free app. The network can be expanded to monitor more than one room, and can also measure CO2 levels, humidity, air quality and much, much more. RRP £139.95.

www.netamo.com

X-PROJECT MICRO hare your images in totally new ways with Xsories's new X-Project Micro. Project footage and videos wherever you are, directly from your mobile phone. It’s so slimline so fits right in your pocket, and its LED technology produces brilliant colours and high contrast. Plus the X-Project Micro also doubles up as a power bank, allowing you to charge your Smartphone on the go, courtesy of its rechargeable battery. RRP £239.

www.xsories.co.uk

EVC130 ver's new full HD video conferencing device includes a 2MP fixed focus camera, an 88-degree field of view and 4x digital zoom and is versatile enough for person-to-person call, or to broadcast to an entire room. With an advanced microphone array and dual display, The EVC130 is ideal for any business and even offers HELPer, a mechanism that automatically compensates for bandwidth issues to provide smooth operations. RRP £1799.

www.uk.aver.com

MEDIA NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH ITPS

Three is the magic number for Kate A marketing solutions company selects Newcastle’s Quorum as its centre of excellence.

freelance PR consultant has been shortlisted in three different categories in the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Pride Awards 2013. Former journalist, radio producer and CIPR member Kate Slater entered: Best Campaign under £10,000; Best Healthcare Campaign; and Outstanding Freelance PR Consultant, and has been shortlisted for all three. Kate Slater PR and Marketing was established in 2009 and has worked with the Centre for Life, Kinesio UK, George F White, St John Ambulance North East and Dere Street Homes. Kate said: “I am so pleased and excited to have entered three Chartered Institute of PR awards in 2013 and been shortlisted for all of them! Considering I’ve been competing against the big boys, I’m even more chuffed! I am passionate about the amazing value of good PR and strive to achieve great results for all of my clients. It’s now fantastic that my own business has achieved this great recognition in its own right.”

Mike Lynch to drive traffic

ike Lynch Advertising has won a tender for the media buying contract for the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), which is responsible for the coordination of sustainable travel options in South Yorkshire. The Newcastle agency will now execute a multimedia campaign to drive

awareness and increase traffic to the education microsite ‘OnBoard’. The OnBoard website offers parents a source of information on the available bus services that serve their local schools, so they can better utilise the public transport options to avoid the school run rush. Kristen Hall, media account manager

at Mike Lynch Advertising, said: “We are delighted to be working again with SYPTE on the OnBoard promotion. We have created a bespoke digital campaign which will drive local users to the website and planned strategic media placements to raise awareness at key periods and keep visibility up over the six month campaign period.”

New agency the tonic for Vision Express

new PR and marketing start-up has opened its doors in the North East, and unveiled its founding client as retailer and optician, Vision Express. The Tonic Communications is headed

up by experienced PR duo Kelly Hill and Georgina Dunkley, and is set to provide national and regional PR and marketing services between the North East and the East Midlands. As Vision Express’ retained PR

company, The Tonic is responsible for handling the company’s day-to-day activity including product launches, store events, charity campaigns and ambassador profiling, plus social media consultancy.

MEDIA

Content is king ... says Samantha Davidson, managing director of Horizonworks.

t the start of the year, among the usual marketing predictions and trends to look out for in 2013, ‘content marketing’ emerged as one of hottest things about to hit a computer screen, tablet or phone near you soon. And this time round, the marketing soothsayers’ predictions appear to be coming true, particularly given the recent news that Google+ has overtaken Twitter to become the second most popular social network – in the US, at least. Within a little over a couple of years from now, sharing of online content by users on Google+ is set to surpass sharing by Facebook users, according to a recent US study. Whatever faith you put in user statistics or research, it’s clear that now we are in a digital era, content is more relevant than it has ever been. From photos, video, infographics, games, blog posts, and online-only promotions, to newsletters, case studies and testimonials, guides and white papers, there’s no shortage of material that you can use to engage your customers through online channels. In some ways, much of this is not new: PR, for example, has always used a variety of content to get the message across – be it a product announcement, third party endorsement, or photo call. But what ‘content marketing’ offers is much more than an evolution of the traditional PR model because it can be used right through the marketing mix – and social networks are driving it. This means that in this new age of content, the guiding principle is that it’s got to be something that people can engage with – and, crucially, share with their own networks. Discoverability, shareability, virality, whatever you want to call it is the

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

modern-day tech equivalent of word of mouth and is just as powerful for broadening the reach of your brand. Producing lots of unique, engaging content will not only drive interaction but will have the added benefit of improving your SEO results, too. But there are some age-old fundamentals that still apply. Content should be relevant, both to your audience, and also your brand and therefore your long-term business objectives – otherwise it’s time, effort and money that is going to make little impact on the people who see it. Have a brand ‘story’ and stick to it. Another thing not to lose sight of is that whatever your content strategy, it should be founded on a deep understanding of your customers and how they perceive your brand. Evaluation is the key to knowing what your audiences are reacting to – and what they’re not. Tools such as Google Analytics can give a snapshot of where your web traffic is coming from – be it social media, a link from another site, a link from your e-newsletter and so on. Having a ‘content strategy’ sounds expensive – and if it’s what’s required in

order to meet your brand objectives, then you may need to set aside some of your marketing budget to create content. We’ve carried out numerous marketing healthchecks for potential clients, and regularly found that digital content is one area where improvements can be made. For example, three ways to kick start your content strategy could include: • Ensuring your website is reviewed and updated regularly. This includes adding all press releases to your website and then alerting people to new content on the site via social media. • Produce a regular newsletter. These can be emailed out on a regular basis, making them a very cost-effective and targeted way to communicate with existing and potential customers, suppliers and partners, giving them an up to date impression of what your business is all about and building the relationship with them. • Create a blog – and keep up to date. It tells people what your business is all about and demonstrates your credibility and authority in whatever sector you operate in. It can help with SEO and gives you something that you can share through other online channels such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and your newsletter. What you say and how you say it is what marketing is all about; ‘content’ is not another buzz-word, it’s actually about getting back to basics and engaging with the people you want to build a relationship with in a way that means something to them and which they want to tell other people about. For a FREE marketing healthcheck, email hello@horizonworks.co.uk.

Karol is...

This year sees full service PR and marketing agency Karol celebrate a very special anniversary. It has won more than 70 industry awards, worked with clients from Newcastle to New Zealand, and even helped to launch a tent into space as part of a campaign for outdoors giant Vango ... the last 21 years certainly haven’t been dull for North East-based Karol Marketing! Celebrating its landmark birthday this month, Karol was launched by Stefan Lepkowski in 1992 and since then has worked with prestigious brands such as Nike, Reebok, Karrimor and O’Neill, as well as a wide range of high profile North East organisations, including Newcastle University Business School, Newcastle Great Park, JR Holland, The Toffee Factory, Darlington Borough Council and Newcastle International Airport. “When I started in PR we used to sit on the floor, sticking captions on photographic prints and stuffing envelopes with press releases,” says Stefan, from Karol’s HQ in Newcastle’s vibrant Ouseburn district. “Times have changed a great deal since then!” Stefan took the leap and launched Karol (which happens to be his middle name) following a successful career with outdoors activities brand Berghaus, where, in 1990, he was appointed head of public relations. Karol’s embryonic stage saw Stefan working from home, but within 12 months he’d set up an office on Newcastle’s Quayside, having taken on his first employee. And the firm has never looked back. The following two decades have seen Karol undertake numerous awardwinning campaigns for regional, national and international clients and be named PR Consultancy Team Of The Year five times. The company’s first award came in 1999, for a direct marketing initiative for Zurich-based textiles specialist Stotz and Co AG, and the accolades kept on coming, with more than 70 awards won since the turn of the millennium. And the momentum shows no sign of stopping either. In the 2012 Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Awards, for instance, Karol triumphed in the Consumer Relations category for its Cracking It With Cracknell campaign: this focused on re-building Karrimor’s reputation in the climbing and outdoor market, using Olympic Gold

Medallist and adventurer James Cracknell as a figurehead. Stefan has appeared in PR Week’s annual Power Book – celebrating the UK’s most influential people in PR – five years in a row, he’s served as chairman of the North East Branch of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, lead Newcastle City Council’s Local Strategic Partnership for a Prosperous Newcastle and sat on the board of the Ouseburn Trust. Indeed, Karol is very much a part of the fabric of Newcastle’s Ouseburn area. In 2000, Stefan bought the landmark Fighting Cocks pub, overlooking the River Tyne, and converted it into a 6000 sq ft glass and steel office – now known as The Old Pub - which has housed the thriving agency ever since. “I never imagined Karol would have been as successful as it has been but 21 years later I realise we have still only scratched the surface,” says Stefan. “I’m extremely grateful to all of our clients, regionally, nationally and internationally, who’ve placed their trust in us.” The agency’s current client base is as diverse as ever, drawing from sectors including security, leisure, retail, outdoor, leisure, fashion, sport and finance. Recent client wins include The All In One Company, a bespoke ‘onesie’ manufacturer based in Northumberland and Signature, a leading awarding body in deaf communications. Karol has also been working with foreign-based clients, such as Scandinavian retail powerhouse Airport Retail Group (which launched its pilot store in Newcastle International Airport), German leisure group Vaude and Italian company Asolo, who are all using the firm’s expertise and market knowledge to engage with the UK market. Stefan concludes: “We’re emerging from a recession and businesses across the UK and Europe are beginning to invest again. That goes hand in hand with raised business and brand profiles, all of which is good news for Karol Marketing Group. The next five years are going to be very exciting!”

To find out more about now Karol Marketing can help your business, tel: (0191) 265 7765, email: info@karolmarketing.com or visit www.karolmarketing.com

MEDIA

Follow the leaders Meet the all-new leadership behind the all-new onebestway; the agency that’s changed how (and how much) businesses invest in advertising.

nebestway is proud of the leadership it offers its clients and the design and marketing agency knows that when a leadership team is right, when individual goals are clear and when the

business they are leading actually stands for something distinct, good things can happen. The key team members at onebestway include design director and general manager, Paul Newcombe, senior account manager and head

of client services, Gileng Sullivan, and technical director, Mark Probert. Between them, they have built a new onebestway that takes an innovative approach to the delivery of business communications ...

Meet Paul. The wise one.

aul arrived at onebestway as a graduate designer in 2004. Nine years later he has managed the studio, made board level decisions, hired and fired and is now a director and shareholder. “I’ve been described by some as ‘the mum’. I believe that’s a compliment; but I’m sometimes not sure,” he says. Paul leads the onebestway business in 2013 and admits he can worry about how much he worries. “I want everything and everyone to be OK. And it’s in my nature to be helpful and supportive. The new approach to leadership, with our complementary skills and approaches, allow us to demand a lot more but to be fair at the same time. People know what is expected of them.” This year, onebestway is projecting to have a higher turnover in this year than the previous 12 years. Paul believes this is down to just two things:

“Firstly it’s about setting standards incredibly high, then surpassing them. Secondly, its about running a business that has an opinion, that stands for something and that stands out. onebestway is different. The advice we give is unlike any other agency and often defies

“Things are easier when you know what you are being measured against; when you know what success looks like.” commonly accepted business practices. But because it works – our clients make more profit – we keep saying it. Our approach is very clever. We help people sell more. That’s it.” Paul has been promoted to head up the entire day-to-day business, and has chosen who he

wants to lead alongside him. In the design studio the mantra is, ‘brief in, excellence out’. Paul’s design team is measured by the accuracy and quality of the design output but also the degree to which the client’s brand position is supported and how progressive the actual design solution is as measured by worldindustry standards. “Things are easier when you know what you are being measured against; when you know what success looks like,” he adds. “I wanted a team of three people to lead the three divisions of the business – client services, design and technical. I chose carefully and it’s working well. We’re all very different but I guess that’s the point. The buck ends with me, which can be frightening at times; but I’m OK with that.” “onebestway has to deliver. We're here to sell our client's products and services. That's it. That goal goes through every idea we get, every word we write, every image we create.”

Meet Gileng. The sophisticated one.

ileng is an English Literature graduate in her early 20s. She arrived at onebestway in 2011 and has moved from role to role to role. Each new challenge she has approached willingly – and succeeded every time. Something that has not gone unnoticed by the owners of the business. Gileng now heads up client services and is building a formidable team. “If we are a restaurant, we’re The Ivy. If we are an airline, we’re Singapore Airlines. If we’re a hotel, we’re The Four Seasons,” she explains. onebestway is currently investing heavily in an office refurbishment at St. Peter’s Marina in Newcastle, all part of creating amazing, consistent and inspiring client experiences at

onebestway. All overseen by Gileng. “I see myself as a very organised person. I see things that others don’t see and I can get annoyed when things aren’t perfect. “In the past, onebestway has delivered great

“Meeting clients’ expectations is ordinary. Exceeding expectation, delighting and amazing is extraordinary. And that’s what I want.” work, a fact perhaps supported by its collection of more than 70 design awards, but the ‘onebestway experience’ was inconsistent. “At the old onebestway, we set our

standards high, but I now want them to be even higher. I don’t want ordinary. “Thankfully, complaints were rare but they did still very occasionally happen. Some clients would say nothing and others would praise us. We ‘fed’ off the praise and let that help us decide how good we were. That’s not what we do any more. “Meeting clients’ expectations’ is ordinary. Exceeding expectation, delighting and amazing is extraordinary. That’s what I want. “At onebestway we have a saying, ‘sales drive the business – customer satisfaction (and beyond) is the fuel’. “I start where other businesses often finish,” adds Gileng. “It’s hard; continually finding new ways to make people adore the experience that they have with us, but as a team, we are getting better and better.”

Meet Mark. The demanding one. nebestway’s newly appointed technical director has been at onebestway for three years. Two and a half years in, Mark was at a crossroads. He didn’t know whether to stay and continue to build something amazing at onebestway or somewhere else. “I think I was in danger of getting frustrated. I have to be working on projects that really, really push what not only we can do but what our industry is doing. The work we were doing was really, good. But I wanted it to be better. “I also wanted to be inside a team that really cared too. Now that we are pushing the work further, as well as taking this new approach to leadership it’s all good. I’ve stayed

and I’m taking this challenge on. To be given the chance to lead alongside Paul and Gileng is great for me. And great for onebestway.” In the three-way leadership team Mark is the demanding one. Somehow, he manages to

“… I do push them beyond what they think that they can do.” be demanding and likeable at the same time. Technical development at onebestway is very slick. “The technical team understand the vision. I keep things simple. Because my team’s role

is narrowly focused I guess in some ways it’s easier – all they have to do is to build amazing software solutions that work, quickly and accurately. And I do push them beyond what they think that they can do.” Mark’s the leader with the clearest day-today vision. In teams it’s important to have one person or one approach that is uncompromising, but that needs to be managed. Paul’s nurturing approach and experience, balanced with Gileng’s standard setting and Mark’s craving to be – and to be seen to be – the very best around means that the team of three works well. “I accept that between the three of us we’re running something good. My approach doesn’t work all the time. I help them and they help me.”

What

onebestway says:

“How much is your marketing budget this year compared to last year? OK; it should be less.” Most marketing managers look to increase their marketing budgets year on year. This is the exact opposite of what should be happening. When brand messaging is strong, right and meaningful at the outset – you can say what you have to say much less often.

“Say less to your customers.” We live in an over communicated world. If you are the longest established, highest quality, friendliest, fastest, first, best trained company with more choice – you’re doing it wrong. What is it you wanted me to remember again?

“Clarity trumps creativity – every time”. The onebestway design team is smart and adventurous in its approach, but the delivery of clear messaging is far more important than creativity. So much design looks good – but says nothing. That’s wrong.

“Target fewer people.” A narrow focus to the market does not mean a narrow focus to the mind. Consumers make decisions based upon what and whom they perceive you to be for. If you are ‘for anyone’ (too broadly focused) there is no perception that’s easy to latch on to. You blend in.

“Stop innovating.” Truly great brands are consistent. Find out why you are amazing, build your messaging around that and stick to it.

“Stop communicating.” Tricky to get your head around. But true. ‘Communicating’ is different to ‘positioning’. Supported by sister business Violet Bick, onebestway helps businesses to really stand for something distinct, motivating and compelling rather than a random list of me-too attributes. This point is for businesses that get frustrated by the fact that their messaging is pretty much the same as everyone else’s in their market.

“Set your initial advertising budget for your new venture at the following ... £0.” Advertising should normally only be used only to reinforce an existing brand position or existing perceptions. It’s too expensive and inappropriate for building perception in the first instance. Use PR, design and (some) marketing for that.

“It’s better to be different than it is to be better”. A really strange sentence. But another very important one. Most businesses we meet are fighting the wrong fight. Imagine that you had a carpet cleaner that genuinely did have better suction than Dyson. Would you take them on? Don’t bother. You won’t beat them. They were ‘first to mind.’ They are perceived to be better than you and you won’t change that. Don’t try to be better; be different. Be a lighter, better looking or more easily stored carpet cleaner – but don’t try to beat them in the area of ‘suction’. It’s the wrong battle.

onebestway is based in St. Peter’s Basin, one mile east of Newcastle city centre. Call (0191) 27 666 27, email hello@onebestway.com or visit www.onebestway.com.

MEDIA

Are you monitoring

social media? Sarah Hall, managing director of Sarah Hall Consulting Ltd, the PR and marketing consultancy, looks at why businesses need to monitor social media and how this can help.

here’s no getting away from the fact that all organisations need to embrace social media. Too often I meet business leaders who are daunted by this or see the activity as very risky – but the fact is, people are talking about your brand on the various channels anyway, so you might as well be part of the conversation and influence this. In terms of a practical way of getting started, I often suggest creating profiles on the social media platforms relevant to the individual company and monitoring these. In this way it’s possible to familiarise yourself with the channels, see how others use each one and start to research what is being said about your product and service, not to mention your industry. There are lots of good reasons for doing this as the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) latest guidance on social media monitoring sets out. Published at the end of July and available to all CIPR members, it’s worth asking your PR practitioner about this because the report profiles all the latest social media monitoring tools, as well as how companies can establish workflows to help implement and manage insights. If your PR specialist isn’t a CIPR member, have a conversation with them about that too. The CIPR sets out professional standards, trains and qualifies PR professionals and provides a code of conduct so you can see what to expect from people who work in public relations. If you work with CIPR members, you get a higher standard and they are accountable if you ever have cause for complaint. The CIPR guidance defines social media monitoring as the, “detection of when and where your brand has been mentioned on the

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

web”. It contrasts this with analytics, which is the ability to, “understand what is being said about your brand, including the frequency of mentions, the reach of mentions, the influence of those sources and the sentiment felt towards the brand”. Of course, the latter only comes into play when you’ve become active on social media and are not just watching, which is why we’re not talking about that further here. You may well be asking what the purpose of monitoring is and thinking it’s all a bit pointless or a drain on resources. In fact, the type of information that can be gained can be invaluable. For example, by monitoring Twitter you might see a series of complaints about a particular aspect of your customer service that you weren’t aware was an issue. Cascading that back and rectifying the situation – and telling customers the problem has been addressed – could quickly strengthen your client relationships, create loyalty, generate further sales and have a positive impact on your bottom

line. Research has shown that responsiveness is a key part of building trust among customers. Some of the additional ways in which the CIPR states monitoring can be beneficial include: • Identifying risks and issues at any early stage • Measuring sentiment (how people feel about your brand, including against competitors) • Testing new campaign concepts • Identifying industry trends • Identifying gaps in the market • Identifying potential candidates for recruitment. The list is a lot longer than that and takes into consideration how the information can help different departments within an organisation but this gives you a feel for the type of information that can be gathered. So, social media monitoring is not to be sneezed at and as a bare minimum should definitely form part of the annual SWOT analysis that your business does. Making sure you use the information that you’ve gained is critical which is why the workflow element to the CIPR’s report is so important. After all, if you don’t respond to customers and enhance your product and service in light of their feedback, the activity becomes completely worthless. The key is – as ever – to seek professional advice if you need support in this area and there are plenty CIPR members around who will be more than happy to help. For more PR and marketing related news and articles, please visit http://blog.sarahhallconsulting.co.uk.

STYLE

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

Belted Biker Coat, £47, Dunnes Stores

Blonde & Blonde Heritage ripped skinny jeans, £35, BANK Fashion

Electric blue roll neck wrap top, £200, Joseph Ribkoff

Obey Me black boots, £55, Office

ummer may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean your style has to suffer. If, like so many women, you find the transition from summer wear to winter wear tricky, there are plenty of ways to tweak your wardrobe to ensure you’re dressed right and on trend. Cobalt blue (most notably seen in Victoria Beckham’s AW13 collection) is set to be a smash-hit-shade this season and one that lends itself to both comfy casual wear and work attire, too. Bored of your office outfits? Why not clash cobalt with boardroom-friendly shades, such as slate grey and black, to brighten up your look? When it comes to weekends, stay on trend by sporting one of this season’s most influential trends: punk. A biker jacket and slouchy polo top teamed with a pair of skinny jeans and biker boots, make this rebellious trend easy to pull off.

Chunky Gun Metal Grey necklace, £35, Freedom at Topshop

MODEL ATTIRE High neck knitted sweater: £30 Geo midi skirt: £30 Black and cobalt wing bag: £25 All from Dorothy Perkins

Multicoloured cobalt bag, £39, Miss Selfridge

WORKSPACE & CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Retailers head to Cramlington The retail park redevelopment in Cramlington gets underway, as new retailers sign up.

ammerson has signed two new retailers to Cramlington for its Manor Walks Retail Park redevelopment, as work starts

on site. Dixon's Retail has taken a 975mÂ˛ (10,500ftÂ˛) unit for a 2-in-1 superstore for its Currys and PC World brands. The new store will showcase 5,000 product lines and will include a number of interactive 'demo tables' giving customers a handson shopping experience - allowing them to pick up, turn on and test a wide range of products from premium brands including Apple, Sony and Samsung. The refurbishment of the retail park is part of Hammerson's wider plans for Cramlington, which include the leisure redevelopment of Manor Walks Shopping Centre, anchored by VUE which opened in July 2013. James Rowbotham, development manager for Hammerson, commented: "There is a significant gap in major retail brands in Cramlington which our

redevelopment of both the shopping centre and retail park at Manor Walks has been able to address. There is strong

NE commercial property market stabilising

Tynemouth station shortlisted for award

emand for shops, offices and industrial units in the North East remained steady during the second quarter of the year (April-June) as a stable number of would-be tenants registered their interest for available business property, according to the latest quarterly RICS commercial property survey. The amount of available retail property across the North East increased (by 3 percent), while a net balance of 11 percent more surveyors reported a rise in the amount of available offices on the market. However, available industrial units dipped slightly.

he restoration of Tynemouth Railway Station, engineered by Ramboll, has been shortlisted for The Structural Awards 2013. The prestigious awards celebrate achievement, innovation and excellence in the field of structural engineering. All kinds of structures are recognised, from skyscrapers and bridges to sports arenas and restoration projects. The Tynemouth Railway Station project saw the careful restoration and retention of the existing Grade II Listed cast iron roof (dating back to 1881), achieved despite considerable corrosion and widespread cracking found throughout the structure.

consumer demand and by widening the town's retail offer we are confident of capturing growing retail spend."

Development company going for gold

development company is on course to secure a major industry award for its health and safety standards. For nine years running, Gus Robinson Developments has been presented with the Gold Award from the safety charity the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in recognition of its approach to occupational health and safety. It now means the Hartlepool company is in line for the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Award in 2014 if it continues to maintain its high standards.

PROPERTY

The art of living The inspiration behind Gentoo’s Meadow View development in Houghton-le-Spring. ave you ever wondered why you choose to live where you do? Yes, you love the home, but could it also be the rural location, the space to spread your wings and enjoy a little of the quiet life. The comfort of knowing you’re just a stone’s throw from the city or a short walk from local shops, restaurants and bars. A place to put down roots or somewhere to put your feet up and relax after a busy day. It’s what people, planet and property business Gentoo call the Art of Living and this is their inspiration behind all of their new developments. Meadow View, located in Houghton-leSpring, is a premier new development of 58 brand new luxury homes on spacious plots. The highly anticipated opening of the beautiful four-bedroom Sycamore show home on September 7 will reveal how Gentoo’s vision of improving its customer’s art of living is put into practice. With a high specification as standard and larger than average plots, Gentoo builds homes where their customers can grow, and have everything that they need to live their life to its full potential. Offering a selection of high quality two, three and four bedroom homes, Meadow View really does have something for everyone. Located close to both Houghton and

Newbottle town centres, the development provides convenient access to a range of local amenities including restaurants, supermarkets and cafes, all from a beautiful, rural setting. With a selection of primary and secondary schools close by and excellent transport links to all of the major road networks, it really is the ideal location for couples and families alike who want to escape busy City Centre living. Head of new homes sales, marketing and customer care, Jayne Hore said: “At Gentoo, we really do believe in the Art of Living, and when planning all of our developments we look at what we can do to help improve it for our customers for the long term; whether it’s including green space for the local community or in built green initiatives to keep household running costs down, we listen to what they want. “Buying a new home is one of the most important purchases anyone can make and everyone has different priorities. For some it’s finding the perfect location, for others it’s the quality of the build, the extra space a new home will provide or the ability to tailor their home to their own specification. “We really do think about our customers needs when creating our homes and we’ve done just that with Meadow View. “All of the homes at Meadow View will offer

a remarkably high specification as standard on large plots. Its location is perfect for those wanting to enjoy life away from the hustle and bustle of the city but still have the ability to commute to all parts of the region. “The development is really starting to take shape and the opening of the fantastic new show home on September 7 will demonstrate to customers the high quality of our homes and the value for money that they provide.” Incentives such as New Buy, Free Assisted Move and Part Exchange are available at the development to make purchasing a new home as easy and simple as possible. The Government backed Help to Buy scheme is also available making your dream home now even more accessible. Help to Buy means that you only need to secure a mortgage on 75 per cent of the property’s value with a minimum 5 per cent deposit to qualify. The Government will lend you up to 20 per cent of the value of the property through an equity loan which can be repaid at any time or on the sale of your home. Three bedroom homes at the development are priced from only £127,960 when purchasing using the Help to Buy Scheme. For more information about the development, visit www.meadowviewhoughton.co.uk or call (0191) 525 5050.

PROPERTY

A word from Hannah Hannah Lamb on Charles Lamb Residential Lettings’ new partnership with Cooke and Co.

ast month saw the launch of a new service for our clients. Since taking over from my father last year, it has always been my vision to diversify the company and to take it in a new direction providing services that cover all aspects of property management. The next logical step, therefore, was to provide my clients with the ability to buy and sell their investment properties to like-minded investors with the reassurance that the person behind the sale was fully equipped to answer the questions that a potential purchaser would want to know about the letting and management history, achievable rents and yields. In order to make this service work best for our clients, I have teamed up with Nigel Cooke of Cooke and Co Estate Agents who has over 30 years’ experience in selling properties in and around the North East.

With Nigel’s strong sales background and my knowledge of property management, we aim to provide a much more detailed and dynamic service to help our clients achieve

the best possible price when selling. Our first property went on the market in mid-August and has already generated a high level of interest amongst are direct contacts. The property is a four-bedroom upper maisonette on Grosvenor Road in Jesmond. It has been in the Lamb family for over 40 years and has always generated a good income for the landlord. The property is being sold with tenants in situ on a 12 month assured short hold tenancy until June 30, 2014. The property brings in an annual rent of £15,600 and is priced at offers over £230,000. There are a further five properties in the pipeline being prepped for sale and will be advertised in due course. If anyone is interested in purchasing any potential investment properties, please contact me on (0191) 281 6200 or Nigel Cooke on (0191) 251 0011.

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

£3 million investment

fter 8 months of operation in residence at Clavering Place – a newly revived heritage district of Newcastle – Roomzzz Aparthotel has announced it is investing a further £3 million and expand its site. Expansion will take form as a further 60 new build suites, which will incorporate the original Georgian townhouse, Friar House, which currently houses

14 hotel suites. Friar House, one of Newcastle’s most historic and celebrated residences, was brought back by Roomzzz Aparthotel to become a luxurious, yet affordable, hotel. Phase one saw 12 months and £5 million invested in an extensive restoration, which opened in late 2012, and phase two will begin in early autumn 2013. Mark Walton, head of Roomzzz Aparthotel, said: “Our further

investment into Newcastle illustrates our commitment to provide quality across the board for both the city and our guests. Phase two will allow us to attract more visitors to the city and to meet our customers’ demand for more high quality, affordable accommodation in the city.There are some fabulous hotels in the area, but the transformation of Friar House really raises the game.”

Flying high

New partnership

Turning Ashes into wine

he Doubletree by Hilton Newcastle International Airport Hotel has become the only airport-based property in the UK to feature in the prestigious Expedia Insiders’ Select list for 2013. The recently released list, based on reviews submitted by users of online travel agency, Expedia, is designed to recognise hotels that consistently deliver superior services, an exceptional guest experience and notable value. The hotel is one of only 21 UK-based properties to be included in the worldwide list and is currently ranked at number 321 of 650 hotels around the world, based on reviews of more than 205,000 properties available on Expedia-branded sites.

n the hope of driving conference business to Tyneside, the Sandman Signature Hotel has set up a partnership with Sodexo Prestige, which runs the catering and events at St James’ Park, to offer a 24-hour conference package to anyone holding a conference, meeting or event in Newcastle. St James’ Park offers extensive conference and event facilities in the North East, including the Bamburgh suite, which can seat up to 100 guests for a dinner, and the new deal with the awardwinning Sandman Signature Hotel means that organisers can hold their events at NUFC and enjoy a special rate for its accommodation.

avid Harker, who has spent 13 years as chief executive of Durham Country Cricket Club (DCCC), has embarked on another venture as the new owner of Newcastle Wine School. Jesmond-based wine-enthusiast and businessman, Chris Powell, founded the school in 2000. It was the first location for the successful localwineschool.com franchise – a UK-wide network of independent wine schools providing tastings and courses for people who want to learn more about wine. David will be offering evening tastings, Saturday events and four and eight-week courses.The next eight-week World of Wine course begins on September 10 at Blackfrairs Restaurant.

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Participants: Anna Stacy, head of conference & events, Sage Gateshead (chair) Ken Ellington, general manager, Copthorne Hotel Newcastle and Joint Chair of North East Hotels Association Alex Mackee, operations manager, NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau Rebecca Johnson, head of research, Explain Market Research Ltd Andy Naylor, group communications manager, Benfield Motor Group

Anna Stacy: Corporate hospitality, in this instance, is defined as any event for the benefit of an organisation and, including launches, events, conferences and dinners, has had a turbulent time since the start of the recession. Today’s discussion is all about the current climate and what the future holds for the industry here in the North East. Let’s start with what the economic downturn has meant for us all. How has the sector affected you?

Ken Ellington:

For the hospitality sector, the tough times kicked in at the end of 2008 and, in fairness, the market hasn’t recovered. From a public sector perspective, the hit was immediate and we are still nowhere near pre-2009 levels. It’s not been a lot better on the private sector side, although a few green shoots of recovery have started to show. The hotel sector in Newcastle City Centre was largely immune to the recession until 2011 when a large number of new properties also launched and the impact for us all was quick and hard. Corporates put a lot of restrictions in place about their events and these have been maintained. Today everyone has to justify what they are doing that much more, whether it’s a Christmas event, staff drinks party or an annual conference.

Andy Naylor:

Benfield has continued to invest in corporate hospitality because we see it as a key to building our brand and creating networking opportunities. Smart businesses recognise that in a downturn, you really need to get close to your customers and build relationships with prospects. Hospitality doesn’t have to cost a lot if it’s done well and forms part of your wider strategy.

Rebecca Johnson:

We have very clear guidelines to follow: - we don’t entertain anyone we don’t work with already, as we don’t want to be seen as buying business in any way. We entertain our valued clients as an added extra and we’ve grown throughout the recession so our budgets haven’t decreased. That said, we have moved away from sponsorship and are focusing instead on workshop sessions, preferring one-to-ones to larger corporate events.

Alex Mackee: We get a lot more requests for ‘unflashy’ events. Businesses want something more personalised that, perhaps, links in with their CSR policy. For example, just offering customers tickets to a jolly at the match no longer cuts it.Things need to have much more depth and reason when marketing budgets are so tight.

Anna:

At Sage Gateshead, we’ve very much had to look at new routes to market, for example by looking at CSR policies, how we can add value. It’s all about building packages that fit the client’s business objectives.

Ken: I should also say the way we sell corporate hospitality has changed because of all of this: we are much more benefit-led in our messaging.

Anna: So, looking ahead, how can we make the sector more resilient? Andy:

There are a number of businesses that are regularly seen on the events circuit. In a region that likes to back its own, there is definitely an opportunity for businesses to collaborate on certain events, allowing them to build a shared platform and customer database without a conflict of interest.

Rebecca:

Finding events with wide appeal is something we struggle with. It would be great to have something that suits a broad range of people as our client base is very diverse.

Anna: Is corporate hospitality a necessity or a luxury? Andy: As ever, it depends on the purpose of and how you position your hospitality invitation. A business dinner for awards or networking purposes is very different to a day at the races. Although you have to be careful how you are seen to reward customers and entertain prospects – at Benfield we consider it a necessity.

Anna: What measures should be put in place to ensure our events are successful? Is it possible to determine the ROI of an event?

Ken: The key to success and achieving strong ROI is in the planning. For example, speaking on behalf of the Copthorne and the North East Hotels Association, we carry out highly targeted fam trips during which we aim to honestly present what the product or service is on offer. We minimise risk by putting across a very clear message so time, budget and resources aren’t wasted and this helps justify our work.

Alex: It is difficult to measure. Results aren’t necessarily immediate.You might see considerable ROI when someone gets in touch six years after attending a fam trip. People want instant results when it comes to budget spend, which you can’t often give. The way forward is to be pragmatic but realistic and look at lifetime value.

Anna:

The corporate hospitality sector is quite complex. Does it need simplifying?

Andy:

There is an education job to do; businesses don’t necessarily understand how corporate hospitality can benefit the bottom line.There are stigmas and misperceptions that need to be addressed. It’s not necessarily a hard sell. Ken’s fam trips are an excellent way of helping people sample the product. If they haven’t sampled, how you expect people to buy?

Rebecca:

Awareness of what is available isn’t strong – we’re an SME and the perception is that budgets need to be huge, but that’s not the case if you’re clever. That needs to be explored further.

Anna:

So, to conclude today’s debate, what does the future hold for the corporate hospitality sector?

Ken:

I think the next few years are set to be equally tough. Those looking longer term and acting accordingly will experience the most growth.

Alex: It’s going to be difficult, but the key will be to embrace new ways of working to ensure the sector remains as buoyant.

Anna: For us, it’s a chance to be creative and present something new and fresh, which should be seen as a positive. Special thanks goes to Sarah Hall of Sarah hall Consulting (tel: 07702 162 704 /sarah@sarahhallconsulting.co.uk).

INTERVIEW

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

Damon Roberts General manager at Thistle Middlesbrough and joint chair of the North East Hotels Association

PAST

PRESENT

FUTURE

think hotels have always been in my blood. My career started in the local pub clearing glasses at the age of 15. I completed my City and Guilds in Plymouth in 1978 and was successful in securing a trainee manager position at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay, one of only two 5 star hotels outside London at that time. This allowed me to cover all areas of the hotel industry and back then we worked any shift required over six days, the pay was £95 per month, with accommodation provided! The customer was king and with no computer, everything was done manually from the booking process using huge diaries to record all the details against individual room numbers, the head chef shouted the orders out across the kitchen and God forbid you got anything wrong! The uniforms were from a different era with tail coats for the head waiters, top hat and tails for the concierge, gold braid for bell boys and waiters. Everyone stood ramrod straight and smiled all of the time.

he key change in our industry is the use of technology to support our service. The innovation of the internet has allowed us to sell our products worldwide, there is more choice – boutique, budget, urban, mid scale, quirky, country house, the options are endless. We now take it for granted that our hotel facilities can be viewed online and a reservation made from anywhere in the world, payment is made and the guest arrives at their destination confident that the room is ready. Similar to the airline industry, ‘dynamic pricing’ allows hotels to flex rates according to local demand, offering customers an instant choice on rate and room type. Service is still the key factor in our guests’ satisfaction and every hotelier focuses on this key aspect of the business. Orders are taken for meals using electronic pads, sent straight to the kitchen, printed out and prepared for service, no shouting and no drama.

s chairman of the North East Hotels Association I read a lot about the future of our industry. New brands are being developed to target smaller niche markets, room ‘pods’ sold by the hour, fully automated apart from cleaning. Hotels designed to attract specific nationalities, sporting prowess or educational breaks. Sustainability will play a key role in reducing energy demands making hotels increasingly eco friendly and rightly so. Technology will continue to accelerate, evermore on the go, doing anything from anywhere. You will check in online from home, hold your phone up to your room lock to gain entry, never having to go near reception unless you want to. Smart TVs will eventually become holograms carried around in your pocket. Video conferencing at meetings is already being overtaken by personal conferencing on individual tablets. But for all hotels the satisfaction of our guests will remain our priority, even more so given the increased choice they will have to enjoy the additional leisure time we are supposed to have! I wonder, who will operate the first hotel on the Moon?

TIMELINE 1978: Trainee manager, Imperial Hotel Torquay 1982: Junior management positions with Trusthouse Forte 1995: General manager, Posthouse Teesside 1999: Area general manager, InterContinental Hotels 2006: General manager, Thistle Newcastle 2010: General manager, Thistle Middlesbrough and joint chair of the North East Hotels Association

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Viva Italia! The Martino group opens its third eatery.

he Martino’s group of restaurants has recently opened its third restaurant, Martino’s Jarrow, which offers delicious Italian food in an authentic atmosphere. Martino’s use only the best produce available in order to provide a high quality service that leaves their customers satisfied every time. The à la carte menu boasts something for everyone, from fish and seafood to exquisite pasta dishes, and an extensive meat selection. Martino’s eateries also have a wide range of stone baked pizzas and main course dishes, as well as many side and bread options that will perfectly accompany any choice. As well as the à la carte menu, Martino’s is pleased to offer three-course specials which runs in all three of its restaurants between 12pm to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. This menu includes soup or potato skins, pizza or pasta and a range of desserts for just £4.95 per person, allowing diners to sample the

delights of Martino’s menu for a fraction of the cost. Each of the restaurants are individually decorated with a true Italian feel, almost transporting you to the cities of Rome, Sicily or Sardinia. Along with a fully licenced bar in each venue, the Martino’s group ensure that whatever the occasion for your visit, you have enjoyed their Italian experience to its full potential.

Following the success of the Seaham and Seaburn restaurants, the group opened its third restaurant in order to serve a wider audience, allowing its reputation to soar. Martino’s restaurants are open seven days a week, 365 days a year. To visit any of the restaurants and sample the delights on offer, you can find Martino’s Jarrow within Jarrow Civic Hall, 59-61 Ellison Street, Jarrow. To book a table call (0191) 483 26 90. Martino’s Sunderland based restaurants can be found on Dykelands Road, Seaburn, tel: (0191) 529 5295 and 19-20 North Railway Street, Seaham, tel: (0191) 513 0078. For more information, to sign up to Martino’s monthly newsletter or download a copy of the Martino’s menu, visit www.martinosleisure.co.uk. For regular posts, discounts and giveaways find Martino’s Restaurants or Martino’s Jarrow on Facebook and follow @MartinosGroup on Twitter.

Hire it h-all! Why Jarrow Civic Hall is ideal for your event.

s one of the North East’s longest standing venues, 150 year-old Jarrow Civic Hall has been hosting regular fundraising events for chosen charity, St. Bede’s church, Jarrow, as well as housing various private functions and celebrations. With an impressive restored grand ballroom, Jarrow Civic Hall’s flexible facilities can comfortably house both large and small sized events. The suite can easily facilitate from 20 to 130 delegates, with ample space to present and interact, a fully stocked bar and variety of catering options – including danish pastries and breakfast options, lunchtime menus and premium buffets that use fresh, locally sourced produce. Close to all public transport links, with adequate free, onsite parking, Jarrow Civic Hall is the perfect location for corporate events

and conferences. With phone, fax and broadband accessibility, free Wi-Fi access, visual aids and stationary available on request, each event will be tailored to suit your individual requirements.

The fully qualified and highly experienced team of events co-ordinators are on hand to ensure your event runs seamlessly. And with an inexhaustible list of local entertainers, fantastic links with regional businesses and suppliers and a rapid service with a nearby taxi firm, Jarrow Civic Hall is on hand to ensure your guests are looked after from the moment they enter the building to the time they get home. Jarrow Civic Hall can be found at 59-61 Ellison Street, Jarrow. To arrange a viewing of the grand ballroom or to discuss availability and conferencing and hospitality packages, email johnknowles@jarrowcivic.co.uk. To speak to a member of the events team or to find out about upcoming events call (0191) 406 9711 or for further information visit www.jarrowcivic.co.uk. For regular posts and updates please find and like The Civic Hall Limited on Facebook or follow @JarrowCivicHall on Twitter.

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY Paul Amer

Following in Marco’s footsteps Paul Amer, head chef of The Marco Pierre White Steakhouse at Hotel Indigo, Newcastle, talks to North East Times.

o be a great chef you have to be passionate, says Paul Amer, head chef of Marco Pierre White Steakhouse at Hotel Indigo, Newcastle. “Passionate about food, obviously, but also about your craft. When you work up to 16 hours in a 24 hour period, it becomes a lifestyle not a job and your family and their understanding of that is all part of the dream.” Newcastle born and bred, Paul is more than happy to be prodigy to the inimitable Mr White; putting his own ‘spin’ on the acclaimed chef’s formidable culinary reputation. For example, what can appear as a ‘simple’ dish, such as the British Pea and Ham Soup available at the Newcastle-based eatery, once deconstructed, turns out to be a 24 hour process broken down in many stages. So how do Paul deal with such a pressurised, fast moving environment? “I imagine it’s like going out on stage to a live audience, he says. “The kitchen is on show, so we need to be calm and organised, and we

“T

cook and prep to military precision. “Being in charge of 13 chefs and five kitchen porters, my kitchen crew are my brigade, and they all have their place and role in the team, none more important than my sous chef and right hand man, Norman Bradford. “The role between a head chef and sous is like a marriage: you get to learn body language, you can speak without saying anything. “The kitchen can be stressful but exciting. If you work hard and show flair, then you will get promoted. People need goals and we are constantly looking for and encouraging talent, be it as a pastry chef or as a conscientious kitchen porter. It’s like a dish, all the different ingredients need to come together to make a beautiful end result.” On his days off, Paul likes to spend time with his sons Joe and Bret, and he and his wife Gillian take long walks with the boys and their little pug, Bob. Paul says: “It’s such an antidote to the kitchen, the boys don’t care whether the

souffles rise or the sauce has a great shine. They are blissfully grounding and I am very lucky”. Returning to his role in the kitchen, Marco’s North East protégé reflects: “Cooking is like fashion. Trends change but true classics will always be around, and that’s what the Marco Pierre White menu is all about. Local produce is always best, but sometimes we have to look farther afield. Times are changing and the weather patterns don’t always mean we have ingredients in season as it should be. “We listen to our customers and the end result is a busy restaurant which always feels good.” For the chance to enjoy lunch or dinner with Marco Pierre White and Paul Amer on September 26 at The Marco Pierre White Steakhouse at Hotel Indigo Newcastle, or for general information on the restaurant, call (0191) 300 9222 or email info@mpwsteakhousenewcastle.com

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

Sunday lunch:

Jesmond Dene House Alison Cowie visits the four-star hotel and restaurant for Sunday lunch. unday lunch and fine dining isn’t a combination that usually goes together. But it’s what is on offer at Jesmond Dene House’s award-winning restaurant. And it seemed to be proving popular as the Sunday lunchtime I visited, the restaurant and adjacent conservatory was brimming with fellow diners – from couples to large family groups. On arrival, we were invited to sit in the lounge where we could enjoy an aperitif and peruse the menu while languishing on comfortable sofas. For a sunday lunch, the menu was surprising bountiful with a good selection of starters, mains and desserts. The accompanying wine list was also extensive and the knowledgeable staff was on

hand to navigate us through. While I and one of my dining companions opted for traditional roasts (loin of pork with crackling and roast sirloin of beef, respectively), the third member of our trio was attracted by the lamb navarin which proved a wonderful stew of rich slow-cooked lamb combined and fresh seasonal vegetables. The beef and pork was of an exceptional standard and justified the price. My only gripe was that some of the accompanying root vegetables weren’t cooked to perfection – as you would expect from a high-end establishment. Prior to our mains, our three starters were beautifully presented and much enjoyed, especially my black pudding scotch egg which was full of flavour and well executed. The choice of bread rolls (brown, white or a the

tasty sun-dried tomato and mozzarella) and butters (including an intriguing seaweed one) was also a lovely touch. Our desserts, too, were delightfully presented and the palova and blueberry tart garnered nothing but praise. Unfortunately, the shard of egg shell and slightly doughy madeleine with the creme bruleé dented the high standards that had been set by the rest of the meal. On the whole, Jemond Dene House successfully offers something different on a sunday lunchtime. It is the place to head for some top class cooking that you’d be very hard-pushed to recreate at home. Jesmond Dene House is located on Jesmond Road. For bookings call (0191) 212 3000 or visit www.jesmonddenehouse.co.uk

Black pudding scotch egg with confit tomato, mustard emulsion and mixed cress.

Broccoli soup with stilton and walnut tortellini

Chicken liver parfait with warm brioche

Superb colour and flavour combination.

Heady yet smooth and an impression portion, too.

£6

£7

Rare breed loin of pork, crackling and garden apple preserve

Lamb navarin with season vegetables

Melt-in-the-mouth beef with well tought-out trimmings.

Top quality pork and wonderfully brittle crackling; shame about the undercooked vegetables.

Deep rich lamb with a fragrantly light broth and fresh vegetables.

£18.50

£15.50

£11.95

Strawberry and white chocolate Pavlova

Blueberry tart with vanilla custard and cheesecake ice cream

Créme brulée with lemon madeleine

Tasted as good as it looked.

Light and fluffy tart with abundant fruit and good amount of custard.

Disappointing due to piece of egg shell and undercooked madeleine.

£6.50

£6

This modern take on a classic, was very tasty.

£6.95

Tim Oliver’s Belted Galloway roast sirloin of beef with Yorkshire pudding and Wylam Ale gravy

£7.50

COVER STORY

NEWCASTLE HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS:

VISION IS LAUNCHED

HILARY FRENCH, HEADMISTRESS OF CENTRAL NEWCASTLE HIGH SCHOOL AND FUTURE HEAD OF NEWCASTLE HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, TALKS TO ALISON COWIE ABOUT THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW SCHOOL’S BRAND AND VISION, AHEAD OF ITS OFFICIAL OPENING IN 2014. This month sees the launch of Newcastle High School for Girls’ brand and vision. The new independent school, which will open its doors in September 2014, will be the result of a merger between Central High and Church High. NHSG is backed by The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) with the aim of making the school a ‘beacon for excellence’ for girls’ education in the North East – aligning it with the very best in the UK. Speaking about the merger, the current headmistress of Central High and future head of NHSG, Hilary French, says: “We had two excellent girls’ school which were competing against each other and we realised, because we had so much in common, that it would be much better for the girls of the North East if we pooled our resources. “For a long time the GDST has wanted to make a statement about education in the North East. When the opportunity arose to create a new school, its Trustees could see it would be hugely beneficial to the region and – luckily for Newcastle – they endorsed the investment.” For this current academic year, Central High and Church High will continue to operate independently. In September 2014, the junior girls will be based at Chapman House in Sandyford which has recently undergone a major refurbishment under the Central High banner, opened by the Duchess of Northumberland in March.The senior girls will be at the Jesmond-based Central High site while work begins on the new senior school at the former Church High location. The senior school will join the junior school in offering cutting-edge educational facilities.

crest and represents the connection of the city with the local seaports,” says Hilary. “We also thought that it reflected a lot of positive virtues: commitment and making friendships for life. The seahorse is also one of the few species where the female is the dominant gender – which we thought was apt!” Alongside the logo, a bold and vibrant teal colour scheme (used in the school’s branding and uniforms) has also been decided upon to enable NHSG to be instantly recognisable.

CREATING 21ST CENTURY LEARNING As part of NHSG’s extensive preparations, a truly modern curriculum has been created to engage and inspire pupils, while also best preparing them for life after leaving school. In developing the curriculum, Hilary and her team spoke to employers, both regionally and nationally, to find out what skills they are looking for in graduates. “One of the things employers are saying is that young people find it difficult to collaborate and work in teams, and analyse things properly when presented with a problem. “The curriculum we’ve created encourages girls to think independently, analytically, logically, creatively and imaginatively; to show pupils that there are links between subjects and that learning is not confined to separate subject boxes and has no limits. “We want to make sure that learning goes hand in hand with a critically enquiring mind, from the start. To see that projects can be open ended and that there may be more than one answer.” “We’ve already started this approach with our junior pupils and this year’s SATS results were phenomenal proving the success of this approach. Co-curricular activities are an important element of the new school, too, described by Hilary as “absolutely essential.” She reveals: “We’ve made sure that all the staff joining NHSG are committed to sharing their passions with the girls. So, for instance, we have someone who is really interested in the history of Newcastle, someone who is interested in film and someone else who’s very interested in the classics and wants to teach the girls Greek. This is just a flavour of the cocurricular programme which will also incorporate the creative activities such as drama, music and dance, as well as all the sport and academic prizes and challenges available to the girls.”

BEGINNING A NEW ETHOS AND BRAND Since the announcement in January that Central High and Church High were to merge, a huge amount of work has gone into getting all elements of the new school right; with every detail being pored over to ensure the transition is smooth and successful for staff, parents, governors and – most importantly – pupils. NHSG has worked with local creative agency Drummond Central, which held focus groups with current and former pupils, parents, staff and governors, to create the branding for the new school. The logo of a seahorse has been carefully chosen to reflect the new school’s ethos as well as its home city. “The seahorse is emblematic of Newcastle – just look at the top of the Civic Centre. It features on Newcastle’s city

but it is a challenge that she is proud to accept. “It is so exciting, after 14 years of headship, to be given the opportunity to use all that experience and create what we know will be the perfect school for girls, building it up from scratch. “It’s also a humbling position. We must make sure the last year of Central and Church High schools – which have more than 250 years of history between them, and have had such an important role to play in so many people’s lives and in the history of the city – is a successful one. When we do close, we will do it properly so that people remember the schools in a positive way and we can take those feelings into Newcastle High School for Girls.

ALLOWING GIRLS TO UNDERSTAND WHO THEY ARE Hilary and her team recognise that school life is about much more than imparting knowledge and skills, and, ultimately, NHSG is looking to produce well-rounded and happy girls who are well equipped to excel in all aspects of life after school.. “One of our core aims is to produce grounded, principled, respectful women of integrity,” says Hilary. “We want to provide an environment where a girl can relax, develop her strengths and become a strong person, who can withstand some of the dreadful pressures that exist in our society. “It doesn’t happen overnight. Through the opportunities we provide and by allowing our girls to express their views and engage in debate, we will help instil values which we all need but aren’t necessarily celebrated in the wider world.” It is clear that the next 12 months will be very busy for Hilary,

For more information on Newcastle High School for Girls, call (0191) 201 6511 or visit newcastlehigh.gdst.net

OPEN MORNINGS FOR NEWCASTLE HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS WILL TAKE PLACE: JUNIOR SCHOOL Saturday October 5, 10am-1pm. Chapman House, Sandyford Park

SENIOR SCHOOL Saturday November 9, 10 am-1pm. Eskdale Terrace, Jesmond.

CHARITY

Kids 1st and Steps star supports Josie’s Dragonﬂy Trust Faye Tozer joins Kids 1st Wynyard nursery for a special day of fundraising. Wynyard nursery held a Dragonfly Day for North East children’s cancer charity, Josie’s Dragonfly Trust, on August 16 with a special guest visit from Faye Tozer from Brit group Steps. During their Dragonfly Day, the children from Kids 1st Wynyard participated in sponsored toddles, teddy bear picnics and a dance-a-thon to raise money for the charity. All of the children also made dragonfly penny collectors to collect spare change at home. As a patron of the charity, Faye joined the children to watch their dance performance and to tell them about the

charity they were raising money for. Kids 1st is the sponsors of the charity’s third annual Dragonfly Ball on Saturday, September 7. Set to be a spectacular evening and the biggest event to be held at Close House this year, tickets are now on sale for a night like no other. Entertainment will be provided by Paul Pashley who will be joined by his swing band and a very special guest, as well as other performers, fabulous prizes and plenty Dragonfly Surprises throughout the night. The Dragonfly Ball raises funds to brighten the lives of children and young people living with cancer.

Money raised goes towards providing cash gifts and Dragonfly Dreams to young cancer patients. The charity was set up six years ago by inspirational teenager Josie Grove shortly before she lost her battle with leukemia. Josie’s Dragonfly Trust now supports hundreds of children each year in cancer wards across the UK by offering a moment of happiness to create special memories with family and friends. For more information and to purchase tickets at £75 (tables of 10 available) call Dragonfly Head Office on (01434) 602043 or email jane.d@josiesdragonfly.org

EDUCATION

Alex Sim and Clara Nicolson.

Harriet Dulson.

News from

Dame Allan’s Schools August is the month of summer holidays ... and exam results. For Dame Allan’s the news has been outstanding, as students move from the Dame Allan’s to higher education or from the boys’ and girls’ schools to the sixth form.

A*A aces Eighteen-year-old Alex Sim is one of the 20 students from Dame Allan’s sixth form who were awarded all A*A grades in their A level exam results this year. “These are an excellent set of results,” said principal Dr John Hind. “It is particularly rewarding after predictions that last year’s national fall in the top grades may continue. I am also delighted to see so many girls being successful in the STEM subjects.” Clara Nicolson from Fenham has secured her place to study mechanical engineering at Warwick University with her four A grades in maths, further maths, biology and physics. Meanwhile, Lizzy Mansfield, 18, from Gosforth will be going to Oxford University to study physics and philosophy after securing A*s in physics, maths, further maths and an A in chemistry. Lizzy’s scientific talent was also recognised in the A* she was awarded in her extended project and the two prestigious Gold Crest awards she received from the British Science Association, earlier this year. “It must be said that our students have performed well this year, not just those who have achieved the highest grades, and they should all be congratulated,” added Dr Hind.

Formula for success

Harriet Dulson proved she had a winning formula when she was awarded a perfect 100 per cent in her chemistry GCSE to add to her superlative set of all A*A grades. Harriet, from Burnopfield, and fellow student, Susie Barwise-Munro, both achieved full marks in all their modules in chemistry. Fiona Mansfield also achieved 100 per cent in her GCSE in French. They share the distinction of achieving top grades in all their GCSE subjects with the 26 pupils from Dame Allan’s girls’ and boys’ schools who achieved the outstanding results of all A*A grades. But there was no call for inter-school rivalry this year as there were almost as many boys as girls being awarded top marks. “I believe the non-existent gender gap this year demonstrates the success of Dame Allan’s diamond structure,” said principal Dr John Hind. “Boys and girls are taught separately from 11 to 16, where experienced staff understand the educational and emotional needs of teenage girls and boys. Our students have worked hard and deserve their successes, regardless of the much debated ‘grade turbulence’.”

Recipe for success James Kell returned from cooking for his fellow students in Botswana to find he had cooked up a fine dish of GCSE results.

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James spent July in Botswana and Namibia with one of the Schools’ World Challenge teams. The students experienced village life, staying in traditional huts where James, winner of the schools’ first MasterChef Challenge, planned menus for and fed his fellow team members. The team went trekking in Namibia before carrying out relief work in a kindergarten in Botswana. “James is typical of the many Dame Allan’s students who are able to combine their academic studies with a wide variety of extra curricular activities,” said Dr John Hind. “His time in the Boys’ School has been an excellent foundation for moving in to the Sixth Form, where I am sure he will continue to develop his many skills.”

Degrees of success As well as working towards their A levels, 21 students in the Sixth Form successfully completed Open University degree modules. The students, who were all on the Gifted and Talented programme, passed modules in Diabetes Care, Molecules, Medicines and Drugs, Understanding Human Nutrition, Understanding Cancers, Human Genetics and Health Issues and Living Without Oil. For further information on Dame Allan’s Schools, visit www.dameallans.co.uk

H E A LT H

Have a happy, conﬁdent smile ... with The Orthodontic Practice.

ith over 25 years’ experience, The Orthodontic Practice is the longest running specialist orthodontist in the North East. Close to Newcastle’s town centre, easily accessible by metro and road and within walking distance of many Jesmond schools, homes and businesses, the practice is an intrinsic part of the community. With a proven track record for delivering high quality care and treatments, The Orthodontic Practice provides an efficient, effective yet evolving service. An experienced team of experts is fundamental to the practice’s success. All team members, orthodontic therapists, dental nurses and administrative staff are trained to the highest levels and registered with the appropriate bodies ensuring the best care. All orthodontists, lead by Brian Wilson, have completed extensive postgraduate training recognised by Royal Colleges and the General Dental Council so our patients can be assured they are in safe hands. At The Orthodontic Practice, there are no waiting lists for either assessment or treatment, meaning that our younger patients are seen at the best possible time to achieve a great smile

in their formative years. Healthy, straight teeth can boost self-esteem and confidence regardless of age and in recent years we’ve noticed more adults approaching us for advice. The practice provides honest and professional consultations for patients of all ages, from early teens to 70+, and we only ever offer a treatment plan if we believe it’s the right one for you. The practice’s surgeries are up-to-date with the latest digital technology and you will receive treatment in a relaxed, stress free environment. There is a range of private brace options available including traditional fixed braces, ceramic (clear) braces and Invisalign. During the treatment phase, The Othodontic Practice offers out of hours emergency cover. This is followed up by post-treatment care along with advice on how to maintain healthy teeth and a happy smile. The Orthodontic Practice prides itself on making treatments affordable and a range of payment options is available so that getting the best treatment for your family shouldn’t be a financial obstacle. Finally, patient care is a priority and it is this ethos that has resulted in The Orthodontic

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Practice being well-respected and trusted reputation among dentists, fellow orthodontists and most importantly, patients. Building longlasting relationships with patients and providing the best advice and care possible are the main objectives, so if you are thinking about improving your smile, talk to The Orthodontic Practice.

What clients say ... “I am so happy with the result, I can’t stop smiling.” – Charlotte (age 14) “I won’t ever be afraid to smile again. It’s made such a difference to my confidence.” – Emily (age 45) “Thank you for your care and support. You made things easy and less painful.” – Adam (age 32) The Orthodontic Practice is at 13 Eslington Terrace, Newcastle. For further information call (0191) 281 5976, email: dentists@orthopractice.com or visit www.orthopractice.com

INTERVIEW

MUSICIAN, PROMOTER AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE LEGENDARY JUMPIN’ HOT CLUB, SOUTH TYNESIDE NATIVE GRAHAM ‘SHIPPY’ ANDERSON TALKS TO ELISE RANA HOPPER ABOUT BUSKING, BLUES AND JAMBOREES.

something special so we got Adam’s mam to make sandwiches. That was the rider.

My dad was a jazz musician so I grew up on music – the first song I remember hearing was Louis Armstrong’s Cakewalking Babies Back Home. As soon as I left school I went to music college and learned how to play the double bass, playing with my dad’s jazz band in the local clubs where I was 30 years younger than the next guy.

All my life, all I’ve done is play music and be a music promoter. The Jumpin’ Hot Club was every week for 12 years and I was playing a lot, with the Hot Licks Cookies and Martin Stephenson and the Toerags, and then the last ten years I’ve had my own band. I’m pretty lucky really – it’s a great life.

When I was 19 I used to go busking in town with Martin Stephenson, doing rockabilly and rock n roll stuff –

The Jumpin’ Hot Jamboree’s what you’d call a boutique festival - small and quirky. I wanted a to cover

Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Scotty and Bill. I used to hide a tea-chest bass behind HMV, and if it was there the next Saturday we’d use it - if not I’d just clap hands and sing backing vocals.

all the genres of music that the Jumpin’ Hot Club’s done over the years, but not as a money spinner - we’ve kept the ticket price affordable. I can just break even and develop it, so I cherry-pick who I think would be a good headliner, a few international acts and some of the local acts that I think are worth seeing. People might never have heard of them but they’ll make their festival much much better. Surprise is a nice thing.

The Hot Licks Cookies

was me and a guy who played the harmonica and the guitar, playing ‘30s jug band stuff and ‘40s jazz – we got loads of gigs ‘cause we were pretty good. I played all over the world with that duo. We would always wear suits no matter how shit the venue. It matters, what you look like.

Some people don’t go beyond pop music in their whole lives. I don’t dislike them, but ... I just think they’ve

I was a big fan of a guy called Slim Gaillard and he said, ‘you should do a music club’. I’ve known Adam

missed out on a lot in life.

since I was 16 and used to run a magazine called Jumpin’ and Hot so we already had the name. There was no-one else doing that sort of thing in Newcastle, so we found the seediest place we could, the cellar in the Bridge Hotel - it looked like the kind of place an old blues guy would play so we thought we’ve gotta have it.

Not enough people have heard western swing - that collaboration of country, blues and jazz. That’s my favourite kind of music, when it’s done properly. You can’t help but tap your feet to someone like Bob Wills. I’ve always been a positive person.

If you want to do something, you will – take your idea and just do it. I’m not saying that it’s easy, and it might take a long time, but if it doesn’t work, you haven’t failed - you’ve tried. It’s good to see other people coming up and doing their own thing in the North East – it’s been too long that the Jumpin’ Hot Club’s been right out there.

We started the Jumpin’ Hot Club in 1985 as an acoustic blues club but got bored and after about three weeks started putting on rock ‘n’ roll, jumpin’ jive, cajun, anything that was rootsy. Then after about three or four years we decided all music’s good – as long as it was underground and what we thought was good. I never imagined I’d still be doing it now - it was just a hobby.

The Jumpin’ Hot Jamboree takes place at September 13-15 at Thorpe Lea East Farm, Easington Colliery, Co Durham. Tickets start at £20 from www.wegottickets.com or in person at The Cluny (Tel: 0191 230 4474).

The first big act we ever got was a band from London called the Big Town Playboys – we thought we’d better do

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MOTORS

Teesside Kia franchise for Jennings The motor group is set to help boost the region’s economy following the opening of a new Jennings Kia Teesside showroom.

he multi-franchise Jennings Motor Group, which boasts more than a century of history in the region, is to open its new Jennings Kia franchise located on Opus Park in Stockton-on-Tees, this month – allowing customers to take advantage of the new September registration plate change. This is the second location where Jennings Motor Group has joined forces with one of the UK’s fastest-growing car brands, with an already successful Kia franchise on Parsons Road in Washington, Tyne and Wear. The opening of the group’s latest showroom further endorses the company’s ongoing commitment to the Kia brand, which offers high quality, attractive, stylish products at sensible prices, and will create 20 jobs for local people. Nas Khan, managing director of Jennings Motor Group, said: “We are delighted to once again be joining forces with Kia Motors following the expansion and recent

investment, which not only demonstrates our commitment to Kia as a manufacturer, but it also shows our dedication to the people of the North East with the creation of new jobs.” Kia’s Business development director, Simon Hetherington, commented: “Kia has been experiencing a period of very exciting development in the UK. Demand from consumers continues to grow as our models are becoming better known for strength in quality and real head-turning design. “We’re thrilled that Jennings has seen the potential for further growth with Kia in the Teesside area; we’re looking forward to getting behind the new franchise and helping to make it a success.” The new Jennings Kia Teesside operation will offer the entire Kia range which includes a wide variety of quality models at highly competitive prices, in addition to a peace of mind seven-year warranty package. Customers will also be able to take advantage of a wide range of Kia quality

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approved used cars, which also come with the seven-year warranty package. Independent and privately owned, Jennings Motor Group is one of the region’s longest established motor dealers and currently operates Kia, Ford, Mazda and SEAT dealerships. In addition to selling new cars for Kia, Ford, Mazda and SEAT, the group also sells quality approved used vehicles, in addition to offering an after sales service to its customers via its service, parts and bodyshop departments. The group, which had annual turnover of more than £124 million in 2012, currently employs 388 staff across branches in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Gateshead, South Shields and Washington. For more information about the range of products and services available at Jennings Kia Teesside, visit www.jenningskia.co.uk

MOTORS

Behind the wheel by Jessica Laing

F.Y.I. Max power: 730bhp Max torque: 690nm Max speed: 211mph Acceleration: 0-62mph in 3.1 seconds Fuel tank capacity: 92 litres

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FERRARI F12BERLINETTA Ferrari introduces the newest generation in its line of 12-cylinder sports cars and the most powerful and high-performance Ferrari ever built: the F12berlinetta. A true marriage of technology and aesthetics, the modelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface has been specially sculpted so that it incorporates its innovative active aerodynamic solutions, seamlessly. These include electronically controlled guide vanes on either side of the car, which guarantee optimal brake cooling, an imposing grille that draws air into the engine bay and contoured flanks to channel air flow from the bonnet. Inside, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find that volumes have been reduced to a minimum to enhance sportiness and efficiency. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also discover a specially designed cockpit, which displays all required information directly ahead and allows you to reach all controls without taking your hands off the steering wheel. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have also been reduced by an impressive 30 per cent compared to its predecessor.

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MOTORS

Mill motors to the Metrocentre The Volvo dealership is to show off its exciting new range of cars at the shopping centre this September.

ne of the UK’s leading Volvo dealerships, Mill, is taking its stunning Volvo range into ‘new territory’ throughout September, with its first venture into shopping centres. Mill is teaming up with intu Metrocentre to give shoppers the chance to see the latest Volvo models in a unique ‘concept store’ environment. Mill will also be offering visitors the chance to win some pretty amazing prizes too; ranging from dinner and overnight stays at Hotel Indigo and Close House, to exclusive VIP tickets for next year’s run of Dirty Dancing at the Theatre Royal. Talking about why Mill has chosen to take

Volvo ‘beyond the showroom’, managing director, Bill Ward, said: “Whenever we take the new Volvo range out onto the street, they attract huge attention because of how the cars look now, and they’re as much about style as they are about safety. “So, it seemed a natural extension of that to take our cars into the super-stylish surroundings of the Red Mall at Metrocentre, known for having an amazing fashion and style mix. It’s a perfect fit for us.” He adds: “We want to put on a superb show and we think the Metrocentre shoppers will be really excited to see these fabulous cars ‘up close and personal’. There’ll be plenty of chillout space too, so we’ll welcome busy shoppers

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with a relaxing and entertaining visit.” The Mill Volvo concept store, opposite the entrance to Debenhams in the Red Mall will feature all the new cars in the 2013 Volvo range, with special attention given to the beautiful, all-new V40, which continues to pick up a string of awards, perhaps most notably that from NCAP, who have rated the V40 the ‘safest car they’ve ever tested’. So, along with this season’s must-have shoes and dresses, you might soon be adding a new Volvo to your shopping list! For further information on Mill Volvo, call 0800 6124715 or visit www.millnortheast.co.uk

MOTORS

Squires back at the helm at Benﬁeld Former chief executive, Mark Squires, returns to the role. ormer chief executive of North East motor group Benfield, Mark Squires, has returned to the helm of the family business. Mark’s re-appointment to the chief executive role follows the departure of Nigel McMinn to Lookers plc. Following his brief spell as executive chairman, Mark has now assumed the day-today running and control of the £500 million turnover business. Speaking about his appointment, Mark said: “I am absolutely delighted to be back at the helm of our family business. “We have built a very strong executive board and senior management leadership team in recent times and I am both excited and proud to be leading the company’s management team

once more. “We also have an exciting capital investment programme going on at the moment, and I am very much looking forward to developing and growing our family business long into the future.” In January of this year, Benfield appointed Gerard Murray as finance director, which followed the appointment of Neville Gaukroger as strategic development director. Benfield Motor Group employs over 1500 members of staff across 34 dealerships in the North East of England, Yorkshire, Cumbria and South West Scotland. The company was founded in Newcastle by John Squires Snr in 1957 and developed by John Squires Jnr, the present main board chairman.

Left to right: Mark Squires (Benﬁeld), Steve Harmison, Paul Philpott (Kia) and Dave Roberts (Benﬁeld Kia)

Benﬁeld invests in Kia A new Newcastle showroom for the Kia brand. enfield has continued its programme of capital investment with the opening of a new-look £800,000 Kia showroom and service centre on Railway Street in Newcastle. The opening by Benfield of the contemporary ten-car showroom and high-tech service centre follows a sustained period of growth in Kia cars sales and popularity of the Korean brand. Mark Squires, Benfield’s chief executive, said: “We have seen a significant growth in Kia sales and popularity of the brand since we moved the franchise to the site on Railway Street in 2009. “The low running costs, high residual values and product range are now attracting high numbers of cost conscious motorists and it is

important that we keep offering our customers the highest levels of customer service and facilities. “We are delighted with the new showroom and advanced service centre facilities which will allow us to keep pace with the growth of the Kia brand and products and help us provide the highest levels of customers service going forward long into the future.” Paul Philpott, president and CEO of Kia UK and Ireland, added: “We are delighted that a family business like Benfield has shown further commitment to our brand in the North East region with this significant investment. I wish to praise all the fantastic efforts of everyone involved in the delivery of the new showroom

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and facilities which will help provide further opportunities for future growth and success of the Kia brand in the region.” The new showroom – which was launched by Durham and England cricketer Steve Harmison last month – has been re-built from the ground up over the past six months and the new service centre includes all the latest Kia technology and Service repair equipment. The development work has also allowed Benfield to release a large open space for a new improved dedicated used car sales area at the dealership. For further information on Benfield visit www.drivebenfield.com

WINE & DINE

Recipe of the month ... For a quick and simple supper try this Linguine alla Parmigiana dish from Parmigiano Reggiano. • Cook the pasta in lightly salted boiling water for six to eight minutes until just tender, or follow the pack instructions.

Ingredients: 100g Parmigiano Reggiano, plus extra, to serve 400g dried linguine or spaghetti 25g butter 1 bunch spring onions, finely chopped 4 tbsp dry white wine 150g frozen petit pois or garden peas, thawed 100g Parma ham, torn into strips Salt and freshly ground black pepper Basil leaves, to garnish

• Meanwhile, melt the butter and gently fry the spring onions for about two minutes until softened. Add the wine and let it bubble up for a few moments, then stir in the peas and heat gently for one or two minutes. • Reserving 3 tbsp of the cooking liquid, drain the cooked pasta. Return it to the saucepan with the liquid. Stir in the spring onion and pea mixture, Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano.

Method: • Re-heat gently for a few moments, season, then serve at once with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano and basil leaves.

• Grate the Parmigiano Reggiano finely and set to one side.

THREE OF THE BEST: SERVING PLATTERS

£40, www.justslate.co.uk

£159, www.vetrame.com

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£49.50, www.richardbramble.co.uk

SPORT

BBC’s triumphant trio Roger Tames from Box to Box Media on the winning combination of Gabby Logan, Paula Radcliffe and Denise Lewis. t was hard to believe watching the BBC’s excellent coverage of the recent World Athletics Championships that there’s a problem attracting women into sport. It’s hard to imagine three more impressive female role models than the impeccable Gaby Logan in the studio alongside former Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis and world marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe. This trio had the lot: they were articulate, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and glamorous. I’ve only interviewed Ms Radcliffe once when she was promoting the Great School Run. She was charming and professional. I also once had breakfast with Denise Lewis. To be more accurate, she came and sat down at the table I was sharing with some rather better known broadcasters at a Stratford hotel during last year’s Olympic Games. I was about to leave to start my shift at the IBC, but decided to be half an hour late rather than spurn such an opportunity. My work colleagues were to unanimously agree, I had made the only possible choice. Gaby Yorath, as she was then, is someone I

have known since her student days at Durham University. With a massive amount of blonde, amazingly curly hair, she was not hard to spot in the press box at Newcastle United, as she spent time getting some early broadcasting experience under the unique tutelage of the legendary Charles Harrison at Metro Radio.

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I even arranged to sneak her into the Tyne Tees newsroom one Saturday lunchtime so she could have a practice at reading autocue. I think the tape might be in my garage somewhere. Soon Gaby was one of the more memorable positives to emerge from a fairly cringing, little lamented programme on Tyne Tees called Tonight which ran alongside the news programme. Gabbing with Gaby was an interview series where she talked to a guest over a filmed dinner. I remember Les Ferdinand was just one who took up the invitation. An offer from Sky Sports News understandably trumped my own ambitions of signing up such an obvious talent. Gaby soon joined ITV at national level. As soon as I heard the question being asked by a new head of Sport, “Do viewers want a woman presenting the football?”, I knew she would be moving on. Now Gaby is at the forefront of women in TV sport alongside Clare Balding, Sue Barker, Suzy Perry and Hazel Irvine who all seem to have stolen a march on their male BBC colleagues.

ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

Seeking answers Suzanne Brown reviews a treatment at Central Healthcare. fter years of struggling with stomach problems and referrals to and from my GP and the hospital, I thought I’d found the resolution to my troubles when I stumbled across a new healthcare company in Newcastle. After a visit to the Telegraph pub in Newcastle, I noticed a new company, Central Healthcare, had moved in to one of the Arch Buildings on Forth Street behind Newcastle’s Central Station.I popped over to have a look, and noticed that it was a healthcare company offering a range of different detoxification treatments and colonic irrigations, however, what caught my attention was the Coeliac disease test for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), especially as my father suffers from Coeliac disease. I rang them the following day, and a lady named Gill couldn’t have been more helpful. She talked me through a few different options, and I decided to go for two tests, as both seemed suitable for the symptoms I was suffering from. The second test was to check for a stomach infection called H Pylori, which can cause stomach ulcers.

On the day of my appointment, I was talked through the process, and asked to fill in a few forms. After running through my symptoms and the tests I’d already had, we got down to doing the tests, which were both done in a matter of minutes. A small lancet was used to prick my finger to get blood. It was then squeezed on to a capillary tube, and

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put in to two separate cylinders, and then taken away for testing. In around ten minutes, I was taken back inside the room and given my results. They were negative, both to my delight and dismay. I was really hoping to put an end to my issues, but was also pleased I didn’t have any of the two stomach issues we were looking for. While I was there, Gill discussed with me the other treatments they did, and mentioned that she was a fully qualified nurse, which instantly made me feel comfortable. I listened to which other services could benefit me, and was sold on the colonic irrigation. I might be slightly apprehensive, but can honestly say the benefits sound amazing especially the part about getting a flatter stomach! I was extremely pleased with the whole experience, which was over in less than 30 minutes, and cost only £100 for both tests. For further information visit www.centralhealthcare.co.uk or call (0191) 222 0100.

INTERVIEW

Tunnel vision David Burdus, the founder of Tyne Tunnel 2K International Wheelchair Race, a thrilling test of speed and endurance that has gained cult status, t– alks to Alison Cowie.

clear line or who might get boxed in. Josh is the course record holder

David Burdus on the origins of the Tyne Tunnel 2K (TT2K) ...

and knows the event better than anyone. But Dave is in the form of his Back in 1993, I was raising money to send a little girl to Hungary for some treatment and we tricked people into thinking I was going to swim underwater across the Tyne. What I really did was go in a waste liquid

life. You really can’t call who's going to edge it.

On the economics of putting on a event like this ...

water carrier through the Tyne Tunnel. I’d never been in the tunnel before and I thought, ‘wow, can you imagine bringing a whole herd of

Economics always play a part. Especially with the line up. We limit the

wheelchairs through here? It would be unbelievable’. So I went to the

field to 24 athletes and if money wasn’t an issue, I’d approach the entire

people at the Tyne Tunnel and told them my idea, fully expecting them

marathon field from the Paralympics. But the reality is we have to work to

to say I didn’t have a chance. But they went for it and thought it was a

tight budgets and we can get two European athletes for an American

great idea. We worked closely with the British Wheelchair Racing

or Australian one, just because of the flight costs. We have eight

Association and with Tanni Grey-Thompson and her husband, Ian. We

internationals this year and 16 brits. And to have David Weir and Josh

were also really lucky to be supported by the Tyne and Wear

Cassidy is fantastic. The TT2K does cost a fair bit to put on but we get great support from

Development Corporation and British Gas Northern. The first race was a

our main core sponsors such as Tyne Tunnel, Twitter, the Port of Tyne, South

phenomenal success.

Tyneside council and Rochester Medical, as well as some other local companies. Newcastle Gateshead Initiative has given us core funding

On what the athletes go through ...

for three years which is amazing. But even with this funding, we can’t They arrive on site three hours before to warm up before ordering up at

draw the elitist field that we’d like. We can’t pay them the expenses or the

the South Port at 9pm in a grid formation with the fastest athletes first.

prizes to guarantee that they will come. We’re really up against it every

From the start, it’s a mad dash to the tunnel entrance with the lighter

year and we don’t have the luxury of being able to spend in the ways

weight sprinters trying to get ahead. Everyone’s arms are pumping like

some of the bigger events can.

mad to get to max speed as quickly as possible. At 20-22mph you can’t

No one would ever realise that then they see the race though. It’s just

push anymore; your hands fly off the wheels at those speeds. You just

another fantastic event. We rely a lot on volunteers. People feel very proud

have to tuck everything up to create the smallest profile you can and

of the event, and rightly so. They take ownership of the event; although

let the chair roll away downhill. Both the men and women get to speeds

it’s a very professional event it’s got a very friendly and familiar

of more than 40mph with the record being 56mph.You are hurtling down

atmosphere to it.

to the belly of the Tyne and your backside’s not even a foot from the tarmac. It's a real adrenaline rush and definitely not for the faint hearted.

On the Paralympics'’ legacy ...

You’ll see quite a few athletes, when they do it for the first time, sit up and use their bodies to make a windbreak to slow down. Then the race totally

The Paralympics was fantastic because it got into everyone’s living room.

changes and it’s an uphill climb for one kilometre.Your lungs are bursting,

It really had a positive impact on attitudes. People identified with the

shoulders are burning and it just feels like your arms are dying because

athletes involved, normalising the sports. But we have to build on the

of the lactic acid that builds up. Apparently the word ‘pain’ doesn’t

impact of the Paralympics. It’s so important that disabled people in sport

describe what you go through. You then have a couple of hundred

are not seen something that's therapeutic or charitable, but people have

meters’ dash when you get out of the tunnel to the finish line with athletes

the same experience watching them as mainstream sports people.

crossing it at a fair lick. It’s tough but exhilarating, that’s why athletes want to do it. There’s nothing else like it in the world. David Weir says you know

On his future hopes for TT2K ...

you’ve pushed hard when you can taste blood in your mouth. The TT2K is already the fastest wheelchair race on the planet but I would like it be the best known. I want it to be a household name around the

On this year's TT2K rivalry between David Weir (six-time Paralympic champion) and Josh Cassidy (world record marathon holder) ...

world because there is nothing quite like it. Commercially, I’d also like to develop long term relationships with companies, big and small. We’ll never lose our local dimension, though.

Dave and Josh are friends but also tough competitors. When they’ve raced each other in the past, it’s one a piece. With a road race you never

The TT2K takes place on on Friday, September 13. For further

know what’s going to happen because you don’t know who may get a

information or to watch videos of the race, visit www.tunnel2k.com

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SPORT

Golf Course Guide:

The Hunting and The Priestman at De Vere Slaley Hall Set in a 1000-acre oasis of prime Northumbrian forest and moorland Slaley Hall boasts two stunning and challenging championship courses which have played host to no fewer than 18 European Tour and European Senior Tour events. The 7080 yard, par 72 Hunting is a treasure of a golf course, magnificently maintained and has hosted several flagship events. Don't be lulled by the rolling moorland, streams and lakes, towering trees and banks of rhododendrons - this course will catch out the unwary! Well placed bunkers and tricky greens make this USGA standard course a real challenge and lives up to its mantel of being the ‘Augusta of the North’. On the west side of the estate, with panoramic views of the Tyne Valley, The Priestman is a Neil Coles-designed course regularly hosts major PGA European Seniors events. Wind can be a factor on this 7000 yard undulating course, criss-crossed by streams. But don't be put off, it is a classic course and suitable for all levels of golfer. Pars are well earned and worth toasting in the Claret Jug clubhouse after your round.

Location Hexham, Northumberland

Course type Parkland

Course length The Hunting, 7080 yards; The Priestman, 7000 yards

Facilities Slaley Hall has a range of facilities from an excellent clubhouse (Claret Jug) and pro-shop

to a practise area, driving range and putting green. Club, buggy and trolly hire are also available.

Longest drive The Hunting, 11th, 562 yards The Priestman, 4th, 591 yards

Signature hole The Hunting’s 9th hole is dubbed the Sleeping Giant and is the ultimate Slaley test. All of your golfing skills and a little Dutch courage will be needed to negotiate this potential card wrecker. Although a generously wide fairway awaits the tee shot, only the left half will give you a clear sight of the green for your approach, but watch out, go too far left and you’ll find the stream and thick rhododendrons that flank the left edge of the fairway. It’s all uphill from the fairway with your approach, large bunker to the left, the stream and those dastardly rhododendrons now sit dangerously close to the green on the right. If you are lucky enough to reach the green in one piece a small sloping green will test the

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sharpest of short games. Best tip, keep below the hole. Even Europe’s finest would settle for a bogey and run to the tenth tee! The Priestman’s stiffest challenge is definitely the 14th hole. A hole filled with danger, it begins with a tee shot that must carry the gorge that lays between the tee box from the fairway, setting the nerves jangling from the off. The tee shot is too narrow fairway with dense woodland and a stream to the left that will swallow an errant tee shot never to be seen again, and to the right three large fairway bunkers await to catch anyone trying too much to avoid the trouble on the left! If you are fortunate enough to avoid the trouble and have found the fairway, the hole doglegs to the left leaving a slight up hill approach over a stream to a two tiered sloping green, that in the height of summer an up hill putt is a must. A par 4 is a bonus, but just to finish the hole with the same ball is an achievement.

Course record The Hunting, Richard Green 64, European Tour, The Great North Open in 2001.

Competitions Slaley Hall as hosted a number of European tours and PGA events.

Contact details De Vere Slaley Hall, Slaley, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 0BX. Tel: (01434) 673 350 Email: golfsales.slaleyhall@devere-hotels.com

Prices/rates The Hunting, £110 The Priestman, £65

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SPORT

My favourite golf hole ... In a series for North East Times, Stephen Charlton of Stokoe Rodger reveals his top golfing locations.

n my previous article I covered a hole at my home club, Tyneside, a parkland course on the banks of the River Tyne. This month’s feature is on the links course, Southerness, where I am privileged to be a member of, too. It is not easy to describe just how good Southerness is; all I can say is that my friend and fellow member, John Surtees, a Durham County golfer for many many years who has played all of the top courses in England and Scotland, believes Southerness to be better than any of them – and I agree. The course is situated on the Scottish side of the Solway about 12 miles south of Dumfries, on the coast. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking; across the Solway are the mountains of the Lake District and the Cumbria coastline. Overlooking the course there is a mountain called Crieffel, inland the rolling hills and forests of Dumfries and Galloway and westwards a rocky coastline. On a clear day the Isle of Man is even visible.

It is without doubt a challenging course even in benign conditions and if there is a wind, it becomes extremely difficult. Off the very back tees the course measures a touch under 6900 yards but the par is 69 and the

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CSS 74! Stray just off the fairway and there is some light-rough. Any more wayward and it is heather and gorse which is punishing. The bunkers are strategically placed and maintained to a high standard, the fairways are superb and the greens are fast and true. All 18 holes are special but the one I will concentrate on for this article is the 18th. It is a par 5 measuring 525 yards from the back tees and dog legs slightly left to right. The tee shot requires a long carry over ‘wilderness’ to a generous fairway protected at driving length by a bunker on the right and heather and gorse all the way down the hole. If downwind, from a good tee shot the green can be reached provided you avoid the other fairway bunkers positioned to the right and left about 100 yards short of the target. The green sits right in front of the clubhouse and slopes from front to back. In my opinion the last hole presents the best birdie chance of the round but on many occasions that can come too late!

H E A LT H

Spire comes clean Spire Washington Hospital has had no reported cases of MRSA or C.Difficile infections since it began publishing its clinical outcomes in 2006. Here, Infection Control lead Amanda Mahoney explains how the hospital is kept clean. What is infection prevention control and why is it important? Infection prevention control is the name given to a wide range of policies, procedures and techniques intended to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among staff, patients and the community. In short, it is about preventing infections, particularly those associated with healthcare and we all have a part to play in this. Infections are caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses entering the body. They can be minor and stay in one area such as a cut to the finger, or they can spread throughout the body like flu or a bloodstream infection. Often infections are minor and short term, clearing up very easily with a short course of antibiotics but sometimes they can cause serious problems. Infection prevention control is very important in preventing complications, which can lead to increased pain for the patient or even an extended stay or readmission to hospital. When this happens, it is very upsetting for the patient, often meaning further time away from family and work.

What does infection prevention control involve? Spire Washington Hospital takes infection prevention very seriously and ways in which we actively do this include:

• The provision of education and training in infection control. • Ensuring staff use good hand washing techniques. • The use of disposable aprons and gloves. • High standards of cleanliness. • An added focus on ensuring equipment is clean. • Ongoing refreshers for staff on how to recognise signs of infection. • Isolating patients when required. • Educating patients on discharge about what they can do to minimise risk.

Should infection prevention control be something I use to determine where I am treated and where can I find the information? Absolutely. Any patient requiring a hospital admission should consider the cleanliness of the hospital they are attending and its infection rates. There is a lot of information available on the NHS choices website and also at data.gov.uk (you need to search under the term ‘infection rates’). These sources are good for giving you current data and highlighting where there are issues – it can be difficult to know what results are good or bad without something to compare to. Approaching the hospital directly can also provide access to all the details you need to know.

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What can I do to keep infection rates down while in hospital, either as a patient or as a visitor? As a patient you should be provided with information regarding infection control and best practice is for hospitals to have literature about this right around the site from the entrance onwards. Spire Washington has a patient information booklet that we give to everyone attending and this is a full guide to minimising risk and the measures we take. Patients are encouraged to discuss this with staff, in addition to any concerns they may have. Hand hygiene is one of the simplest, most important aspects of infection control and should be followed by patients and all staff. As such, we ask patients and visitors to pay close attention to their hand hygiene through thorough washing and use of an alcohol-based hand gel. Visitors are also requested not to visit if they have had an infection such as a cough, cold, diarrhoea and vomiting within 48 hours. Ultimately, here at Spire Washington Hospital, our staff are committed to providing a high quality service based around clean, safe and reliable care and to communicating exactly why this remains of the utmost importance. For more information, please visit www.spirewashington.com.

WELL-BEING

Back to school blues? think Be-Fit How Antonia Pellegrino from Be-Fit is helping parents and children now the summer holidays are over.

Back to School Body Blitz What an amazing summer we have had. But from what our clients tell us, the sunshine has been a great excuse for social gatherings and a few too many treats! Now’s the time to stop the alcohol and starchy carbs and focus on your health! With the kids back to school you may have more time through the day. Be-Fit has devised a great little plan for you: the Back to School Body Blitz. If you can train between 11am and 3pm, you could save £100 by booking a block of ten sessions (normally £450) and take them within a month. The £350 price tag also includes all of your bio-signature; body fat testing and nutritional advice, worth an extra £120. All of the sessions are one-to-one with no membership necessary. For more information call (0191) 213 5300.

Yogigglefit This is a fun yoga and fitness website for children and parents. Many children that I teach in my school groups find it hard to relax. Children can become stressed by the

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pressures of exams, social integration, team sports or even bullying. The aim with Yogigglefit is to get as many little people moving and interested in exercise as possible. Exercise for children needs to be fun and needs to engage the imagination. With this in mind, we have produced a free eBook called: Yoga based fitness fun, to help your child relax. You can grab your free eBook at http://yogigglefit.com/. The eBook is in a printable PDF format, so that children can use the information anywhere and grow to love fitness based yoga! It is packed with tips to help little people relax, breathe, develop balance and spatial awareness. We will be releasing lots of fun tips and free things for children over the next few months. So here’s to the new term! At Be-Fit we look forward to helping you and your little ones reach your health goals!

H E A LT H

Getting the right treatment Dr James Bough explains how the 55-year-old Kelvin Lodge dental practice combines its extensive experience with a personalised experience and the latest technology.

At Kelvin Lodge, we have a tremendous heritage of first class dentistry stretching back to the work of Raymond Stubley, who opened the surgery in 1958. As one of Newcastle’s longest established practices, we have a reputation to maintain. This has resulted in a constant investment programme in both the building and the dental equipment and technology we use. Running concurrent with this is our investment in training, ensuring every member of staff, including the dentists, are equipped to perform his or her job to the highest possible standard. The recent surge in demand for cosmetic services, like teeth whitening, is a good example of the additional services we offer and also of the potential problems in having nonqualified persons offering such treatment tooth whitening is the practice of dentistry and only those registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) are actually allowed to perform these procedures. At Kelvin Lodge, we recommend the use of home whitening kits and our highly

knowledgable dentists will be able to offer tailored advice and recommendations on how to get the best results depending on each individual case, as everyone is different. This advice will not only help you to get the best results, but also help to prevent any side effects, which are possible if the products aren’t used in the appropriate way for each case. There are risks of buying whitening products which have not been through the stringent tests, that the products supplied by dentists have passed. Inferior products can cause damage to the teeth or the gums. If you want to be sure that what you are using is safe, check with your dentist. It is extremely important, as the damage you could do, could end up costing far more in the long run. It’s a similar position with skin treatments – facial aesthetic treatments are now widely available and Botulinum Toxin treatments are now the most common non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the UK. It is extremely important these procedures are carried out by

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a qualified healthcare professional. A number of cheap derivatives of facial aesthetic products can be purchased by anyone from the internet, as they are not currently regulated. If these products are not approved and have not had the appropriate testing it can be extremely dangerous, as these products are injected into the body. At Kelvin Lodge, all our products are purchased on prescription from large reputable pharmaceutical companies and we ensure we provide the best treatment by selecting what we feel are the best products and most appropriate for each case. As a dentist, I am fully qualified and trained in the anatomy of the head and neck which is imperative when providing facial aesthetic treatments, as I know the locations of the muscles, nerves and major blood vessels, helping to prevent any serious side effects. Kelvin Lodge is at 77 Elmfield Road, Gosforth. Tel: (0191) 285 1150, web: www.kelvinlodge.co.uk

WELL-BEING

June Hornsby, manager at Abbeyﬁeld Linden Road chatting to residents Ruth and Joan.

A helping hand How Abbeyfield has been supporting the elderly for almost 60 years. bbeyfield Newcastle upon Tyne is a not-for-profit organisation which runs two care homes in Gosforth and two supported sheltered houses in Gosforth and Fenham. John Kilner, chair of the executive committee argues that while it is difficult to put a price on the cost of quality care, it is often cheaper than you think and accessing the right level of support before it is too late goes a long way to enhancing life for all. While making the decision to leave your own home is a difficult one, Abbeyfield firmly believes that accessing the right level of care at the right time in life can be a positive step; a choice that can not only sustain quality of life but improves it. But all too often the perceived cost of accessing support and care prevents people from leaving their homes and it is often only when it is too late that people find themselves forced in to making decisions either for themselves or on behalf of family members with pretty limited options available. But it needn’t be this way; Abbeyfield was founded by philanthropist Richard CarrGomm, who on returning from the army in 1956, was deeply saddened at the loneliness and isolation he saw amongst the elderly in his neighbourhood and determined to do something about it, he bought a house and

invited two of the local residents to move in with him to share in each other’s company. Before long, word had spread and more people moved into the house, while several volunteers joined Richard in supporting the elderly residents. The Abbeyfield Society was formed and grew in to an international charity dedicated to improving the quality of life for people entering old age. Far from being a last resort, some of the elderly residents particularly at Abbeyfield’s supported sheltered houses in Newcastle have made the bold move to leave their own homes and seek the company and companionship that is on offer, together with two cooked meals a day and the added reassurance of having a live in house keeper. Three of Abbeyfield’s residents at Linden Road have celebrated their 100th birthdays, still living relatively independently despite their age – a fantastic advert to the benefits of supported sheltered living! Recently the company asked our residents and their families why they chose Abbeyfield and the difference they believe it has made to their lives. While many spoke about the company, the convenience of not looking after daily chores and property maintenance, the home cooked meals and the reassurance of not being alone, surprisingly another important factor was the cost.

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Rather than the cost being prohibitive, a common misconception, residents and relatives spoke about the reduction in their cost of living, saying that monthly costs were often halved. For most home owners and those in rented accommodation there are inescapable monthly costs. In most instances, elderly people may no longer have mortgages but often much needed capital is tied up in their properties which can only be effectively released on sale of the house. And other costs such as council tax, rising fuel bills and food costs, home insurance and property maintenance each add up every month and in many cases way exceed the cost of living in supported sheltered living where everything is included. So rather than thinking that support for your elderly relative is a luxury you and they simply can’t afford until it becomes a true necessity or that leaving their own home is a last resort, supported sheltered living might just cost far less than you think and could transform life for both of you. To find out more about Abbeyfield Newcastle upon Tyne and its two care homes and two supported sheltered houses visit www.abbeyfieldnewcastle.org.uk or call (0191) 285 7174

INTERVIEW

Get to know me ...

Dave Gibson Co-director of Blu Sky Tax Limited, chartered accountants and registered auditors.

When I was growing up, I wanted to work with numbers. Actually,

I’m inspired by anyone with a positive attitude. I take inspiration from

When I need a helping hand, I turn to Jon. He really inspires me when he gets

people and numbers, which is probably where the Blu Sky concept and approach came from.

Nelson Mandela for his strong beliefs and achievements. The things that get my adrenaline going are Leeds United doing well, anything positive from Elland Road and stories of achievement. I like people that have done good things in their life.

on one of his band wagons and gets enthused – he is really dynamic and focused which is very motivating for anyone around him.

My first job, when I left school with A levels in Maths and Economics, was with NatWest. I was as a general clerk and it gave me my first taste of the financial industry. I’ve worked for a few blue chip organisations, but prior to moving to the North East I worked with the RAC in Salford, leading the team responsible for invoicing fleet customers.

I’d tell my 18 year old self to make sure that I am always passionate about what I do, and provide real benefit to real people. I tell myself to strive to do more than just tick boxes and know you have had a positive impact on someone’s life.

I don’t tend to watch too much television. Just football and a BBC4 documentary if I’m feeling highbrow.

My great achievement, business wise, was in 2005 when I set up on my own as an accountant through a franchise. By the end of my first day I had won my first client. My client base grew fairly quickly (I was voted startup of the year by the franchise) and I hit that point in 2008 where I had decisions to make: should I expand, slim down or look for a partner? Just has I was having those thoughts, the phone rang and it was Jon Dudgeon, looking for advice on how to branch out on his own. The next best thing I ever did was go into business with Jon.

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In my spare time, my partner, Christine, and I enjoy hill walking and visiting antiques fairs. I also love old reggae music, and its pre-cursers such as calypso and shango; Christine doesn’t have the same opinion so we keep our music interests separate … which means we just listen to the radio in the car to avoid disagreements! For more information on Blu Sky’s services visit www.bluskyaccountants.co.uk