North East Times Magazine April 16 by North East Times Magazine

EDITOR’S WORD Welcome

Editor’s Word... Welcome to The Technology Issue

T NET

ALISON COWIE alison@netimesmagazine.co.uk 01661 871 317 @NETimesmagazine

echnology continues to make an enormous impact in our working and personal lives. In this special Technology Issue, North East Times looks to celebrate the North East tech sector, as well as look at some of the digital issues facing us all. We should rightly be proud that the North East is home to Europe’s only FTSE 100 Technology company, Sage, as well as four of the UK’s top 100 fastest growing tech companies (Aspire Technology, Ontrac, SITS Group and Visualsoft). Not only that, the region’s relatively low cost of living, strong tech network and support structure are attracting a growing number of tech start-ups - all vying to be the next tech giants. In this issue, tech specialist Herb Kim, who has helped bring international recognition to

Tyneside by hosting an annual digital event, talks about this year’s Thinking Digital Conference, as well as his role as chairman of Government initiative Tech North, while Lee Perkins, managing director of Sage UK and Ireland, reflects on the bigger role Sage must play in the North East. We also speak to the managing director of the North East-founded angel-led accelerator, Ignite, and the co-founder of Newcastle’s Campus North co-working facilities about how both enterprises are promoting tech innovation in the region. And we speak to one alumni of the Ignite programme, Costa Rica-born Gilbert Corrales, who is developing a new music streaming concept from his base in Newcastle, with Leaf.fm. All this and much, much more. I hope you enjoy this special edition.

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CONTENTS

Contents

PAGE 38-39

Gilbert Corrales, LeÄ f.fm

PAGE 28-32

Herb Kim, Thinking Digital

PAGE 82-83

Review, Porsche 911

PAGE 24-25

Darren Jobling, ZeroLight

PAGE 74-75

Lee Westwood

MORE PAGE 10: NEWS BULLETIN PAGE 12: DEALS PAGE 13: MONTHLY REPORT PAGE 14: TECH INTRODUCTION PAGE 16: BURNING ISSUE PAGE 18: APPOINTMENTS PAGE: 20: JOBS PAGE 22-23: IN THE LIMELIGHT PAGE 24-25: 10 QUESTIONS ... PAGE 26: SUPPORTING ROLE PAGE 28-32: COVER STORY PAGE 34-37: LEE PERKINS

PAGE 68-71

Fashion, Close house

PAGE 38-39: CAMPUS NORTH PAGE 40-41: LEĀF FM PAGE 42-43: LONG GAME PAGE 60-61: BUSINESS LUNCH PAGE 67: OUT OF HOURS PAGE 68-71: FASHION PAGE 74-75: LEE WESTWOOD PAGE 78-79: RECIPE OF THE MONTH

PAGE 84-85

Daniel Müller, Motel One

PAGE 80-81: MOTORS PAGE 86: KATIE BULMER-COOKE PAGE 88-89: TECH PAGE 92: BALANCING ACT PAGE 98: MY NORTH EAST

NEWS Bulletin

BULLETIN BUSINESS

Atom bank acquires Grasp (UK) The Durham-headquartered digital-only bank buys a North East software company The UK’s first digital-only bank has announced the successful acquisition of the IT development business Grasp (UK) Limited, owned by Brian Jobling, who founded games developer Eutechnyx and co-founded car configurator company ZeroLight. As part of the deal, Brian has become business development director at the bank. The acquisition – for which Muckle LLP and Square One Law advised - is part of Atom’s strategic plan to create the most engaging user experience in banking, by bringing together userinterface expertise from the banking industry with experience from the video games industry. The development team from Grasp (UK) which has worked for major international brands including F1, NASCAR and MTV - will now be based at Atom Bank’s headquarters in Durham.

Edward Twiddy, chief innovations officer at Atom, said: “Our first conversations with Brian about what gaming and the North East development industry could offer started in the spring of 2014, when Atom was just an idea. “Now, on the cusp of going live and after several months of testing, we are bringing some of the best in digital design and development into the heart of the family.” Brian added: “Atom bank is one of the most exciting projects in the North East and my passion for the region meant myself and the team couldn’t possibly turn down the opportunity to work with Atom in the longer term. “I look forward to continuing to work with Edward and the team to create a seamless and engaging user-interface experience that will be appreciated by Atom’s customers.”

TRANSPORT

Newcastle Central Station getting ‘high-speed ready’ The next phase of the Central Gateway project to transform Central Station will prepare the city for the arrival of high-speed trains, according to Newcastle City Council. The council and partners are now working on plans for how the new high-speed trains will be accommodated at Central Station. Work on the HS2 network is expected to get underway at the end of next year and is likely to see high-speed trains coming to Newcastle in the near future. 10

Left to right: Adam Rayner (Muckle LLP), James Bryce (Square One Law), Edward Twiddy (Atom), Brian Jobling (Grasp UK) and Hugh Welsh (Muckle LLP)

National & International news £38-MILLION FUND ANNOUNCED TO DESIGN GREENER CARS

TECH

TSG achieves world first

Visualsoft makes another shortlist

North East IT specialist, Technology Services Group (TSG), has installed a brand new cloud-based platform for managing accounts and payroll for a leading occupational health (OH) services provider. TSG advised and deployed the new technology, Pegasus Business Cloud, for Sheffield-based OH Assist Limited. TSG is Pegasus’s biggest partner and the link-up made OH Assist the world’s first company to adopt the new cloud-hosted platform.

Stockton firm Visualsoft has announced it has been shortlisted for the Prolific North Awards 2016. The company is in the running for the Large Digital Agency award, alongside seven other agencies in the North. This is the first time the award-winning Teesside agency has been shortlisted for this particular set of awards, and the news follows the company’s recent fifth place ranking in the Prolific North Top 50 Digital Agencies last month.

OFFSHORE

TECH

Partnership wins offshore tech award

Newcastle-designed app 999 approved

OES Oilfield Services Group, in collaboration with Askaris IT Limited, has been awarded a Spotlight on New Technology award from the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) for its Dropped Objects safety innovation. The Teesside-based global offshore asset inspection specialist has been recognised among just 13 companies worldwide by OTC, which celebrates innovative hardware and software technologies leading the offshore industry.

The first app to be certified to automatically and directly link to the relevant emergency service via the 999 system has been named. REALRIDER is an app, designed by Newcastlebased SME Realsafe Technologies, which sends a motorcyclist’s last known GPS location and medical details to the nearest ambulance service within minutes of a crash.

The OLEV Research & Development Fund, announced in the Budget, will award funding to over 130 companies and research organisations across the UK to develop emission-cutting technology in the UK. As part of this a consortium including Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan has received £1.7 million to apply the science behind Formula 1 cars and space satellites to make passenger cars weigh less and be more fuel efficient.

CYPRUS ACCELERATES BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE

High-speed broadband in Cyprus has moved closer with the endorsement by the Cypriot telecoms minister of a new broadband acceleration study published by Analysys Mason and Shepherd & Wedderburn. Commissioned by the Cypriot regulator, the study sets out regulatory and policy measures which Cyprus should adopt to attract broadband investment, promote broadband competition, and move towards the Digital Agenda targets.

ECOMMERCE SALES CONTINUE TO RISE IN THE UK

The ONS recently announced that in 2014, ecommerce sales by businesses with ten or more employees in the UK non-financial sector were £573 billion, representing 20.1 per cent of business turnover. This was up from £561 billion (19.8 per cent of business turnover) in 2013.

NEWS Deals

DEALS

Calendar of events: April 7, 10am-11.30am

WOMEN IN BUSINESS LAUNCH Network North Price: £5 The Biscuit Factory, Stoddart Street, Newcastle NE2 1AN www.biscuitfactoryevents. com Meet with other female professionals in a supportive, collaborative environment. Each meeting will include presentations, a guest speaker, and the chance to contribute and share ideas, plus refreshments.

PHARMACEUTICALS

North East signs India pharma agreement NEPIC’s Northern Powerhouse and UK Trade & Investment-supported mission to India reached an important milestone last month, following the signing of a collaboration agreement with the Karnataka Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association (KDPMA). The NEPIC-KDPMA agreement, aimed at developing trade and intensifying collaborative innovation projects, comes after three years of engagement between the two cluster bodies. KDPMA represents 72 pharmaceutical manufacturing companies including multinationals such as Astra Zeneca and GlaxoSmithKline.

April 8, 8am-10am

BREAKFAST CLUB Mussel Club Price: free Dr Feelgood’s, Wessington Way, Sunderland SR5 3XG www.themusselclub.com Local business people come to these sessions for a relaxed, informal meeting with potential contacts and existing ones. Enjoy a bacon or sausage sarnie, a cuppa, and free parking. Register online for your ticket.

April 13, 10am-12pm

NECC LOCAL

CONSTRUCTION

SPORT

Owen Pugh wins major contract with Gentoo

Durham CCC secures new sponsorship

Owen Pugh GDC has secured a civil engineering contract to install roads and sewers and complete plot works at the site of 37 affordable new homes in Cypress Avenue, Fenham, working on behalf of Gentoo Homes. The works, which will take around 12 months to complete and will involve an average of ten Owen Pugh operatives, also include hardscaping work including paving and road surfacing.

Durham County Cricket Club has announced that Heineken - the UK’s largest cider and beer business – has become the club’s new sponsor after signing a five-year deal. The deal will see lager brand Foster’s become the new County Championship shirt sponsor. Heineken’s beers and ciders, which include Foster’s, Heineken, Strongbow and Bulmers, will also be available at the Emirates Riverside from the start of the 2016 season.

North East Chamber of Commerce Price: Free to members CPI, Sedgefield, TS21 3FG www.necc.co.uk The first NECC Local event in the Tees Valley this year is in association with PolyPhotonix. The main speaker will be Richard Kirk, CEO of the award-winning company that is working with eye research charity, Fight for Sight.

NEWS

NISDI

MONTHLY REPORT: Chancellor announces

funding for Newcastle smart data centre

Newcastle University will establish a new £30-million centre to unleash the potential offered by big data, as announced in the Budget

unding for a new National Institute for Smart Data Innovation (NISDI) in Newcastle was announced by Chancellor Osborne in last month’s Budget, which is set to support 1000 jobs in the region. The institute will bring together industry, the public sector and world-leading academics to develop the skills, ideas and resources needed to exploit the opportunities offered by the explosion in digital data. Led by industry and Newcastle University, NISDI will enable businesses to extract value from smart data and increase competitiveness. Based in a new building on the Science Central site in Newcastle, NISDI will focus on realising the potential of big data to address specific challenges in areas including health, automotive and manufacturing. Professor Paul Watson, director of Newcastle University’s Digital Institute, said: “Newcastle is already home to one of the fastest-growing digital clusters in the country. By providing world-class facilities and expertise all under one roof, NISDI will act as a beacon for Smart Data innovation, accelerating innovation and helping the region, and the rest of the UK, to become global leaders in this increasingly important sector.” Councillor Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council, added: “Local people will benefit from the creation of over 1000 jobs in the city’s booming digital tech sector, helping them to develop the skills of the future. The institute will make a big contribution to the economic growth of the city and the wider region. It will have national and international significance, cementing Newcastle University’s role as the country’s leading centre for research in computing science.” A key partner of the new centre will be Dynamo, the industry-led initiative set up to grow the technology sector in the North East. Chair Charlie Hoult said: “This is great news for the region. Dynamo has always placed the region’s strengths in technology in a wider context and it is testament to the strength and depth of support for

innovation and collaboration that the Institute will provide a further platform to engage both nationally and internationally. “The institute will also be a beacon for the upskilling needed for this IT revolution, if we are to succeed in areas such as smart cars, cybersecurity, government digitisation or cloud innovation.” Richard Baker, head of strategy and policy at the North East LEP, commented: “We are delighted that the Chancellor has confirmed funding for the new National Institute for Smart Data Innovation and congratulate Newcastle University, and partners from across the North East, who came together to make the proposal, in securing this investment. “The North East has a strong profile as one of the UK’s leading digital economy hubs and this investment is in recognition of the region’s potential to provide national leadership working with big data applications. “The Smart Data Institute will provide a national and international focus for new skills, ideas and resources in a rapidly growing part of the global economy, with a current annual value of $125 billion.” 13

FEATURE Tech

THE NORTH EAST TECH SECTOR IN FIGURES… In a UK tech industry worth £161 billion*, the North East continues to strengthen its position and, according to the Office for National Statistics, is now the second best performing region in England, after London, in computer programming and related companies. Our region is particularly strong in software computing, games development, health tech and social media. Low costs of living and a thriving tech community are also making the North East increasingly popular for start-ups and scale-up companies

2ND

BEST PERFORMING REGION IN ENGLAND, AFTER LONDON, IN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING AND RELATED COMPANIES (FDI INTELLIGENCE, ONS)

26,856 NE DIGITAL EMPLOYEES (TECH NATION 2015)

24%

INCREASE IN NE DIGITAL COMPANIES 2010-2013 (TECH NATION 2015)

*ESTIMATED TURNOVER OF UK TECH INDUSTRIES IN 2014 – TECH CITY UK

£44,000 AVERAGE DIGITAL WAGE IN NEWCASTLE AND DURHAM (TECH CITY UK)

1500

NORTH EAST TECH COMPANIES IN 2014 (TECH NATION 2015)

47%

EXPECTED GROWTH IN NE DIGITAL COMPANIES BY 2020 (NORTH EAST LEP)

Q OPINION

Burning issue

BURNING ISSUE What is your reaction to the Budget 2016?

Jonathan Walker

NECC Head of policy and campaigns

The NECC is pleased that our lobbying has helped secure a firm commitment to upgrade both the A66 and A69, which are vital links for businesses in the region. This was a key priority in our 2016 Manifesto and will help to build a more connected North East. However, the chambers is disappointed that the Chancellor has not heeded our calls for further detail on big reforms such as the apprenticeship levy. The Government has said it is committed to stability yet doesn’t provide businesses with sufficient detail to plan for the future.

Jeremy Middleton

i BURNING ISSUE Get involved in the conversation @NETimesmagazine #BurningIssue

Phil Morris

Head of distribution Gale and Phillipson

The Chancellor’s Budget has brought up some positive news for both personal investors and small businesses in the UK. There is no doubt that the increase in the tax-free personal allowance to £11,500 and the increase in the higher tax bracket threshold to £45,000 will benefit a great many people across the country. With regard to some of the other big headlines, however – specifically the reduction in Capital Gains Tax rates and the Government’s new Lifetime ISA – the devil will be in the detail.

David Laws

North East LEP board member and mayoral candidate

Chief executive Newcastle International Airport

The extra focus on improving northern schools is fantastic news. For the North East to reach its full potential we need to ensure our young people have the skills they need to get the jobs that exist. Moving all schools towards academy status can free up fantastic heads to create fantastic schools, but will only achieve limited results without a comprehensive programme of business engagement delivering work experience and careers guidance for each and every student.

I am disappointed our concerns regarding devolution of Air Passenger Duty (APD) to Scotland have not yet been addressed, as we are already seeing airline behaviour changing in response to the prospect of lower APD north of the border. That said, we understand that a decision on this matter is yet to be made. We therefore continue to call upon the Prime Minister to honour the promise made in 2015 to protect English regional airports, by matching any reductions in Scotland at non–congested airports across the rest of the UK.

RECRUITMENT

APPOINTMENTS Your monthly guide to the people moving jobs in the region

Jill Dovey Solicitor Muckle LLP

Jill Dovey, a specialist in IT and data protection law, has joined law firm Muckle LLP. Jill has an in-depth knowledge of legal issues across a range of technology-focused areas having worked at FTSE 100 software company, Sage, for seven years. In her new role, she will advise businesses on their contracts and data management.

Hazel Royle

Associate solicitor Watson Burton

Newcastle-headquartered Watson Burton has appointed a new associate solicitor to enhance its employment expertise. Hazel Royle joins the law firm from Burnetts Solicitors in Carlisle and has a vast experience of the education sector, having worked extensively with colleges, schools and higher education institutions.

Ronnie Burn i APPOINTMENTS Have you moved job or appointed someone to your team? Contact alison@netimesmagazine.co.uk

Head of education partnerships Newcastle College

Newcastle College has appointed Ronnie Burn to the new role of head of education partnerships. Ronnie, who has worked at the college in a number of roles over a 21-year period, is now tasked with promoting awareness of vocational skills and training opportunities available at Newcastle College - working with schools and employers across the North East.

Robin Roth Chief executive Traidcraft

Traidcraft, the Gateshead-based organisation that fights poverty through trade in developing countries, has appointed a new chief executive. Robin Roth, current managing director of Germany-based GEPA, will take up his role on October 1, 2016. He will be responsible for both the trading company, Traidcraft plc, and the charity, Traidcraft Exchange.

Dr Colin Herron and Tony Ikwue

Innovation Board members North East LEP

The North East LEP has welcomed two new members to its Innovation Board. Dr Colin Herron, managing director of Zero Carbon Futures and Tony Ikwue (pictured), director of Enterprise and Innovation at the University of Sunderland, have joined leading figures from the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business, academic and civic communities to help drive innovation and growth in the region.

Simon Horsley Technical director Eleven Arches

Eleven Arches has appointed a technical director to deliver its epic outdoor live production, which will open in Bishop Auckland this summer. Simon Horsley (left), who boasts 25 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in the theme park and entertainment industry, will work alongside production director, Damien Boissinot (right) and the specialist technical and design team.

RECRUITMENT

JOBS New positions available in the North East

Search marketing consultant

Head of financial reporting

Digital agency Silverbean, based in Hoult’s Yard in Newcastle, is looking to recruit a search marketing consultant. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing SEO campaigns for a portfolio of clients, while also supporting the agency’s in-house marketing and new business development teams. Email a CV and covering letting before April 15.

Atom Bank is recruiting a head of financial reporting and control to join its headquarters in County Durham. The successful candidate will be responsible for financial reporting (statutory and regulatory), technical accounting requirements, maintenance of the general ledger and lead the financial control framework.

Newcastle, up to £30,000 Silverbean

work@silverbean.com

Senior animator

Newcastle, competitive salary Ubisoft

Reflections, a Ubisoft studio, is looking for an experienced video games animator to create highquality animations that can be successfully integrated into a game engine. Strong practical understanding and the ability to create and edit animation graph/ node systems (UDK, Cry Engine, Morpheme) would be an asset. Deadline for applications is April 20. www.ubisoft.com

i JOBS To post a position, contact alison@netimesmagazine.co.uk

Durham, £100,000-£120,000 NRG

oliviaauckland@nrgplc.com

Web developer

North East, circa £35,000 Ronald James

Ronald James is looking for a front end web developer for a North East-based client. Candidates should have a good grasp of the fundamentals of CSS, HTML and building out designs created in Photoshop, as well as a relevant degree or a few years’ experience in a similar role. Experience of .NET and Javascript would also be advantageous. daniel@ronaldjamesgroup.com

FOCUS

Women in tech

IN THE LIMELIGHT Alison Cowie examines why there is a lack of women in the tech industry Words: Alison Cowie

omen are now seen as the driving force of the UK economy, with research compiled by Founders4Schools reporting a 30 per cent per year median growth rate of womenled companies with a turnover between £1 million and £250 million. But one sector where this potential appears to be lacking is in digital where, according to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, females represent just 26 per cent of the sector. More worrying is that the research showed that this was a drop from the 33 per cent recorded in 2002. Of course, there are women who have bucked the trend and have achieved great things in technology, such as Baroness Martha Lane Fox, co-founder of lastminute.com, Dr Sue Black, the founder and CEO of #techmums, and Vanessa Vallely, founder of WeAreTheCity.com. But the sad fact remains that the tech industry, as a whole, remains male dominated. So why is this the case? One reason is the historic lack of girls engaging in STEM (science, technology, engineering and manufacturing) subjects at school and at university. “There is age-old stereotyping in education, and in society generally, that creates hurdles for women in many careers, including the tech industry,” says Hilary French, headmistress of Newcastle High School for Girls. “Perceived ‘male’ subjects like STEM subjects have long been the preserve of the boys, with ‘softer’ humanities subjects the domain of women. “Thankfully, change is happening, but it is still too slow and that’s why in certain industries women are still very much in the minority and in most, are in a tiny minority at CEO and managing director level.” Hilary continues: “Encouraging girls to study STEM subjects and highlighting the wide range of opportunities these subjects open up are crucial to encouraging them to consider a career in the tech sector. “The UK Government has taken an active role in effecting change by making computer science a compulsory element of the national curriculum for children aged five to 16. Children now have to learn to code and be able to debug a simple programme by age seven – the aim being to lay the foundations for future IT graduates.

Another reason often cited for the poor female representation in tech is the perceived lack of flexibility for working women. Ruth Harrison, director of retail strategy in Europe for global software company, Thoughtworks, reflects: “The tech sector hasn’t positioned itself as being female friendly. “It needs to consider more flexibility in working arrangements and how it supports women who are entering the industry and returning to work after maternity leave.” Encouraging more women in the tech sector, as Ruth believes, is essential to reflect market demand. “Technology plays such a significant part of our daily lives and women as well as men should be shaping the user experience,” she says. Not only this, but it would help fill the skills gap shortage - an ever-pressing issue for the tech industry. “Tech companies are facing huge skills gaps internationally and are missing out by not proactively encouraging women into the industry,” says Hilary. Speaking on International Women’s Day (March 8), Tech City UK’s president, Jacqueline de Rojas, said: “Evidence shows that diversity leads to better decision making and commercial success. By encouraging women to enter or return to the tech industry at all levels, we become more competitive and more innovative.” Jacqueline went on to outline ten actions that tech companies could adopt to support women in the industry. These actions included inspiring young women through work experience and engagement with education, engendering culture change to eliminate gender bias, promoting back-to-work programmes to help women re-enter tech workplaces after periods of leave, nurturing talent through mentoring and better equipping women for senior and boardlevel roles. Creating more networks, celebrating women in technology and highlighting more inspirational figures in the industry are also seen as ways to redress the gender divide. Ruth concludes: “Women need to be bold and take on leadership roles. They need to lead by example and be the next role models. “If we can do that, it will have a positive snowball effect.”

INTERVIEW Darren Jobling

10 QUESTIONS… As COO of Eutechnyx, Darren Jobling helped build one of the world’s largest independent developers, specialising in racing and driving games. He established ZeroLight in 2014, aiming to revolutionise the car-buying experience by creating digital showrooms for leading car manufacturers

What was your first break in business? My brother, Brian Jobling, started Zeppelin Games in 1987 [later becoming Eutechnyx] and in 1989, he published Kenny Dalglish Soccer Manager, which became the bestselling computer game in the UK. At the time, I was working in London with industrial gas manufacturer, Air Products, on a fast-track graduate scheme. Brian then made me an offer I couldn’t refuse to come on board at Zeppelin Games. What did you want to be growing up? As a youngster, my thinking was dominated by making money. I researched which profession was the most lucrative and decided that dentistry was the career for me. However, time spent in the university’s dissection lab soon changed my mind.

i ZEROLIGHT

What made you set up your own business? After 25 brilliant years with Zeppelin Games and then Eutechnyx, I was ready to take on a new challenge. I had an extremely talented team, established relationships with major motor manufacturers and world-leading technology. Jaguar was looking for new ideas to launch its groundbreaking F-Type model at the Paris Motor Show. And ZeroLight was born. What is your company’s mission? To revolutionise the car purchasing process.

www.zerolight.com info@zerolight.com 0191 485 0505 @DarrenJobling

How do you get the best out of your team/staff? I believe that you realise a person’s true potential by focusing on their strengths and less on their weaknesses. It’s better to refine, build and reinforce what makes each individual stand out. That way, you can encourage your colleagues to be a world leader in what they do.

What has been your career highlight? Establishing ZeroLight in 2014. Within 12 months we were recognised as one of the top start-ups in the UK, having signed landmark deals with Audi, Jaguar Land Rover and Pagani - with more in the pipeline. What has been your biggest challenge? ZeroLight is providing a new solution into what has been, up until now, a very traditional marketplace and persuading large conglomerates to embrace a new technology can be a long process. Who or what inspires you? The R&D produced by the ZeroLight team never fails to inspire me and such innovation is fuelled by maintaining the right company culture. Positive people with a ‘can do’ attitude radiate through the company. What are your company’s short and long-term goals? Short term, ZeroLight wants to revolutionise the way people buy cars by delivering a consistent, high-quality, omni-channel solution throughout the entire customer-focused journey. Longer term we aim to grow the ZeroLight platform within the visualisation industry as a whole, attracting the best and brightest minds from around the world and developing further our identity as a great company to work for. How do you achieve a good work/life balance? I have a 20-point plan of personal and professional goals that I carry around in my wallet and measure my own performance against every year. If you don’t have a plan, how will you ever know if you’re really moving forward?

INTERVIEW

Sunderland Software City

SUPPORTING ROLE Sunderland Software City supports aspiring and established software businesses in the region. One company that has benefited is digital communication enterprise Consult and Design, which has grown its team and entered new markets thanks to the Wearsidebased technology hub

Billy Webber

David Van der Velde

SUNDERLAND SOFTWARE CITY

CONSULT AND DESIGN INTERNATIONAL

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Sunderland Software City supports software companies in many ways. Our core offering includes market research and technical support. We also pride ourselves on helping companies make connections - locally, nationally and internationally - and we draw on our own vast network to provide specialist expertise and guidance. I first met Consult and Design in 2013. At that stage, the company was looking to expand the business and it moved into the Software Centre in Sunderland, where we could support the team and they would be surrounded by likeminded companies. i Sunderland Software City has since helped Consult and Design with recruitment and SUNDERLAND SOFTWARE supported the growth of its focused Drupal events CITY www.sunderlandsoftwarecity.com and the establishment of the North East Drupal Hub, which launched last year. CONSULT AND DESIGN Consult and Design has continued to grow and www.consultanddesign.com has become the go-to organisation in the North East for expertise in open-source technology. 26

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Consult and Design’s partnership with Sunderland Software City has evolved over several years. Initially, we engaged with it as recipients of its SME support programme. More recently, Consult and Design has delivered free software consultancy to other SMEs on behalf of Sunderland Software City and has collaborated with the team to share knowledge about the Drupal open-source software, setting up the UK’s first Drupal Hub in Sunderland. When our company was in the very early stages of growth, Sunderland Software City helped us to accelerate our recruitment of new tech talent. At every stage, the initiative has offered us support, information and networking. It has helped us with ground-breaking projects around innovation and we are now an international business with clients in eight different countries. Being part of the Software Centre is really exciting. There’s a real buzz abut the place as the Sunderland software cluster is starting to get recognition outside the region.

COVER STORY Herb Kim

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Thinking

about digital

Herb Kim is arguably the most recognisable face in the North East technology sector, primarily for his work establishing an internationally renowned tech event in the region. Ahead of the ninth Thinking Digital Conference at Sage Gateshead, May 10-11, Herb talks to Alison Cowie about expanding the Thinking Digital brand, his role with Government initiative Tech North, and why the Northern tech sector is in danger of overheating

COVER STORY Herb Kim

t was a chance conversation and a convenient location of an interview that prompted the Brooklyn-born tech specialist, Herb Kim, to move to Tyneside, almost 14 years ago. He explains: “I was working in London for O2 and had just been offered a job at Orange when my best friend asked me if I knew anyone who might be interested in an opportunity to help set up a company to promote digital industries in the North East. “I thought it sounded interesting for myself and when I heard that interviews were talking place about 100 yards from where I lived at the time, I decided to arrange a meeting on my way home from work.” Both parties hit it off immediately and within months, Herb was driving past the Angel of the North in a rental van filled with his possessions, to begin his new life in the North East. Herb helped form Sunderland-based digital business group Codeworks in 2002, which enabled him to immerse himself in the North East’s burgeoning tech sector. In 2006, he visited Monterey in California to attend the digital-focused TED Conference. It was an experience that was to have a profound impact on him. “The brilliant thing about TED was that is was all about thinking big,” explains Herb. “A lot of talk in technology at the time, especially in the UK, was focused on working smarter and winning contacts. TED wasn’t like that. It was inspiring people to chase the big ideas.”

Herb returned to the UK galvanised to recreate the TED concept in the North East of England. Herb and Codeworks put on the first Thinking Digital Conference in May 2008 at Sage Gateshead. The event, which offered a programme of workshops and expert speakers, attracted 250 delegates. By his own admission, the first Thinking Digital Conference nearly killed him, but Herb remained committed to hosting an annual international digital conference in the North East, even when Thinking Digital’s public funding ended in 2011. The loss of the funding prompted Herb to sell his house and commit to Thinking Digital full time. “It didn’t feel like a major decision because I almost didn’t have a choice. The conference was making money but it wasn’t as though we could go to investors and promise that we could make them millions of pounds in a couple of years. But I knew we had created something too big in the North East digital sphere to just let it die.” This May will see the ninth Thinking Digital Conference take place at Sage Gateshead, with 700 delegates expected to attend from around the globe and a further 500-plus to log into the live web stream. Speakers already confirmed include Sugata Mitra, the Newcastle University Professor best known for his Hole in the Wall experiment that brought a virtual classroom to the slums of New Deli, and Tomorrow World’s Maggie Philbin, who co-founded industry-led initiative TeenTech, which encourages students in the STEM subjects through a series of events and an awards scheme. This year, the Thinking Digital Conference at Sage Gateshead will offer a schedule of workshops and speeches over two days instead of the usual three. “Ironically, as the sector becomes more successful, people are now busier, so we’re offering our programme over two days, with one-day tickets also available this year, to allow for more flexibility for people who are time-strapped,” explains Herb. Herb and the team have also recently expanded the Thinking Digital brand by hosting similar conferences in Manchester and London, as well as curating smaller TEDx events across the North of England. Over the years, Herb has seen the growing strength of the tech industry in the North East, and wider Northern region, and last year

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to build relationships with European cities that have a strong tech education legacy - such as Amsterdam and Brussels - and communicate why the North of England is the ideal place to build a career in tech.â&#x20AC;? - HERB KIM

COVER STORY Herb Kim

he was appointed chairman to the advisory board of Tech North, the Government funding initiative to encourage and support technology entrepreneurship in the Northern region. Despite the loss of its chief executive, Claire Braithwaite, in January, Herb maintains that Tech North’s first six months have still been a success. “The tech industry, traditionally, can be sceptical about Government initiatives, but companies have really engaged with Tech North and the organisation has done some great things, starting with the Northern Star programme.” He explains further: “We identified the ten most promising tech start-ups based in the North last autumn and are now taking them to events where they have been able to pitch to international investors. “The Northern Stars were invited to Bloomberg to pitch to a London-based tech audience and they were genuinely accepted and applauded; hopefully good things will happen for them.” The appointment of Jennifer Hartley from NewcastleGateshead Initiative as deputy head of trade and investment director of Tech North, Herb insists, will bring more stability to the organisation and allow it to focus on priorities for 2016, which, he predicts, will be on building skills and retaining talent. “We need to build awareness about the sheer scale of opportunity available here,” Herb reflects. “The Yorkshire Post reported in January that there are currently 50,000 software jobs available in the North. And these aren’t low-paid positions but ones with an average salary of £45K. “There is a lot of talk about strengthening the region with the Northern Powerhouse agenda but in tech, I believe, the opportunities are already being realised and the sector is in danger of overheating. “We need to attract talent not only within the North but nationally and internationally, too. We need to build relationships with European cities that have a strong tech education legacy - such as Amsterdam and Brussels - and communicate why the North of England is the ideal place to build a career in tech.” Herb’s role at Tech North is set to keep him busy, as will the ongoing strategy to expand the Thinking Digital brand, with conversations having already taken place about holding conferences in Sweden, Norway, Malaysia and Singapore. Herb, however, is keen to stress that the concept will remain rooted in the North East of England: “Yes, we’re looking to grow the Thinking Digital Conference brand as this will help build our profile and enable us to secure the very best speakers in the world. But, rest assured, there will always be a Thinking Digital Conference in the North East, as long as the demand is there.” 32

i THINKING DIGITAL

www.thinkingdigital.co.uk info@thinkingdigital.co.uk @ThinkingDigital @herbkim

INTERVIEW Lee Perkins

PLAYING ITS PART As the only FTSE 100 company to have its origins and headquarters in the North East, supporting some 2500 employees from its Newcastle Great Park base, Sage is often cited as the pinnacle of success and entrepreneurship in our region. And now - as Lee Perkins, EVP and managing director of Sage UK and Ireland, explains to Alison Cowie - it’s time for the company to play a more meaningful part in the local community

ormed in Newcastle in 1981, software company Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and entered the FTSE 100 in 1999. It now has millions of global customers and more than 13,000 employees in 23 countries covering the UK and Ireland, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, Asia and Brazil. Its base, however, remains in Newcastle and the company is the pride of the North East business scene. Lee Perkins joined Sage in 2011 to take on the role as EVP and managing director of Sage UK and Ireland, based at the company’s headquarters at Gosforth’s Great Park. He relocated with his family from the South, attracted by the challenge of the new and the decentralised structure of the company. He explains: “I had been used to working in very centralised technology companies and this job enabled me to take ownership of everything from R&D to customer service. It has allowed me to be more entrepreneurial, build a different kind of team and, hopefully, a different type of business.” As head of Sage’s operations in the UK and Ireland, Lee has continued to deliver the vision set out by CEO Stephen Kelly, to become more customer-centric and servient to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. “Our aim is to empower and make lives easier for smaller businesses, which are often being forcefed legislation and greater compliance challenges,” says Lee. “We want to create communities, recognition and support for businesses and entrepreneurship and ask them what they want from Sage.” Creating a compelling workplace for Sage’s North East-based employees – as well as potential new recruits from the local area and further afield

– has also been a priority for Lee. “The reasons for working for a company 20 years ago are perhaps not the same as they are now,” he reflects. “People are now looking for a purpose in the place that they work and to know that they are making a real difference. “We like to take bold decisions at Sage but take our people with us. We are very open with them about our rationale and urge debate.” Sage also encourages an entrepreneurial spirit among its employees. “We support our employees and colleagues who want to set their own businesses and hold fairs at our headquarters where they can showcase their ideas, alongside other local businesses,” explains Lee. Seeing for himself the passion and pride that Sage creates within its headquarters’ workforce, and the wider North East community, has encouraged Lee in driving forward a strategy for the FTSE 100 company to play a more meaningful role in the development of the region. “Sage obviously grew from the roots set down by David Goldman, and over the past 30 years has had varying levels of prevalence in the local community,” he reflects. “In recent years, the company has been quite quiet in the North East but in the last year and a half, we’ve really tried to step forward.” He continues: “Sage has an obligation to play its part in the community.” Using the skills and knowledge within Sage to mentor and encourage new and developing technology entrepreneurship in the North East, and beyond, has been a driver for the company. “We have worked with Start Up Britain over the past 12 months, taking a road show around the UK to encourage and support people who are looking to start their own businesses.

INTERVIEW Lee Perkins

i SAGE UK AND IRELAND www.sage.co.uk @sageuk

“Locally, we have also worked with Ignite and Campus North to mentor early-stage entrepreneurs and support them as they look to scale up their operations.” Opening up Sage’s impressive North East headquarters has also been an important step in the company becoming more open and accessible to the local community. Sage recently hosted events for employees and the wider business community which addressed the UK’s EU membership, and celebrated women in business (on International Women’s Day) - the purpose of which, Lee explains, is ‘to inform, educate and support, rather than impose a view’. The status that Sage enjoys in the North East also comes with a degree of scrutiny, and it was widely reported when the company admitted it had consulted with staff about redundancies towards the end of last year. Lee, however, is keen to play down concern for the future of the region’s most successful corporation.

“We are bringing the company into the 21st century in terms of shifting it towards the cloud and subscriptions, from the old world of desktop and licensed software,” he says. “As a result, we are changing they way we are structured and organised to fit with the businesses that use our services, focusing on customer service and putting our customers first.” Longer term, Sage UK and Ireland will continue to innovate for its customers, focusing on three key areas: accounting, payroll and human capital management. “We want products that will be more intuitive and simpler to use so that they can offer more value,” says Lee. The company will also continue to play its role in the North East community. “People trust Sage and have done for many years. I’m keen to build on that and make sure that we use our leverage as a large corporation, to support the North East - its real estate with our headquarters or its intellectual power through mentoring.”

INTERVIEW

Tristan Watson and Lyndsey Britton

FIRING IMAGINATIONS An angel-led accelerator programme and a co-working space in Newcastle have helped create a thriving and internationally recognised tech cluster in the area. Alison Cowie speaks to managing director of Ignite, Tristan Watson, and Campus North co-founder, Lyndsey Britton, to find out more

igh-speed internet connections and mobile technology have made it cheaper and easier to start up a technology company. As a result, more tech startups have been created – especially in the North East, where there is the added benefit of low cost of living - but many of these fail because their creators lack the required business acumen. To combat this failure rate, accelerator and incubator programmes (models which first started in the US) have become more common in the UK. These initiatives provide early-stage businesses with small amounts of investment along with business and technical support. In the North East, the first accelerator was the One North East-funded Difference Engine which ran from 2009 to 2011 before its public investment faltered. Paul Smith, a business entrepreneur from the North East who had previously co-founded a tech start-up and a design agency, decided to fill the void by creating a tech-focused accelerator programme that would be privately funded through angel investors and venture capitalists. He partnered with Jon Bradford and Colin Willis, as well as Lyndsey Britton – a former fashion buyer who had previously worked in an incubator space – and Ignite was formed in 2011. Tristan Watson, the current managing director and former technology entrepreneur, joined the company full time in 2013. Over the past five years, around 75 business have gone through the Ignite programme, including successful ecommerce developer Moltin and promising music streaming company Leaf.fm, which moved from Costa Rica to the North East to take part in the programme in 2013. Each start-up - usually comprising two or three people - is given £17,000 of privately sourced funding and, in return, Ignite receives a small equity share of the company. 38

Participants also take part in a 14-week programme of intensive training in accounting, marketing, business management and investment raising from experienced entrepreneurs and sector experts who volunteer their time. Tristan explains: “First, we pull the companies’ ideas apart, even if they are already making money. Sometimes the ideas change completely but a good team will manage that transition.” As Ignite became established, the team recognised the need for a not-for-profit operated co-working space for alumni of the programme as well as other small-scale creative and digital companies and freelancers that could share ideas and collaborate. They created a space on Westgate Road in Newcastle but the concept proved so popular that the search for a larger location began. Paul, Lyndsey and Tristan finally found what they we looking for at Sunco House on Carliol Square in Newcastle and – thanks to a band of volunteers and a successful Kickstarter campaign – Campus North opened in 2014, offering hotdesking, co-working and private offices, as well communal meeting rooms and learning spaces. Lyndsey explains: “We offer an important network and community for our residents, as well as business support through a series of workshops and our events.” A growing events programme and the demand for a location where the region’s digital groups could meet led to Campus North opening the neighbouring Bunker Coffee and Kitchen and a 2500 sq ft events space in 2015. Lyndsey reflects: “As the tech scene has grown in Newcastle, it’s become a bit fragmented. There are a lot of networks in the region and Campus North’s facilities are helping to pull them back together and have one focus.” Ignite continues to hold around three accelerator programmes a year, with space for ten enterprises in each.

Every programme receives around 400 applications from around the world - including from the North East - which are whittled down through a series of interviews and workshops. “We want to see how people work together because we invest in teams first and ideas second,” says Tristan. Companies of the Ignite programme raise, on average, £250k of extra investment once they graduate and last year’s alumni raised an impressive £11 million between them. Many companies – including Moltin and Leaf.fm – also choose to continue to operate from the North East, either at Campus North or by creating their own working space in the area. This helps to create jobs and further strengthens the region’s burgeoning tech scene. While Campus North will continue to supply a vibrant and flexible co-working space for some of the most inventive and creative companies that

choose to base themselves in the North East, Ignite is looking to expand its reach further afield. It recently launched programmes in Manchester and London and is looking to engage more with universities and expand its series of pre-programme events for those not yet at the stage of applying for the accelerator programme. This development, however, will be without the day-to-day involvement of Paul Smith, who publicly announced in January that he would be leaving his CEO role. Tristan reveals: “Paul spoke to the team about 12 months ago about leaving and will step down at the end of April - but he will remain as an adviser. He continues: “Paul’s decision will change who is around on a daily basis but not the dynamic of Ignite and Campus North. “I think it’s incredible what the company has achieved since 2011 and we have a great platform to build on this and move forward.”

i IGNITE www.ignite.io @ignite100

CAMPUS NORTH www.campusnorth.co.uk @campusnorthuk

INTERVIEW Gilbert Corrales

THE GROWTH OF LEĀF.FM Leāf.fm, a tech start-up from Costa Rica looking to reinvent music streaming, relocated to Newcastle in 2013 to take part in the Ignite accelerator programme and spent a year building the business in the city’s co-working space, Campus North. Now on the verge of launching the second version of its fan and artist engagement app, which has already attracted more than 130,000 active users, its CEO, Gilbert Corrales tells Alison Cowie why the promising company has chosen to continue its association with Tyneside

When you were approached by UKTI to relocate to the UK, why did you choose Newcastle? Leāf.fm was established three years ago by myself, my wife Helga and cousins Danny [Salas] and Melvin [Salas]. We presented our ideas at the Google Campus in London, which is when UKTI approached us about relocating to the UK. They gave us the choice of basing ourselves in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester or Newcastle. The number one reason we chose Newcastle was the strength of its accelerator programme Ignite and Campus North. The second thing was the cost of living. We had invested all of our savings into Leāf.fm and so really had to stretch the remaining money that we had. 40

What did the Ignite programme do for the company? The programme truly accelerated the potential that we had. It opened doors to a lot of key people; not only investors but people who became mentors and people who became key members of the team. Ignite also gave us the belief that what we were doing could succeed. After the programme, we stayed at Campus North for a year but as we grew we wanted to establish our own culture and moved into an office on Newcastle’s Quayside. How did the Leāf.fm come about? Danny and Melvin had been playing with a music streaming concept for some time when I met

them, through mutual friends. I started advising them while I was working in Chicago and then when Helga and I moved back to Costa Rica, we started to work on the project full time. The thinking behind Leāf.fm came from talking to musicians. We found that while monetisation is important to acts, it is only the priority for the top 2 per cent of acts – the global superstars. For the other 98 per cent, what’s more pressing is building an audience, understanding who they are and engaging with them. We decided to create a digital platform that created a community of fans and allowed a conversation between these fans and the artists in a way that hadn’t been done before. How has the platform developed? After Ignite, we built a small app that went on to be downloaded by more than 130,000 fans. We are now taking this to the next step and are talking to artists who can take advantage of this community and the data we generate. We’ve started signing up artists including Shields, from the North East, Alice Chater, from London, and a number of acts in Latin America - and will be working with them on their audience acquisition. How does it feel being in competition with global streaming platforms such as Spotify? In Latin America, we’re usually second to Spotify but in some cases, have gone above them in the rankings. And Spotify probably has 1000 times the marketing budget that we have. We know we have to be clear about what our role is and what

our strengths are. We aren’t a distribution platform, we’re an engagement platform. We don’t criticise Spotify. It’s doing a great job but at the same time, it is quite limited in terms of what it can do because of the restrictions music labels impose on it. What’s the next step for Leāf.fm? We have been flying low strategically because we wanted to build and improve our hypothesis. Now we’re getting to a point where we want to make a big splash. In the next six months we are aiming at recruiting 50,000 artists. Does the company’s future remain in the North East of England? Once we finished the Ignite programme a lot of people were saying that we needed to move to London. But we were really happy to be in the North East and decided to stay. The city has so much in terms of having the universities and industry so close. There is a great collection of tech companies here and we want more companies to join the cluster that’s being created.

i LEĀF.FM www.leaf.fm @leaffm

INTERVIEW Alison Brown

THE LONG GAME Alison Brown has spent more than 25 years working in computing, specialising in networks. She joined Teesside University in 2000 as a lecturer in computing science and is now assistant dean (recruitment and partnerships) PAST In the early part of my career I was programming using the C language. Much of the industry was mainframe-based but we used PCs for our development work. The hand-held computer that we used had to be intrinsically safe and, at the time, there was only one on the market - a device designed for use in mines. Mobile devices were a thing of the future! Memory and disc capacity were also so low that everything had to be designed and coded to be really efficient. User interface design was almost non-existent and with the device offering just four lines of 28 characters, it required a lot of scrolling. I started working in networks in 1995 as a technician at Teesside Polytechnic. At the time, we were using a bus network with thick Ethernet. I have worked in networks ever since, either installing and managing them or teaching networks to undergraduates and postgraduates. The field of networks has transformed in my time in the industry; speeds and performance that were unimaginable in business networks are now delivered to many homes.

1990

Appointed as software developer and team leader for Morgan Moore Engineering Ltd, after completing a masters degree in computing at Teesside Polytechnic (now Teesside University).

1996

Left Teesside Polytechnic to be network manager at Hambleton District Council, where she helped install the first network in the council offices and became responsible for all IT services.

TIMELINE 1995

Became senior UNIX technician at Teesside Polytechnic

PRESENT The dependency on computing has increased beyond recognition since 25 years ago. Mobile devices have transformed the way we access systems, the internet and data. Not surprisingly, development has matched this with the huge growth in social media, as well as contributing to efficiencies in business and industry. The networks that underpin this are incredibly fast and users now expect an immediate response. I heard recently that the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Z-generationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; has an eight-second attention span for responses on their mobile devices. The growth of data and the need for access have developed so rapidly that networks have had to evolve to accommodate the huge data sets that we rely on. On another level, the development of the skill-set to support these changes has lagged and there is now a global shortage of data scientists predicted over the coming years. Similarly, computer security has been hitting the headlines for years, and is a problem that organisations are constantly grappling with. Changes in technology and its uses have presented new risks and weaknesses. FUTURE Security will continue to be an issue as the continued development and use of technology will open new vulnerabilities. The demand for staff that can address these threats will continue to grow over the coming years. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been with us for a while, but it is now capturing everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s imagination with profile developments like driverless cars and AlphaGo [the computer programme developed by Google Deepmind to play the ancient Chinese board game Go - considered more complex than chess] profiled in the media demonstrating what can be achieved. Virtual Reality is the other major headline grabber at the moment, with affordable devices just

hitting the market, and I believe there is much more to come. Over all, the industry is becoming more specialised and employers are looking for experts with specific skill-sets - one good example is that in the past, the computer scientist would be the go-to person for computing roles. While that is often still the case, this field is exploding into a range of specialisms including data scientists, security analysts and network analysts. Computing is still one of the most exciting and rapidly changing fields in the modern world. There are some areas that still need addressing, such as the digital divide, but providing we continue to adapt and explore the opportunities that computing offers, who knows what the next 25 years will bring?

i TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY www.tees.ac.uk

@TeessideUniSCM

2014

2000

Appointed assistant dean (recruitment and partnerships)

Joined Teesside University as a lecturer in Computer Science (specialising in Networks).

2011

Appointed senior lecturer

PROPERTY

George F. White

FIRST-RATE TECHNOLOGY EQUALS GROWTH Robyn Peat, managing partner at land, property and business consultancy George F. White, explains why technology underpins greater communication and facilitates a better client service

A i GEORGE F. WHITE www.georgefwhite.co.uk @GeorgeFWhite

cross any sector, communication is absolutely critical. Without effective communication, businesses cannot provide good customer service or, on the other hand, be good employers to their people. Company-wide technology and associated systems therefore need to operate efficiently and provide a level of support so that employees can do their job and do it well. The speciality of many businesses, for example, like George F. White, is focused on being able to provide detailed knowledge and help to educate clients because of in-depth understanding of the market, industry issues and specialist know-how. This, of course, is completely derived from the people who work across the business but we need to support them effectively. How do we do this? By giving the right technology tools to the team. This enables the business to give the best guidance and support it can to clients. Great communication and great technology go hand-in-hand. This is why we have invested heavily in our infrastructure to ensure our people work across sophisticated systems, software and standard operating practices, which means that the

team can manage clients effectively and efficiently. Our central database, for example, acts as our main operating tool for all activities, from diary schedules and finance to management and compliance. I believe such support services are crucial to the foundation of the business and they are as important to the businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to operate profitably as its people. This is why we consistently update the technology we use to improve business processes, providing a better service for our clients and, in turn, having a positive impact on the business. For example, technology has been essential to how our accounts system works. In the past, the accounts department would have been viewed as having a full-time job filing paper but now document management technologies are reducing the amount of manual filing that we do. The resulting increased speed to deliver paperwork such as invoices has improved cash flow and client service. This improved efficiency also creates a positive brand experience, increasing customer loyalty and the lifetime value of the client to the business. The improvements to cash flow also allow SMEs to re-invest money into the business quicker, allowing companies like ours to continue to grow the business and its people. Having our own IT department also plays a key part in ensuring we are using the best technology and systems available as our systems manager is able to implement new resources where he feels they are required. This can be anything from the team being able to remotely access central systems while working from home or at an event easily and securely, to ensuring our websites work effectively in handling and answering queries or questions from prospective clients and associates. Communication is undoubtedly the key facilitator in doing business and to do this effectively, technology must play a vital part, whatever sector you work within. Making technology your friend and not your foe can enable greater productivity, helping businesses to provide better client communication and therefore service.

TECH

Digital Allies

PROCUREMENT IN A DIGITAL WORLD Steven Parker, managing director of Digital Allies, lecturer for the Digital Marketing Institute and a CIM Tutor through NESMA, reveals what’s important when employing a digital agency

ith the use of digital becoming ever more ubiquitous in our daily lives, the importance of organisations that deliver a satisfying customer experience has become even greater. There are many platforms and software options available but it can be a tricky minefield to navigate. Investment in digital is increasing, fast, and getting it right can have great rewards. Getting it wrong, however, can be devastating. At Digital Allies, we’ve developed a digital procurement framework, which covers the following pertinent points I feel are key to getting it right. Don’t be brief with the brief As the old cliché goes, ‘if you fail to plan then plan to fail’. We encourage clients to spend time with prospective providers to define what a website or digital marketing campaign is expected to deliver. By really understanding your goals and objectives, you can turn that into a compelling and detailed brief, which your chosen agency will thank you for. Clarity on both sides of the fence is a useful point of reference throughout the project timeframe. Share your budget from the start It is almost taboo in initial meetings to share what the budget for a project is. In our experience it is always advisable to have a budget in mind and share that right from the get-go. Allow a contingency budget, too. Allowing flexibility and creativity can lead to additional options that you may not have considered, but ensure this is a secondary ‘nice to have’ section of the proposal. Meet the team - the actual team When thinking of working with any third party organisation it’s advisable that you meet the team who are actually delivering the project, not just the slick and polished front-of-house sales or account management team. Are you being passed off to an

intern or apprentice but paying senior rates? Find out how long they have been with the company and how settled they are. The last thing you need halfway through a project is the lead developer or campaign manager to leave the business. This can lead to a breakdown in relationships and missing key project milestones. A ‘chemistry session’ is an advantageous part of the procurement process, allowing you to work out whether there is a cultural fit prior to signing on the dotted line. What’s the agency’s capacity? Finding out how quickly the agency is taking on new clients can be an indication of whether it is going to meet the KPIs set out in the initial brief. If it is bringing on clients at a rate faster than it is bringing in new recruits, then there may be some obstacles to overcome down the line. How do you fit into their portfolio? i Are you a big fish in a small pond or the other way round? You need the agency and team working on DIGITAL ALLIES your account to be engaged with your ambitions www.digitalallies.co.uk and goals. Does your brand make a difference to 0191 500 7900 their portfolio? Are they likely to submit your brand to awards, write press releases and such like? @DigitalAlliesUK An agency should be as proud to talk about your brand as you are, after all, they are representing you to wider stakeholders and that should shine through. 47

LAW

Sintons

SINTONS SUPPORTS QUANTUMDX EXPANSION The growth of one of the UK’s most dynamic life science businesses and the opening of the first commercial laboratories in central Newcastle for many years have been with the help of the law firm

Q i SINTONS www.sintons.co.uk @SintonsLaw Photo: Laura Peace (Sintons) and Sam Whitehouse (QuantuMDx)

uantuMDx has created nine ISO-accredited laboratories in its new Newcastle city centre headquarters to help it develop its globally recognised work in molecular diagnostics. The fast-growing business has moved from the world-leading Centre for Life into its new facilities in the Lugano Building, and has also expanded into a dedicated engineering facility at the nearby Generator Studios. QuantuMDx has grown from a makeshift garage laboratory set up by its founders Elaine Warburton, Jonathan O’Halloran and Julian Warburton, into an international leader in its field, with operations in Europe, the United States, Asia and Africa. Its Q-POC invention – a handheld device which can quickly and cheaply diagnose disease and drug resistance - has been hailed as having ‘worldchanging’ potential, which could help address many humanitarian challenges around the world. The move into the new laboratories – which were recently opened by the UK Minister for Life Sciences, George Freeman MP – will allow development of Q-POC to be upscaled, as well as facilitating further research and development in other fields, including QuantuMDx’s Q-PREP

DNA extraction technology. Newcastle law firm Sintons has been the longterm legal advisor to QuantuMDx, handling both commercial and property matters for the business. Partner Laura Peace handled the property aspects of the recent move into the Lugano Buildings and creation of the laboratories. She says: “It is an incredible achievement that the work being done here in Newcastle by QuantuMDx has the potential to touch millions of lives around the world, and something of which the whole North East and indeed the UK can be proud. “Their move to this fantastic facility and investment in research and development is helping to retain talent in the North East, and further helps to put both QuantuMDx and the North East on the map as leading lights in technology development.” On his visit, George Freeman MP said: “Small life sciences companies like QuantuMDx are the lifeblood of a leading cluster of 21st century life science and health technology here in the North East. The pioneering handheld DNA technology that I’ve seen today will help clinicians around the world to address global challenges by providing fast diagnosis of diseases such as malaria for just a few dollars.”

TECH

Perfect Image

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A TECHIE TO WORK IN IT Mick Keeble, head of managed services at Perfect Image, explains why you don’t have to be a tech aficionado to enjoy a successful career in the sector

hen you go to bed on a Sunday evening, do you get that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, knowing you have to go to work tomorrow? Luckily, for the team at Perfect Image, we believe this is rarely the case. The result of our last staff satisfaction survey revealed that 98 per cent of our workforce said they were proud to work for Perfect Image. Why? Because we really value our people. We have a strong focus on recruiting, retaining and developing our team, so that we’re in the best position possible to help our clients achieve business benefits through the intelligent use of IT. We want to work with people who are dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and who

also value the importance of teamwork – so people are at the centre of all that we do. We have a strong emphasis on working together and it is crucial for everyone to feel that they can fit in and be part of the overall organisation. You don’t even need to be ‘techie’ to enjoy a rewarding career here; the company offers roles from business development and account management to software development and service desk engineers. The work we do is varied and challenging but, ultimately, very rewarding. Not to mention we get i to test and trial the very latest technology on the market and have a bit of fun with our team mates, PERFECT IMAGE too. www.perfect-image.co.uk/ We’re currently recruiting for a number of careers different roles across the business, so if you’re @PerfectImage interested, get in touch.

LAW

David Gray Solicitors

ARE YOU FACING TALENT POVERTY? Bryony Rest, specialist immigration solicitor and partner at David Gray Solicitors, looks at the UK’s skills shortage - especially prevalent in the tech industry - and the issues surrounding recruiting from overseas

D i DAVID GRAY SOLICITORS www.davidgray.co.uk @DavidGrayLLP

espite a strong economy, the number of positions left vacant because employers cannot find people with the skills or knowledge to fill them has risen by 130 per cent since 2011, according to the UKCES Employer Skills Survey 2015. The so-called ‘skills shortage vacancies’ now stand at 209,000. So it’s no surprise that employers look abroad to find talent. And it’s the smallest employers that face the toughest challenge. IT skills are among some of the most often highlighted. When survey participants were asked to identify the skills they found difficult to obtain from applicants, tech-related skills made up a staggering 63 per cent of the total. And of those, advanced tech skills were more difficult to identify than basic ones. This skills poverty is having a huge impact on our region’s ability to grow and explains why employers will wish to search overseas for talent. But, the pressing search for talent overseas collides with a wide range of political issues – which are too well known to restate here. The impact of this collision is to make the recruitment and retention of overseas talent increasingly complex – the regulations change frequently and the process is difficult to navigate.

Having said that, the Government does recognise the skills shortages that its own surveys highlight. Although the process to recruit overseas talent is tough – it’s not so tough as to be impenetrable. One of the things we should be cautious of is the wide range of scare stories that come alongside the recruitment and retention of skilled workers from overseas. For example, the Government is set to introduce a new pay threshold of £35,000 for non-EU citizens this month. That sounds like a lot of money and for some skilled people it will be challenging. For others it might not be and there are some caveats around it. Crucially, the £35,000 minimum applies only to those people who want to stay in the UK indefinitely. It’s only possible to apply to stay indefinitely after five years. This is therefore not a recruitment problem; it’s a retention problem. There’s nothing here to stop an employer recruiting from overseas, and then being able to retain somebody for five years (it’s actually six, but that’s another quirk). In the past, employers might have been able to recruit and retain for life. But that’s been difficult for a long time. There’s nothing here to worry the majority of employers in their pursuit of talent from overseas.

TECH

Atlas Cloud

NOT YOUR USUAL CLOUD PROVIDER Pete Watson, CEO at Atlas Cloud, reflects on being part of an innovative IT business and the way technology can change the workplace

t Atlas Cloud, we deliver and manage virtual IT solutions, connecting workers with any application from anywhere. We specialise in delivering graphically intense applications (Revit, ArchiCAD, 3ds Max) for clients in the architecture, engineering and construction sectors, such as HS2, MAG, Arcadis and Kier. Thanks to our technology, all project parties can work in real-time, collaboratively, in the cloud on devices of their choice, over low bandwidth. Our solutions also come with per-month, per-user pricing, with same-day deployment of new users at any time during a project. As the first UK ISO 27001:2013-certified managed services company, Atlas Cloud takes security seriously. This means that data isn’t only stored securely, it’s also handled and dealt with safely throughout the company. Atlas Cloud is not your usual cloud provider; our aim is to transform businesses and the way we work by building innovative, cutting-edge technology that really makes a difference. New ways of working The core benefit of our solution is mobility; an essential part of everybody’s life nowadays. We can read and respond to emails or skim through the news on the go on smartphones and tablets without having to sit down at a desk and switch on a computer. With this in mind, mobility is also a key factor when it comes to productivity, as it allows for real-time reactions to any situation. At Atlas Cloud, we enable the same level of flexibility in the workplace. We believe that workers should not be tied to their desks; they should be able to move around freely, work flexibly and not be restricted by technology - but empowered by it. The gap between North and South As a business that was founded in Newcastle and now has its headquarters in the city, the team at Atlas Cloud are happy to see that the North East is establishing itself as the UK’s top tech hub outside of London.

Being a local business, we are especially proud to be involved in some of the nation’s biggest infrastructure projects such as HS2 and Manchester Airport. While the high-speed trains might take time to reach Newcastle, crucial project data will be stored in the region, which shows that businesses don’t need to be based in London to make a difference in the country. That said, we still notice a discrepancy between the North and the South when it comes to innovation and the adoption of new technologies. Generally, businesses in the South are much more open to trial new technology and explore possibilities, while companies in the North seem to be holding back. This is especially sad to see as the North has so much potential, with great people, innovations and skills in the region. To bridge this gap, Altas Cloud encourages businesses to step out of their comfort zones, explore and make the most of what’s available to them. Take i the cloud as an example; many companies still hold back on adopting a cloud solution because they are ATLAS CLOUD worried about security or feel like it is too new, when www.atlascloud.co.uk in fact, it has been around for years and, according @AtlasCloud to a recent Cloud Industry Forum study, 98 per cent of respondents have never experienced a breach of security when using a cloud service. Technologies will soon dominate and the longer businesses wait, the more painful the transition will be. 51

LAW

Major Family Law

FAMILY DISPUTES IN THE DIGITAL AGE Joanne Major, practice head of Major Family Law, looks at the impact that technology has made, and continues to make, on the legal industry

I i MAJOR FAMILY LAW www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk @majorfamilylaw Photo: Joanne Major (left) and the team at Major Family Law

n a recent address to members of the profession, the President of the Family Division of the High Court of England and Wales, Sir James Munby, impressed upon his audience the importance of ‘moving to the digital court of the future’. He spoke of the implementation of ‘the entirely digitised and paperless court’ and said that only when that is in place will we ‘at last, have escaped from a court system still in too large part moored in the world of the late Mr Charles Dickens’. It is undeniable that our legal system is considered by many to be archaic and arcane. But times are changing and the legal profession does recognise that updating, modernising and simplifying the system is required in order to offer a workable and accessible service. With fundamental changes to the system which oversees family disputes, corresponding changes to the roles of family law professionals have been inevitable. Some have seen it as the beginning of the end for this section of the legal profession, but as Sir Munby opined, ‘the civilised world has always needed lawyers’ and ‘will always need advocates’. The key is to provide a service that is both required and accessible. People will always seek advice from experts to ensure that what they are doing will succeed. At Major Family Law, we like to think we offer Modern Family Law. By constantly researching and implementing new

ways to make top-quality specialist advice and representation accessible and affordable, the practice bucks the trend of family law practices in decline. Major Family Law was an early proponent of offering clients both out-of-hours and remote access to advice by way of video conferencing services such as Skype and FaceTime. This is not a case of replacing expert legal advice from experienced qualified professionals; rather it’s about finding ways to offer clients maximum value for money with the minimum impact on both their time and ours. The firm has also developed relationships with other lawyers and legal practices in other parts of the country and also abroad in areas with a high ex-pat population. Our most recent appointments include two experienced lawyers on a consultancy basis who are based in London and the surrounds, allowing individuals in other parts of the country to access Major Family Law’s expertise in their own locality but without the hefty London rates. Having satellite personnel available to advise clients, combined with the policy of encouraging clients to seek advice or assistance for specific issues within their case, rather than placing the firm on a retainer as is traditional practice, is ensuring that individuals are not left without access to the support they require to properly resolve their problems.

TECH

HTG

ENABLING WORLD-CLASS BUSINESS IT IN THE NORTH EAST South Tyneside-based HTG is about to join a small number of Citrix-approved specialists. With this exciting world-class recognition around the corner, the team are passionately committed to enabling and growing the businesses of their North East customers

ithin the context of any industry – not least the IT sector in the North East it’s often difficult for new consultancies not to become ‘also-rans’, in crowded marketplaces, regardless of their quality. Then again, there are exceptions to this rule. HTG (Howell Technology Group), a South Shields-based business IT consultancy, is as good an example of ‘small but mighty’ as you’re likely to find. Take a closer look and you’ll discover an experienced, flexible and very adaptable outfit, with highly qualified and experienced IT consultants. You’ll also find genuine market-leading qualities that help to position them above other, bigger rivals in the region. And as accredited specialists in VMWare, Microsoft Cloud, ThinPrint and with TOGAF certification in Enterprise Architecture, HTG stands out from the crowd. World-class recognition now beckons for the family-run business that is aiming to put South Tyneside on the global IT map. There are currently less than 20 Citrix-accredited specialists in the world, and the ambitious HTG is about to become the latest. While businesses that need traditional IT support will find HTG highly competent, its true value is found in its world-leading expertise and accreditation in virtualisation platforms Citrix and VMware. Specialism in delivering cloud solutions means HTG can help forward-thinking customers in the North East stay ahead of the curve in modern IT while operating their businesses at the speed of life. Next year has been identified as the year of the ‘mobility tipping point’ – when working away from the office becomes more common. Figures released this year by Citrix also show that a 50 per cent split in 2015 will reach 70 per cent in favour of mobile working by 2020. HTG can enable its customers and workforce to work from anywhere by providing any application,

to any device, from any cloud, in a rapid, efficient and secure manner. This is an approach that delivers a consistent customer experience across all channels over even low-speed connections and drives obvious benefits in operational efficiency for customers, while fundamentally increasing business agility. Managing director of HTG, Kevin Howell, explains: “Any one of our customers can rapidly deploy a Windows workspace to their staff, anywhere, allowing secure app and data delivery which, in turn, results in true business agility.” Given the team’s wealth of experience and expertise, you’d be forgiven for expecting sights to be set globally; HTG’s desire to enable and grow North East-based businesses and organisations is therefore even more notable. With ambitions to become a centre of excellence i in the North East, while growing its team from its South Shields base, HTG has planted its flag in the HTG region - an area it feels passionate about. HTG offers a free, no-obligation IT health check for all new Kevin continues: “We have the highest level customers of experience and expertise to benefit customers 0191 481 3446 from SME to enterprise level. info@htguk.com We’re passionate about enabling IT for www.htguk.com businesses and organisations in the North East, especially those who wish to grow alongside us.” 53

EDUCATION

Gateshead College

REAL SKILLS FOR AN ONLINE WORLD From helping budding entrepreneurs set up their own digital businesses to inspiring the young to become creative coders, Gateshead College is designing skills for a digital future

i GATESHEAD COLLEGE www.gateshead.ac.uk @gatesheadcoll

he tech and digital sector in the North East has grown rapidly, with figures from Tech City showing that over 26,000 people are in digital employment. It’s estimated to be worth £1.1bn to the regional economy by 2020 and so high-speed growth is set to continue, as is its importance as a driver of investment and job creation. However, there’s an increasing skills shortage and from ambitious start-ups to global companies, businesses in the industry are crying out for more tech talent. Gateshead College is supporting the industry to ensure that skills provision matches the needs of businesses, creating a workforce that has the technical capability and creative flair to encourage further investment and growth. Developing ever-closer ties with schools and industry, the college works with leading North East networks such as Dynamo as well as virtual reality experts from Vector 76 and Bede Gaming, a software supplier to the online gaming sector. These partnerships have given dozens of students learning opportunities that have paved the way to a successful career in the IT industry. They are also a catalyst to engage youngsters, helping them to learn about the exciting pathways into coding and software development. Students are well prepared for employment with opportunities to complete work placements and apprenticeships at high-profile companies such as Ignifi, a Gateshead-based specialist creative communication agency. Dave Watson, managing director at Ignifi, says: “During their week with us, students see the technical skills needed and put them into practice on live client projects. Just as importantly, they experience the communication, project management attributes and attitude that working in this industry requires. “It’s refreshing to see young students with good core capabilities and interaction skills. They come to us demonstrating an impressive ‘ready-forwork’ attitude nurtured by the college that we can build on rather than train from scratch.”

Judith Doyle, principal and chief executive at Gateshead College, comments: “We pride ourselves on being highly responsive to the needs of North East businesses and providing them with the right training and further education opportunities to enable effective staff development that is bespoke to each business. “It’s important that we give students skills for work and our collaborations with industry are enabling them to do this. I’m proud of their achievements and excited about their potential.” A shining example of this responsiveness is the college’s move into skills provision for virtual reality, incorporating learning about computer simulated reality techniques into existing games design programmes. Students on these courses were part of the first ever UK VR developer day, held in Gateshead in March 2016. Sponsored by ARM, a global software and hardware development company, the event provided networking opportunities with technical experts and the chance to exhibit their recent work. Roberto Lopez Mendez, software graphics engineer from ARM, comments: “I am very happy to see students getting into VR development. What they have produced in such a short time is a wonderful piece of work. A great job by the students and by the teachers at Gateshead College.” The real work environment experience gained by studying at Gateshead College has led 28 year old Phil Duggan (pictured) to become the proud owner of a successful digital marketing company, Noiseworks. Phil’s interest in web design began when he was 14 years old. He went on to study for a Higher National Diploma at Gateshead College which enhanced his skills with learning about the strategies, practices and processes used by the industry. He says: “Since finishing my course in 2012, business has really taken off. My client base is growing steadily and we’ve just landed our first client from outside of the region. I chose the college as I’d heard excellent things about their computing and IT department and I can honestly say it was the best decision I could have made.”

RECRUITMENT

Ronald James

AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR RONALD JAMES Self-made business man James Blackwell established Ronald James in October 2015, and is striving to be at the very forefront of the recruitment market in the North East

usiness in the North East has always been close at heart for James Blackwell. Having grown up in Newcastle and involved in business since the age of 13, he noticed how the market needed a more personal and niche recruitment experience. It is this awareness of the local market, along with a passion to deliver, that allows Ronald James to guarantee the very best representation for your company. James has worked hard and with discipline from the very beginning of his career. By the age of 20, he had won Durham’s Entrepreneur of the Year award for his coffee shop, which had a turnover of £250,000 in 2006. Following this, he became

the leading salesman at Cooper BMWs Durham division, selling more 500 cars in four years. Failing to slow down, he then joined one of the world’s leading recruitment agencies, and was promoted four times in three years. By age 29, James had accumulated ten years’ experience in sales and over five years of managerial experience in recruitment. Therefore, the next logical step for James, he thought, was to become the founder of his own recruitment agency: Ronald James. i His ambition was to create a multimillionpound business while offering the best recruitment RONALD JAMES 01388 435654 service in the regionfor digital and technology talent. Ronald James is on its way to achieving this www.ronaldjamesgroup.com ambition and your company can be a part of it.

DIGITAL

Glass Digital

ALGO-RHYTHM: DANCING TO THE GOOGLE BEAT Google wants to give users the best possible results. Searchers who don’t find what they’re looking for are far more likely to try Bing or Yahoo next time — and that means advertising revenue takes a hit PENGUIN Pre-Penguin Google saw external links as recommendations for a site, so more external links meant higher rankings. Site owners soon took advantage of the loophole and went about placing keyword-rich links wherever they could, like in directories, blog comments and forum posts. These contrived external links devalued true recommendations, so Google released Penguin to distinguish between the two. Now, Glass Digital spends a lot of time helping clients remove harmful external links, and implement strategies that help them earn natural, high-quality ones.

he Google algorithm is responsible for analysing search queries and web pages to deliver ranked results. To ensure it stays on top of the search game, Google constantly updates this algorithm so it gets better at weeding out spam, understanding user intentions and evaluating content. Tweaks are made daily, but now and again there’s a major algorithm update that seriously changes the way Google ranks URLs. If you want to maintain or improve your rankings, these are the five major algorithm updates you need to know about.

i GLASS DIGITAL 0333 7000 555 info@glassdigital.co.uk www.glassdigital.co.uk

PANDA Designed to demote sites with low-quality content, Panda helps ensure searchers are presented with genuinely useful results. Pre-Panda, lots of sites published poorly written content or copied other people’s content as a quick-fix way to boost rankings. Regular updates mean Panda is becoming more nuanced at identifying quality content. If you want to avoid being hit - and futureproof your site - you should only publish unique, high-quality, comprehensive content that offers true value to readers. At Glass Digital, we have a team of talented copywriters who perform in-depth research and implement a stringent quality-control process to ensure every piece of content is Panda-proof.

HUMMINGBIRD Hummingbird was about better understanding the searcher, rather than the potential results. This update was crucial in light of Google voice search, as queries would likely shift from the keyword-oriented to the more complex and contextual; for example: ‘Newcastle pizza’ becomes ‘where can I buy pizza?’. Optimising for Hummingbird means providing useful answers to user queries. Much of the content we create for clients is based on the questions potential customers type into Google, and is designed to be the best of its kind. MOBILE USABILITY The Mobile Usability update, or Mobilegeddon, gives favour to mobile-friendly webpages in mobile searches. One month after its release, in April 2015, Google confirmed that mobile search exceeds desktop activity in ten countries, so it’s little wonder it was keen to improve the mobile user experience. You should do the same. RANKBRAIN Google uses RankBrain, an artificial intelligence system, to better understand complex or unclear search queries. That means the search engine will get better at identifying user intentions, and delivering the results they want. This latest update further emphasised the importance of creating content that caters to different user needs, and providing the best possible solution.

PENGUIN

PANDA

Launched: April 2012

Launched: February 2011

Mission Objective: Demote sites with unnatural backlinks

Mission Objective: Demote sites with low-quality content

Advice: Clean up your backlink profile of spammy, self-made links. Then work on a strategy to earn natural, high-quality links

Advice: Every piece of onsite content should be unique and offer value to readers. Don’t write content for content’s sake

HUMMINGBIRD

MOBILE USABILITY

Launched: April 2015

Launched: August 2013 Mission Objective: Understand user queries better, especially via voice search Advice: Create content that answers the questions searchers are asking. Create FAQs and guides that are the best of their kind

Mission Objective: Reward mobile-friendly sites in mobile search Advice: Google says mobile search outweighs desktop, so you need a mobilefriendly website to compete — ideally with a responsive design

RANKBRAIN

Launched: Spring 2015 Mission Objective: Use AI to better understand user intentions Our Advice: Create content that caters to different user intentions. Look to educate, inform and entertain, as well as sell.

Forfusion Ltd

DEATH OF EMAIL? Sean Ball, marketing executive for technology and professional services consultancy Forfusion Ltd, reflects on technology which is on course to replace email in business of view, they can prove more problematic.

ast month, we heard the sad news that email pioneer Ray Tomlinson had passed away at the age of 74. He first proposed the idea of electronic messages that could be sent from one network to another in

1971. But nowadays, email is the hunting ground of hackers, spammers and clutter bugs, all of which distract us from the very thing email is supposed to help with – efficiency.

i FORFUSION www.forfusion.com/powerhousetechnology/ @Forfusion

The explosion of collaboration According to BI Intelligence, the top four messenger apps have overtaken the top four social networking apps; so it’s difficult to envisage a future where email is not redundant. The desire to communicate, or to phrase it more accurately, collaborate, in real time in an easy, intuitive and consistent manner is growing exponentially. In 2014, Mark Zuckerberg was reported to have said: “Messaging is one of the few things people want to do more than social networking.” This explains the meteoric rise of the likes of WhatsApp, Slack and Facebook Messenger. LinkedIn has recently revamped its messaging functionality to resemble a more collaborative feel. And Twitter, famous for its 140-character limit, removed this restriction to try and tap into the need to collaborate. These freemium, consumer-driven collaboration apps serve their purpose. But from a business point

Collaboration still needs to be controlled Many workers are using free apps to set up workrelated groups or ‘rooms’ (in the absence of official company alternatives) to instant message (IM), and share collateral such as presentations, videos, images and other company records and property – to combat the geographical barriers that used to hold back team productivity. However, this brings a host of logistical, legal and unnecessary complications. For example, if a colleague leaves (or is dismissed), the in-house IT team can’t lock down access in the same way they could with company email accounts - especially if that person created the group in the first place. So how do you balance your workers’ desire to collaborate seamlessly (let’s not forgot they want to do this in order to be better at their jobs) without compromising security, scalability and ultimately control over potentially sensitive information? Leaders in collaboration Tech giants Cisco and Microsoft are leading the way in this area, having anticipated the trend for a while. That’s why at Forfusion, we’ve partnered with both names, becoming highly skilled in these pioneers’ technologies. Both Cisco and Microsoft have developed collaboration tools and infrastructure (also known as unified communications and collaboration) such as Skype for Business, Spark (formerly Project Squared), Webex and Jabber. These tools marry together IM and presence (so you know whether the person or indeed people are available, away, busy, in a meeting or in a call), as well as voice telephony (VoIP), video conferencing and document/media sharing. Think of the efficiencies these technologies can bring – it’s a far cry from the woes of email. Email is no longer fit for purpose Don’t get me wrong, email has served its purpose fantastically well. Ray Tomlinson’s legacy has revolutionised communication and productivity and will serve some (albeit shrinking) purpose in the future. But it’s clear that the needs of consumers, businesses and the world have moved on from what email alone can handle. Have you?

FOOD & DRINK Business lunch

THE BOTANIST Alison Cowie visits The Botanist, popular for its flexible eating options and central location

i THE BOTANIST NEWCASTLE Monument Mall, Newcastle, NE1 5AU www.thebotanist.uk.com @TheBotanistNCL

have to admit that doing this review was the first time I had visited The Botanist Newcastle. Not because I haven’t been out in the 18 months that the bar and eatery has been open (although, thanks to motherhood, I can probably count the number of times on one hand!), it’s just that my limited social exploits have never taken me to this venue, which sits proudly at the top of Grey Street. The pleasing result of this was that, while my fellow diners – who both had multiple visits to The Botanist under their belts - barely batted an eye at the botanical inspired décor including the dramatic tree that ‘grows’ from the bar up towards the glass domed ceiling, I got the full impact as a first-time visitor. The Botanist, as many of you will know, prides itself on the range of craft beers and botanical

cocktails it offers and so breaking with the traditional starter, main and dessert business lunch, my dining companions and I instead started our meals by sampling some of the beers and bar snacks. Not being much of a beer aficionado myself, the friendly bar staff were happy to help, and the Japanese white beer with coriander, nutmeg and orange that I eventually chose paired beautifully with the salty snacks. We followed this with a main course each from the menu that combines burgers, pies and curries, hanging kebabs, salads, fish dishes and a selection of deli board favourites. I opted for the lighter pan-fried seabass with spicy Piri Piri dressing, while my companions picked more hearty fare with a hanging kebab and a burger. We decided to give dessert a miss, but could have picked from the likes of apple crumble and warm chocolate fudge cake. Admittedly, most people probably wont visit The Botanist for a three-course meal during the day or the evening. Instead, the menu offers flexibility, whether you are looking for a quality snack to go with a beer or cocktail, or a more filling, hearty meal.

Starters

Honey Dew

Quilmes

Hitachino Nest White Beer

£5.50

£3.95

£6

Salt and pepper onion petals

Cumberland and pork chipolatas

Pork crackling and apple sauce

£3.50

Mains

Beef burger £10.50 with blue

Chicken hanging kebab

Pan-fried seabass fillets with Piri

cheese £1.25

£11.50

Piri dressing £13.95

EVENTS

Evolution LLP

EVOLUTION’S NEWCASTLE OFFICE LAUNCH Business and tax advisers Evolution LLP hosted a glitzy celebration at Bonbar’s 467 Club last month to mark the launch of its full-service Newcastle office. Tyneside’s great and the good were in attendance, the cocktails flowed and the room buzzed with excitement

MOTORS

Lookers PLC

CHARGE YOUR ENGINE Jason Smith, general manager of group fleet sales at Lookers PLC, assesses the growth of electric cars and whether hydro power will be the fuel of the future

t’s fair to say that our lives have been irreversibly changed by technology over recent years. The desktop computer, once the most popular means of going online, has given way to tablets and mobile phones; iPods look to be joining the Walkman in the delete bin of life and Google has replaced our need to remember ... well, anything. And while many of our cars’ fundamentals have stayed the same (four wheels, brakes, accelerator engine, etc) technological advancements mean that the way that they are powered is changing beyond recognition. The tipping point The humble internal combustion engine remains our main source of automotive propulsion, but battery powered cars have taken great strides in becoming a common sight on our roads. This is thanks mainly to an improved infrastructure, with figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers showing that the number of charging points available in the UK has increased from just a few hundred in 2011 to more than 9500. The investment has certainly helped to convince motorists, with the number of electric cars sold rising dramatically from 500 per month at the start of 2014 to around 2400 per month by the end of 2015.The Government also underlined its commitment further in December by extending Plug-In grants until March 2018, allowing manufacturers to keep prices competitive. Manufacturers are now getting the measure of EV technology, too, meaning the cars themselves have improved in terms of both performance and aesthetics, which has helped to engineer the spike in interest. In terms of specific models, the Nissan Leaf continues to lead the charge, with global units sold passing the 20,000 mark last year. And sales are certain to increase further thanks to the launch of a new 30 kW battery, meaning that the Leaf can now travel up to 155 miles on a single charge, up from 124 miles previously. Meanwhile, other manufacturers are mounting their own challenge, with the highly affordable Renault Zoe selling 2401 units by the end of September 2015.

The hydro-generation While electric vehicles may finally be enjoying their moment in the sun, hydrogen-fuelled cars, tipped to be the next big technological advancement, are still in their infancy in terms of infrastructure and general awareness among motorists. Hydrogen cars hit the motoring headlines recently when the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell and Toyota Mirai shared the What Car? Technology Award, an accolade that is usually the preserve of electric and hybrid vehicles. Premium brand Audi also believes in the power of hydrogen, with its new hybrid Audi A7 Sportback h-tron concept attracting attention after it was announced that it will cover over 310 miles when fully charged and emit nothing more than a few drops of water. The biggest sticking point among critics is that, while hydrogen fuel cells do have advantages such as quicker re-fuelling times, they aren’t that much greener than electric cars and even some hybrid cars in the greater scheme of things. That’s because producing hydrogen from methane requires a lot of energy and releases a lot of CO2. And then there’s the fact that there are only 11 hydrogen refuelling points in the whole of the UK, with only some of these accessible to the general public. So, until we see further investment, it may be a few years yet until the full potential of hydrogen powered cars is realised. Then again that’s what they said about electric cars.

i LOOKERS PLC www.lookers.co.uk @LookersGroup

HEALTH

Spire Washington

STAYING GAME-READY Calum Green is a professional rugby player for Newcastle Falcons, having joined the team in 2014. He is sponsored by Spire Washington Hospital, which works closely with the Falcons’ medical team to provide state-of-the-art imaging services to the playing squad just played. Say we’re playing on the Saturday and it’s raining, the contact is in close and it’s a physical game; it could take until the Tuesday or Wednesday before you feel back to normal. When a game is a bit looser with more running involved (usually when it’s sunny), it’s easier to recover so you tend to recover by Sunday morning. What injuries have you suffered during your rugby career? When I was at Leicester I had surgery on a bulging disc at Spire Leicester Hospital and couldn’t play rugby for almost a year. I’ve also torn my pectoral muscle which took four months to recover from. Most of the time, though, it’s little niggles that you suffer from. Injuries such as ankle sprains and little stingers (a nerve injury) are part of the game and our physiotherapists will monitor us and send us for a scan at Spire Washington if necessary. How do you feel about being sponsored by Spire Washington Hospital? Having spent a fair amount of time in Spire hospitals it’s a good feeling to be sponsored by a company I know. I didn’t have a sponsor last season since I was a new player and people didn’t know who I was, so personally it’s nice to have been chosen this year. When did you first know you wanted to be a rugby player and why? I grew up in Norfolk and my dad used to play rugby at the weekends. I would go and watch him play and then joined my local juniors club, Crusaders. From there I just kept progressing until I was picked up by Leicester Tigers.

i SPIRE WASHINGTON 0191 418 8687 www.spirewashington.com ?

How are you finding life in the North East since joining the Falcons? One of the best things about professional rugby is that it gives you the chance to travel and get to know different places and meet different people. I’ve really enjoyed my experience at the Falcons so far; everyone has been incredibly friendly since I moved to Newcastle. After a game, how long does it take to recover? It all depends on the type of game the team have

What are the benefits, in your opinion, of having Spire Washington Hospital on your doorstep? The relationship between the club and the hospital means that we can be seen quickly for tests and scans, which is important with the short turnaround times we have between games. For us as players, it’s great to know that if we’ve got something wrong with us we’re able to get it checked straightaway at the hospital without waiting days or weeks. What is your advice to any young player starting out? Always listen to your coaches, keep your head down and work hard. A lot of players when they get a little bit of recognition start thinking they’re better than they are and their development stalls, so remember to be humble and keep your feet on the ground.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Bradley O’Mahoney

ACTIONS NOT WORDS DELIVER TOP BRANDS … says Daniel O’Mahoney, managing director of Bradley O’Mahoney Public Relations, using Hodgson Sayers as a prime example

he term ‘dare to dream’ could have been penned specifically for Hodgson Sayers Limited. Here was a company that had been operating well under the radar for over 40 years, quietly and diligently providing roofing and allied services within the demanding North East construction sector. It had loyal staff and a customer base that always received a quality service, on time and within budget. On the face of it, a company like so many others in its sector. Fast-forward to November last year, when representatives from Hodgson Sayers travelled to London to take part in two of the UK’s most prestigious industry awards and on both occasions stole the show, taking the UK Company of the Year’ title. From nowhere, the company was in the national spotlight as it picked up the top award first at Constructing Excellence and then the British Chamber of Commerce national finals. This was the reward for years of hard work and, in particular, the development of a company culture based simply on doing the ‘right thing’ and acting with honesty, decency and integrity in business. The company won the awards not because of its products and services but for its exceptional culture and how it brings that culture to life by its actions and behaviours. It is in the constant delivery of its promise that Hodgson Sayers is so effective and it is on this ethos that its reputation has been built. Bradley O’Mahoney Public Relations has engaged with Hodgson Sayers for three years and our role is to assist the company to punch above its weight and to find innovative techniques to communicate its culture and values. We encourage clients to view business through the eyes of their customers and stakeholders and to mirror their behaviours, so that from a cultural viewpoint there is a natural, almost subliminal, attraction. Our partnership with Hodgson Sayers has taken us far in a relatively short space of time, and has seen our supporting its two national awards and a full-company brand refresh.

Operating in a sector that has reputational issues, Hodgson Sayers takes the view that its brand is owned not by it but by all those it makes contact with. It is the old adage that your brand is ‘what people say about you when you are not in the room’. So, what would they say about Hodgson Sayers? • It was the first company in the construction sector in the region - and only the second nationally - to adopt the living wage, as recommended by the Living Wage Foundation. This even extends to apprentices aged 18. • Apprentices always comprise at least ten per cent of the workforce and are guaranteed jobs on completion of their training. • Following its ISO14001 environmental accreditation last year, the company invested £300,000 to support the introduction of a hybrid car fleet across the business. • It was an early adopter of the Considerate Constructors initiative, aimed at improving the image and perception of the construction sector. These are all actions that define and reinforce the company’s core values. Actions speak louder than words. Promises that are matched with positive actions build great brands.

i BRADLEY O’MAHONEY PUBLIC RELATIONS

Photo: Daniel O’Mahoney (centre) with Mike Wade, finance manager, and John Sayers, managing director, both Hodgson Sayers. www.bradleyomahoney.co.uk

RECRUITMENT NRG

DELIVERING RESULTS THROUGH RECRUITMENT Specialist recruitment agency, NRG, is helping one Newcastle-based gaming company to create the team it needs to evolve

G i NRG www.nrgplc.com

aming developer Bede has enjoyed rapid growth since its formation by a group of experienced industry professionals in 2012. Today, the company employs around 150 people in Newcastle, and further recruitment is planned. Bede’s success is based on its highly flexible, open architecture gambling platform which is used by clients across the world and is designed to meet the demands of those who want a single wallet solution that works across all devices including mobile, tablet or web. Bede’s growth has been phenomenal: on a seemingly monthly basis the firm announces another high profile and high-value deal with another operator in lottery, digital, retail or online gaming. As the company continues to grow, the need to develop and expand its team becomes increasingly important.

A year or so ago, the owners of Bede realised it needed a partner to support the growth of its workforce. Furthermore, it required a recruitment partner that understood its core business and the varied mix of technical skills and aptitudes available in the North. It was important for the company to engage with a recruitment partner who could manage the recruitment process from beginning to end, leaving the team at Bede to focus on business growth and progress. In 2015, Bede took the decision to work with NRG on a proactive and concentrated approach to recruitment. Commenting on the partnership, Chris Bone, head of specialist recruitment at NRG (pictured), says: “The growth in demand for Bede’s services and their on-going expansion plans means that they need robust recruitment processes which can handle the selection of highly skilled professionals quickly. “There is also a huge demand for talent in the North - there are a number of businesses which require the same experts in creative and tech so it’s important that Bede stands out from the crowd.” Bede’s managing director, Dan Smyth, adds: “There is increasing time pressure to locate the talent required as the business grows at pace. The time-saving offered by NRG is huge; the team project manage the whole process and offer a ready-made network of skilled and attractive candidates. Our business is continuously evolving and recruitment is a fundamental to this. “NRG twins effective implementation with an eagerness to learn about our business creating an effective, productive and beneficial way to manage our employee requirements. NRG has immersed itself in our culture and embraced our industry. Candidates have been an ideal fit for our business and have brought a significant level of expertise gained in similar organisations just as we requested. “We’re proud to say that we play a vital role in creating brighter and better futures for candidates in the North and this is a key driver for NRG, too. The partnership works because we’re both passionate about technology, breathe all things technical and we’re both excited about the future for Bede.”

MASTERFUL Photography: Christopher Owens Models: Michael James & Hannah Jo Orrell – Tyne Tees Models Hair and Make up: Lauren Garfitt Location: Close House All clothes Close House Pro Shop View extended editorial online: www.netimesmagazine.co.uk/out-of-hours

She wears: Rohnisch Delia Bermuda Shorts in blossom. £69.95 Rohnisch Pearl Sleeveless Shirt in Clover Multi. £59.95 Rohnisch Soft Visor. £15.95

He wears: Hugo Boss Hakaan Trousers in Navy. £118.95 RLX Tropical Shirt. £79.95 J. Lindeberg Mid layer top. £94.95

Below: Hugo Boss Hakaan Trousers in Navy. £118.95 RLX Tropical Shirt. £79.95

Above: Daily Sports White Magic Capri pants. £79.95 Daily Sports Etty Polo Shirt. £49.95 Daily Sports Jackie Jacket in White. £79.95 Daily Sports Leon Hat. £19.95

Below: Rohnisch Tone 7/8 Black Check Trousers. £99.95 Rohnisch Ethel Mesh Polo Shirt in White/Black. £59.95 Rohnisch Black Sun Visor. £15.95

Above: Galvin Green Noel Trousers. £99.95 Galvin Green Macoy shirt. £79.95 Galvin Green Abin Gortex Jacket. £259.95

Above: Hugo Boss Hakaan White Trousers. £118.95 Hugo Boss Paddy Pro Polo shirt. £99.95 Hugo Boss Ray Pack Low Casual Shoes. £139.95

He wears: J. Lindeberg Elliott Stretch Trousers in Green Intense. £109.95 J. Lindeberg Tyr Technical Polo Shirt. £59.95 Hugo Boss Ray Pack Low Casual shoes. £139.95

She wears: Daily Sports White Magic Capri Pants. £79.95 J. Lindeberg Tour Tech shirt in Red Intens. £79.95 J. Lindeberg Emily Mid layer jacket. £109.95 Footjoy Tailored Golf shoes. £139.95

EVENTS

Sintons

SINTONS AND LEATHERS LLP SEMINAR Impending taxation changes and their likely impact was the topic of a recent seminar held by law firm Sintons and chartered accountants Leathers LLP. More than 40 key business figures from across the North East attended the event, which was held at The Beacon on Westgate Road in Newcastle. The breakfast event included presentations from tax specialist Ryan Harrison, from Leathers LLP, and Julie Garbutt, an associate at Sintons

SPORT

Steve Harper interviews …

CLOSE CONNECTIONS Sunderland AFC player and Middlesbrough FC U13 coach Steve Harper talks to one of England’s greatest ever golfers, Lee Westwood, about his preparations for this month’s Masters, his move to the European Tour and his links with the North East

ee Westwood OBE has 42 professional career wins worldwide to date, and has recorded top three finishes in all four major golf tournaments, including the runner-up position at the Masters in 2010. He is also associated with Close House golf club, right here in the North East. I caught up with him ahead of a busy period leading into the first major of the season. S: It’s the Masters very soon and given your excellent recent record of four top ten places in the last six years, how are the preparations going? L: To be honest, I haven’t played much! Augusta is a tough course but I’ve played well in the past, having found a way to get around the course and nearly winning in 2010. The greens are its main defence but I’m hoping for another good week.

on the US Tour and the courses are probably of a better standard mainly due to the weather, but the European Tour gives you the opportunity to travel the world as opposed to being predominately in the US. S: Through your association with Close House Golf Club you’re spending more time in our region. What do you like most about the North East? L: Newcastle is a great city and the people are very friendly and have been very welcoming. My link up at Close House comes at an exciting time for the club as we’re very hopeful of getting the British Masters next year and the courses continue to improve as they get more established.

S: When did you start playing golf? L: My dad loved fishing but I wasn’t too keen, so once, he suggested we go and play golf at the local municipal with some clubs my grandparents had bought me. I was about 12 or 13 at the time, which would be considered quite late to start playing nowadays, but I really took to it.

S: It’s the Ryder Cup later this year; what do you think of Europe’s chances and are you hoping to play? L: I think it’ll be close again but the European team will be strong. Darren [Clarke] will make a great captain but it’ll be harder being in the US. There’ll be lots of youngsters on both sides and, as ever, it’ll be great to watch. For me, I’m having a few weeks off after the Masters so I’ll need play more often afterwards and find some form to be included.

S: With such a long and successful career to date, what are your highlights? Every Ryder Cup has been a great experience. To twice win the European Tour Order of Merit, now Race to Dubai (2000 and 2009) - given the strength of the Tour - were also highlights. Also, to be world number one for six months (2010-11) and be seen as the best golfer at the time was a very special.

S: How does the dynamic change from being an individual sport to being part of a team at the Ryder Cup? L: Usually, if you play badly you’re only letting yourself down, whereas in the Ryder Cup not only are you part of a team, and therefore responsible to your team-mates but you’re also representing the whole of Europe. It’s a lot of pressure.

S: Can you enjoy being world number one or does it just increase the pressure? L: You try to enjoy it but then you also know that everyone is gunning for you. You have to work really hard to try to stay out in front.

S: What would be your best tips to anyone wanting to take up the game? L: It’s vitally important to get the basics right by having lessons at the outset. There’s no point standing on a driving range practising the wrong things and developing bad habits that will take time to get rid of.

S: I’ve read recently that you’re looking to play more in Europe? What are the main differences between the two main tours? L: Yes, I’ve given up my US Tour card. I’ll still play the majors and World Golf Championship events but I’m going to concentrate on the European Tour. I’d say that the standard of the two tours is very similar to be honest. There’s more money available

i STEVE HARPER www.myoddballs.com

ARTS

Culture In

CULTURE IN Rebecca Eves’ picks of the latest books, DVDs, music and television to enjoy at home

BOOK: LEMMY: THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY

Notorious for his hardliving ways, Lemmy passed away in December 2015, just two days after a cancer diagnosis. Mick Wall, the author of this frank biography, knew the Motörhead frontman for 35 years. Based on a series of interviews between the two men, the book also includes insights from others who knew Lemmy well - fellow rock stars, management and industry insiders. Out April 14 www.orionbooks.co.uk

TV: THE DURRELLS

Airing on ITV, The Durrells tells the charming story of an English family starting a new life on Corfu in the 1930s. Based on the much-loved memoirs of wildlife conservationist Gerald Durrell, the six-part drama has been adapted by Men Behaving Badly writer Simon Nye and stars Keeley Hawes and Leslie Caron, a familiar face from classic movies such as Gigi and An American in Paris. Starting this month www.itv.com

ALBUM: CLEOPATRA

American folksters The Lumineers have entitled their second album Cleopatra, and if the sold-out UK dates of the accompanying world tour are any indication, it’ll be a successful follow-up to 2012’s self-titled debut which featured the massive hit, Ho Hey. Lead single Ophelia hints that the band has found a darker tone, but still features plenty of their signature-style catchy beats. Out April 8

DVD: THE FORCE AWAKENS

I’m sure the notion of owning The Force Awakens on DVD will be exciting enough for Star Wars fans, but to enhance the prospect even further, two limited edition sleeves are available. Choose from the light side or the dark, depending on your preference for good or evil. Bonus features include deleted scenes and a makingof featuring exclusive interviews with cast and crew. Out April 18 www.starwars.co.uk

ARTS

Culture Out

CULTURE OUT Arts and cultural highlights from around the region this month

BALLET: DON QUIXOTE COMEDY: JOE LYCETT

You’ll have seen him on one panel show or another, and now sharp-tongued comedian Joe Lycett is touring with the spectacularly named That’s the Way, A-Ha, A-Ha, Joe Lycett. Following 2013/14’s If Joe Lycett Then You Should’ve Put a Ring On It and 2012’s Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer-nominated Some Lycett Hot, the tour is largely sold out already. Move fast for tickets to the Stockton ARC gig. April 23 www.arconline.co.uk

FAIR: BIG VINTAGE FESTIVAL

Head to The Clayshed at Hoults Yard for a dose of everything vintage. First-rate vintage stalls will supply everything from clothing and homeware to beauty, craft and cocktail workshops. The soundtrack to your shopping will be supplied by entertainers including The JADeS, while Monsieur Crepe and Fat Hippo are among the caterers. If traditional tea is more your thing, Melonberry Vintage will be on hand to keep you in cake. April 23 www.britaindoesvintage.co.uk

Take in a live satellite screening of the Bolshoi’s critically acclaimed performance of Don Quixote in the comfort of Newcastle’s Tyneside Cinema. Fadeyechev’s production of the classic tale combines new stage sets and costumes with the ballet company’s famous standards of excellence. Tickets are priced from £10 for under-15s to £20.50 in the plush Classic Circle seats. April 10 www.tynesidecinema.co.uk

THEATRE: BILLY ELLIOT

After ten years in the West End, the hugely successful Billy Elliot the Musical is embarking on a tour of the UK and Ireland, landing at the Sunderland Empire this month. Scored by Elton John, the show tells the well-watched, but stillpowerful story of a young miner’s son who dares to pursue a dream of dance instead of confirming to the norms of his northern upbringing. April 6-30 www.atgtickets.com

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Hawthorns

Ingram Valley seared lamb loin, lamb belly croquette, Caroll’s Heritage Potatoes, asparagus, peas and mint Chef Chris Wood has taken the finest Ingram Valley lamb, renowned for its naturally delicious sweet taste and succulent texture, and created an exquisite Northern British dish, available on the menu at Hawthorns, Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter

Ingredients Lamb loin and lamb belly croquettes 1 lamb loin (approx. 700g) prepped for cannon and cut into 4 fillets by your butcher 1 side of lamb belly 50g rock salt Small bunch of rosemary 1 sliced white onion 4 cloves of garlic 4 bay leaves ¼ bunch of mint 100g panko bread crumbs 100g plain flour 1 egg 500ml duck fat 50g butter 25ml vegetable oil Salt and pepper Mash 1.5kg Carroll’s Heritage Potatoes 75g salted butter Salt and pepper Purée 400g podded fresh peas ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda 1pt veg stock Salt and pepper

Method • Salt the lamb belly using 50g of rock salt. Leave overnight in the fridge. • Sit the jar of duck fat in a pan of warm water and leave until it softens to a liquid. Pour the liquid into a deep oven-proof dish. • Take the lamb belly and brush off the excess salt. Place it in the duck fat and add the rosemary, white onion, garlic and bay leaf. Cook for four to six hours at 120 degrees. • Once cooked, drain off excess oil (reserving 50ml). Leave to cool then pick the lamb meat from the belly rind, season and add the reserved oil. Lay out a 30cm section of cling film (two layers thick). To make the croquettes, lay the lamb meat onto the cling film and roll into an 3cm cylinder. Chill for two hours, then cut into 5cm lengths. • Mix the bread crumbs with the finely chopped mint. Take each of the lamb lengths, coat with flour, dip in the egg and coat with the bread crumbs. Set aside.

Vegetables Bunch of asparagus 100g podded fresh garden peas 250g Heirloom carrots 50g broad beans

• Peel the potatoes and simmer until cooked. Mash until smooth, then add butter and seasoning. Shave the asparagus and boil in heavily salted water for two minutes, then refresh in cold water.

Sauce 1pt beef stock 100ml port Small bunch of mint

• Peel and halve the carrots and cut into bitesized pieces. Boil for four to six minutes in salted water, then refresh in cold water. Boil

100g of the podded peas and broad beans in salted water for two to three minutes, refreshing in cold water. Peel the skin off the broad beans. Set aside all vegetables. • For the purée, boil a pint of vegetable stock and add the remaining podded peas and a quarter teaspoon of bicarb. Boil for ten minutes, drain off and keep the stock. Blend the pea mixture in a food processor on a high setting, slowly adding the stock until the purée is smooth, sieve into a bowl, place cling film over the top and set aside. • For the sauce, reduce the port down by three quarters then add the stock and reduce again to the desired consistency. Add the mint when dressing the plate. • To finish the dish, sear the lamb loin steaks in oil for two minutes or until a good colour is achieved. Lower the heat and cook for a further two minutes with the butter. Set aside in a warm place. • Reheat the mash while dropping the lamb belly croquettes into the deep fat fryer for two minutes. Plunge the vegetables back into a pan of boiling water for a minute, lift from the pan, butter and season. Reheat the purée, carve the loin and plate up as per picture.

i HAWTHORNS Crowne Plaza Hotel – Stephenson Quarter www.crowneplaza.com/newcastle

MOTORS

Guy Wilks

THE EPITOME OF MOTORING For some, the word ‘Porsche’ means only one thing: the 911. Twice British Rally Champion and owner of Karting North East (KNE), Guy Wilks, takes the latest version for a spin

conic, beautiful, sleek and fast, the 911 has never lost the attraction over the years, despite its many guises. The finest German design, engineering and craftsmanship has satisfied owners - including myself - and admirers alike. And according to the new Porsche brochure, this latest version is “the best 911 of all time”. So is this claim correct? The base spec of the new 911 includes leather seats, a leather dash and a leather heated steering wheel, and nestled behind the wheel are the things that make this into a technologically advanced sports car: the gear change paddles that control Porsche’s wondrous ‘PDK’ 7-speed transmission. I’ve criticised paddle gears in the past but I do think there is a place for them sometimes; the new 911 being one.

Like the hair trigger of a rifle, apply slight pressure and you’ll change gear in an instant. It doesn’t matter if you are cruising and want to short shift up the box to limit effort or if you want to drop two or even three gears to get past a lorry with minimal effort. I’ve tried paddle gears previously - in cars with price tags of more than £100K and gear changes were laboured and poor. This definitely wasn’t the case with the Porsche. The German automobile manufacturer also continues to excel when it comes to the drive. Ergonomically, the designers have got nearly everything right on this car. From the seats and seating position to the thumb scrollers on the steering wheel, meaning everything is - quite literally – at your finger tips. Combine this with Porsche’s Communication

i PORSCHE NEWCASTLE

Silverlink Retail Park, Wallsend, Newcastle, NE28 9ND www.porschenewcastle.co.uk

KARTING NORTH EAST Warden Law Motorsport Centre, Sunderland, SR3 2PR www.kartingnortheast.com | @GuyWilks

Management (PCM) system that gives you real-time traffic information and you feel that everything about this car is geared towards making headway on your journey. Speaking of which, I should talk about the engine. For the first time ever, there is no naturally aspirated engine in the new lineup. This may devastate some Porsche enthusiasts, but it’s hardly surprising given that car manufacturers are pushing toward economy and lowering emissions by turbo charging everything from Fiestas to Bentleys. But don’t worry, the new 911 still retains the

irreplaceable flat six (not three, yet) cylinders that are now turbocharged - meaning 420hp pushes this ‘base’ 911 to 60mph in a spritely 4.2 seconds. Thankfully, it also hasn’t lost that resounding deep burble on tick over, nor that rasp at top end revs either. During my test drives, I like to try and use each car for as much of my everyday life as I can. This was no different with the 911. When I previously owned a 911 this was before children and getting two children and two adults into this 911 did prove a struggle especially for my youngest, Matilda, and her carseat. I had to pull the driver’s seat forward to accommodate the seat, which resulted in a compromised driving position for me. Once we were out on the country roads, the 911 offered fast yet comfortable driving thanks to its Porsche active suspension management, which is fitted as standard. Everything is adjusted with the push of a button and you can definitely feel and appreciate the change. I especially enjoyed my usual commute in the 911: the school drop off for our eldest daughter, Flourence, just before 8am in Durham, then it was a serene cruise along the A690 to the Karting North East track. The only slight negative of this car, for me, is the price. For a little under £79,000 on the road for a PDK base 911 (a manual is £76,412), the Porsche needs to fit your life day-to-day and arguably it can. But if you really want it to look good, you should expect to spend at least £10k on extras.

VERDICT

Porsche’s exceptional engineering and craftsmanship continue with the new 911, making it a tempting choice for petrol heads. 81

LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY Motel One

MAKING NEWCASTLE THE ONE In 2007, Daniel Müller joined Motel One, the German hotel chain founded by his father and has helped drive forward the company’s new ‘budget design’ concept and dramatic European expansion. Now head of operations, Daniel oversees the running of the group’s 53 hotels, including the new Motel One Newcastle on High Bridge, which boasts 222 rooms priced from just £59 per night. He spoke to Alison Cowie ahead of the Tyneside hotel’s official opening last month What is your background and what attracted you to hospitality? My father established a four-star hotel chain in the 1990s which he sold to a Spanish group, NH Hotels, in 2002. Meanwhile, he founded Motel One with two other partners, his former board members, in 2000. I was studying international business at the time and after I finished, I joined a resort hotel which offered an internship scheme. I worked in every department for half a year, working from 5am to 8pm. I then joined AccorHotels, eventually becoming responsible for sales of all the hotels in Berlin and Eastern Germany. When did you join Motel One? When I was at AccorHotels, my father said to me: ‘Daniel, you are experienced, do you want to join me at Motel One?’ I didn’t want to because I was working with one of the biggest hotel chains in Europe and, at the time, Motel One was offering basic accommodation in out-of-town locations. But then he told me that Motel One was changing its strategy to something it called ‘budget design’. This meant offering very affordable hotels but equipping them in a very luxurious way with modern furniture and décor, and locating them in city centres. My father asked if I would manage the first hotel offering this new concept, which was opening in Berlin. It sounded very creative and innovative and I joined Motel One in 2007. I was general manager of the Berlin hotel for three years before returning to Munich to work at the company’s head office. I was offered the job as operations manager at the beginning of 2010,

joined the board and took charge of Motel One Group’s whole operation two years later. What have you achieved in this role? Since 2012, the company has 35 new hotels across Europe, including the UK, the Czech Republic, Belgium and the Netherlands. The group now has 53 hotels in total. How important is the UK market? The UK is the second biggest economy in Europe, behind Germany, and so is very important to the group. Our first hotel outside Germany was in Edinburgh. When we opened, it was pretty much successful from the very beginning and gave us the confidence to open other projects in the UK, including London and Manchester. Why Newcastle? Newcastle has recently changed a lot and now has a good combination of industrial heritage with a big cultural offering. It’s not just all about partying anymore, there are theatres, museums, music venues and art galleries; this is what Motel One guests are looking for and so it was a perfect fit for the group. The Newcastle hotel scene has become increasingly crowded. What will make Motel One stand out? I think Motel One Newcastle has three crucial success factors. One is the central location. Grey Street is a few metres away and you are within walking distance of Central Station and Metro links to Newcastle International Airport, as well as the city’s nightlife and cultural offering. 83

LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY

Motel One

The second factor is the interior. At Motel One, we offer very high-quality décor that is individually inspired by the location of the hotel giving a greater impression of a high class hotel compared with a standard top end hotel. In our Newcastle venue, we have incorporated a lot of 1950s and 1960s design, reflecting the city’s industrious past. The third factor is the price. A room costs from £59 a night, meaning Motel One appeals to a broad range of people, from football fans to travelling business people. But we also want Motel One to be a destination for locals, too. What does it mean for your staff to work for Motel One? We put a very big emphasis on our people. We have a special atmosphere in our company which we call the ‘Spirit of the One Family’. We were awarded the best employer in the tourism industry in Germany last year and have some of the highest employee satisfaction ratings. The group set up its own training academy called One University in Munich last year, where employees from all of our hotels visit. They get

to meet the board, including myself, and we have dinner and I chat to them. This is really important to me and helps staff identify with the company. We also have an incentive system for all of our employees. Everyone from managers to the waiting staff and those who clean the rooms participate in the same scheme. What are your plans for the Motel One Group? We want to be bold and will continue to expand. We have around 25 new hotels coming up in Europe, including projects in Paris and Barcelona, Glasgow and Manchester. In the UK we are also looking at locations in London, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham. What about expanding outside of Europe? Our dream would be to open a Motel One in New York and three years ago we were close to signing a contract; unfortunately, it didn’t happen. We know we can’t get emotional and must expand at a responsible pace. Opening in America means a large time difference, as well as differences in regulations and culture. But the group does see it happening one day.

i MOTEL ONE The group’s CEO and Daniel’s father, Dieter Müller, was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 19th International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin. www.motel-one.com @MotelOne

HEALTH & FITNESS

Katie Bulmer-Cooke

TURN THE DON’TS INTO DOS Katie Bulmer-Cooke shares her top nutritional tips and recipes

e are always being told what we shouldn’t be eating - everywhere from television programmes to social media. But how much does focusing on the negatives and the ‘don’ts’ really help us? It does give us some insight to a point, but we also need to know what action we should be taking to achieve better health and aesthetics. With that in mind, here are are my top insights as to what you should be doing...

super quick and easy to make and take to work.

Eat regularly Don’t starve yourself. Instead opt for single ingredient foods that are in their most natural form. This narrows things down to fresh meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, eggs, unrefined grains and water at a basic level.

Blend all the ingredients together using a food processor or blender. Pour into a dish, score into pieces and place in the fridge for up to four hours.

Eat when you are hungry Everyone is different; some people feel better eating smaller meals throughout the day while others are more suited to eating three larger meals each day. There is no right and wrong here; you have to get to know your own body.

i KATIE BULMER-COOKE Katie Bulmer-Cooke is an award winning health and fitness entrepreneur, consultant and speaker (contact Michael@usb-uk. com) www.katiebulmer.com www.thefitmummymanual.com @katiebulmer1

Break the mealtime stereotypes Instead of naming your meals breakfast, lunch and tea, name them feed one, two and three, aiming to have each feed consist of protein and vegetables. For example, a spinach omelette or a chicken breast with mixed vegetables. Drink two to three litres of water per day This can include herbal or fruit teas in place of coffee and fizzy drinks. Restrict certain carbs Keep starchy or high-sugar carbohydrates such as root vegetables, rice and fruit for post-workout (two to three hours after your workout) feeds only. If you’re someone who likes to snack or graze, then why not try out one of these recipes? They are

Energy Bars (serves two) • 1 banana • 3 fresh dates • 2 tbsp ground almonds • 3 tbsp walnuts • 2 tbsp sesame seeds • 2 tsp cinnamon • 1 tsp nutmeg

Kale crisps (serves two) • 1 bag of kale • 2 tbsp olive or coconut oil • 1 tsp of sea salt • 1 tsp black pepper • Half a lemon • 1 tbsp agave nectar Preheat the oven to a medium heat. Place the kale onto a baking tray adding the sea salt, pepper, lemon juice and agave nectar, rubbing the ingredients together with your fingers. Bake in the oven for approx. 15 minutes. Bacon and leek egg muffins (serves six) • 4 eggs • Half an onion (diced) • 1 handful spinach (finely chopped) • 4-5 rashers of organic bacon (thinly sliced) • 1 leek finely chopped • 1 tsp sea salt Preheat a medium oven. Whisk the eggs then add the other ingredients and mix well. Place into a muffin tray/cases and bake for approximately 20 minutes.

OUT OF HOURS

Technology

TECH Rebecca Eves reveals the latest gadgets which promise to bring technological innovation to your life – whether at work or at home

APPLE UPDATE Apple used its March ‘Loop You In’ event to unveil new, more accessible versions of the iPad and iPhone. The downsized iPad Pro was touted as ‘indispensable and immersive’, with an improved, but smaller, 9.7-in screen, a 12-megapixel camera and a 64-bit chip that rivals laptop processors, plus you can use it with the Apple Pencil or a Smart Keyboard cover. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch has had a price cut of around £50 and is now available with colourful nylon or leather straps. www.apple.com

B&O BEOSOUND 35

The iPhone SE reverts to the screen size of a 5S but with the performance of the 6S, including faster wireless, longer battery life, Apple Pay and Live Photos. Choose from four metallic finishes to house a 16 or 64GB memory, for the cheapest ever iPhone price tag of £359.

BeoSound 35 is the latest all-in-one wireless music system from Bang & Olufsen. The elegant design means that the one-metre wide speaker will fit right into your interior scheme, whether it’s standing or fixed to a wall, as well as ensuring the quality of sound you would expect from B&O. Although it can function independently, the BeoSound will, of course, integrate seamlessly with your BeoLink Multiroom system, or AirPlay or Bluetooth devices. On sale mid-April, priced at £1745. www.bang-olufsen.com

SAMSUNG FAMILY HUB REFRIGERATOR Launching soon, at around £3400, the Family Hub allows you to post and share calendars, pin photos and the kids’ artwork, and leave notes. If that sounds much like what you could do with some magnets, Samsung has also built in cameras so you can track the contents and expiry dates you have in stock via your smartphone in the supermarket, or you can get online and order straight from the fridge, as well as finding recipes to suit your ingredients. www.samsung.com

FAIRPHONE 2 One for the developers - Apple also released CareKit, which is a software framework following on the heels of ResearchKit. Apps designed via the kit will help people to monitor symptoms and medication, and to share information with medical professionals or family.

Looking for a mobile upgrade? The Fairphone 2 might not match the spec of the industry’s top models, but it certainly makes an effort to out-do them on ethical grounds. With modular construction and replaceable parts, the phone is designed to break the throwawaysociety cycle, and the component materials are as responsibly sourced as possible. You can even double up on SIM cards and wave goodbye to lugging a work phone and a personal phone around. Out now, priced at £410. www.fairphone.com

INTERVIEW

Mike Bowers

BALANCING ACT Mike Bowers, managing director of Cellular Solutions, is a rugby and cricket coach in his spare time, and believes that ‘team is king’ on the pitch as well as in the workplace I have been playing and engaged in sports since primary school, across a huge range of different sports - some more successfully than others. At secondary school, I was fortunate to have a very passionate rugby coach in Trevor Staker, a Royal Marine PE Instructor. I also had a similar cricket coach in the legendary Stan Eardley. I still hear his immortal phrase, “raise, step and play” every time I hold a bat. Like many coaches, I started by helping out at my local rugby club and was quickly asked to formalise this role, taking over as head coach once I had passed my Intermediate coaching level, back in 1992. I now coach rugby at Northern FC in the under-15 age group and Northumberland County at under-15 and 16 age groups. I am acutely aware of what sport has given me and coaching, for me, is about ‘giving back’. I often see kids who were lacking in the five Cs (competence, confidence, connection, character and creativity) before sport helped to empower them and allowed them to express themselves as individuals. My mantra is ‘team is king’. Getting the best out of a team is quite simple: ask them what they want to achieve and why, and then empower them to take ownership of their own performance. I have always preferred to use the term ‘situational leadership’ in the workplace. At Cellular Solutions we apply the right leadership, given the levels of competence that we have. In team sports, you need to make a general assessment of people’s talents and skills and work with that, too. My advice to other coaches is to surround yourself with the right team, use a common language, create a learning environment and focus on performance not results. 92

i CELLULAR SOLUTIONS

Mike is managing director of the integrated business communications company which specialises in business software www.cellular-solutions.co.uk @cellsolNE

EVENTS

Aston Martin

ASTON MARTIN LAUNCH EVENT Aston Martin has opened a new dealership on Colbalt Park Way, Silverlink. The VIP launch took place on Thursday March 24 and was attended by more than 200 guests. The new Aston Martin DB11 was unveiled on the night, which was joined by the DB10, as featured in the James Bond film Spectre, classic DB5 and DB6, a V12 Vantage Zagato and a Vulcan Race Car - one of only 25 ever built

i Photo 1:

Andy Palmer (Aston Martin), Shaun Foweather (Stoneacre) and Paul Thursby (Aston Martin Newcastle)

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Ian Barraclough, Sandra Barraclough (Barraton Design)

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Elaine Severn, Debbie Linggard-Foweather and Angela Gormley (Stoneacres)

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Bob Arora (Sachins) and Martin Stout (North East Times Magazine)

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Peter McMullon, Lorraine McMullon and Ian Moughan (Aston Martin)

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Simon Croft (Aston Martin), Shaun Kamis (Rightcar), Dominic Kamis (Stoneacre) and Matthew Bennett (Aston Martin VIP Sales)

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Mike Challands and John Hughes

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Nick Clarke and Rich Hughes

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Catherine Murrell, David Murrell and Holly Murrell

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Nindy Ghura, Jyoti Ghura, Alison Mason and Dale Mason

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Judith Graziani (Harryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Newcastle), Katherine Cockburn, Amelia Simpson and Marc Thursby

EVENTS

Sport Newcastle

SPORT NEWCASTLE AWARDS DINNER Up-and-coming talent and established sports stars were celebrated at the annual INTU Sport Newcastle Annual Awards Dinner, held at the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Civic Centre last month. Top honours on the night went to Newcastle Eagles caption Charles Smith, who was named Newcastle Sports Personality of the Year

EVENTS

Motel One

MOTEL ONE LAUNCH Budget design hotel chain, Motel One, held a launch for its new Newcastle city centre venue on March 3. Guests were joined by the group’s head of operations, Daniel Müller, and enjoyed canapés and turquoise Champagne - reflecting the company’s branding

INTERVIEW

Joanna Wake

MY NORTH EAST Joanna Wake is managing director of RAW Digital Training, a digital skill and social media training agency based in Stockton. She was named Sage Northern Star Awards Social Entrepreneur of the Year and won the Stockton Council Mayor’s Civic Award for Outstanding Contribution to Business in 2015. Last month, Joanna also received a special commendation by judges at the National Women in IT Awards

I love to walk my dog in Wynyard Woodland Park and on Saltburn beach. Having the mix of the coastline and the countryside in the region is great. My ‘hidden gem’ in the North East is The Storytellers, a pub in Stockton. I adore music, and this place gives me my fix, from acoustic singers and full bands to Northern Soul and all-day music festivals. I like the eclectic mix of people and real ales and it’s somewhere I visit with several generations of my family. I often take my eight-year-old son on the train to Newcastle city centre. We visit museums, enjoy a great lunch and then squeeze in a bit of shopping at Fenwick - if he lets me. My favourite place to conduct business away from the office is Chadwick & Co at Barker & Stonehouse on Teesside Retail Park. It’s easy for me to get to, and offers great coffee and amazing ham and truffle oil sandwiches. I always enjoy visiting the corporate facilities at the football grounds of the North East. As a huge Boro fan, I have to say the Riverside Stadium is the best.

I travel a lot and like to see the world, but I’ve never wanted to move to a tropical climate. The North East makes my heart feel warm, and that’s what matters to me.

i JOANNA WAKE

Managing director of RAW Digital Training www.rawdigital.training @joannawakeraw joanna@rawdigital.training

The warm and kind nature of North Eastern folk is renowned and completely unique. I love my home town of Stockton. It has some unique shops, lovely independent pubs and a really great music scene. The High Street also offers a packed calendar of cultural events which gives it a very communal feel.

I do a lot of business in Scotland and never tire of the view on the train ride following the North East coastline; it’s stunningly beautiful. What makes the North East for me is our sense of determination as a region. We never seem to stand still; we charge forward and break the stereotype in many ways. If I could build anything in the North East, it would be an indoor ski slope for my son and me to get our snow fix all year round; fortunately Middlesbrough has plans for one, so, perhaps, the reality is not far off.

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