Northern Insight - October 2015 by Northern Insight

INSIGHT NORTHERN

OCTOBER 2015

Meet RMT Technology The technology services division of RMT Accountants and Business Advisors Ltd

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NORTHERN INSIGHT

foreword Welcome to the October edition of Northern Insight Magazine. I am delighted by the positive reaction to Northern Insight magazine from readers and advertisers alike. Their views and opinions on what else they would like to see in its columns have been taken on board and this month’s issue is a tribute to the most important people in the region – and that’s you. This month features news and views from the business community as well as the leisure industry. Social events are also well covered with lots of your photos.

Enjoy! Michael Grahamslaw, publisher

contents october 15

Business News - 6 In Conversation With - 18-19 James Richfield & Peter Grieves

Entrepreneurs Interview - 34-35 Geoff Turnbull

Technology News - 62 RMT Cover Story - 64-65

Arts News - 70-71 Books - 72 Leisure News - 76-77

credits Managing Director - Michael Grahamslaw Design & Web - Louise O’Rourke, Ruairi McGuinness Additional Photography - Gordon Taylor Editorial Contributors Ken Spearen, Jack Grahamslaw, Holly Grahamslaw, Gordon Taylor, Alex Nelson, Alastair Stewart

www.northern-insight.co.uk

facebook.com/northerninsight

@ninsightmag

All photos are copyright MJG Publishing Ltd and are taken solely for use in Northern Insight. If you wish to purchase a photograph please contact Michael Grahamslaw on mjgrahamslaw@outlook.com Photo charges £50 for a single image, £295 for full buy out of a photo shoot Advertising charges: There is a £25 charge for every set of amendments, following the first initial set of amendments, which are free of charge, for adverts designed by Northern Insight (MJG Publishing Ltd) Cancellations: If an advert is cancelled by the booker within a 7 day period prior to our print deadline, the advert will be charged in full, plus VAT. Editorial Editorial Contributions should include a stamped addressed envelope. No responsibility is accepted for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission, or while in the Managing Directors or Printers hands. Editorial must be received by the 15th of the month or no responsibility is accepted for errors.

Advertisements Although every care is taken to ensure accuracy the Publishers regret that they cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused by an error in the printing or damage to, a loss of artwork, tranparencies or photographs. Complaints will only be considered for up to a week after publication. Advertising must be received by the 20th of the month. No responsibility is accepted for errors.

BUSINESS NEWS

Directorships set to drive growth at Bell Truck and Van A fast-expanding North East MercedesBenz dealership has strengthened its team with the appointment of two new directors. Longbenton headquartered Bell Truck and Van has appointed Gavin Hewitt as After-Sales Director and Dave Maughan as Truck Sales Director. Hewitt, 35 from Bensham in Gateshead, joined Bell Truck and Van in 1998 as an apprentice service advisor/ technician before being promoted to warranty admin manager. After undertaking numerous managerial positions across the group, he was most recently promoted to Group Aftersales Manager.

As After-Sales Director, Hewitt will continue to contribute to the strategic growth of Bell Truck and Van and to maintaining and building upon the high levels of customer service that the business is renowned for, reflected in the business being named Mercedes-Benz’ Commercial Vehicle after Sales Dealer of the year in 2014. Commenting on the directorship, he said: “Having been a part of the Bell Truck and Van business since I first started work in 1998, I’m extremely proud to realise my long-term ambition to become a director at the company.” Meanwhile Maughan, 51 from Consett, has spent over 35 years in the truck industry. Key achievements include being named Mercedes’

Top Sales Truck Executive in the UK in 2004 based on cumulative performance. In 2012 he was promoted to Truck Sales Manager with responsibility across the Bell Truck and Van patch. He commented: “It’s a privilege to be appointed to Truck Sales Director and having the opportunity to be involved with key decision making which will further impact on the strategic growth of Bell Truck and Van, at what is a really exciting time for the business.” The director appointments coincide with a period of sustained growth for the Bell Truck and Van business which recently opened its Wetherby workshop.

County Durham Solicitors named in Legal 500 A Durham-based firm of solicitors is celebrating after being named in the Legal 500 for its specialised work. EMG Solicitors, based at the Rivergreen Business Centre, Durham, was set up by founder Emma Gaudern just over a year ago but has already made it on to the prestigious list. The firm appeared in the personal tax trusts and probate section for the north, where they were named as

“first class on Court of Protection matters.” Emma, whose work includes acting as a Professional Deputy for children and adults with complex brain injuries arising from personal injury, was singled out as being “an expert in the area.” She has been working with Court of Protection cases for more than ten years and currently acts as deputy for 45 clients, along with being a trustee for a further 15 trusts for compensation.

EMG Solicitors have gone from strength to strength since launching. “It’s a great testimony to the work we do that we’ve made it on to this list when we are still a relatively young company,” said Emma. “We do all have years of experience however and it is extremely gratifying to see that recognised in this way.”

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BUSINESS NEWS

Teesside business woman visions success

Cramlington Football Club shoots and scores £5k bursary

RPS adds to its team following a successful year

A Teesside based business woman is eyeing up success after launching a new venture and adding four employees to her team. Julie Breen, of Redcar, has returned to her native North East roots to launch IntelliSight, an opticians focused on state of the art technology. The ambitious entrepreneur has employed Redcar locals, Karen Wilson, as senior optical assistant and Katie-Lee Armstrong, Janet Walker and Rachel Giles as optical assistants, to help push the business forward. Julie said: “I can’t believe IntelliSight is finally open, it’s really daunting and exciting, all at the same time.”

A South East Northumberland football club has scored £5000 worth of funding after winning the title of community bursary beneficiary from Manor Walks Shopping and Leisure. The Northumberland retail and leisure destination selected Cramlington United Football Club as the recipient of its 2015 bursary for its dedication to encouraging young people, aged between 5 and 18 years, into sport. The much-needed funding will be used by the community football club to help purchase new strips and equipment, whilst allowing the club to run its three disability teams at no cost to members.

A pioneering Teesside packaging recovery company has taken on a local graduate apprentice, following significant growth. Since winning contracts with house hold names such as Homebase and Argos, RPS is enjoying a turnover of £2.34m, almost 30% increase since last year. This soaring growth has enabled the business to launch a recruitment drive and 21 year old Liam Johnson is the seventh employee the business has employed this year. After successfully completing a one year apprentice with RPS, Liam, from Eaglescliffe, has secured a fulltime position as a fork lift driver.

Cornmill bolsters centre management team

Local architect attracts talent from the south

Promotions and a new appointment for growing urban design team

Cornmill Shopping Centre has welcomed a new recruit to the team, while a long standing member of staff has been promoted. Ian Boyd has been appointed as centre administrator in a role that involves undertaking a broad scope of administrative tasks. Meanwhile, Kelly Hutchinson has been promoted from centre administrator to the role of admin manager where she will oversee all administration for the centre.

Award-winning practice, Howarth Litchfield Partnership, has recently announced the arrival of three new faces to its expanding team. Malcolm Welford and Alex Blylock, were both attracted to leave the capital to join Howarth Litchfield, as it offered them a chance to further their careers. Recent Masters graduate Philippa Ramsay, originally from Hampshire, is also thrilled to be starting her career with the award-winning practice.

Hugh Daglish has recently joined IDPartnership – Northern (IDP) as a senior urban designer and planner. As a new associate, Hugh is charged with the delivery of a range of projects. This includes supporting recently promoted Scot Ritchie, to develop IDP’s London office. A second promotion to senior associate level was given to David Moore in recognition of his twenty years of service to IDP.

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

SearchBi’s Richard Deas and Mark Harbottle are leading the way in recruiting for specialists in business intelligence and data visualisation technologies

Recruiting for the future The growth in business intelligence (BI) and data visualisation technologies has spawned demand for professionals with unique skills and experience. Leading the way in the hunt for these skilled people is Newcastle niche IT recruitment specialists SearchBI, which is marking its first year in business. SearchBI specialises in niche IT recruitment, supplying professionals such as developers, consultants, project managers, business analysts and sales and account management executives, to specialist markets throughout the UK. This includes recruiting for professionals skilled in QlikView data visualisation technologies as well as those experienced in advanced BI systems. Success over the last 12 months for the Jesmond-based firm, led by directors Richard Deas and Mark Harbottle, has been impressive, driven by a focus on finding and placing talented and qualified people with national as well as regional businesses and the set-up of a division focused on North East IT recruitment. These placements include core roles within companies such as solutions provider and Elite QlikView partner Perfect Image, and the expanding mobile

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Indeed, so rapid has success been in the first year that Richard and Mark are looking forward with ambitious plans to breaking through the £1m sales barrier within the next 12 months while doubling SearchBI’s workforce to 10 consultants by 2016. This will include further growth for Chris Boyle, the consultant heading-up the firm’s North East division, which has seen more than 20 people employed within the region’s burgeoning technology sector. Plans to grow this part of the operation are an integral part of the company’s overall expansion plans as is the BI software market following the appointment of specialist consultant, Iain Carter. With an MSc in Computer Science and experience of working for technology start-ups, Iain brings considerable expertise and sector understanding to the role as he looks to target the recruitment requirements of software consultancies and resellers alongside BI partners. Richard and Mark, who have over a decade’s experience in IT and recruitment between them, see the ability to secure significant levels of repeat business with international and national

clients, alongside an in-depth understanding of the niche IT sector and the specialist technology that the firm recruits for, as the ingredients in a successful growth recipe. “Demand for our expertise is strong on the back of providing a dedicated service to a sector of the recruitment market for agile BI technologies,” explains Richard Deas. “With our honest, open approach, we have the expertise that clients demand for their own growth; and we are ensuring that we will be well placed for expansion by making the important investments now that can only strengthen our services.” Mark Harbottle says the investment in Iain and Mark will see the building and nurturing of a dedicated team of highly skilled people to support a fast growing customer base, adding: “We will benefit from their skills as more and more businesses invest in new talent to drive growth in the face of a resurgent economy, particularly in London and the South East. “The future is really exciting for us; we have the plans and resources in place to achieve even more in the next year, building on our reputation and delivering the quality service our clients need to secure their own workforce needs and growth.”

SearchBI is a dedicated recruitment agency servicing companies using business intelligence software systems and able to support candidates looking for work or employers wanting to recruit skilled talent. More at www.searchbi.co.uk or contact 0191 481 3888.

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The Queens Lunch Duncan Young of Sanderson Young hosted a lunch for his guests on Wednesday the 9th of September to celebrate H M The Queens longest reign in British history. The dress code was typically British and it was held in Newcastles oldest restaurant in the Banqueting Hall of Blackfriars restaurant off Stowell Street. A magnificent banquet was enjoyed by all including the presentation of a fabulous suckling English pig to accompany the toast to Her Majesty at 5.30pm that day.

INTERVIEW

Michael Grahamslaw meets...

VIVIAN HERRERA-LEE, PROPERTIES UNIQUE What were your career ambitions growing up? I thought I wanted to be a children's nurse, so whilst still at school I did some voluntary work in a hospital, but soon realised it wasn't the path for me. I then went on to a Secretarial College and thus began my working career as a Secretary (or PA as they are called in today’s world) until I set up Properties Unique 12 years ago.

What has been your career path? In my younger years you had to start as a 'Junior' Secretary and work your way up to becoming Secretary to the Chairman or CEO etc - which I did achieve. It was in the early 70’s when I was approached by a Spanish International company and asked to go and work for them in Eibar - a town between Bilbao and San Sebastian in Northern Spain - which is how I met my late husband, Ramon.

Who have been your greatest influences? It was definitely my mam and dad instilled in me, and I still strive to honour their “old fashioned” values of life…to be very honest, kind, caring and respectful. One phrase they repeatedly used and I still use to this day is..."It costs nothing to always be civil and courteous to people." I know for sure their advice has always stood me in good stead.

What has been your greatest achievement? Obviously getting to the ripe old age of 65, I feel I have achieved most of whatever I have set my mind to, however receiving the NE Business Woman of the Year in 2014 - was quite a good achievement, not bad for a senior citizen!!

What are you currently working on? I have been approached by an overseas contact who would like Properties Unique to expand overseas...so who knows what the future holds.

What is the best piece of business advice you have been given? When I initially began the business 12 years ago, Serviced Apartments were a new concept here in the North East, so in effect there was no one in particular to give me any specific advice. However what did encourage me to keep going were the owners who put their trust in me to manage their apartments and even more importantly the Corporate companies who had the confidence in me to place their clients in our apartments.

How do you relax? I have quite a hectic life one way and another, so I really enjoy going home, putting my pyjamas on and watching TV - I love the solitude especially after a manic day at work. Mind you I am blessed with lots of friends so do have my fair share of holidays, in fact my staff say I cover more miles than Judith Chalmers!

What’s your favourite film? I prefer happy films that leave me feeling uplifted. I went to see the musical ‘Sound Of Music’ at the Theatre Royal recently – it was fab!!

And favourite book? ‘Five people you meet in Heaven’ by Mitch Albon.

Your Desert Island Disc? I don't have one favourite CD, but I was brought up in the Tamla Motown era and I still love it today – love to dance to it (or do the ‘funky chicken’ as my son describes my dancing!!) However my number one singer of all time is Jose Feliciano.

PROPERTY INSIGHT

Skeletank SuDS solutions are the only way for Region’s Home Builders

Chris Daws heads up Hydro Water Management Solutions (Hydro WMS). This month he talked to the team at Northern Insight and told us all about the ground breaking innovative product range known as Skeletank.

“Over the last few years the way that house builders are having to tackle new challenges has increased massively. Changes in our environment, an increase in rain and the threat of potential flooding have all been hot potato topics in the industry. “There is also massive pressure to provide more new homes due to a shortage across the UK. Home builders are therefore keen to maximise their land and get more properties onto any one site than they did before. “Here at Hydro WMS we have worked hard to come up with a solution to both problems and this year we launched the Skeletank range. The range features products that address the issues faced by residential builders when designing and installing surface water drainage systems and the amount of benefits that come along with using the product are staggering.” The Skeletank range is the first modular systems of its type in the UK. The innovative designs provide modern sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) designed specifically for residential properties. Suitable for pervious, impervious and soft-landscaped surfaces the

systems provide a more natural approach to managing rainfall. Adhering to the management train laid out in CIRIA C697, Skeletank bring with them a host of benefits for residential developers, social housing companies, local authorities and construction companies. Chris is keen to expand relationships across the North East, as he says home builders here are creative, think ahead and have very specific challenges due to the ground and weather conditions in both rural and suburban areas. He continued: “Skeletank systems are designed to manage surface water run-off within the grounds of individual properties, returning water to the ground and/or temporarily storing water before releasing it in a controlled manner to the mains sewer network, or adjacent watercourses. This is perfect for home building across Northumberland and at the region’s coast. “The ground in the region poses challenges but the main components of Skeletank systems are designed to be installed within aggregate layers beneath hardened surfaces with minimal cover – so in shallow pits, easier to dig. This just-

below-the-surface assembly proves extremely cost-effective, especially so where there are issues such as contamination, high water tables or rock layers. And because of the reduced requirement for excavation there are also major CDM benefits, great for employers that take staff safety seriously. “Those in the industry will also be interested in the fact that managing surface water runoff at source positively impacts upon the size and scope of drainage networks downstream of the Skeletank attenuation systems. This can substantially reduce the up-front cost of adoptable networks and provide major cash-flow benefits to developers. It may also be possible to reduce the size of end-of line open water features, such as ponds, to allow room for further plot development. “In conclusion, our systems have been specifically designed to provide flexible solutions to problems that those building residential property face every day. They meet the bestpractice requirements of all current SuDS guidance and legislation and really are a way forward for house builders wanting to improve infiltration and/or attenuation challenges.”

More information about the Skeletank range is available at www.skeletank.co.uk

PROPERTY INSIGHT

Live in luxury in Nunthorpe If you’re looking to move to the stunning area of Nunthorpe in Middlesbrough this year, it might be time to visit David Wilson Homes’ stunning Grey Towers Village development. With schemes such as Part Exchange on offer on all the luxury homes, now is the perfect time to move up the property ladder. As with all David Wilson Homes, the emphasis is firmly on luxury living and a superb location, and this stunning development on Dixons Bank in Nunthorpe is no exception. There is a range of four bedroom’ properties, including the Hurst and the Cornell. The Hurst is an impressive property, with the kitchen featuring dining and family areas and French doors leading to the rear garden, as well a bay fronted lounge, whilst the Cornell features a bright and airy lounge with a bay window whilst the kitchen benefits from a breakfast area and adjoining utility space. These properties effortlessly blend traditional styles with the convenience and technology of a

contemporary home, and are built to David Wilson Homes’ market leading specification. Each home at Grey Towers Village is visually different, some with a brick frontage, stone or white rendering, and all include high quality double-glazing and energy efficient heating to maximise comfort and to ensure that the homes run exceptionally efficiently. Buyers can rest assured that all properties come with a ten-year National House

Building Council (NHBC) warranty. What’s more there is also a five-year warranty on all fixtures and fittings; an important extra that David Wilson Homes offers as standard. Part Exchange is available on all homes, which is an innovative scheme involving the local housebuilder purchasing a buyer’s current property and allowing them to move into their new home without the hassle of estate agent fees. The sale to David Wilson Homes is based on two independent valuations, and any offer made is based on a sale within eight to ten weeks. Steven Ball, Sales Manager for Grey Towers Village, commented: “Grey Towers Village, which is currently the largest David Wilson Homes site in the North East, has proved to be very successful with lots of happy homebuyers. I think the community aspect of the development is a key factor in this, with residents always looking out for each other and holding great community events. Additionally, there are fantastic schools and local facilities close to the site, which certainly add to the appeal of the development.”

To find out more about Grey Towers Village, please visit: www.dwh.co.uk. For further information about David Wilson Homes North East, please contact Alice Franks on 0113 2429 174 or Email: bne@manifestcomms.co.uk

SHOWHOME OPENS OCTOBER See website for details

A SUPERB DEVELOPMENT OF LUXURY NEW HOMES IN A UNIQUE RURAL SETTING A one-off opportunity to secure an architect designed property set adjacent to the new Cathedral Golf Course and within walking distance of Ramside Hall Hotel. Just 13 new farmstead style properties will be available in this secure, gated development located on top of a raised plateau with magnificent rural views. All homes come with five complimentary one year memberships to Ramside Hall Golf Club and Spa. An exclusive development offering a location and lifestyle of which many dream, but few achieve.

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DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING HOMES OF CHARACTER & INTEGRITY

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Leathers LLP Charity Challenges The North East is home to some fantastic charities and charity fundraisers, whose work positively impacts on the lives of so many people both within and well beyond the region. We are delighted that this year brings the first ever North East Charity Awards, providing a much deserved and overdue opportunity to shout about the achievements of some of the region’s many charities and fundraisers. We have pledged our support as one of the main sponsors of the event, and are confident that this will go on to become a much-anticipated annual celebration of our many local heroes. Charitable work is something we at Leathers care passionately about, at both a professional and a personal level. Professionally, we are wellknown for our specialist work in advising charities on a wide range of matters. Clients include numerous non-profit organisations based in the North East as well as others from further afield. One is The Global Dialogues Trust (globaldialogues.org), which was founded in the North East but has become a truly international charity which encourages and enables young people to get involved with the promotion of global health and well-being. It has been a client of Leathers since it was established in 1997. From modest beginnings, Global Dialogues has steadily grown and now reaches literally millions of young people worldwide annually. This longevity is a common feature amongst many of our clients and something which we see as vitally important in developing strong relationships, which leads

to deeper understanding of each organisation’s unique needs and allows us to support them in achieving their goals. Various members of the Leathers team are directly involved in local charities at board level and as Trustees, something we encourage as we find that this helps us to better understand the workings of a charity from an internal point of view rather than just as external advisors. Catherine Milbanke is a board member and Chair of the audit committee at Broadacres Housing Association in North Yorkshire and chairs their audit committee. Neil Matthews is vice-chairman of East Rainton Cricket Club and a Trustee of the Durham County Cricket Club Youth Trust. James Swiers sits on the audit committee of the Percy Hedley Foundation. All of our staff choose to involve themselves in local charities at a more personal level, as fundraisers and volunteers. Over time we have increasingly found ourselves supporting our clients in other ways, beyond the provision of professional services. We have supported The Children’s Foundation, another long standing client of Leathers, for almost 10 years in helping with their present wrapping service to shoppers in Eldon Square. Fundraising for charities is close to all our hearts, and we are certainly not afraid of a

challenge. This year, our 25th year in business, has seen us raise in excess of £35,000 so far for charity through our participation in the Tour de Force, a cycling event which follows the exact route of the Tour de France, but takes place seven days ahead of the professionals. This summer Michael Leather, our managing partner, cycled the entire 21 stages, covering over 2,200 miles through some of Europe’s most challenging terrains. He was joined by other members of “Team Leathers” on various stages of the event; they collectively completed a further 2,800 miles. Our fundraising is already being put to good use with £10,000 being donated to The Wheels Project, a South Tyneside charity which teaches hard-to-reach young people mechanical skills, and helps them to gain vital qualifications and skills that provide them with the chance to become self-supporting. Most recently, last month we entered a ninestrong team into the Nuts Challenge, one of the most gruelling assault courses around, raising hundreds of pounds for Josie’s Dragonfly Trust. At Leathers, our commitment to charity runs throughout our business - on a professional level as specialist advisors, and on a personal level in raising funds and giving our time. We are proud to be associated with so many of our region’s brilliant causes.

Currently celebrating 10 successful years in business Michael Grahamslaw spoke to James Richfield and Peter Grieves, Chartered Financial Planners of the Morpeth Practice - a Practice of St. Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place Wealth Management - about their journey so far.

How did you begin working together?

have you grown the practice?

What is your personal motivation?

P: We both ran our own Practices but realised we

P: We have always placed great emphasis on staff

J: To have the time to do the things I want to do. P: Trying to be the best at whatever I try in life.

shared the same ethos and goals but a different focus on how to achieve them. Working together made sound commercial sense as we get on very well and the sum is certainly greater than the parts! We have always endeavoured to offer traditional financial planning with a clear client focussed approach whilst still always being aware that we are running a commercial business.

How has the job evolved over the past decade?

J: Its virtually unrecognisable from when I initially

started in the profession with the regulatory environment much more reassuring for clients. Professional qualificaions have raised the bar in terms of the quality and depth of advice we give and of course the time pressured society we live in brings plenty of challenges along the way.

A 10th anniversary is a landmark for any business. What are the main reasons for your success and how

recruitment and taken a huge amount of time building a skilled team who enjoy working within a dynamic culture. That has been critical and led to clear organic growth. We've invested in many different ways of meeting new Clients and continually focussed on what works for us as a practice. That consistent approach appears to have worked.

Describe a typical day?

There isn't one but most of the time is spent juggling running the business and client interaction. We both feel it is crucial to retain a work/life balance which was one of the main reasons for basing ourselves in Morpeth.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

P: Meeting new clients and retaining old ones, many of whom are now friends.

J: Genuinely making a difference to peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long term financial security.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a great believer that you reap what you sow.

What is the best piece of business advice you have been given?

J: There are 2 really. "Know your numbers" and we still do 10 years on and also everything we do must "Put yourself in danger of writing business!"

An old saying from the legendary Dale Carnegie - "Whether you think you can or you think you can't you're probably right!

How do you relax?

J: I still play rugby for Morpeth Stags, coach the Under 14s and am Chairman of Youth Rugby at the Club, none of which is relaxing!!"

P: I'm a huge sports fan and an

avid supporter of Miami Dolphins American Football team, long suffering Newcastle United fan and golfer also. My wife would probably say I also enjoy spending time with my family when my sporting commitments allow!"

BUSINESS INSIGHT

McFarlane lands at Rowlands David McFarlane has joined Rowlands, www.rowlandsaccountants.co.uk, the North East’s largest independent accountancy practice, bringing with him a combination of business consultancy and accountancy experience. He explains how he’ll be using his skills to help businesses plan for the future.

What attracted you to working with Rowlands? Rowlands has a real understanding of the changes happening in industry at the minute and realises you need to put more into the advisory element of accountancy. The company is not just trying to get plans right for its clients but also its own plans and development over the next few years. It is refreshing to see a company thinking in a longer term way and it’s very appealing if you’re forward thinking yourself.

You’ll be specialising in organisational finance and performance - can you explain a bit more about this? It’s a broad term that covers a lot of different aspects. Day to day accountancy activities cover basic advice to clients but my goal, and the goal of the company, is to go beyond that. I’ll be working in an advisory role, going further than the numbers on the page and contributing anything from more involved tax advice to process analysis. It’s about looking at the details, as well as the bottom line. Rowlands has a lot of people with many skills you may not expect to find in an accountancy practice. My role is to use mine to the best advantage of our clients or signpost them to the relevant person.

You previously worked as a Business Process Consultant. Can you tell us about this type of role and how you’ll be using that experience with Rowlands’ clients?

rough recession and businesses acknowledge they need to get more out of their business resources. We as accountants can help them do that but we need to vocalise what we can do.

I worked as a Manager with mid-tier firm Mazars in a national role providing advice and guidance to clients from a variety of backgrounds. I specialised in services such as process analysis, looking at how a process worked from start to finish. It was about identifying inefficiencies, bottlenecks and how improvements could be made.

Most businesses after the recession think, we’ve got through it, we can relax, but really good ones are thinking we’ve got through, we’ve trimmed a bit of fat and now we need to push on and grow. These are the organisations I love working with.

I also worked with clients that were at key stages of their development, growing companies in need of fresh ideas to help them achieve their long term goals. I’ll be helping clients to get the most out of what they have at their disposal.

Are more businesses recognising the importance of working with their accountants to plan for the future? I think they are but we are still an under-utilised resource. Accountants are sometimes seen as number crunchers but we should really be seen as a principal business advisor, in the way that business used to view their bank manager or a lawyer. That’s been lost somewhat over the years but is starting to come back. We’ve just ridden out a

Is this something for large businesses, or can SMEs benefit from this kind of advice too? Probably 90-95% of my career has been spent working with SMEs. The beauty of accountancy and advisory work is that it can be tailored to the needs of the client. Business process work is ideal for SMEs. The average SME owner is so concerned with developing the business they leave the back office to do what it does and as long as it gets the payroll out on time and gets the figures right, they don’t think about it too much. Chances are, the systems and processes were set up 10 years ago but now the business is bigger and the world has changed. All of a sudden they don’t match up with what you need. If anything, this is more relevant to SMEs than larger organisations.

For more information, please contact David McFarlane on 0191 411 2468 or via david.mcfarlane@rowlandsaccountants.co.uk.

Over 100 years of accounting experience at your side. At Rowlands, our years of experience mean we’re committed to accounting excellence. But our expertise doesn’t stop there. We’re also big on personal service, that’s why you can count on us to be at your side. With six offices in our region, you can rely on us to provide up-to-the-minute knowledge and advice. So if you’d like to see what we can do for your business, get in touch. Hexham 01434 602 230 | Ponteland 01661 871 919 Sunderland 0191 565 1870 | Yarm 01642 790 790 rowlandsaccountants.co.uk

Crook 01388 762 478 | Portobello 0191 411 2468

Audit & Accountancy

Taxation & Planning

Restructuring & Insolvency

Development & Consultancy

BUSINESS INSIGHT Stuart McKinnon

Tax free dividend? Hardly! They say there is no such thing as a free lunch and there is soon to be no such thing as a tax free dividend.

There was cause for celebration when the Chancellor announced in the Budget that everybody would receive a ‘tax free allowance’ of £5,000 against dividend income. But on closer inspection it now seems there could be some unexpected and unpleasant knock-on effects – especially for high earners. Sometimes I think that the tax system operates in a parallel universe. At first sight that universe may seem to be the same as ours, but explore underneath the surface and all sorts of anomalies start to emerge. Although we have yet to see the legislation, it turns out that there will not be a tax free allowance after all. In fact, we are now told that in the parallel tax universe this ‘tax free allowance’ has turned into something else – a zero percent charge on the first £5,000 of dividend income. You might be forgiven for thinking that these are the same, but there are important differences. Because the first £5,000 of dividends still forms part of your taxable income, there are some unexpected knock-on effects - particularly at the pinch-points across changes in rate bands and

the withdrawal of the personal allowance for high earners. As before, dividend income will form the highest part of your taxable income, i.e. it will be the last thing to be taxed. The reason for this is that dividends won’t be taxed at normal tax rates. Regardless of your tax rate, the first £5,000 will be taxed at zero. Thereafter dividends will be taxed at 7.5% for basic rate taxpayers, 32.5% for higher (that is 40%) taxpayers and 38.1% for additional rate (i.e.45%) taxpayers. Under the current system for taxing dividends, you were able to claim a partial credit for tax paid on the company profits from which the dividend was paid. This involved an element of grossing up, but it did mean that basic rate taxpayers paid no further tax on dividends. Contrast this with the new system whereby only £5,000 escapes further tax. I always thought the current system was fair. Adding together the company tax and the personal tax, a basic rate taxpayer paid a total of 20%, a higher rate taxpayer 40% and an additional rate taxpayer just short of 45%. It’s likely under the new system that everyone, whatever tax band they fall into, will see their tax bill rise and it may well be the basic rate taxpayer

who is the hardest hit percentage wise. Back in the real world, the message is that we know that the dividend changes due to be introduced from 6 April 2016 will have an adverse effect on those family companies that have previously extracted profits by way of dividends. Next year they will almost certainly face a tax hike. This is no accident. The Chancellor clearly wants to remove the tax advantages currently enjoyed by those operating their small businesses through a company. These changes won’t completely remove those advantages, but I would expect that over the next few years the dividend tax will be increased until it starts to be more expensive to operate through a company. With tax changes there are usually winners and losers, but I fear that there will be very few winners and many losers. The Government has cleverly navigated around their much heralded ‘triple lock’. Each case needs to be considered on its own merits but I would urge every owner managed business to review their affairs before 6 April 2016 and decide whether there is any advantage in accelerating dividend payments to fall within the existing system.

For more information on dividend income or other taxation issues, please contact Stuart McKinnon on 0191 255 7000 or email stuart.mckinnon@bakertilly.co.uk or your usual Baker Tilly North East contact. On 26 October 2015, Baker Tilly will be adopting RSM as a common brand name, uniting under a single global brand with more than 100 fellow member firms of the RSM International network. For more information on our rebrand, please visit www.bakertilly.co.uk

BUSINESS INSIGHT

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

UNW’S young talent compete with best in UK

Business advisers UNW are on the look out for young talent to join its Newcastle firm as its current apprentices and graduates are excelling and being recognised nationally.

programme it won awards and it has got better every year since. “We recognise that having our IIP Gold status confirmed again, gives a good external verification of quality but there are lots of other indicators. On one day recently all 13 of our students who were awaiting results from exams as part of their Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) training were successful, Brittney Marshall won the prestigious Knox Prize for being the top performer in the country in the tax exam and Ralf Hall must have missed the national prize in the business tax exam by only one or two percent.” Ralf, who joined UNW five years ago as an apprentice and is now a Tax Consultant, achieved an impressive 92% in his business planning tax exam. He said: “A lot of people who want to become a Chartered Accountant think they have no choice other than to go to uni but that’s just not the case. If someone is thinking about applying for an accounting apprenticeship or a university place, I’d say do what I did and earn while you learn and save yourself from all the long term student debt.”

Fast-growing chartered accountants UNW, which now employs over 100 staff, are celebrating top marks achieved by a former apprentice and a national award being achieved in the recent Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) exams. Meanwhile, the Newcastle-based firm has continued in the top 7% of accredited organisations across the UK - and one of just 53 in the NorthEast - to be credited again with the sought after Investors in People Gold standard. The latest news forms part of UNW’s business growth strategy of developing a strong pipeline of future talent by investing in those in the early stage of their careers in tax, audit & assurance, corporate finance and accounting services. UNW staff partner Steve Lant said: “Our apprentice and graduate programmes have grown significantly over the years in response to the growth of the firm. Five years ago when we started our apprenticeship

For information on UNW apprenticeships or its Graduate Recruitment Programme, starting September 2016, email: recruitment@unw.co.uk.

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

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INTERVIEW

In conversation with... After 25 years working for major financial institutions, Peter Cromarty started Corporate and Commercial Funding Solutions, to better serve the North East business community, matching funding facilities to their current situation. He spoke to Northern Insight about his journey to date, through the world of finance.

What were your career ambitions in your early years? Having studied Business Studies at University I always had a leaning to the business and financial sectors. If I’m honest, I didn’t have clearly defined ambitions until I joined the Bank of Scotland Group. It was then that I developed a keen interest in how businesses are funded and how they operate.

Tell us about your career path? My first real job was working in asset finance for the Bank of Scotland Group and I worked my way up there eventually running branches in Stockton, Carlisle and South West Scotland for them. Then opportunities presented themselves working for global businesses like GE Capital and RBS and it was at GE that I moved into Commercial Finance providing Asset Based Lending facilities to businesses to assist with growth or funding MBO/MBI transactions. This started to develop my knowledge about what makes businesses tick and what it takes to be a successful operation. I have recently started my own funding solutions business, using my experience gained over the years, to arrange facilities for SME businesses, matching the right funder to their current situation. This added value proposition is unique in the North East in my opinion.

What have you learned over the past 20 years? Treat people how you would like them to treat you, and you will never go far wrong. This is something that applies in a business and also social context, and to both clients and employees. Also the biggest thing I have learnt is that there is nothing more important than your family. After all that is why we do what we do on a daily basis isn’t it? It’s far too easy to forget!

as asset based lender/ specialist lender of the year on 5 separate occasions at the North East Dealmakers Awards. To be voted for by your peers means a huge amount to me personally and also gives credibility to what you do as a professional person.

What are you currently working on? I work with 2 really strong and innovative strategic partners in Reward Finance Group, who provide short term secured funding facilities, and Anglo Scottish Asset Finance who are one of the largest asset finance brokers in the UK. Deals I am working on range between funding for an MBI, acquisition of a leisure business, an asset refinance deal, the refinance of a number existing invoice finance facilities, and a 7 figure short term secured facility.

What does the future hold? I’m really excited about what the next 12 months hold. There are a number of projects I am working on which wouldn’t have presented themselves had I not started my own business. As the economy recovers and grows more opportunities seem to present themselves too, and this augers well for the future.

What has been your greatest achievement?

How do you like to relax?

It’s difficult to come up with specifics on this, as there are a number of transactions that I have completed or been part of that I am really proud of, but I have been fortunate to be have been voted by fellow professionals

I love spending my free time with my family either on the Northumberland coastline or The Lake District. I love to play golf, and if I can’t do it in my spare time then I’ll play during work time!

Peter Cromarty, Director, Corporate and Commercial Funding Solutions M: 07715 409386 E: peter@ccfundingsolutions.com W: www.ccfundingsolutions.com

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

Is Tax Planning Dead? Universal Tax & Wealth LLP Team

Tax evasion and crime contributes 44% (£15 billion) to the £34 billion tax gap. Tax evasion is illegal whilst tax avoidance is not however this seems to be changing in the eyes of HMRC. There are two HMRC campaigns “No Safe Havens” and “Tackling Tax Evasion and Avoidance” with four key components in relation to evasion. They are: 1. Increased civil deterrents for offshore tax evasion 2. Civil sanctions for facilitators of offshore evasion 3. A new corporate criminal offence for failure to prevent the facilitation of offshore evasion 4. A new criminal (strict liability) offence for offshore evaders Once the UK government’s proposed criminal offence for companies and partnerships whose ‘agents’ facilitate tax evasion comes into force banks, professional services firms and trust and company service providers will face particular risks. Agents, including employees but also others who “act on behalf of” a company, already potentially commit a criminal offence if they facilitate tax evasion. However, this new criminal offence would also criminalise the company for which the agents are acting unless the company

can show it has ‘adequate procedures’ in place to prevent that facilitation. The offence would be committed by the company alone, not its senior management or board of directors personally. I suspect this may change at some later date so personal responsibility comes into play. The government is currently consulting on the details of the proposed new offence, which would be based on the provisions in the 2010 Bribery Act which made it a criminal offence for a commercial organisation to fail to prevent bribery by a person associated with it. Financial institutions should monitor this consultation closely: it closes on 8 October 2015. This new offence would apply wherever in the world the company is located if the tax evaded is UK tax. ‘Agents’ covered by the legislation include employees, contractors and other authorised intermediaries. The geographical location of the agent is irrelevant. Examples of facilitating tax evasion could include: Operating a non-UK bank account for a UK resident where the relationship manager has not taken steps to satisfy him or herself that the account is being declared; A bank or other financial business referring a customer to an authorised third party, which in turn establishes a structure to facilitate the evasion of UK tax;

Setting up a non-UK trust with a bogus settlor in order to evade anti-avoidance rules; or Establishing a non-UK company to carry out a trade where the professional directors have little real control over the affairs of the company and the company is in truth controlled, and therefore taxable, in the UK. If the agent of the bank or other financial firm can be shown to have facilitated the tax evasion, the firm itself would automatically also be guilty of an offence unless it could show that it had procedures in place to train and prevent its agents from facilitating such evasion, as is the case under the current Bribery Act regime. Banks, professional services firms and trust and company service providers will need to develop a comprehensive set of procedures for their UK and non-UK facing operations ahead of the new criminal offence coming into force if they do not want to fall foul of it. Therefore no, Tax planning is not dead! It is still alive and kicking despite HMRC’s efforts. There are many ways of saving tax quite legally and through Government incentives and current legislation. NISAs, pension plans, offshore bonds etc. all give advantage and are not challengeable by HMRC. Independent financial advisers and tax specialists can still provide clients with valuable tax saving/planning advice. There is no need to consider “exotic” plans that risk the wrath of the Revenue.

Peter Rutherford is a partner in Universal Tax Strategies LLP and Universal Tax and Wealth LLP (authorised and regulated by FCA) and can be contacted on 0191 374 0333 or email peter.rutherford@utsllp.co.uk

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

Rules on wills Paul Nickalls

The surprise recent High Court judgement that ruled a woman should receive a third of her mother’s estate, despite being deliberately left out of her Will, has prompted many people to consider what will happen to their estates following their death.

In the UK, subject to the Inheritance Act 1975, it is possible to exclude anyone you wish from your Will. While the High Court deemed that Mrs Jackson’s Will contravened the Act, in that she had not ‘reasonably’ provided for her daughter, it remains the case that you can still disinherit your children.

If a court can overrule my wishes, then what is the point of making a Will? How do I ensure my wishes are carried out as I would like after my death? If the relationship with my children does break down beyond repair, am I able to leave my estate to someone else? These are just some of the questions I have heard in the aftermath of the case of Melita Jackson and her only child, Heather Ilott. After falling out around 30 years previously over Mrs Ilott’s decision to elope with her future husband, Mrs Jackson decided to exclude her from her Will. Instead she left her entire £486,000 estate to three animal charities. After a lengthy legal challenge, the High Court decided to award Mrs Ilott £164,000 after deeming that her mother did not make

importance of making a Will if it can be overruled in this way, it must be remembered that this case really is an exceptional situation, and ordinarily what you specify in your Will will be honoured and carried out by the executors. This case, in my view, in no way diminishes the necessity of making a Will.

While this landmark ruling does make it harder for children to be cut out of their inheritance, if a parent does feel that is the route they wish to take, they will need to specify very clearly why they feel that way, and why someone else is receiving their assets instead. “reasonable provision” for her. Mrs Ilott said she will use her inheritance to purchase her family’s housing association home. While questions have been raised about the

In such a situation, it is imperative that legal advice is sought, and it remains the case that the guidance of a lawyer is always recommended when making your Will.

Paul Nickalls is a Partner and Head of the Wills and Probate team at Newcastle law firm Sintons. To speak to him, contact paul.nickalls@sintons.co.uk or on 0191 226 6340.

Corporate & Commercial Funding Solutions In a business environment that now requires much more than the traditional forms of funding that were previously available to them, companies need to consider all available options to get the correct fit for their particular situation. Fortunately, there is ‘credit appetite’ from lenders who are keen to assist, but companies must know where to look and how to put a proposition to them. If you are an SME business and need assistance in arranging funding in the following areas please don’t hesitate to give me a call. Peter Cromarty | Director

Cashflow Finance Asset Finance Short Term Finance (Bridging) Property Finance Business Loans Peer to Peer Lending

Corporate and Commercial Funding Solutions Ltd e: peter@ccfundingsolutions.com m: 07715 409386

BUSINESS INSIGHT Jonathan Gold

What makes an entrepreneur into an investor? The best investors in small businesses are people who have worn the t-shirt and done it themselves. It’s a cliché in my world but what makes so much difference to investment in start-ups or growing businesses is having investors involved who bring more than the money.

owever, by their very nature entrepreneurs who have grown a business of their own, sold it and made plenty of cash think they have done something special, which of course they have. The key is finding one who doesn’t think the only way to build a business is the way they did it. Believe me, successful entrepreneurs willing to invest in other people’s businesses is not a large pool to draw on. It also gets smaller when you look for ones with the empathy and understanding to coach and encourage rather than control or dominate. That said, having been an investor type and fund manager for around 17 of my 32 year career I know a good collection of the right types. The qualities you look for of course extend beyond experience, available cash and a good control over their own ego. I often think we call such private investors ‘Business Angels’ out of a sense of irony but in truth the best of them have the grace of an angel and patience of a saint, both are often needed. A healthy appreciation of risk is also a precondition for any investor. NESTA, the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts have done some good research on Angel Investing, I have quoted it before, but just

remember that unless a private investor invests in at least 10 businesses, to build a portfolio, he or she is likely to make a loss. Not my statistics, that of the survey. On the other hand a number make a good return. That’s why potential new investors need to take care, good advice and also examine whether they have the commitment and knowledge to really help the businesses they invest in. That last point, according to NESTA, and me, is crucial. This might all seem obvious but like so much in business finance and investing I see people building that ‘common sense’ the hard way. I have to say it’s not helped by the explosion of incubator start-up boot-camp culture that is over boosting the number of start-ups with quick routes to riches that in reality don’t bend the failure rate statistics. Interestingly most entrepreneurs who have got there and succeeded know all this, they are just as keen as I am to help the start-ups. The best investors also find the businesses that have grown up without the support and the background. These include the family businesses with new generations taking them over and growing them out beyond their previous limits. The founder family entrepreneurs are also ones to look for if you want some good advice and investors. We are fortunate up here to have

some great ones. Seek them out you might be in for a pleasant surprise. So where am I going with this? A few things really for anyone seeking investment: Look for investors that know your industry or customer base Ask how much time or access you will get to a Business Angel Don’t be afraid to question Angels about their past success. Lastly, if you’re a successful business person do consider investing in start-ups and small business, if you have the time as well as the cash. However, be aware of the risks, you can lose a lot of money on the way to success; a bit like starting your own business really but it’s not yours to run this time, ego in the box please. We are always looking for new investors as well as good businesses so give me a call. Here at Rivers we also organise and host regular ‘Angel clubs’ where you can come along to meet seasoned investors and like-minded entrepreneurs. Find out the benefits and risks of investing, speak to the experienced experts themselves and find out what and just how much it takes.

Jonathan Gold is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Rivers Capital Partners; contact him on 0191 230 6370 or via www.riverscap.com

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Entrepreneurs battle it out for prestigious awards On Friday 25th September, a gathering of 300 entrepreneurs celebrated the cream of the region’s business community at the prestigious North East Entrepreneurial Awards.

Run by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, the annual awards have been held for more than a decade, honouring those business people who lead dynamic, innovative companies that stand out from the crowd. Hosted by Julia Hartley-Brewer, the glittering entrepreneurial party saw a host of business leaders come out to play, paying tribute to their peers and in the process raising money to support both the Olivia Mae Foundation and the North of England Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

of PolyPhotonix, Ben Staerck, of the Furniture Clinic and Tom Riley of Whitewash Laboratories. The Ward Hadaway-sponsored award for Entrepreneur of the Year was presented to Geoff Thompson, of Utilitywise. Geoff is a science graduate and holds an MBA from Newcastle

As a board member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and non-executive director of numerous organisations, Alastair continuously offers his time to altruistically support the growth of fellow entrepreneurs’ businesses through the development of strategy, business plans, fund raising, mergers and acquisitions and mentoring. Alastair was recognised earlier this year as one of the UK’s top 100 Entrepreneurs who give something back by investing in and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.

A special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Geoff Turnbull, chairman of the Peterlee-based GT Group and an interview with Mr Turnbull on pages 34-35 gives a fascinating insight into the career that has led to this coveted accolade. In partnership with the North East LEP for the second year running, the awards were presented at a special ceremony taking place at the brand new Crowne Plaza hotel, in Newcastle’s Stephenson Quarter. Winner of the Emerging Talent Award, sponsored by United Carlton, was Alice Hall who started Pink Boutique in 2012 with only £90. Phenomenal growth has seen the company scaleup quickly and in three years the business now turns over more than £6 million and rising, ships its products around the world, selling more than 2,000 dresses a day and operating from a 30,000 sq. ft. site in Newcastle. The Entrepreneurs’ Forum highly commended talented entrepreneurs Richard Kirk,

left 18 months ago and embarked on two new ventures; he founded Altrelli Limited, a consulting company mentoring businesses and individuals to achieve their potential and is also Group CEO of Altec Engineering Limited which is the fastest growing precision engineering company in the North East.

University. He founded Utilitywise in 2006, having previously held senior posts in consultancy and in industry. The company now employs more than 1,300 people and supports thousands of businesses across the UK and Ireland. In one of the most competitive years on record, the other shortlisted entrepreneurs were John Reece MBE, of Reece Group and Tony Cleary, of Lanchester Wine Group. Mentor of the Year, sponsored by the Malhotra Group, was presented to serial entrepreneur Alastair Waite. Alastair is perhaps best known for his involvement in building Onyx Group where he remains as the second largest shareholder. He

Gillian Marshall, chief executive of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum said: “Once again, this was a fantastic occasion that celebrated the achievements of the entrepreneurs who drive our economy in the North East. “Our congratulations go to all who were recognised, either as winners or shortlisted candidates for these awards, which really do reflect the cream of North East business.” Networking and drinks sponsor for the evening was SGP Technology Group, with Growth Accelerator supporting the Awards programme and Carat Media and iProspect Newcastle sponsoring Perry McCarthy - the original Top Gear Stig – as the after dinner speaker.

For more information about the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net.

INTERVIEW

An entrepreneur interview with:

Geoff Turnbull Chairman, GT Group

INTERVIEW

Geoff Turnbull compares running his advanced engineering business to breeding a racehorse.

“There are lots of parallels,” he says. “I always work five years ahead in business and the same is true with horses. You have to breed them, deliver the foal and train them for years before they can run their first race.” Geoff is following his lifelong passion in his latest venture. He bought his wife Sandra the family’s first racehorse 15 years ago, continued to breed thoroughbreds and has just bought Elwick Stud in Sheraton, Hartlepool, to take what was a hobby to the next level. On the day we meet at his Peterlee headquarters, sitting on the classic leather Chesterfields he bought in a house clearance, Geoff is preparing to fly to Canada to enter his five-year-old Mondialiste in the famous $1m Woodbine Mile.

But, even with such high stakes, Geoff is just as passionate about his core business, GT Group, which he founded in 1985. After starting as an apprentice with Castrol Oil’s engineering division in Hartlepool, he joined Precision Engineering in Peterlee before moving to Ralph Ciodan at Eaglescliffe as works manager. But, ambitious and entrepreneurial, Geoff always knew he would one day run his own business. GT Group is now an international engineering design and manufacturing organisation at the cutting-edge of low emissions technology.

years ago. Japan, India and China are also so far behind. But that means there are lots of opportunities. They’re not the easiest places to do business but if it was easy, everyone would do it.

Was it ever expected that you would follow in your father’s footsteps by becoming a miner? Dad was a great guy, a fantastic fella, there was nothing he couldn’t do. There were thousands of pit ponies in the North East mines and he brought the last pit ponies to the surface. My brother was seriously injured in the mine. He spent two days trapped and two years in hospital so my father wouldn’t let me go down, not that I wanted to.

How have you achieved that despite going through the latest recession? I’ve been through so many recessions I’ve lost count. You just have to batten down the hatches. I had a feeling that the 2007 crisis was coming, so we stopped all capital investment, but we never stopped research and development. We did go down to a three-day week and my staff volunteered to take a 10% reduction in salaries. That’s the kind of team I have around me. We’ve come through that very strongly, we reduced our bank overdrafts and we’re now in a position where we don’t owe anything.

So how did you get into engineering? When I went to find an apprenticeship, I was offered a job with a tailor, a photographer or an engineering apprenticeship. I’ve got no idea why I chose engineering, but it’s worked out quite well! Did you always want your own business? Yes, I had a lot of responsibility at a young age. At 21, I was shift manager, at 23 I was works manager and at 25, I was director of a small engineering company, which was this business, which I ended up taking over. I always knew I’d have my own business. I was always very entrepreneurial.

GT Group is renowned for being ahead of the curve. What products are you working on? Our key business is the design and build of emissions systems for the automotive and off highway industries. We’re now probably the world leader in that. But we’re always looking to the needs of the future.

How necessary is it to take risks in business? You can’t do it unless you have an understanding wife. I met Sandra at Castrol when she was 15 and I was 16. We married at 19 and we’ve just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. She’s been there through it all. I mortgaged our house every other week. Sometimes I took massive risks but we’re now one of the fastest growing private companies in the country.

We’ve created a coupling system which allows the safe ship-to-ship transfer of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The system is massive and we’ve built the best test house in the world here in the North East to show how it works. We’ve invested millions so far and the reaction from industry has been very good.

Tell us about that future growth: Our turnover forecast this year is £31.1m and that will grow by 60% to 70% next year, which is phenomenal. I see us going to a £100m turnover by 2020 and that’s just with orders on the books now. We’re vying for contracts potentially worth another £200m.

You advised John Major’s government while serving on the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment. Did that affect your own thinking? I realised then that legislation was going to be coming into place to force manufacturers to reduce the emissions levels in vehicles, and I realised there was an opportunity there in the market. We were already working on emissions technology with some of our customers, but nothing compared to the level we’re at now.

What do you put that growth down to? Heavy investment in research and development. One of my ambitions was to make sure our name was known throughout the world. Now, we export to 60 countries. I always plan five years ahead. Short-termism is not for me and that’s why I don’t have any investors, who would want short-term returns. I went out with David Cameron to visit Russia a few years ago. It was a demanding visit but we won a £15m contract to help develop low emissions technology in Russia. It’s the same as London was 20 or 30

Geoff Turnbull received the Entrepreneurs’ Forum Lifetime Achievement award at the 2015 North East Entrepreneurial Awards in recognition of his huge commitment to business and the impact he has made to the regional economy over such a significant period of time.

For more information, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net

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know “it’s in here somewhere” so to avoid looking chaotic, pick a bag with room for your phone, laptop, make up, pens and everything else you need to get you through the day.

“Thankfully at intu Metrocentre we’ve got scores of fabulous bags which are perfect for ensuring you’re organised, so you can project that image of being a woman who means business.

“This season you don’t need to settle for black or navy as there’s a number of carry alls in a variety of colours, so there’s something to suit everyone.

“And who knows, not only will you look great but it might event help you ‘bag’ that promotion!”

Marks & Spencer satchel bag - £29.50

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Can apprenticeships bridge The Skills Gap? Bryony Gibson

Bryony Gibson, Managing Director of Bryony Gibson Consulting, talks about the role apprenticeships can play in developing a talented and committed workforce.

It’s no coincidence that when our children go back to school, politicians switch their gaze towards education and training. Barack Obama has just pledged around $200 million to support apprenticeships, which he believes will ‘boost job creation and raise the standard of vocational education and workforce training’ across the US. Likewise, David Cameron, who previously promised to create three million new apprenticeships by 2020, unveiled plans to increase the number of apprenticeships offered by large companies in the UK. He intends to make it a requirement for anyone bidding on big Government contracts to prove they employ a ‘reasonable proportion’ of apprentices if they wish to be successful. A strong incentive but, from what I can see, many big employers have already been revising their recruitment strategies to include apprenticeships for quite some time. I recently read an article in The Telegraph that reported on research by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). It suggested British school leavers were ‘the worst in Europe for the essential literacy and numeracy skills needed to complete entry level jobs in business.’ The findings went on to suggest that this lack of skills directly affects the performance of

companies, with a third taking more than two months to fill junior roles and 75% of school leavers requiring a significant amount of training once hired. Right now, there seems little doubt that the majority of young people joining the job market lack the skills employers are looking for. If, like me, you believe people are a company’s greatest asset, then this is a very worrying thought; and it looks as if companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) agree. For a long time now, PwC has been incorporating school leaver programmes and apprenticeship opportunities alongside their better established graduate programmes. As one of the leading auditors in the world, they take attracting the best talent seriously and whilst many seem to be stuck debating whose responsibility it is to bridge the skills gap, they are embracing the challenge and facing up to a talent shortage by training people themselves. For many years, passing your GCSEs, studying for A-levels and going to university became almost compulsory if you wanted a successful career in business. More recently however, a huge rise in tuition fees has put pay to the degree being a realistic option for a lot of less affluent families; but intelligent recruiters understand this doesn’t

Contact Bryony for help finding the right tax & accountancy role or recruits on (0191) 375 9983. Alternatively, visit www.bryonygibson.com, connect on LinkedIn or follow @bryonygibson.

mean those people don’t have a lot to offer. Apprenticeships are a proven way to engage with young talent at an early stage, often building a strong sense of loyalty into these recruits that will benefit an organisation for years to come. As anyone who has started a new job knows, there’s no substitute for learning by experience and apprenticeships certainly give young people the time to do this and prove they can add value to an organisation; alongside receiving relevant training and valuable vocational qualifications. The future of your business is down to the talented staff you recruit, so ask yourself, do things need to change in your approach if you’re going to harness the potential of the region’s young people? Alongside graduate programmes, progressive companies are very much thinking more about vocational training. Although the reputation of apprenticeships may not be as strong it perhaps should, provided they are well planned, they can be a very positive, low-risk addition to your recruitment armoury. It’s my belief that access to employment should be based on attitude and ability, not the resources to pay for higher education and apprenticeships are fast becoming a critical route into professional careers for many young people.

BUSINESS INSIGHT

The Perfect Christmas Present The Gift Voucher

Short Breaks including all meals from ÂŁ129pppn www.stobocastle.co.uk Tel: 01721 725300 reservations@stobocastle.co.uk Stobo Castle Health Spa, Stobo, Peeblesshire, EH45 8NY

BUSINESS INSIGHT

All roads are good with Land Rover

Every road is a good one in a Land Rover and none more so than frozen Icelandic roads during deep, dark winter. This forbidden terrain is arguably the jewel in the crown of Abercrombie & Kent’s new off-road adventure tours in partnership with Land Rover. This once in a lifetime adventure was brought to life at an exclusive ‘drivers experience event’ hosted by The Travel Bureau at the Stratstone Land Rover dealership in Newcastle earlier this month and showcased a spell-binding itinerary. Guests joined staff from Abercrombie & Kent, Travel Bureau and Stratstone to watch footage from the inaugural Iceland tour that departed earlier this year and heard all about this luxury off-the-beaten-track experience, before heading out onto Stratstone’s mini-adventure circuit in a Land Rover Discovery 4. The Icelandic wilds offer up the ultimate snow and ice adventure. The itinerary head out into the alien hinterlands of Iceland's barren interior, power across glaciers, through magma fields and skirt towering volcanoes and magnificent

waterfalls in Land Rover's brand new Discovery 4. The route has been designed by Land Rover's experts with the aim of maximising driving experiences. Starting in Thingvellir National Park, the journey passes through the Golden Circle, home to powerful geysers and crashing waterfalls, before heading into the highlands, snaking between glaciers and volcanoes. This Iceland itinerary is just one in a series of off-road adventures, exploring some of the most fascinating destinations on the planet, including Scotland, Morocco, Spain and even Namibia. Great for individuals, couples or even corporate and incentive groups looking for the ultimate bonding experience, these are action packed holidays not to be missed.

For more information call Travel Bureau on 0191 285 9321, email holidays@travelb.co.uk or pop into Travel Bureau’s Gosforth High Street store to speak to one of their team of experts.

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Til death us do part...? Lucinda Connell

Much has been reported in the press of late about our ever increasing life expectancy, with the Office for National statistics recently launching a life expectancy calculator showing the person’s chance of living to the grand old age of 100! With this in mind it’s likely therefore that for most of us the idea of death, or indeed making appropriate financial provision for our own, is just too remote. That said, the question of life expectancy is something that regularly features in the calculations of family lawyers when looking at financial settlements for couples going through divorce proceedings. By way of example, when considering whether a spouse is entitled to ongoing spousal maintenance two central aspects are considered; the amount of maintenance as well as the term or duration over which the maintenance is to be paid. Actuarial tables are often used based on the recipient’s life expectancy to enable divorce lawyers to work out the appropriate sum. There are occasions, however, where a reduced life expectancy can present itself in family law proceedings. These cases provide obvious challenges. The recent case of M v M [2015] questioned what impact a potentially

substantial reduction in a party’s life expectancy would have on financial remedy proceedings. It was this issue that was at the very core of the case. The Husband and Wife had separated after a 22 year marriage by which time their only daughter was independent. They commenced divorce proceedings five years after their separation at which point the wife issued an application to the court for financial relief. A year prior to final hearing the wife was tragically diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In view of this the court focused on two main issues:

The Judge was largely disinterested in the medical survival tables that had been provided looking at the life expectancy of the wife based on median survival rates commenting, “Her life expectancy cannot be treated as fixed by findings based on the balance of actuarial or medical probability. No sensible person would run their personal finances on that basis. Findings about life expectancy based on median figures would be even more unsatisfactory and unjust; that approach could result very significantly to Mrs M’s detriment within these proceedings.”

To what extent, if any, should the husband pay a lump sum to the wife? How should the court deal with the parties, at the end of their pension entitlements?

The outcome of the case was that the Wife’s prognosis did not significantly change the way in which the court dealt with the financial arrangements following the breakdown of the marriage. It would seem therefore that where a spouse has built up an entitlement to a share in the matrimonial assets accumulated throughout a lengthy marriage, then there should be no reason why such entitlement should be reduced should news come to light of a serious medical diagnosis.

The case was transferred to HHJ Wildblood QC as it was feared that the wife’s cancer would have a significant impact on the outcome: If the wife were at the point of death, then this would be relevant as to how the assets, in particular the pension assets, would be divided and how the court should employ the range of orders available to it. However, by the time of the final hearing, the evidence suggested that the wife was not as close to death as previously feared.

Should you, a friend or family member be in a similar, difficult situation, please contact us in confidence.

Lucinda Connell is a Senior Solicitor at Major Family Law, the Divorce and Family Law Specialists, 12 West Road, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne. T: 01661 82 45 82 www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk. Twitter: @majorfamilylaw

Sometime splits are inevitable. Divorce is not an easy time for anyone, but we will work with you to create the best outcome, dealing with your individual circumstances with compassion and respect as well as professionalism, ensuring you a complete and well-rounded service.

Specialist divorce and family lawyers 01661 82 45 82

enquiries@majorfamilylaw.co.uk

12 West Road, Ponteland NE20 9SU

www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Getting to the ‘CORE’ of commercial property pitfalls Gwen Jones

Gordon Brown Law Firm recently launched new small business service, Core, aimed at supporting all start up and small enterprises with legal advice at an affordable cost. It’s been a fantastic journey so far; as a commercial property solicitor with Gordon Brown I’ve met some wonderful businesses, operating at different sizes and across a number of different sectors and each with their own individual challenges. Whether you have outgrown your premises, are taking on new employees or have concerns regarding safeguarding your assets, as an SME business owner you face a number of different daily pressures. The legal pitfalls around commercial property can be numerous – whatever stage of growth your company might be at. Here’s a round-up of the most common issues SMEs face when it comes to dealing with a new lease:

pre-completion. These works, and in particular the works’ specifications, must be approved by the landlord before they are commenced. This becomes even more important where a building is listed as there will be strict limits on the alteration and decoration that may be carried out. Failure to obtain the required consents to any works could lead to expensive reinstatement costs further down the line.

Failing to obtain advice as to the open market rent for the property

Rent Free Periods – failing to understand the implications of early access

Over the last three months, a number of SME clients have been caught out by agreeing annual rents without fully investigating the actual rental value for the premises. Landlords will often look to negotiate rent increases with tenants direct without formal valuations being carried out. This can leave tenants paying an unnecessarily higher rent. We have recently advised a number of SMEs to seek independent rental valuations in circumstances where landlords are seeking over-inflated rents.

Agreeing a rent free period is common place with SMEs entering into new leases. Often the period will be linked with the tenant’s proposed timescale for the works, and to provide SMEs with a period to get up to speed in their new premises. Tenants regularly misunderstand the start date of the rent free period, which without prior agreement will commence from the date that access is granted and not from the date that their works are completed. Failure to properly calculate the date upon which the first rent payment is to be made could have detrimental effects for a SME, particularly if the first rent payment arrives earlier than anticipated.

Budgeting for the additional sums payable After deciding to enter into a lease, SMEs always seek clarification as to what rent they will be paying and when it is due. A number, however, fail to factor in the additional sums that they will be required to pay such as the insurance rent; service charge; business rates and utility costs. These additional sums will have an effect on the cash flow of the business and must be factored in from day one.

Conditional break clauses SMEs often attend meetings happy to have negotiated a break clause. Whilst this provides flexibility, the conditions attached to these rights are regularly misunderstood. An example would be where a penalty payment (a quarter’s rent is commonly demanded is due to the landlord upon the break date) or where the break right is only available to the original tenant. SMEs need to ensure that the conditions attached to any break rights are fully considered and understood before they are agreed.

Carrying out works to the property We are regularly asked to advise upon works to be carried out at properties

If you would like to discuss any SME legal requirements with Gwen call 0191 388 1778 or email Gwen.Jones@gblf.co.uk For further information about Core visit www.core.gblf.co.uk

BUSINESS INSIGHT Sarah Crilly

Property and pre-nups: a brief guide Pre-nuptial agreements have risen dramatically in popularity in recent years. Sarah Crilly, Associate in the Family team at law firm Ward Hadaway looks at how pre-nups can protect property.

couple's greatest capital. Most property assets tend to be acquired jointly and comprise the matrimonial home so an equal split of any equity may be the norm unless one party's needs dictate there should be an unequal split.

Everyone likes to believe that marriage will end happily ever after, but the harsh reality is that this does not always happen.

However, if you are embarking on marriage for the first or even second time and have either inherited or been gifted property from family members or simply have acquired your own property portfolio before even meeting your spouse, consideration must be given to what you wish to happen if you later divorced.

Look beyond the romance of that perfect wedding and the statistics are sobering to say the least. The latest figures on marriage in the UK reveal that:

lmost 50% of all marriages end in A divorce O n average, a marriage in Britain lasts only 11 years S econd marriages tend to end within the first 5 years The average age at which people lodge divorce petitions is 44 Nearly two-thirds of divorces now end with the family wealth evenly split between husband and wife. Equality has become the guiding principle for settlement, even more so where there are significant assets involved.

Whilst these types of property would be classed as non-matrimonial assets, this does not give the owner complete protection from attack within divorce.

Such assets are not automatically ring-fenced so what can you do in such circumstance? The only way of affording yourself the greatest protection is to enter into a pre-nuptial agreement. This is a contract entered into by a couple prior to marriage which sets out how they intend to regulate their financial positions in the event of a divorce.

So how does this work out in practice?

Whilst it may not seem like the most romantic gesture, a pre-nuptial agreement has a number of key advantages.

Property assets tend to form the majority of a

Firstly, rather than leave the division of a couple's

assets to the court, a pre-nuptial agreement will give both partners in the marriage certainty and is a sensible form of wealth protection. It will also reduce legal fees as the issues for the court will be clearer and narrower in the event of a divorce. The average cost of ending a marriage through the courts is ÂŁ13,100 and that tends to be the small asset cases. Although it is not automatically binding on the court, provided it is entered into fairly, that both parties have had the opportunity to consult a lawyer before signing it and that there is no injustice if the pre-nuptial agreement is followed, the Supreme Court has ruled that pre-nupital agreements should be upheld and only departed from in limited circumstances. Pre-nuptial agreements benefit anyone with assets that need to be divided after a divorce. Of course, there are cases where one or both parties are in business and this can bring additional complexities to the case or their affairs may be tied up with a Trust or farm, but all couples can benefit from a pre-nuptial agreement. Couples do end up in court on some of the most uncomplicated cases where they may just be arguing over the split of equity in a house. They still have to fund the costs of the court proceedings and the stresses of litigation are exactly the same no matter how simple or complex their assets.

Sarah Crilly is an Associate in the Family and Matrimonial Team at Ward Hadaway Law Firm in Newcastle. For more information on the issues raised by this article, please contact sarah.crilly@wardhadaway.com or on 0191 204 4463.

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Accelerating debt recovery Andrew Cawkwell

Everyone in business knows that a sale isn’t a sale until the money is in the bank, but getting there can be challenging especially for creditors dealing with late payers. Many companies wait until an invoice is past due before taking action, but a few unpaid invoices can put the pressure on cash flow. While the excuses may sound rational enough, they can often be early warning signs of a non-payment. It’s therefore crucial to keep on top of debtors. The longer a debt is left, the harder it will be to recover payment – especially if a customer is experiencing cash flow problems themselves. At Muckle LLP, we can help you gain a better understanding of the situation and find the best possible debt recovery strategy to help you speed up collections. We believe it’s important to take a diplomatic but firm approach to manage slow payers and minimise risk. We support businesses by evaluating credit control procedures, assessing credit terms on offer and specifically researching potential risks in the supply chain. Sometimes debtors will respond quickly to a tailored solicitors’ letter, but if this doesn’t work,

we can escalate procedures to take more robust measures. If necessary we can utilise procedures under the Insolvency Act to collect debts. Sometimes the threat of a winding up petition or placing a company into administration is needed to ultimately improve collectability. There are also times when businesses collapse unexpectedly and creditors give up hope of getting their money back – but all is not lost. If a company owes money, creditors may still be able to get some, if not all, due to them. We can manage this process. We have a network of creditor service teams within accountancy practices who can attend creditors’ meetings on clients’ behalf. The purpose of these meetings, which could be as the result of liquidation or a voluntary administration, is to provide an indication of the proportion of debt that may be recoverable.

The first step is to always come and talk to us. Andrew Cawkwell Partner and Certified Turnaround Professional Banking and Restructuring Team Muckle LLP e: Andrew.Cawkwell@muckle-llp.com @CompanyRescue

INTERVIEW

Career ambitions growing up? I always fancied being a professional footballer but when it dawned on me I was nowhere near good enough I thought about being a sports TV presenter instead. I opted for the law because I felt it would be an interesting career which it has proved to be. There were no lawyers in my family so I maybe hoped my parents would be impressed to find their son was less of a waste of space than they thought. I still don't have an answer to that..! What has been your career path? I studied law at Glasgow University having done an MA at Edinburgh. I recall there were not a lot of traineeships about and when I got one I realised that what I wanted to do was litigation. I got some really great experience working with a small firm in Edinburgh covering lots of different types of cases including criminal defence work and even Courts Martial. This gave me great experience 'on my feet'. After a spell in London I worked for a number of Scottish commercial law firms and proudly became the first lawyer promoted internally to partner in DLA Scotland. I arrived at Muckle for a new challenge in a bigger market and to make fuller use of my English dual qualification. I love the North East and I was also really impressed with Muckle as a firm. I think they have an edge in terms of delivering what they say they will. In my experience most law firms tell you how great their client service is when in fact it's pretty patchy across people and teams. Muckle are definitely a different class. Who have been your greatest influences? My parents were influential, obviously, but mainly my wife. She is always full of fun, positive

energy and ideas and that really helps me to stay positive myself both about business and life in general. I'd also say I have learned a lot from the many people with whom I have worked but particularly my boss when I first started out. He entrusted me with challenges and made me step out of my comfort zone. As a result I learned to push myself and became more confident in advising and representing clients. What has been your greatest achievement? On a personal level definitely having my kids. They are amazing but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be one of those boring parents who goes on about their kids all the time. I am just quietly very proud of them. On a professional level I'd probably go for a particular case where I ran an argument for a client that developed some new law on the enforcement of adjudication awards in Scotland. The key to that was working with a team and seeing other people's character under pressure. We won the argument in the end and there was a real sense of collective achievement which was great. I think everyone felt the hard work had all been worthwhile. What are you currently working on? To be honest the construction and engineering team at Muckle are busy working on a wide range of things just now. I am involved not just in dispute work but also contract drafting and I feel strongly that we can give our clients an edge by coming at the drafting from the position of knowing what goes wrong and identifying contract risk so our clients can pass that risk or manage it.

I manage the team so in addition to client work I am busy getting to know more people in the North East business community and really enjoying finding out about how other businesses operate and the people behind them. What does the future hold? Obviously that is hard to answer but I hope to make many new friends and grow the business at Muckle which is place I am really enjoying working. How do you relax? I like to get out for a run or to the gym especially as I am trying to get fitter for a trip to Thailand and Vietnam that my wife and I are going on in late November. I do like a glass of wine and a few beers when out with friends but at home I am happy looking after the kids or tuning in to the football or rugby on TV. I'm a bit of a sports fan and like pretty much any sport. I go and watch football in particular whenever time permits. What is your favourite book? I tend not to read many books. I read so much at work I don't actually find reading a book very relaxing. Recently I read The Kite Runner on holiday which I did thoroughly enjoy. It's a compelling story even if a little harrowing at times. What is your favourite film? I love the cinema and I've seen many great films so this is difficult one to answer. I'd go for a few actually including Crash, Mississippi Burning, Pulp Fiction and Silence of the Lambs. But there are loads of other great films I have really enjoyed.

Direct Line: 0191 211 7983 keith.bishop@muckle-llp.com 48

INTERVIEW

In Conversation with... Keith Bishop, partner and head of the Construction and Engineering Team at Muckle LLP

BUSINESS INSIGHT

W. McGovern & Co acquisition keeps it in the family l-r: John McGovern; George Heydon; Adrian Dye

One of the North East’s best-known brick suppliers has been acquired by a serial entrepreneur, who has pledged significant investment after purchasing the business from his father-in-law.

W. McGovern & Co, which was founded in the North East in 1949, has been bought by George Heydon, the businessman behind a host of successful national and international ventures including training and development company The Talent Group and sports apparel and canine kit specialist Accapi Group. Through the purchase of W. McGovern & Co from John McGovern, who is retiring, Mr Heydon has ensured the business remains in the family for a third generation and now plans to return the renowned company to its former status in the sector through a planned investment programme. At one time, Felling-based W. McGovern & Co was the leading brick supplier in the North of England and the brand remains nationally-known and respected in the sector. Now, Mr Heydon – who started his own career as a bricklayer – plans to invest heavily in his new venture, with a new state-of-the-art internal IT system being introduced alongside

a new website. Investment will also be made in machinery at the Albion Street site. All 10 members of staff have been retained through the purchase for their specialism and expertise, with Mr Heydon planning to add to the sales and customer service team. The purchase of W. McGovern & Co. was overseen by Newcastle law firm Sintons, which acts for Mr Heydon across his portfolio of businesses. Mr Heydon said: “McGovern was once the big name in this industry, with most of the bricks that moved through this region passing through their yard. Of course times change and while the brand is still regarded in the highest terms, operationally it has been scaled back. But it remains the case that the heritage, years of experience and skill in the business means we can offer an unrivalled service in this field. “Through our planned programme of investment, both in terms of internal operations and through the creation of new jobs, we hope

to restore McGovern as one of the big players in the field. “I am hugely passionate about North East business, and am delighted to complete the acquisition of McGovern & Co. It is fantastic to have the opportunity to continue this great family tradition.” The acquisition was completed by a commercial team at Sintons led by Partner Adrian Dye. He said: “W. McGovern & Co has almost 70 years of heritage in the region and enjoys a national reputation in its field for its quality over many decades. This acquisition has ensured it has stayed within the McGovern family for a third generation, which is an increasingly rare feat in this day and age. “George’s reputation in business proceeds him, and he is well-known in the North East and beyond for his commitment to making his ventures a success. We are delighted to have supported him in this acquisition.”

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Things to consider when appointing a non-executive director Across the region we are seeing signs of continued improvement in the economy and a number of our clients are taking steps to gear up. Often this means appraising the senior leadership team and considering whether the team remains appropriate to meet aspirations and to drive the business forward. These aspirations often mean a reorganisation of leadership teams at both executive director and non-executive director level. Reorganisations of this nature require investment and very careful consideration in order to minimise disruption and negative sentiment both within the business and externally. Bringing in a non-executive team can be a very sensible move for businesses, particularly during times of change. When there is upheaval, their experience and objectivity can be a huge asset to growing businesses. There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to the skills and attributes of a non-executive director, however, they tend to be entrepreneurial, passionate, supportive and have a strong business

background with specific industry skills. When bringing a non-executive director on board it is important to ensure that both the individual and the business are properly protected

and that the relationship is properly defined. In many respects there is no legal distinction between executive and non-executive directors; they have the same responsibilities and potential liabilities. We see too often that non-executives fail to perform the requisite due diligence and expose themselves to unnecessary financial or reputational risk. Conversely, businesses fail to protect their confidential information or properly define the scope of the non-executive’s role. Engagement and departure terms need to be properly negotiated and defined, as often, businesses don’t appreciate that a positive exit strategy is greatly influenced by careful thought about the contractual terms on engagement. Letters that clearly define roles, responsibilities, requirements and restrictions at a minimum are advisable. Whether considering strategic appointments, reorganisations or the appointment of nonexecutive directors, objective and professional advice is always recommended to ensure that the process runs smoothly from the outset and works for everyone involved.

For strategic employment law advice call Jean-Pierre van Zyl on 0843 224 7925 or email JP@squareonelaw.com www.squareonelaw.com @SquareOneLaw

Sintons oversees £23.8m property sale for The Church Commissioners Newcastle law firm Sintons has acted for one of the UK’s biggest landowners in the £23.8m sale of a major retail park asset in the West Midlands.

The sale was handled by Sintons’ specialist real estate team. Partner Paul Liddle, who led the transaction, has acted for the Church Commissioners - which manages assets currently valued at more than £5.2bn - since 2003. He handled the purchase of Reedswood Retail Park in 2005, and his team have also advised on a number of asset management initiatives which enhanced the value of the park. The Church Commissioners, which dates from 1845, manages a diverse portfolio of properties around the UK, to produce money to support the work of the Church of England. Chartered surveyors Griffiths Eccles LLP and Jones Lang LaSalle also acted for the Church Commissioners in the sale of the retail park. Paul Liddle said: “The Church Commissioners is one of the most prestigious landowners in the UK, and we are proud and indeed privileged to act for them.

“By working closely with The Commissioners and their advisers we were able to issue full contract papers on the day terms were agreed and exchanged just over three weeks later. Whilst the timetable set was short, both sides had experienced and expert advisers who knew which issues were key and had the knowledge to reach agreement quickly.” Rosemarie Jones, deputy surveyor at The Church Commissioners, said: “Paul and his team consistently provide a first-class professional service, and offer prompt and commerciallyfocused advice. Their work on Reedswood Retail Park is just one example of that. Paul acted for us in the purchase ten years ago and his team have undertaken a number of asset management tasks since then, and have now sold it in a seamless transaction. Working closely with Griffiths Eccles and Jones Lang LaSalle, Sintons used their considerable experience of dealing with complex, high value transactions to ensure this sale was completed in a very short space of time in the highly efficient and value for money manner that we expect from our professional advisers.”

Paul Liddle

The Church Commissioners for England has sold Reedswood Retail Park, in Wallsall, to the BP Pension Fund. The development is fully let and houses a portfolio of national retailers.

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Offering great value

Paul Johnstone, Partner at Collingwood Legal, a specialist niche employment and equality law practice based in Newcastle extols the virtues and benefits in using niche specialist firms so that clients can get the best value from their legal advisers.

The traditional law firm model is broken. Soaring hourly rates (often in excess of £350 plus VAT) from “full service” corporate law firms are increasingly alienating clients especially those who are sophisticated purchasers of legal services. Many clients now seriously question the value for money they receive in terms of customer service and successful outcomes. The discerning purchaser of legal services will ensure that they get the best specialist knowledge and advice from recognised and experienced experts in a particular field of law rather than using one large law firm as a “onestop shop”. At Collingwood Legal, we are all specialist employment lawyers – recognised in Chambers and Legal 500 for our skill and experience in dealing successfully with complex and challenging workplace issues. What is the difference in using a full service law firm compared to a specialist niche practice? Quite simply, it is the genuinely personal and entrepreneurial nature of the relationship that exists between adviser and client. Many larger legal practices have hundreds of lawyers working in their teams. It is often impossible in such an environment to develop a true partnership between client and adviser, whereas with the

specialist niche practice the relationship is much more likely to be on a 1:1 basis. This means the niche specialist is better able to become a valued and trusted business adviser by developing a true understanding of a client’s business needs and commercial objectives. At Collingwood Legal, we not only successfully protect employers from Employment Tribunal litigation, but we can also enhance the productivity and profitability of our clients through practical and user-friendly advice and training programmes. Many senior managers are promoted without having any formal training given to them as to how to manage employees or how to deal with complicated workplace issues. We have a comprehensive training programme for line managers and directors to enhance leadership and development programmes so that senior personnel are provided with the knowledge and skills to deal effectively with operational challenges. We ensure that directors are fully aware of their fiduciary duties under the provisions of Companies Act 2006. This can enhance the development and implementation of robust corporate governance practices to improve productivity, increase profitability and secure long term sustainability. We can also help procurement teams in

public sector organisations achieve best value in delivering successful outcomes when dealing with individual and collective workplace and service delivery issues. The true value of high quality and effective legal advice should include an assessment of the economic and organisational value of the advice in terms of organisational stability, productivity, and success as well as in straight-forward financial cost terms. There is a growing trend for businesses to choose niche legal providers to obtain better value and cost transparency. Our commitment to team-working is based on a shared understanding of commercial and economic realities which enables us to make better, sharper and more effective judgments as to what course of action is most likely to achieve a successful outcome for you. Collingwood Legal operates a streamlined business model which is specifically fine-tuned to fulfil the specialist advisory role that you need from your legal advisers. Our service delivery model is based on a dedicated, personal, specialist team of knowledgeable advisers. Our aim is to develop long term and successful business relationships, meaning that client service, trust and successful outcomes are of paramount importance to us when protecting your interests.

If you would like to arrange an informal chat about how Collingwood Legal can help your business call Paul Johnstone on 091 282 2880 or email at paul.johnstone@collingwoodlegal.com

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Recruit smarter

Employing the right staff is arguably the most important part of running a business, so it’s not surprising to know employers are spending more and more time on job advertising and interviews to ensure that they’re hiring the right people. The wrong staff can have a hugely negative impact on a working environment, whether they turn out to be lazy or a bad team player, other employees are likely to suffer as a result. With that in mind, here are my six top tips to ensure you’re recruiting safer: J ob description - Spend some time working on this, ensure you’re clear on what the tasks and responsibilities will be so candidates know what they’re applying for, what wages you are prepared to pay, any mandatory duties and ensure you include a catch all statement. The worst response you can ever hear from an

Joanne Howe

At some point or another, an employer has probably recruited the wrong candidate who seemed perfect throughout the interview stage, but when it came to them getting any work done, they’ve revealed they aren’t what they claimed. Chances are this is probably down to the employee’s lack of skills, understanding or poor attitude, however it could also be blamed on the employer’s vital interview checks slipping through the gaps.

employee is… “It’s not my job” Person specification - When you think of the person you would like to hire, put together an essential and desirable list of abilities and skills. Include everything from experience, qualifications, proficiencies and competencies

and make sure you state which ones are completely necessary. Adverts - Place an advert on your website as well as a local job board and include a job description, person specification, disclosures, permit requirements, closing date and interview dates. Media - Media is becoming bigger and bigger every day with one in seven people in the world on average logging onto Facebook. Make use of this and post your job adverts onto your social media platforms and share it amongst your staff; this increases the amount of potential candidates that will see your advert. Shortlist - When choosing who you want to interview, match their application forms to your pre-written person specification and be extremely mindful about making discriminatory decisions. Once you have made your short list, begin making calls to references that have been provided. Interviews - Decide prior to your interviews how many stages you want to do. Do you need a second interview or a trial period to make up your mind? Or are you satisfied with one interview? Once you have had your interview(s), select your candidate, inform them and agree to a start date. Ensure you inform any unsuccessful candidates.

If you need any advice as far as the hiring of staff goes or any questions about H.R issues, please contact us on 07921 256981 or visit us online at www.howeconsultancy.co.uk.

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MOTORS INSIGHT

Nissan LEAFS lead the way in Morrisons Great North Run! A trio of the Sunderland-built Nissan Leafs supplied by Benfield Nissan, now part of the Looker’s plc group, have yet again led the way in this year’s world-famous Morrisons Great North Run.

Martin Watson, General Manager, Benfield Nissan, Gateshead, said: “It was a great honour, under our new ownership as part of the Lookers family, for Benfield Nissan to continue to play such a pivotal role in this high profile event, which has come to symbolise the spirit and passion of the region.

The 100 % electric cars supplied by the group’s Nissan dealerships in Newcastle and Gateshead, played a prominent role leading the 57,000 male, female and wheelchair elite athletes along the 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields.

“Dozens of members of the Benfield Nissan team took part in the run, cheering from the side-lines so it’s was a real thrill for the company to be at the heart of the action. “We’re also delighted that the organisers put their faith in the impressive Nissan LEAF, the world’s best-selling 100% electric car built at the Nissan plant in Sunderland, which ensured the runners breathed in clean air en route and also allowed us to showcase the model’s immense practicality and reliability.” Eric Wilkins, Chief Operating of the Great Run Company, said: “We are delighted that Benfield Nissan, under their new ownership, were able to continue their support of the Morrisons Great North Run both with their vehicles and their team of runners in what was again a spectacular weekend for the North-East of England.” Benfield is now part of Lookers plc group, the second largest motor retail group, which represents 31 car brands across 160 dealerships, employing over 8,500 staff with a turnover of over £4 billion, selling over 200,000 cars per annum.

A trio of Nissan LEAF’s supplied by Benfield Nissan, now part of the Lookers family, lead the way in world-famous Morrisons Great North Run at the weekend.

MEDIA INSIGHT Sarah Hall

5 essential elements to organising an excellent event Events have always been part of the PR practitioner’s tool kit but if you’re new to organizing them or are ready for a refresh, here are some handy hints to make your management skills top draw.

1) Be clear on your objectives

dictate editorial agendas.

5) Publicising the event

Always make sure you know exactly what your event needs to achieve and on what terms you’ll be evaluated. Only by knowing what the desired outcomes are can you design something to suit. This includes setting out who your audiences are and running through the faithful what, where, when and why checklist.

Logistics is the big one. You need to think about a wide range of things, from room layouts and floor plans through to capacities and sight lines. Understanding how people behave and what they need to feel comfortable is important to help the event flow.

If your role also includes publicizing the event, there are additional considerations to factor in.

2) Plan like a pro

A pro knows exactly what can and can’t be done and will step away if there isn’t a reasonable timeframe to work within. Consider the different stages right through from ideas to budgeting and logistics and you can see why even smaller events usually require a good three months of planning from start to finish.

Add time in for all the elements you have to handle. If you’re responsible for exhibition materials, entertainment, comperes, invite list management and overseeing sub-contractors, your schedule needs to be realistic about when each of these elements can be delivered. Always keep in mind who it is you’re targeting. For example, when organising something for the media, be thoughtful about publishing deadlines and avoid clashes with big events that might

3 4

3) Roles and reporting

If the event is a sizeable one, create a core planning group of people you trust. Clarify roles, actions and deadlines to avoid key tasks slipping through the net and have regular updates to ensure everything remains on track. This includes building in time for regular reporting and a debriefing session after the event to share feedback and learnings.

4) Get your governance right Risk assessments, contracts, insurances, health and safety, permissions and licences all form part of the event management process and can easily be missed. Making sure you have covered all these things and considered issues such as transport and accessibility greatly reduces the likelihood of something going wrong on the day.

Media relations offers a great way to spread the word but don’t forget social media as well as self-publishing via blogs or even broadcasting via YouTube or Vimeo. Hashtags on Twitter can be a great way for people to join in and allow those people unable to attend to follow proceedings from the comfort of the office or home. While photography is usually on every event planner’s list, apps like Periscope and Meerkat offer video streaming for during the event and are also worth taking into consideration where resource is available. Event organisation isn’t as easy as it looks, but practice makes perfect and there’s always the option to work with an experienced hand until you can do it alone. Crack the detail at the planning stage and you’ll be set for success, not to mention growing in confidence. Any doubts, there are plenty of event management companies around so get the experts in.

MEDIA INSIGHT

Christian Cerisola

Facebook’s dead? Yeah, right Picking out, and then picking apart, articles claiming that ‘such-and-such a platform is dead’ is an ongoing pastime among a few communications colleagues. We’re a wild bunch, us.

Facebook has been one such online platform that has been in the firing line for a number of years. Flatlining acquisition numbers, the apparent failure to execute mobile delivery, poor stock market performance and a platform becoming ‘out of date already’ with the all-important ‘yoof’ audience. I’m sure it’s enough to want to make founder Mark Zuckerberg retreat and shed salty tears on his troublesome billions. Then last month, Zuckerberg, between sobs, announced that, on Monday 24th August, they had one billion worldwide users in a single day. That’s one in seven of the world’s population using a single platform in a single day. The numbers are staggering. Considering something like 60 percent of the world’s population don’t have access to the internet (a whole other argument for another time), it makes those figures all the more impressive. Zuckerberg’s short statement included this killer line: ‘It’s just the beginning of connecting the whole world.’

One in seven and he and Facebook haven’t even started yet!

you’re one step in leveraging meaningful ways of getting close to your targets.

The truth is, these online social platforms that many commentators will tell you are being read their last rites aren’t dying at all. They’re just changing.

Perhaps the numbers announced weren’t altogether surprising – more people in the UK are on Facebook than aren’t and it’s been that way for a few of years now. Perhaps more surprising was the fact that the numbers peaked on a Monday. We study clients’ Facebook page usage patterns pretty hard here (for most, Friday nights at 9pm is their ‘golden hour’, should you be interested) and look at how and why they ‘tune in’ when they do. Horses for courses though, what’s good for one isn’t necessarily the same for another.

Like any good business, they’re adapting to fast-paced technological developments, they’re watching how new (and old) competition affects their own users’ behavior, they’re collaborating with those who can add something to their own platform – its all daily practice for them. Facebook is dramatically different from its early days. It’s dramatically different from just a year or two ago. In a year or two from now, it’ll look different again, but I’m willing to wager it’ll still be around and will still be pulling our jaw in a downwards fashion when it announces its daily user numbers. It’s up to us all to choose to follow with these changes, or look elsewhere for alternative and additional ways of keeping in touch with our communities. That’s what keeps the communications world so exciting. Stay on top of the best ways to communicate with people and

Facebook will, of course, know exactly why they enjoyed a spike on that particular Monday, but its not generally accepted to be one of the most popular days across any social platform. There may well have been a perfect storm of reasons gathering to hit the magic number on that Monday, but it’s a fair assumption that it can only be a matter of time before ‘one billion daily users’ becomes a common phrase around the Facebook offices.

Christian Cerisola is director at GluePR. www.gluepr.co.uk

Facebook’s dead…

MEDIA INSIGHT

It’s all about the chemistry! I recently read a new report from the IPA – From mad men to sad men that seemed to suggest that the client/agency relationship is in crisis, with the clients involved having almost nothing good to say about agencies - and vice versa. I found this report quite worrying – not for our business, but for the industry. Has it got to the stage where agencies no longer understand their clients’ worlds? Has everything become so responsive that there isn’t time to build those relationships anymore? Has the speed of change and innovation actually stifled creativity?

What can be done to save this jaded relationship? We set up Chemistry Marketing in 2014 with client relationships at our core. A client-agency relationship is like any other – hard work. It takes commitment, chemistry, honesty, integrity and passion. The customer experience is essential as far as we’re concerned. It’s also a buzz phrase which most agencies bang on about when trying to sell their wares to clients: “the customer experience this” and “the customer journey that.” But what about the clients’ experience and journey. If we can’t get it right for our clients how can they believe in us to deliver it for their customers? At Chemistry Marketing we live by 7 key elements that help us ensure we have happy, healthy and more importantly successful client-agency relationships:

Listen This might sound obvious but this simplest of things is often not done properly. Any partnership is only as successful as the communication between both parties. Listening is crucial. We ensure we listen and have a firm grasp of what our client’s goals are. Likewise, it’s important that they listen to understand our approach to meet those goals.

Create an open environment for collaboration and honesty For any relationship to work you have to work together and be honest. We work hard to create an environment where all thoughts, ideas, questions and constructive feedback/criticism can be shared openly – regardless of whether you’re agency or client.

Continuous learning Every client and every project is a learning experience. In addition to ensuring

we’re all over new developments and innovations we also take the time to learn about the industry our clients operate in. This means we can be sure we’re applying our ‘know-how’ in a way that is relevant and truly beneficial to the client.

Earn trust The only constant is change. And with things changing so rapidly we have, with many clients, entered unknown territory together. When exploring new opportunities, with no best practices or well-documented approaches established, clients understandably need to trust us. This trust is not earned overnight and we spend time building trust through our ability to consistently deliver results, ensuring clients trust our guidance and trust us to be part of their future.

Stay committed and focused Business is no different to personal matters – things arise – on both sides. As long as both parties stay committed to the project, the expectations that have been put in place and there’s transparency, bumps can be ironed out.

Realise the importance of every part of the process It’s the individual parts of a project that contributes to its overall success. From the planning stages, to the creative and project management – every part counts. We ensure both parties are actively engaged in every stage of the process.

Have courage in our convictions We know what we’re good at and we’re great at what we do. We always stay focused on this to ensure we deliver the best results for clients. We don’t diversify into areas we’re not experts in just to retain the whole project. If we don’t do it we’re honest with clients and will work with them to find the best man for the job.

Start building a winning relationship with Chemistry Marketing. Call on 0191 265 5278 or visit www.chemistrymarketing.co.uk

MEDIA INSIGHT

Ask Silver Bullet John Dias, Managing Director of Silver Bullet

The Rugby World Cup is coming to Newcastle but what effect will it have and how can local businesses benefit? The most successful businesses will always take advantage of external opportunities whilst others will take a more risk aversive attitude and ignore them. RWC2015 presents a once in a lifetime opportunity for businesses in the North East with thousands of visitors and the Scottish team being based in Newcastle alongside the New Zealand team being based in Darlington. The event starts at Twickenham on September 18th and no matter where you are or even if you don’t understand rugby, there will be such a huge surge in national and local interest that every single person in the region will be affected. In Newcastle, St James Park is hosting three games starting with South Africa vs Scotland on Saturday October 3rd, followed by New Zealand vs Tonga the following Friday on October 9th and finishing with Scotland vs South Africa the day after on Saturday October 10th The region as a whole and Newcastle City Centre in particular will be flooded with visitors with flags, offers on beverages and a host of RWC-themed promotions. But, you don’t have to be in the City Centre or even in the hospitality trade to benefit from this event, with smart managers taking advantage of the opportunity, often entirely internally, to increase sales, create positive PR or just boost the morale of your customers and staff.

For hotels, restaurants and bars, of course, the event is a godsend. The Newcastle Gateshead Initiative (NGI) estimates hosting the event will bring in £44million into the local economy, attracting 127,000 spectators over the two weekend period whilst the city will welcome some 51,000 international visitors - and they all have to drink, eat and stay somewhere! Hotels in August were reporting predicted occupancy rates of up to 95% but there’s a fantastic opportunity for everyone involved in the hospitality industry – ramp up your web site, advertise your presence on social media, send out email invitations to visiting rugby unions to forward on, make contact with the local rugby clubs, decorate externally with flags and bunting, plan for promotions with specific country themed nights, adapt your menu and create themes including beer from various countries and food samples from around the world – but most important of all is to make our visitors feel welcome because if you do, they’ll come back night after night. For many other organisations, whether these be construction, service industries or in any other sector there’s very little chance of benefitting from increased sales but it is also a great opportunity to host in-house events for your staff and customers to create good news PR and boost internal morale. Run internal sweepstakes, Rugby Bingo, contact your local

rugby club for opportunities for a family Sports Day, host a buffet lunch for staff and customers and when England or the local matches are playing, allow staff to watch the match in a local venue, preferably an actual rugby club. Showcase your events on social media and in local press to create fantastic PR, generate new opportunities and attract new employees as it shows what a great place to work your company is. Professional services firms will obviously struggle to attract increased revenue during this period but RWC2015 offers a great common topic from which to begin sales conversations. They can also use this opportunity to network with others within their field from other countries. The visitors will include accountants, lawyers, surveyors etc from other countries so why not reach out to respective societies to offer a social gathering if they are attending the games and show them around the city. At present, rugby generally and RWC2015 particularly is a superb sport and event with which to be associated, untainted by the recent scandals of others, such as football (FIFA), cycling and racing (drugs allegations) or even the bizarre choices of location by the IOC. For it not only to be happening on our doorstep but for it also to have England with a realistic chance of winning is an opportunity no-one should ignore. Carpe diem. .and have a great time!

Talk to us. Email your questions anonymously to us today hello@silverbulletmarketing.co.uk or Tweet us (not so anonymously) @SilverBulletPR and use the hash tag #AskSB

MEDIA INSIGHT

Branding and growth We’re a creative agency that has been quite happy to sit below the radar. Its been that way since our inception six years ago. We’re happy to let our work, and therefore others, do the talking for us. We have to admit, putting our faces on something at every opportunity doesn’t sit comfortably at Cargo. There’s been the odd occasion we’ve done articles like this where we’ve talked about branding and growth. So when we were asked to pull something together for this month’s edition of Northern Insight, it’s safe to assume we gazed at our collective navels for a bit. The team started talking about what has changed with Cargo. And we realised we’ve changed a great deal in the last 18 months…no, make that the last 12 months…Actually, we’ve changed massively in the last six months. How? Well, our ethos and values have remained the same and that's to deliver – above all else – creative and digital services with honesty and integrity to each and every client. Consistent tweaks and improvements of internal structure and processes have had an effect on our culture as a company. Physically, we have moved on too. Why? For the very reason outlined above. Branding and growth. The move from managed office space in Cobalt CBX in North Tyneside, which served us well for several years, was one which we yearned for a long time. But now we reside within the historic Northumberland Square in North Shields. Its a space that has character, a location that is unique and we have somewhere we can call our own. The fact that we moved in right around the time that the local football team won the FA Vase at Wembley only added to the excitement of being able to put our name on the wall outside.

And we’ve been making it our own on the inside too. First job was to add our unofficial mantra, borrowed from Anthony Burrill: ‘Work Hard & Be Nice to People.’ That, surely, is what its all about, isn’t it? What about our growth? Whilst we have seen many of our friends in the North East creative sector grow teams into their tens, twenties and thirties, we’ve resisted the temptation to get carried away with adding unnecessarily to our wage bill. I suppose it depends on what you term as growth. More staff? Increased turnover? Or maybe, just maybe, growth could be measured in something a little more holistic. How about growing and strengthening the relationship between your team and your clients? Building trust and rapport? Why can’t growth be measured that way? Is it always in the headcount? We consistently receive feedback from our clients highlighting how they enjoy knowing our team, that there is always someone at the end of the phone who knows and understands them. Yes, the other important stuff has also occurred, we have experienced year on year financial growth for the last five years.

We have added staff, but strategically. A great Junior Designer in Glen Millen. A talented, hard worker who openly wants to ‘do good work and make a difference’. At the other end of the experience spectrum is Kirsty Hart. She joined as Operations Director, having spent four years in the London hustle followed by another ten working in the demanding North East legal sector. Kirsty’s experience will bring new skills and knowledge to the tables of the clients we work with who are prominent in this sector. We’re growing (there’s that word again) our offering to them. As owner of Cargo, I’m really proud to have a small but dedicated team of six. We are looking at a further two key appointments before the year is out, which will strengthen our service offering and, in turn, cement those all important relationships. It was never in the plan to have 20 or 30 staff, just a good set of people who share the same ideal: Work Hard and Be Nice to People.

If you would like to discuss a branding or digital project take a look at our website at www.cargocreative.co.uk or call me on 0191 296 6081.

MEDIA INSIGHT Adam Eley, journalist at JAM Marketing

Get by with a little help from your friends... It takes two to tango so goes the old saying, and in the wide ranging world of business it’s especially true.

While running a business on your own can be done, its no surprise that some of the worlds biggest businesses and even some of its better smaller ones often collaborate through partnerships. And at the risk of repeating myself, nowhere is it more true than with us here at JAM Marketing. We have to maintain positive relationships and partnerships with our clients in order to deliver exactly the levels of service that they have come to expect from us. Think of some of the long running sponsorships of events such as the Olympics and World Cups by companies like Coca-Cola or McDonald’s and it’s easy to see just how important business partnerships can be. But how do you go about building the relationship which then leads to a client/business

arrangement being formed? Here are just a few suggestions from me on how to form and develop a potential business relationship.

promises you cant keep. In short, don’t offer the universe if you only have the world to offer. After all the world is pretty impressive anyway.

Patience is a virtue - Rome wasn’t built in

Deliver on the promises - Having sold your

a day, and neither are business partnerships. Be prepared to give them time to blossom and don’t rush in. Take it step by step and you’ll be networking in no time.

Build the friendship - Obviously, if you are going to enter a business arrangement with someone, it would be a good idea to get to know them on a personal level, to really get to know what makes them tick. This will in turn build a level of trust and comfort with them making any issues or problems just that little bit easier to sort.

Honesty is the best policy - Don’t oversell the service you are offering as if it’s good enough it will effectively sell itself. Similarly, don’t make

service, and the potential client has become an actual one, it’s time to start making good on the things promised. If you were honest in the previous step, the client knows exactly what they can expect from you. It will stand you in good stead going forward and will paint you in a positive, professional light. Who knows, it might lead to good reviews and a domino effect of recommendations resulting in more potential clients. Hopefully that little run down will inspire you to go about building the blocks of relationships that will help you build your business step by step.

Remember, if you need any advice on any aspect of marketing, give us a call at JAM Marketing on 0845 900 2127. www.jam-marketing.co.uk.

BUSINESS INSIGHT

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TECHNOLOGY NEWS

North East technology firm relocates as part of wider national expansion Specialist Tyneside technology business Synergi IT has relocated its head office, opened a Scottish office, recruited new consultants and embarked on a national expansion programme. The company, led by directors Peter Joynson and Justin Short, has relocated from offices at Gateshead Quays to larger premises at The Watermark, in Gateshead. Significant contract wins since January 2014 means Synergi is well on target to achieving sales of around £2m within three years. Efforts to develop new business in Scotland are developing strongly since Synergi recently opened an office in Buchanan Street, Glasgow. The

company is enjoying particular success marketing and implementing a range of Microsoft’s cloud based technologies including Office 365 and SharePoint, along with Nintex and associated products. Justin Short said: “Many companies north and south of the Borders have legacy versions of SharePoint that need bringing up to date while lots of small businesses are being introduced to the software via Microsoft’s Office 365. We see Scotland as an exciting market for the continued growth at Synergi.” Synergi currently has a 14-strong team and recruitment of support staff and specialist IT consultants remains steady, as more businesses

and organisations switch from traditional IT systems to more flexible cloud-based technology. Managing director Peter Joynson said: “We came into the market at the right time of the cycle. Many businesses, large and small, were seriously starting to review how they used technology and the sort of provision they needed. We’re really excited about the future. We have a strategy that goes against investing large capital sums on new servers, other hardware and software.” More recently Synergi established a strategic asset management (SAM) division after signing an exclusive UK partnership with world-leading Australian software firm, Assetic.

SITS ranked in top 100 technology league table A leading North East cloud computing company has gained a place in one of the country’s most prestigious technology league tables. Cramlington based, SITS group has been named in The Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100. The annual league table, in its 15th year,

ranks Britain’s leading 100 private technology companies by looking at the fastest growing sales performances over the last three years. Phil Cambers, SITS Commercial Director said: “We are delighted to have been recognised as one of the country’s fastest growing and successful businesses in our sector. Our success is reflection of our

culture and our commitment to provide the very best solutions for our clients. This year we relocated to new premises to accommodate our expansion into national and international markets.” SITS Group primarily works with organisations and provides all aspects of cloud computing to cloud management and disaster recovery solutions.

Building a digitised construction industry with new venture Niche technology players have joined forces this September to champion digital construction, as part of the emerging North East enterprise IT cluster, to become the UK centre of excellence. Dynamo Build will provide a unified voice for construction in the region, bringing together industry specialists to establish a recognised hub for skills development and retention. It will see Space Group, BIM Academy (a joint venture between Northumbria University and Ryder Architecture), Kykloud, Viewpoint Construction

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Software and NBS/RIBA Enterprises work as a virtual team to raise awareness of the North East’s digital construction potential both nationally and internationally. Justin Souter, Director and Head of Engagement at Dynamo, said: “Dynamo North East provides a collaborative space for North East organisations to grow the North East IT economy together.” The launch of Dynamo Build took place against the backdrop of the recently opened Crowne Plaza in Newcastle’s Stephenson Quarter.

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TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT

Finding the right business technologies to meet comercial needs by Paul Holborow, Head of RMT Technology

To say that information technology has had a massive impact on the workplace in the last two decades might well be the understatement of the century. From the advent of emails, mobile telephony and the pretty much universal incursion of the Internet into all areas of business through to videoconferencing, social media and cloud computing, there’s been a wholesale evolution in the way that technology pervades every aspect of our working lives. RMT Technology, the specialist IT support division of Gosforth-based RMT Accountants & Business Advisors, has undergone a similar evolution since first coming into being in the mid-1990s. From humble beginnings supplying Sage related services to small businesses, over the following years our expertise widened to include hardware, networking and server configuration before evolving in the 2000s to encompass increasingly sophisticated mid-market software solutions across a range of market sectors. Today, as specialists in accounting and business systems and IT Support, RMT Technology deploys some of the most sophisticated technologies and IT services available on the market, covering everything from connectivity, communications and IT services to voice, data, and both hardware and software. We also work with a range of specialist partners to provide the right systems and solutions for clients’ particular requirements if we don’t offer them directly ourselves. The application of these technologies, however, is not the be all and end all, and our view is that, rather than being an end in themselves, their use must always be a means to a commercial end. Rather than being product-lead, our approach is governed by first understanding the issues that a given client is facing, reviewing the present operational position in which it finds itself and then developing an appropriate technology strategy that will enable the management team to achieve their business goals and manage risk.

Our aim is to be trusted advisors, rather than to simply sell on the latest equipment, and the accountancy influence that being part of RMT provides ensures we maintain an open mind towards the ideas and opinions we put forward. The guiding principle that all owners/ managers must follow around technology must be ‘is what I’m being offered right for me and my business?’

For example, the concept of cloud computing has become very visible over the last couple of years, and if you believed all you saw and heard, you’d think that adopting a wholly cloud-based approach was the only way for all forwardthinking businesses to go. While this will indeed be the case for some, and we’re working with a number of businesses to do just that, there needs to be careful consideration about whether it’s right for your individual needs. For example, will there be any regulatory issues caused by the storing of crucial data anywhere other than on your premises, or do you have the processing capacity to operate bandwith-hungry applications such as Computer Aided Design packages from a remote server? The Cloud offers a great opportunity, particularly for smaller businesses, to access some fantastic intuitive technologies for a relatively low cost, but there’s also the question too of whether you actually need everything that’s up there.

In many cases, a hybrid solution, utilising both on premise and cloud technologies, can be the right way forward. Basic cloud-based services covering areas such as accounting, payroll, expenses and CRM databases can be offered to companies of all sizes, with more complex or sensitive functions managed from the office, and as operations develop, additional cloud-based services can easily be added as required. Cloud-based services can also offer suitable business continuity and disaster recovery solutions, where key data is replicated across a number of servers in a way which can be easily controlled by clients. These recognise both the internal strategic business and external regulatory requirements that companies face, and ensure that both can be met with the minimum of fuss. Security is, of course, always high on the agenda when it comes to deploying new technologies, and as part of a national group of accounting firms that have been working on this area for a considerable time, we have helped to develop a security framework which goes beyond the Cyber Essentials scheme introduced by the Government last year (for which we have successfully won accreditation) to help SMEs trade electronically in a safe and secure way. This framework, which covers procedures, policies and training requirements, helps SMEs properly assess their security requirements, identify where work is or will soon be required, and easily access the tools they need to work safely in the online environment. As part of the new North East Cyber Security Cluster, we’re working with other businesses and organisations across the region to address the security issues facing regional firms and to share information that will help them keep on top of their operations in this field. Today, in many ways, the technologies that businesses choose to deploy can effectively become the business itself, and the better the decisions you make in this area, the more chance you have of achieving long-term, sustainable, scalable commercial success.

Back left to right - Andrew Welsh - Technology Consultant, Stephen Slater - Director, Paul Kirkup - Technology Consultant Front left to right - Mike Hayes - IT Manager, Paul Holborow - Head of RMT Technology

From installing a network to implementing security policies or supplying accounting software, RMT Technology has the experience to help find a solution built around your individual needs. To discuss how we might help you meet your technological and commercial objectives, please contact Paul Holborow on 0191 256 9550 or visit www.r-m-t.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT

Partnership approach to IT pays off Garry Sheriff

Garry Sheriff, Managing Director of data centre experts ITPS, takes a look at how organisations can do more with less, and how partner-led models such as managed services and outsourcing are an ideal way to squeeze IT budgets while maintaining a flexible, responsive and resilient infrastructure.

Every business wants to do more with less, and partner-led models such as managed services and outsourcing are an ideal way to squeeze IT budgets while maintaining a flexible, responsive and resilient infrastructure. In our work delivering IT strategic consultancy, services and support we see many organisations who are confused about the differences between outsourcing and managed services, and unsure about taking the right route. Whichever way you label it, both options involve working with an IT partner who handles some, or all, of your needs. This can range from strategy through to day to day support and cover everything from the infrastructure through to end user applications, with each model tailored to the client’s individual needs. IT analysts Gartner say that around 50% of organisations plan to increase their use of partner-provided services, driven by a need to reduce costs, increase reliability of networks and applications, quickly and easily integrate new technologies, and reduce pressure on in-house teams. Managed services typically involves monitoring the IT infrastructure and its performance, anticipating and solving problems, making recommendations for improvement and ensuring the IT delivers best value alongside changing business needs. Outsourcing goes a stage further, with the client giving IT responsibility to a partner. Our approach is to place an IT manager on site to act as a bridge between the client and our support

team. The client gets on with running the business while we run the IT, working as a business partner at board level and helping to define and deliver the strategy, using IT to facilitate business goals. We start by structuring the support model around what our client wants to achieve, and what internal IT resource they have. We then deliver services from our ITPS help desk, or base staff on site as and when needed, and work alongside any existing IT staff, or act as an inhouse team. Whichever model our clients choose, they remain firmly in the driving seat. One company that has been quick to recognise the benefits of managed services is nationally based construction and property consultancy Summers Inman, which services a national and international client base from its seven offices across the UK, plus a base in Qatar. Summers Inman was one of our first clients back in 2000 when we set up ITPS. The business has just signed up for a new seven-year contract with us and was one of the first clients to move its IT to our new £4m data centre in County Durham, benefitting from faster communications and strengthened resilience. Through our status as one of only 10 strategic partners to Virgin Media Business, we were able to provide a 100Mb connection from remote sites plus a 1GB link to Summers Inman’s head office. The result was a network that is five times faster than its predecessor, implemented at no extra cost and which provides high speed communications vital for 3D modelling and other data-heavy systems and software. After consultation with the board we also

switched Summers Inman to a data centre based virtualised server estate, which load balances the data from head office and outlying sites and backs up directly to two of our ISO27001certified data centres, supporting the company’s business continuity strategy. Summers Inman’s Director responsible for ICT Ian Griffiths explains what attracted the business to a managed services model: ‘For several years we managed our IT in-house but as the business grew and the world of IT became more complex we took the decision to switch to working with an expert partner who could demonstrate high level expertise, a broad span of experience, and who could bring new ideas to the table. We found those qualities and others in ITPS, and the resulting managed services model, which is tailored around our requirements, is a very cost-effective way of keeping up to date with advances in technology and making sure our IT supports the changing needs of the business. We benefit from a combination of on-site staff who handle day to day needs, and who are supported by an expert team of IT strategists who help us to constantly refine our IT roadmap, in a model that delivers flexibility and predictable costs. We have a strong and long-standing relationship based on mutual trust. ITPS look after our IT while we look after our business.’ If you have avoided partner models thinking that they are only suitable for outsourcing complex IT projects or involve handing over control, you could be missing out on the chance to cut costs, increase efficiency and benefit from the latest technologies.

Come and have a chat with our experts. We will help you create a tailored model with a cost-effective, high-productivity approach to getting the most out of your IT infrastructure. For more information visit www.itps.co.uk, email contact@itps.co.uk or tel. (0191) 442 8300

TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT

Cloud drives M&A integration Pete Watson, CEO. Atlas Cloud

In the first half of this year, mergers and acquisitions in the UK already reached their highest annual total since the financial crisis, totalling a value of £130.5bn. Deals originating in Britain made up almost half of the total value in Europe over the period, according to a report by Mergemarket. Continuous technological and regulatory developments, increased access to capital and competitive pressure driven by creativity and innovation are fuelling corporate expansion across industries. Change in the North East is also being driven by renewed Government enthusiasm. Whilst it’s exciting, fast-growing companies still face practical challenges of skills shortages, increasing regulation and major disruption in the face of new staff members and/or premises. M&As are complex – and don’t always end up boosting business performance. Poor planning and complications in merging company structures, cultures and IT systems can haunt and even sink companies. For example, a typical office setup reliant on onsite servers and filing

cabinets to store data can turn the process from an opportunity into a logistical nightmare.

Working internationally only exacerbates these threats to success. Deloitte found that 85% of UK private equity respondents intend to acquire a company domiciled in a foreign market this year. In our fast-moving and global business environment, enterprises therefore need to be more flexible than ever before. One way to achieve this is through technology. With cloud computing, businesses can access secure desktops that are independent of premises, location or hardware and scalable to mirror a fluctuating, mobile workforce. Essentially, it provides a virtual “office” that can be accessed by all employees, everywhere, anytime; this tackles problems of accessing, sharing and transferring data not only during mergers but everyday business. Standard business practice and IT infrastructures need changing to reflect the fluidity of businesses in evermore competitive markets. The North East has become renowned for its digital companies, which offers real potential for regional businesses to lead in using technology to become future-proof, transform and succeed.

To explore a potential cloud solution, get in touch with us at hello@atlascloud.co.uk, or visit our website at www.atlascloud.co.uk.

EVENT MANAGEMENT

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ARTS NEWS

Olivier award-winning comedy Handbagged set for Newcastle Theatre Royal Direct from the West End, the smash hit comedy Handbagged is set for Newcastle Theatre Royal’s stage from Mon 26 – Sat 31 Oct, when the relationship between two of the country’s strongest women is explored. Handbagged opens the clasp on the relationship between two giants of the 20th Century. The monarch - Liz. Her most powerful subject - Maggie. Two enduring icons born in the same year. One destined to rule, the other elected to lead. But when the stiff upper lip softened and the gloves came off, which one had the upper hand? Moira Buffini’s celebrated new comedy speculates on that most provocative of questions:

What did the world’s most powerful women really talk about behind closed palace doors? Handbagged first premiered at the Tricycle Theatre in 2013 where it enjoyed a sell-out 7 week run, winning the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre (2014) and nominations for Best New Comedy and Best Ensemble Performance at the WhatsOnStage Awards (2014). The production transferred to the West End on 9 April 2014 where it ran for a strictly limited 17 week season and received an Olivier Award nomination for ‘Best New Comedy’ 2015. Indhu Rubasingham, Artistic Director of the

Tricycle Theatre, directs. In 2012, Rubasingham was awarded the Arts & Culture Award at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards for ‘astounding achievements in theatre’. She also received the Carlton Multi-Cultural Achievement Award for Performing Arts and in 2010 she jointly received the Liberty Human Rights Arts Award for The Great Game: Afghanistan. She was previously Associate Director of the Gate Theatre, Birmingham Rep and the Young Vic. Designs are by Richard Kent, with lighting design by Oliver Fenwick, and sound design by Carolyn Downing. The production is presented by Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Tricycle London Productions and the Touring Partnership.

Autumn 2015 at Northern Stage (and other love songs) (20-24 October) – a raucous, shocking new take on the Beggar’s Opera. After last year’s hugely successful Rapunzel, balletLORENT return with Snow White (16-17 October) – the première of a new dance theatre show for families, written by Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy. Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the death of award-winning writer Julia Darling, Northern Stage is producing a revival of her witty and uplifting musical play, Manifesto for a New City (15-17 October). Plus, there’s big name comedy from Jenny Eclair (28 October) in Stage 3, and family entertainment including regular Saturday morning storytelling sessions with The Storyteller, Chris Bostock for children aged 4-8 and their families.

After presenting some of the best theatre the north has to offer, autumn at Northern Stage starts with a storm and ends with a whirlwind. The Tempest (25 September – 10 October) is a Northern Stage coproduction with Improbable and Oxford Playhouse, directed by Phelim McDermott. Northern Stage’s Artistic Director, Lorne Campbell says, “Bringing Phelim to Northern Stage to direct The Tempest is part of our ongoing commitment to getting some of the finest directors in the world to direct for the company and to present work here.” Visiting company highlights include Kneehigh’s Dead Dog in a Suitcase

Invaluable People www.hay-kilner.co.uk 0191 232 8345

ARTS NEWS

Customs House takes centre stage

What’s on this October? King Charles III

September 28- October 3 Newcastle Theatre Royal. T: (0844) 8112 121 www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Jack Savoretti

October 6 Sage Gateshead. T: (0191) 443 4661 www.sagegateshead.com

Tim Vine

October 6 Gala Theatre and Cinema, Durham T: (0300) 026 6600 www.galadurham.co.uk

A Chorus of Disapproval

October 6-10 The People’s Theatre. T: (0191) 265 5020 www.peoplestheatre.co.uk

UB40

October 9 Sunderland Empire. T: (0191) 566 1040 www.atgtickets.com/venue/sunderland-empire The Duke in the cupboard is an exciting new play, written by Susan Wear and arrives at The Customs House Theatre, South Shields on the 7th October. In 1961 one of the world’s most audacious art thefts shocked the nation. A portrait by Goya of the Duke of Wellington, idolised for defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, had been snatched from the National Portrait Gallery. For the first half of the swinging sixties, detectives at New Scotland Yard were taunted by the mysterious perpetrator. For four years the police were tormented. Little did they know they needed to look no further than Benwell, Newcastle.

Record of The Month – Squeeze ‘Cradle To The Grave’

The Last Tango

October 13-17 Newcastle Theatre Royal. T: (0844) 8112 121 www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Waterloo

October 15 Playhouse Whitley Bay. T: (0844) 248 1588 www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk

Manifesto For a New City

October 15-17 Northern Stage. T: (0191) 230 5151 www.northernstage.co.uk

The Shawshank Redemption

October 19 – 24 Newcastle Theatre Royal. T: (0844) 8112 121 www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Joe Bonamassa

October 21 Metro Radio Arena. T: (0844)493 6666 www.metroradioarena.co.uk

Squeeze

October 21 Sage Gateshead. T: (0191) 443 4661 www.sagegateshead.com Ahead of their sell out date at the Sage Gateshead later this month, Squeeze, South London’s enduring purveyors of pure pop magic, will release ‘Cradle To The grave’ their first album of new material in 17 years on October 2nd. Songs from ‘Cradle To The Grave’ are featuring on current TV comedy ‘Cradle to Grave’ based on the autobiography of broadcaster Danny Baker. The series, set on a council estate in the 70’s stars Peter Kay as Danny’s father. NME writer turned TV presenter and DJ, Danny was brought up in Deptford, the old stomping ground of the band, and Squeeze were asked to become involved at an early stage. Lead vocalist Glen Tilbrook recalls “ When I read the book, I got in contact with Danny and said I thought we could do something together with this book. Danny was already talking with the (co-writer) Jeff Pope about a TV series and the mood and sentiment of Cradle were completely in sync.” Chief wordsmith Chris Difford even went to the same school as Baker which results in the album feeling somewhat of a trip down memory lane for the band. The knack for crafting the perfect three minute pop song however still remains as effortless as ever.

Alan Carr

October 22-24 Newcastle City Hall. T: (0191) 277 8030 www.newcastlecityhall.org

Dreamboats and Miniskirts

October 26- 31 Sunderland Empire. T: (0191) 566 1040 www.atgtickets.com/venue/sunderland-empire

Focus

October 28 Sage Gateshead. T: (0191) 443 4661 www.sagegateshead.com

THE BOOK CORNER As we draw to the end of this Indian Summer, there is never a better time to rediscover the companionship of a good book. Northern Insight selects four of the best new releases to escape into as that temperature bar begins to drop and those dark nights start inching in.

nthony Horowitz (best known for his compelling children’s Alex Rider Series) is the most recent in a string of established authors to write the latest James Bond novel. Horowitz transports us back to Bond’s roots in the cold war as the narrative opens shortly after the events of Goldfinger. With Pussy Galore once more by his side, Bond must unravel the plot of deadly soviet counter-intelligence agency SMERSH which threatens to impose terror on the western world. Interestingly, Horowitz seamlessly embeds a previously unseen Ian Fleming extract centred around a German Grand Prix race which proves to be an exhilarating set piece. The elements of the traditional Bond formula are also incorporated with Horowitz creating danger, beautiful women and fiendishly evil villains at every turn. He’s also a master at replicating the precise prose that made Fleming’s original novels so gripping. A hugely enjoyable read and a must for any Bond fan.

he ultimate tale of footballing heartbreak, Touching Distance follows Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United from the brink of relegation to the third tier of English Football to the very summit of the Premier League in 1996. Making key acquisitions along the way with the likes of Les Ferdinand and David Ginola joining the ranks, Keegan’s side would adopt a unique brand of cavalier football earning them the title of “The Entertainers” and capturing the hearts and minds of a region in the process. Touching Distance talks to the people who made it all happen, drawing upon the opinions and anecdotes of past players and coaching staff who all contributed to a truly momentous period for the club. Hardy also documents memorable clashes against Liverpool and Manchester United alongside managerial disputes between Messrs Keegan and Ferguson as Newcastle would ultimately just fall short of winning the league. Relive this extraordinary season of agony and ecstasy entwined at your own risk! Disclaimer notice – there may be tears.

tieg Larsson’s “Millenium Trilogy” proved to be a massive posthumous success. Commissioned by the Larsson estate, the fourth instalment, The Girl in The Spider’s Web penned by fellow Swede David Lagercrantz happens to be no less thrilling. Crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist returns with his career somewhat in jeopardy as he desperately yearns for the next expose which will give his Millenium magazine the edge over his competitors. Renowned Swedish scientist Professor Frans Balder, famed for his world – leading advances in artificial intelligence then reaches out to Blomkvist. Fearful that his life is in danger, Balder wishes to preserve his life’s work by going public which subsequently plunges Blomkvist into a web of criminal intrigue. Of more interest to Blomkvist though is the news that the professor has previously been working with the dragoninked, genius hacker Lisbeth Salander. The duo who thrilled millions of readers across the world (including a fair share of British holidaymakers) are back. A worthy addition to the original trilogy.

ocal novelist and University lecturer Fiona Veitch Smith introduces us to Morpethborn aspiring journalist Poppy Denby in her delightful debut, The Jazz Files. Set in 1920, Poppy arrives in London to look after her ailing Aunt Dot, an infamous suffragette who encourages her to apply for a job at newspaper The Daily Globe. On her first day however a senior reporter is killed and Poppy is tasked with finishing his story. This involves the mysterious death of a suffragette 7 years earlier, about which some powerful people would prefer nothing to be said. Transported into the very core of London’s jazz age glitterati, Poppy must try and unearth the truth before more people die. Smith expertly captures the essence of such an era through illustrious description and knowing historical detail. The Jazz Files then is an absorbing, well-written mystery which marks the first in a string of planned “Poppy Denby Investigates” novels. We can’t wait to see what else lies in store.

LEISURE INSIGHT

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CANAPÉS AND COWBOY BOOTS… FASHION lovers and brides-to-be were treated to an evening of Champagne, canapés and cowboy boots – as the North East’s leading bridal shop unveiled its 2016 collection. More than 100 people gathered at awardwinning Kathryn S Trueman bridal shop, Bridge Street, Morpeth (Thursday 10 Sept), for a fashion show featuring wedding dresses from some of the world’s top designers And, instead of tiaras and high heels, the models sported cowboy boots and stetsons, in keeping with the vision behind some of the couture gowns. Among the dresses on parade, were designs from Claire Pettibone’s Romantique collection, which has been heavily influenced by America’s Old Wild West. “As the name of the collection suggests, they are incredibly romantic,” said Kathryn Trueman, “and they are also quite different from anything else that’s around at the moment. “There is quite a strong South American Spanish influence and more than a hint of saloon girl, with lots of lace - perfect for a bride who’s looking for something special. The event was a great success and all guests were very excited about the new collection. Thank you to everyone that came to support us, it was a great night.” Other world renowned designers featured on the catwalk include, David Fielden, House of Mooski, Nicole Spose, YolanCris, and Badgley Mischka. For further information visit www.kathrynstrueman.co.uk.

The Shop Bywell has a large range of country clothing to suit everyone. With all the well known brands of shooting accessories and gifts. Our aim is to provide everything the country person may need for a day out in the countryside. Gift Voucher service available.

Stockist of Dubarry Footwear, Clothing, Luggage & Accessories. Mail order available. Corporate Entertainment Let Bywell organise a day Colleges & Clients will remember. Packages for all sizes of groups and abilities. Shooting is one of the few sports Ladies and Gentlemen can compete on a equal level. Give us a call to discuss your requirements.

Shooting School At our Shooting School we cater for the complete novice up to expert shot. If you are looking for a new challenge that will be a bit different then why not give this Olympic sport a go. Cost ÂŁ66ph (Includes all Equipment). Gift Vouchers available.

LEISURE NEWS

Crowne Plaza Newcastle - Stephenson Quarter unveils head chef One of the North East’s most anticipated hotels has strengthened its team with the appointment of a new executive chef. The Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter has appointed experienced chef Chris Wood to head up a team of 20 chefs and kitchen porters at its brassiere Hawthorns and The GIN Bar. The team will also provide meals for room service and catering for events. Chris joins Crowne Plaza Newcastle, which is based in the city’s Stephenson Quarter, from a management role at Apartment Group. He moved to the region 10 years ago with his wife

in pursuit of a successful career in the hospitality industry, with former roles including working his way from chef de partie to head chef at Alnwick Castle and head chef at Eshott Hall and Ednham House, which were awarded two rosettes for fine dining. Chris, 32, said: “I’m passionate about being in the kitchen and using the best fresh and locally sourced ingredients to create fantastic dishes for people to enjoy. The great thing about the Crowne Plaza Newcastle is that we’re encouraged to be imaginative with the menus. Hawthorns is contemporary style dining in a minimalistic

Fenwick unveils exclusive new brands for food lovers An array of exciting new brands will feature prominently in the refreshed delicatessen range on offer when the Fenwick Food Hall redevelopment opens in October. Food Hall Buyer Adam Barber and his team have scoured the globe to put together a range that combines the very best local produce with renowned brands from across the world. The cheese counter will be enhanced by Fenwick joining forces with two world-class cheese merchants: Neal’s Yard Dairy of London and Northern France-based Hennart. The fresh deli counter is launching a completely new range of restaurant quality

charcuterie, cooked meat, antipasti and terrines. Also new to the Food Hall will be a hot deli counter where customers will be able to purchase food to go, such as pulled pork sandwiches, hot roast chicken, pies and pastries. The revamped ambient fine food range will feature Italian brand Cipriani and London-based ingredients company Sous Chef. Both of these brands will be exclusive to Fenwick. Daylesford will also now be available at Fenwick in the form of fresh ready meals, desserts and chutneys and in their first venture outside the capital, Kusmi Tea will supply Fenwick with their signature blends of loose-leaf tea.

setting with locally sourced meats and heritage vegetables, and dairy items will be supplied by Doddingtons Dairy and the Northumberland Cheese Company. As well as serving the main restaurant, I have devised a menu of lighter options for The GIN Bar, including sharing platters, small plates and snacks.” General manager, Andrew Fox, said: “We want customers to have a truly bespoke experience, and we want to cater for all needs; whether someone would like to enjoy some of our bigger dishes in Hawthorns or a smaller meal from the restaurant menu in The GIN Bar, it’s up to the customer.”

Café sisters turn their business dream into a reality Four sisters from Sunderland have put their family values first, launching their hospitality business dream with the help of the Core team at Gordon Brown Law Firm. Café Sisters, a coffee shop and shabby chic-style café, has recently opened in one of the oldest buildings on Silver Street in Durham, offering customers a slice of history thanks to the venue’s rich heritage and tasty treats on offer.

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LEISURE NEWS

Iconic food hall gets a healthy injection

New team takes over at NE’s 5 spa

The Botanist marks first regional win

Super healthy food outlet, The Naked Deli, will be expanding its reach as part of a new multi-million pound redevelopment set to open in October. The Heaton-based deli has announced that it will be offering its range of nutritious drinks and food as part of Newcastle department store Fenwick’s revamped luxury Food Hall. Opening in Fenwick Food Hall forms part of The Naked Deli’s ambitious plans to expand further over the next six months following a successful year, with proposals being put in place to open another shop in Gosforth before Christmas.

Rockliffe Hall, Hurworth, has announced a new management team for its spa following the launch of the new Spa Garden. Ali Bramwell has taken on the role of spa operations manager where she will oversee the spa garden. Victoria Lees has become spa manager with overall responsibility for spa guests’ experiences. In addition, three other members of staff have been promoted with Karen Jennings becoming treatment manager, Ashley Freeman taking on the role of spa guest service manager and Peter Bell becoming fitness manager.

In just eight months, The Botanist Newcastle has established itself as one of the city centre’s most popular bars and is now celebrating its first national award shortlist. It has been named Best Managed Pub for Yorkshire, North East & Scotland in The Great British Pub Awards, and will go up against five other regional winners this September. The awards are recognised as the ‘pub industry Oscars’ by licensees. Andrew Shiel-Redfern said: “We are over the moon to have won the regional heat of the awards – especially as it covers further afield than simply the North East.”

Buon Natale, from Scalini’s…

Investec Test Match England v Sri Lanka 2016

Wynyard’s walled garden flies the flag for North East food

Scalini’s, at Great North Road, Gosforth and Osborne Road, Jesmond, have each devised three course menus, which will be available to diners throughout December. Red wine and poached pear salad is among the starters on offer at Scalini’s Jesmond. Alternatively, Scalini’s Gosforth, is offering starters including piquant roasted red pepper. These are followed by main courses, such as traditional roast turkey and a choice of desserts.

Durham CCC is delighted to announce that from Friday 27th – Tuesday 31st May 2016, Emirates Durham ICG will be hosting the second Spring Investec Test Match between England and Sri Lanka. The Club looks forward to welcoming the new exciting England team, with local heroes Ben Stokes and Mark Wood likely to be in the thick of the action. Tickets go on General Sale Wednesday 16th September.

The Walled Garden at Wynyard Hall, Tees Valley, opened to the public in August and it is shining a spotlight on produce by stocking locally sourced meat, cheese, cakes, sauces and puddings in the shop at the heart of its visitor centre. Along with the shop, the visitor centre, which is the gateway to the Walled Garden, houses a licensed café, serving a variety of light meals and snacks.

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LEISURE INSIGHT

The Rugby Wine Cup Northern Insight proudly welcomes Alastair Stewart, Managing Director of Richard Granger Wine Merchants as our monthly wine columnist. This month Richard explores the leading contenders for the Webb-Ellis Cup and their corresponding wine-making attributes.

Whilst many of us are watching with great interest the outcome of the matches in this year’s Rugby World Cup, let’s put aside the sport for a moment and assess a few of the participating country’s wine credentials as many of the nations involved in the Cup are also major players in the world of wine.

The Favourites

The Outsiders

The bookie's favourite for the rugby, New Zealand, is a firm favourite with wine drinkers too – Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc needs little introduction however the really exciting wine is Pinot Noir – choose one from Central Otago you won't be disappointed. A very young industry but one with a great future – quality, not quantity.

Argentina is the leading producer in South America and the world's 6th biggest. A relatively new player in the UK wine trade, Argentina has gained many friends especially with its rich and rounded reds from the Malbec grape variety. Not a giant on the rugby pitch maybe, but Italy is certainly a huge force in the wine trade and is the world's second largest producer. Having shaken off a reputation for volume rather than quality it is gaining a global reputation for producing top wines.

England today has a young, vibrant, sparkling wine industry centred on the southern counties. Here the geology is identical to that of the Champagne region of France, expertise and machinery can be acquired and occasionally even the weather plays ball. Certainly one to watch and the wine to choose to celebrate should the Webb-Ellis Cup be lifted by the England XV.

The Real Long Shots

A long history of playing rugby in South Africa is eclipsed by that of it's wine industry – South Africa has been producing wines for more than 300 years. Great variety at all levels makes it a top player especially in the UK market.

Although limited in terms of rugby-ing prowess, the USA is the 3rd largest wine producer in the world (90% of which is from California). Big, rich and opulent styles are often their hallmark. Neighbour Canada has a long established, if small, wine production. Centred in British Columbia and southern Ontario, the real gem in the Canadian crown is Ice Wine - very sweet and very expensive! More famous for sake (rice wine), Japan is also a source of wine from grapes although very little is exported. Romania, with a history in wine-making stretching back for 6,000 years and significant investment in vineyards since the fall of communism is certainly one to watch, as is Georgia where wine has been made for 8000 years! Uruguay is the 4th largest producer in South America-its signature wines are reds from the Tannat grape variety.

The real powerhouse of the southern hemisphere is Australia. Whilst a wine producing country for more than 150 years, wwwit is the last 40 that have defined wine Australia. Modern wine-making techniques have helped the Aussie growers make excellent wines. Often considered big and hefty the better wines can often exhibit surprising elegance and finesse. If one nation has it all then it's France –a long history of wine-making (2,000+ years), worldwide recognition, volume (8 billion bottles- the world's No.1). Perhaps in recent years a degree of complacency has allowed some of the “new boys” to get in on the act, but French wines are still those that many aspire to emulate.

Further information about the aforementioned wines can be found at www.richardgrangerwines.co.uk or instore at Richard Granger Fine Wine Merchants,West Jesmond Station, Lyndhurst Avenue, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 3HH

We aRe Ready To ReFuel WHeN aNd WHeRe you aRe Newly opened Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter hotel takes corporate hospitality to a new level in the region. Hawthorns brasserie is just a stone’s throw from Newcastle’s Central Station and is the perfect meeting location for long lunches, networking, informal business networking or a quick stop to refuel before catching a train. The extensive menu offers authentic North British Cuisine which is freshly prepared using locally sourced ingredients. Food is served all day in informal and relaxed surroundings. From fine dining to lighter meals, we can look after all your corporate dining requirements.

A SeleCtioN of diSheS onion Bhaji Scotch egg v Roti bread, coriander, chilli dressing. Robson’s of Craster Smoked Salmon North sea crab, celeriac slaw, baby watercress salad. Beetroot & Spinach Gnocchi v Roasted mediterranean vegetables, balsamic glaze, bitter leaf salad.

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Chipotle Spiced Crayfish Flash fried peppers, gem lettuce salad, lemon, chilli & coriander dressing.

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v Vegetarian

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Sajiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Now Open! Sajiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant was officially opened on August the 28th by the Deputy Mayor of Gateshead Allison Thompson. Everyone enjoyed the evening and they had some amazing comments about the building refurbishment, decor and food The event was attended by friends, family and key workers involved in the refurbishment of the building.

BLUESI SI NU ERSES I N I NSSI G I GHHT T

The Spice of Life

by Michael Grahamslaw

Saji's Halal Punjabi Restaurant has just opened on the site of the ex-Pear Tree Inn on Sunderland Road, Gateshead. It serves a great selection of authentic Halal food from the Punjabi and Kashmiri regions plus an excellent choice of vegetarian food too.

ten veggie options alone, this would have taken some time to choose so we were pleased for the advice. Otherwise, feeling a bit overwhelmed and daunted by the choice, I might have reverted back to my same old “safe” dishes. I’m so pleased I didn’t.

Being a renowned fan of curry and all things spicy, I thought I’d check it out for Northern Insight readers with a client of mine with a similar love of Indian food.

Based on our likes, my client and I were recommended to try Spicy Battak, which consisted of duck cooked Bhuna style with onions and green peppers in a puree of raita, and Spicy Lemon King Prawns cooked in garlic butter with a hint of lemon and mint. These great starters were deliciously different from our usual standard options and it really set our expectations for the mains.

It is housed in a building that dates back to 1812. Though it has been mainly used as a public house in the past, the current owner and his family saw its potential and have spent time and money restoring it to an exceptionally high standard. After extensive travels and fifteen years experience in the restaurant trade, Saji Hussain has brought his own fine dining experience to the table (every pun intended) in Gateshead. The menus arrived but before we ordered, an attentive waiter asked about our food preferences. Meat? Seafood? Mild or spicy hot? Dry curry or saucy etc? Initially, I was somewhat taken aback by this until he explained that the restaurant wanted every diner to have a great dining experience based on their likes so he could recommend several dishes that matched our ideal tastes. What a great idea but when I looked at the menus, I understood why. Its five menus (this is not a misprint) offer an amazing array of food choices. With over 30 starters, including

Apart from dishes from the tandoor, other options included Palak, Jalfrezi, Dansak, Biryani, Kurma, Bhuna, Madras and Passanda dishes as well as alternatives from Singapore, Ceylon and Malay. The Chef’s specialities menu alone numbered nearly 40 choices but if that’s not enough, Saji’s most accommodating chefs are more than happy to make a dish to a customer’s taste and specification - even if it is not on the menu. How good is that? Based on my love of everything curry, I wanted most things on the menu, so for mains I was recommended to have the special mixed meat Thali, which was basically a little bit of everything. It consisted of a selection of chicken tikka mossala, chicken Madras, chicken bhuna

and lamb rogan josh served with a naan bread and pilau rice. This veritable mini banquet really hit the spot and gave me the chance to sample a variety of dishes. My guest had an equally intriguing dish gloriously named Chef’s Special Murgh Handi. The look on his face whilst eating this authentic and rare Kashmiri dish of fresh chicken breast cooked in the chef’s secret blend of spices, said it all. Will we go back? You betcha! With a menu this big and diverse, you could eat there for a month and not have the same dish twice. Overall, Saji’s is an Indian food-lovers paradise serving high quality food in a contemporary and comfortable setting. The region is blessed with many great restaurants and they deserve our support, none more so than Saji’s. The Restaurant also has rooms for private dinners, corporate functions, parties and any other special occasions you may have. For those on the run, it also offers a takeaway service as well as an outside catering facility. Now there’s an idea and an unusual alternative to a BBQ.

Check it out for yourself on www.sajis-restaurant.co.uk Address and contact details: Saji’s Halal Punjabi Restaurant, Sunderland Road, Gateshead, (SatNav :NE10 0AR). T:0191 4384828/0191 4380834; E: contact@sajis-restaurant.co.uk

LEISURE INSIGHT

Thoughts from Ravensworth Golf Club A

The weekend competitions are dwindling and it’s time for more social play. Perhaps the club has a winter league for those that need the heat of competition to nurse them through the cold. If not, is there a club with an ‘open’ to attract a casual visitor? An opportunity to try a different course, perhaps a chance to scout for a new one for next year’s Society outing or just a chance to win a few extra pounds to help with the Christmas shopping.

s the summer golfing season comes to a close, club golfers turn their thoughts away from the warm summer months and those, usually unfulfilled, dreams of getting their name on the honours board. Some will have had a magnificent season and will be looking forward to collecting a trophy or two at presentation night whilst for the rest of us our handicap increases every year at the same rate as our age.

So what do we want for Christmas? A dozen golf balls, some thick and comfortable socks, a new bag or even a new set of clubs…and what make, is it? Srixon or Calloway, Titleist or Wilson or Ping? Off the shelf or custom fitted, premium or regular? Or should we replace that old putter that’s been letting us down for years in spite of our excellent putting stroke. Such wide a choice so better start searching now and put the Christmas order in early before the usual bottle of red wine, silk tie and boxers are already wrapped. Or will we wait until next year when the price of this year’s products have been heavily discounted?

Never mind, there’s always next year when we will defy the march of time, add a tweak or two to our swing and against all odds drive our handicap down to a level which we were unable to attain in our youth. Sweet dreams! But for now as we move into autumn and with winter not too distant the average golfer turns his attentions away from the warm summer months and prepares themselves for the cold and the wind. Away go the short sleeve, brightly coloured polos shirts and out from the back of the wardrobe or the bottom the drawer come those darker, extra layers that possess such magic qualities. They are light, they breathe they protect and they warm. Layer upon layer coming out of their summer hibernation to help us through the colder months.

Well that’s maybe for next year isn’t it?

Ravensworth Golf Club provides quality golf at affordable prices all through the year. Prices start at £12 a round, open competitions are arranged from October through December and special food and golf packages are available. Contact by visiting our website at www.ravensworthgolfclub.co.uk or by email to secretary@ravensworthgolfclub.co.uk

Enjoy the home-like comforts of our suites! Staybridge Suites Newcastle is your home-from-home; enjoy a warm and friendly welcome with comforts to help you feel right at home. Ideally located within 5 minutes walk from Newcastle’s vibrant Quayside area and city centre with access to a choice of bars, restaurants and shopping districts. You can also cross the Millennium Bridge to reach the BALTIC Centre and Sage Gateshead.

About Staybridge Suites

Staybridge Suites is an extended-stay venue for guests staying away for one night, days, weeks or even months. Whether relocating to the area, on a long term project or a business trip, Staybridge Suites’ unique mix of domestic environment and hotel services lets guests live life their way.

Key features include • • • • • • • • •

Contemporary and air-conditioned studio, or one bedroom suites with space to live and work Fully equipped kitchen in every suite Complimentary High-Speed WiFi throughout A ‘Hub Kitchen’ where complimentary breakfast is served every day The ‘Evening Reception’ – currently served four nights a week with free drinks and snacks for all guests The guest ‘Laundry Room’ is perfect for washing socks and smalls The ‘Pantry’ 24/7 shop, where guests can buy essentials from food and drink to any forgotten toiletries Our guest services team is there to welcome you home 24/7 Newcastle Central rail station is nearby and Newcastle International Airport is a 15 minute drive

Discover a fresh approach to your extended stay ... Staybridge Suites Newcastle • Buxton Street • Newcastle upon Tyne • NE1 6NL T: +44 (0)191 238 7000 • E: enquiries@newcastle.staybridge.com W: www.staybridge.com

LEISURE INSIGHT

Filini’s at the Radisson Blu by Gordon Taylor

The Radisson Blu hotel in Durham possesses a fine restaurant by the name of Filini’s, an impressive 104 cover, dining area, tastefully decorated in mellow browns with comfortable seating and an array of tables for small to sizeable parties. My wife, daughter and I had the privilege of eating Sunday lunch there recently and a privilege it certainly was. The menu is varied, with some sumptuous dishes and I began with the Soup of the Moment a creamy vegetable concoction with warmed bread rolls. The consistency was just right. It’s no mean feat to achieve that in a soup so my first course proved portent of the dishes to come. Lynda, my wife chose Avocado and crab tian with a red pepper coulis and pesto. Anyone whose eaten crab before, knows it can be a difficult sea food to deal with. Crab meat can easily be sour or bland but this was

perfect in taste and wonderful in the chilled avocado base. When it came to choosing main courses, we tend to be fairly conventional and I chose the half chicken with lemon and thyme stuffing and bread sauce, while Lynda went for the roast leg of lamb with home made mint sauce and my daughter Lesley, the sirloin of beef with a yorkshire pudding and horseradish sauce. Suffice to say every meat consistency was out of this world and the vegetables were just the right side of al dente. It’s a skilled Chef who can achieve the impossible in this area but achieve it this one did. The problem with this restaurant, if there is one, is the more than sufficient amounts on offer. Our desserts of vanilla pannacotta with a minted berry compote, baked lemon tart with honeycomb ice cream and selection of ice creams and sorbets, were in keeping with the rest of the meal, quite perfect.

SUNDAY the day OF

ROAST

Long, lazy lunch with family or a catch up over a delicious bite with friends.

Escape the Ordinary

Think local suppliers, seasonal flavours & a chilled out vibe. Sundays will never be the same again. 1 course £15.00 2 courses £19.00 3 Courses £22.00 Available 2pm - 4pm. Book your table here: tinyurl.com/filinitable 0191 372 7208

The Caledonian Hotel

Pâté de Campagne, warm brioche bun and cornichons

•

Medium fillet steak, sliced potato cake, baby vegetables and a red wine jus

•

Trio of chocolate desserts Start the evening off with a French Martini cocktail Followed by a 3-course meal and the following entertainment • Can Can Girls • Fire Artist • Ring Master • • Recreation of the Lady Marmalade • Show Girls • • Fun Casino • Table Magician • Choice of two discos until the small hours Glass of bubbly to welcome in the New Year

Tickets £69.00 per person

Pre-ordered vegetarian option available Stay the night for £250 in a standard room, inclusive of two tickets to the party, chocolates, bubbly and brunch the following day New All Inclusive Package £360.00 per couple, in an executive room inclusive of two tickets to the party, chocolates, bubbly and brunch the following day. Two bottles of house wine for your table for your meal, inclusive drinks from our selected range from the bar 6pm - 2am ** (** Terms and conditions apply - Inclusive wristbands must be worn at all times, only two drinks per visit to the bar at any one time. Selected drinks will be - House spirits, mixers, soft drinks, 175ml glass of wine, draught beer, lager and cider) Upgrade to a suite for £99 per couple

To make your booking, email Events on events@caledonion-hotel-newcastle.com or telephone on 0191 281 78 81

LEISURE INSIGHT

Jesmond’s Willi’s Coffee Shop granted alcohol licence Customers at Willi’s Coffee Shop on Clayton Road, Jesmond will soon be able to enjoy alcoholic drinks at the newly owned and refurbished establishment after a licence was recently granted to serve alcohol. Experienced operator Rod Davies, who ran Café 95 on Gosforth High Street for 5 years, took over Willi’s Coffee Shop in April and the café has since received rave reviews about the quality of the fayre. Acting on behalf of Rod Davies, Matthew Foster, Head of Mincoffs Solicitors Licensing Team presented an application to Newcastle City Council’s Sub Licensing Committee to allow the sale of alcohol between the hours of 11am and 6pm Monday to Saturday and 4pm on Sunday. The application was successful and was granted as applied for and Willi’s Coffee Shop will now be able to include alcohol as part of its offering. Owner Rod Davies said ‘We have carried out extensive refurbishments and have a fabulous new menu. Willi’s is now a family business which we run with a passion for great quality food and excellent service. The addition of alcohol will enable us to offer a more bistro style experience

for our customers who will now be able to enjoy a glass of wine or beer with their meal. The alcohol offering will be based very much around the food.’ Matthew Foster of Mincoffs added ‘I have

Under new ownership and recently refurbished All day breakfast menu Paleo and low gluten options available Direct trade artisan coffee, loose leaf teas and homemade cakes Daily meal menu Willis 23-25 Clayton Road, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1JP Tel : 0191 2818123

worked with Rod for a number of years assisting with licensing and training and have no doubt that he will make an excellent job of running this business with an alcohol licence. He is an excellent operator.’

Festive Set Menu 2015 Lunch - Three Courses £21 | Dinner - Three Courses £27 | Available from 1/12/15 Lunch 12pm – 2.30pm | Dinner 5.30pm – 7.00pm

To Start Ham, Pease Pudding, Beetroot, Stottie Salmon, Cucumber, Gin & Tonic Root Vegetable Salad, Mushroom, Truffle (v) To Follow Roast Goose, Red Cabbage, Fondant Potato, Redcurrant Fillet of Hake, Seaweed Roast Carrot, Squid Parsnip, Goats cheese, Granola, Kale chips (v) To Finish Christmas Pudding Spring Roll Marzipan Ice Cream Chocolate Cherry, Pistachio

Plums Glühwein, Streusel

Christmas Cheese Selection ( £5 Supplement )

Side Dishes - £3.50 Each Thin Cut Fries / Clapshot / Broccoli, Almond, Hollandaise Sauce/ Braised Red Cabbage / Cauliflower Cheese Please inform our team of any dietary requirements or allergies. Menu Subject to change with out notice. £10 per person deposit required at time of booking for parties of 6 or more. Pre order required min 48hrs in advance for parties of 8 or more.

New Year’s Eve Tasting Menu Eleven Courses £120 per person Arrival between 7.30pm – 8pm, first course will be served at 8pm sharp

Snacks & Bread

Raw Steak Pie, Truffle Pureé

Mushroom Cappuccino

Langoustine, Pork Belly, Carrot, Crackling

Turnip Pasta & Lamb

Iberico Pork, Wild Garlic Kimchi, Brown Rice Buttermilk, Almond, Dill, Pomegranate

Jägerbomb

Chocolate Linseed, Salted Caramel

Feta, Melon, Serrano, Pineapple

Petit Fours

Please inform our team of any dietary requirements or allergies. Menu Subject to Change. Non-refundable deposit of £60pp payable within 7 days of booking.

217 Jesmond Road, Jesmond, Newcastle, NE2 1LA 0191 281 5222 www.peaceandloaf.co.uk @peaceandloafjes Peaceandloafjesmond

Once upon a time in Ponteland Guests from around the North East dressed to impress at the VIP opening of glamorous brand new bar & eatery YOLO (you only live once) in Ponteland. Featuring live music, cocktails, superb food, upper mezzanine level & a sophisticated outdoor area, YOLO is open everyday from 10 til midnight. 9 Bell Villas, Ponteland, Northumberland NE20 9BD 01661 824146 www.yolo.uk.com

you only live once, so go on enjoy yourself NIBBLES AND STARTERS

SALADS

Homemade Soup of the Day Served with rustic bread — £4.50

Rare Beef Salad Premium steak grilled rare, thinly sliced, served on a bed of mixed salad and finished with a sticky soy reduction, topped with toasted sesame seeds — £9.95

Salt & Pepper Calamari Deep-fried crispy calamari, lightly coated in salt flakes and cracked black pepper, served with garlic aioli and fresh lemon — £6.95

Greek Open Pitta Salad Warm pitta bread with hummus served with feta, olives, mixed leaves and a refreshing cucumber mint tzatziki — £8.95

Bruschetta Fresh ripe tomatoes, basil and oregano on garlicky chargrilled ciabatta — £4.95

Caesar Salad With or without chicken or salmon, anchovies optional. £6.95 (as it comes) — £8.95 (with chicken) — £10.95 (with salmon)

Sticky Buffalo Wings Yolo’s crispy jumbo chicken wings smothered in our hickory-smoked barbeque sauce. £4.95 (5) — £7.95 (10) — £12.95 (20)

SIDE ORDERS

Tempura Prawns With a Thai sweet chilli sauce — £8.95

Seasonal Vegetables, Triple-cooked Chips, Skinny Chips, Onion Rings, Creamy Mashed Potato, Red Slaw, Garlic Bread, Rustic Ciabatta & Olives — £2.95

BOARDS AND PLATTERS If you like to graze then why not try one of our sharers for 1, 2 or 3 people Steak or Chicken Platter Prime rump steak (cooked to your liking) or grilled chicken breast (or mix it up and have some of each), served with salad, Lebanese flatbread, triple-cooked chips and a selection of dips. £11.95 / £19.95 / £26.95

Continental Cheese Board V A selection of cheeses served with chutney and celery daggers, with an assortment of crackers and fresh bread. Ideal with a bottle of red wine (wine not included). £7.95 / £11.95 / £15.95

Seafood Platter Smoked salmon, prawns, whitebait, crayfish tails… whatever the catch of the day allows, served with salad, Lebanese flatbread and a selection of dips. £10.95 / £16.95 / £23.95

Yolo Sliders Beef or chicken with a choice of toppings from: cajun spices, blue cheese, brie or cheddar, bacon, mushrooms or red onion relish. A selection of 4, 7 or 10 served with skinny fries. £8.95 / £14.95 / £19.95

Antipasti Platter A selection of cured meats served with marinated olives, Mediterranean vegetables, Lebanese flatbread and a selection of dips. £9.95 / £15.95 / £19.95

MAINS

BURGERS

Traditional Fish and Chips North Sea cod fillet battered and deep-fried, served with triple- cooked chips, mushy peas, lemon, tartare sauce and good old fashioned bread and butter — £10.95

We only use the best ingredients; locally baked soft white buns, a large home-style prime steak mince patty, served with onion rings and skinny fries. Gourmet Topped with a healthy portion of cheese and our homemade chorizo salsa — £10.95

Pie of the Week* Not your average pie! Freshly made gourmet pies using locally sourced produce. Get in quick before they run out — £10.95

Classic Topped with beef tomato, cheddar cheese, crispy streaky bacon, green onion and Yolo’s sweet barbecue relish — £9.95

*ask one of our staff about today’s choice

Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta Sun-dried tomatoes and pesto with penne pasta — £5.95/£8.95

Chicken BLT Homemade chargrilled chicken burger topped with crispy bacon, lettuce and tomato served with mayonnaise — £9.95

Spaghetti Carbonara Egg, parmesan, cream and pancetta; simple and delicious — £5.95/£8.95

SANDWICHES

Penne Pasta with Tomato and Basil V A delicious penne pasta dish with tomato, basil, olives and parmesan cheese — £4.95/£7.95 Doreen’s Black Pudding Pan-fried black pudding, oven-baked portobello mushroom, cherry tomatoes, smoked streaky bacon on a bed of creamy mashed potato, served with a poached egg and a fresh citrus dressing — £8.95 Rib Eye Steak 12oz rib eye served with triple-cooked chips and garnished with tomatoes and mushrooms — £18.95 Add a diane, blue cheese or peppercorn sauce — £1.95

Grilled Chicken Ciabatta Chargrilled marinated chicken with red cabbage slaw — £4.95 Oak Smoked Bacon & Brie Melt Locally smoked bacon, grilled to perfection with creamy brie and cranberry jam — £4.95 Good Old-fashioned Tuna Melt Tuna, sweetcorn & mayonnaise topped with cheese with a hint of mustard, served on a panini — £3.20 Traditional Clubhouse Layered Sandwich Toasted bread, sliced chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and of course sliced boiled egg, served with skinny fries — £9.95

Vegetarian Lasagne V Mushrooms, courgettes, peppers, aubergines and red onions in a creamy cheese sauce, served with triple-cooked chips and salad leaves dressed with balsamic vinegar — £9.95

Classic Fish Finger Sandwich With shredded lettuce, a choice of tomato/tartare sauce and served in a freshly baked ciabatta — £4.95 Roasted Vegetable Ciabatta V Roasted Mediterranean vegetables and feta cheese — £4.95

DESSERTS

AFTERNOON TEA

HOT BEVERAGES

Dutch Apple Pie With lashings of cream or custard — £5.95

Served on fine china, this utterly English meal is a mouth-watering experience.

Latte — £2.20 Cappuccino — £2.45 Espresso — £1.95 Double Espresso — £2.30 Hot Chocolate — £2.95 Sweet Ginger Latte — £2.55 Flat White— £2.55 Americano — £2.10 A selection of Teas — £2.50

Homemade Vanilla Cheesecake with seasonal berries — £5.95

Your tea includes:

Heavenly Fudgy Chocolate Cake Three layers of dark chocolate sponge, layered with sweet butter icing and chocolate fudge, wrapped in a coat of chocolate fudge icing, topped with flakes of white chocolate — £5.95

A selection of loose leaf teas A delicious array of finger sandwiches Freshly baked scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream A selection of sweet pastries

Eton Mess Meringue, strawberries and cream; simple but delicious — £5.95 Yolo’s Berries Delight A selection of sorbets, seasonal berries and freshly whipped cream — £6.95

Classic — £15.95 With Prosecco — £19.95 With Champagne — £24.95

Telephone: 01661 824Telephone: 146 www.yolo.uk.com Email: info@yolo.uk.com Twitter: @YOLO_Ponteland Facebook: YOLO Ponteland 01661 824 146 — Email: enquiries@yolo.uk.com — www.yolo.uk.com

LEISURE INSIGHT

Out & About – Galashiels on the Borders Railway Stationmaster Alex Nelson has been suggesting places to go by train each month for ten years. For October, the first domestic railway reopening in 100 years, from Edinburgh to Galashiels and Tweedbank is the obvious destination.

I wonder if things were like this when the railways first opened. In 1849 people had never been on a train before. On the Waverley line, closed in 1970, the reopening as the Border Railway last month brought out a new generation who had also never been on a train before. On the single line platforms, such as at Galashiels, there was the standard sign indicating that trains to the new terminus at Tweedbank were going in the southbound direction, marked by an arrow, and trains in the other northbound direction to Edinburgh went the other way. Standard stuff, you might think. Novices thought they had to wait at one end of the platform to go south and the other end to go north. Of course, people are expected to fan out along the platform to use all available doors. And although people were left behind on the platforms, the trains were not full because people were crowding round the doors, not moving down inside the carriages. Meanwhile ticket machines were out of tickets owing to the massive demand, and the car park at Tweedbank between Galashiels and Melrose (where the Queen officially opened the

railway on 9th September) was full at 235 spaces, plus over fifty cars crammed on the access roads. This is a pleasant walk away from Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford and the abbey at historic Melrose. The original line went through to Carlisle via Hawick, and it is possible this may be a later development, but for now the line extends from the Edinburgh suburban Park and Ride station at Newcraighall through Eskbank to Stow and Galashiels. “Gala”, pop 22,500, is capital of the borders, boasting but a single platform opposite a sparkling new transport interchange for local buses. The last stop is Tweedbank. £294m has been spent bringing the railway back to the Borders on 30 miles of new track. This is a project of the Scottish Government – not a penny from Westminster. The railway has been engineered to a very high standard with disabled access throughout all the stations, and whilst most of it is single track there are two long sections of double track allowing passing at speed. For the first few weeks there are steam excursions running. On my visit the steam locomotive sitting in one of Tweedbank’s two platforms was 60163

Tornado, built in Darlington in 2009, and now a regular sight on the national network. There’s no run-round line though on this new extension, so the loco cannot be moved to the other end and has to be towed back by a diesel. To access the Borders Railway by train from the north-east you have to travel via Edinburgh and then south to Galashiels/Tweedbank. Alternatively, for a different trip to Edinburgh you can drive the two hours from, say, Chester-leStreet to Tweedbank P+R, park for free, and pick up the train there to Edinburgh. (National Express also runs a coach 534 daily from Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle to Galashiels, but this is no use for a day trip). You can break your train journey, if you wish, on the way. Look out on the journey for the X95 bus that still runs the entire route from Edinburgh to Carlisle, now denuded of many passengers, racing along like a modern-day Thomas and Bertie.

For National Rail Enquiries call 24hr 08457 484950 Website is www.nationalrail.com.

HEALTH INSIGHT

Motivation activation We’re well and truly into autumn now and the days are getting shorter rapidly. Suddenly, we’re all into hiding under jumpers and big coats, snuggling under the duvet and fuelling up on comfort food. The urge to hide under the covers increases exponentially with the darker, colder mornings, and the thought of heading out to the gym at 6am is increasingly unappealing. Maintaining a proper exercise routine can be hard during the winter months, but it shouldn’t be an excuse to give up completely and hibernate until spring. A University of Colorado study found that production of a chemical which promotes fat storage in the body almost doubled during the winter. Another factor is the reduced levels of serotonin in the brain during months of less daylight, which can leave you feeling tired and hungry. The key to keeping up the good work during the months when you’d rather stay inside is to plan. Plan ahead with everything: start with your meals. We all know that salads instantly become

unappealing the moment the temperature drops. There are plenty of hearty, comforting meals you can enjoy while still maintaining a healthy approach to your diet, if you just take time to plan all your meals carefully and shop accordingly. Take the same approach to your exercise routine: plan your week according to your schedule and write your exercise into your diary. That way you’re more likely to remain committed.

Set yourself goals and remind yourself regularly of the benefits exercise brings you. And if you still think you won’t stick to it, enlist some help! Personal trainers are the masters of motivation! If you can’t afford one, then join group training or classes and get even more support and motivation from your gym buddies.

Stay active and you’ll stay well. Plus your summer 2016 self will thank you for it later! James Milburn Training, 54 Merton Way, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 9SR. Email: info@jamesmilburn.co.uk Web: www. jamesmilburn.co.uk Tel: 01661 598 271

Wedding Fayre Sunday 25th October 12-3pm

Call for details

HEALTH INSIGHT

Making mindfulness work

STRESS is the curse of the modern age – the mind and body’s response to the frantic pace and pressures of daily life. A North East organisation is helping people respond to the rigours of life by learning to live more mindfully, as EMMA WALKER reports.

The reasons for stress are as varied as the people affected by it, however one thing that is common to all is the effect it has on our wellbeing. Although the word ‘stress’ has become a catch all, often misused to refer to any mild irritation, there is no doubt that genuine cases of stress, with its range of mental and physical symptoms, are on the increase. Whatever the cause, one point upon which health professionals agree is that stress can lead to mental health conditions like anxiety, panic disorder and depression as well as physical conditions, such as hyper-tension. At Living Mindfully, a social enterprise in Consett, County Durham, highly experienced mindfulness practitioners are helping clients cope with and manage stress through learning mindfulness, and developing a daily mindfulness practice. Gary Heads, founder of Living Mindfully, believes the key to dealing with stress lies in being

aware of our thoughts, emotions and physical sensations so that we can respond more skilfully to stressful situations. “Mindfulness is developed by paying attention to each and every moment,” he said; “by being aware of what you are doing and what is happening around you. “It is a way of connecting with yourself in the here and now, fully awake and aware and living in the present, rather than being lost in the past or worrying about the future.” It sounds incredibly simple but living in the present is easier said than done, so Living Mindfully offers courses to teach the skills and practices to enable people to learn this way of life. Meditation is a crucial part of the mindfulness programme; it is less about sitting cross-legged and repeating a mantra and more about engaging with body and breath to build awareness of experiences, moment by moment. This allows people time to discover their

reactions to events and thereby choose a wiser, responsive course of action. Gary added: “What mindfulness can do is encourage people not to react to their thoughts but to notice and acknowledge them. “By responding in this way, thoughts can become less overwhelming: mindfulness creates the space that promotes wise choices. “The modern world puts a great deal of pressure on us and everyone is faced with stressful situations and experiences at some point or another’” he added. “Mindfulness can’t eliminate stress but it gives you the tools to deal with it.” Living Mindfully delivers mindfulness services to a wide and diverse population including, Mindfulness based stress reduction programmes for people referred by mental health professionals, schools, universities, carers, local authorities, police officers, and private companies.

For more information about Living Mindfully and the courses it offers, call 01207 693909 or visit www.livingmindfully.co.uk

UP OLL

Offering a range of Different packages including: Carnival Party Nights 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th & 19th December Party Lunch 18th December Golden Oldies Lunch 9th & 16th December Christmas Jumper, Dine & Disco 11th & 20th December Sunday Lunch with Santa 6th, 13th & 20th December Family New Year’s Eve 31st December New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner 31st December

Bird y l r a E . Mr le b a l i a v A Offers

PARTIES Food & Drink

PA TY PACKAGR ES FROM

£12.00pp

GAMES

0191 201 8525

candb@nufc.co.uk

www.nufc.co.uk

@NUFCEvents

TRAVEL INSIGHT

MS Marina

Afternoon tea in Horizons

“

Penthouse Suite

”

Sophisticated and stylish cruising without the snobbery 96

The Casino Bar

TRAVEL INSIGHT

Cruising – Your Way by Travel Writer, Ken Spearen

As previously reported in the July edition of this magazine, the last item on my bucket wish list was a cruise on an ultra-luxury liner and once again, Cruise.co.uk, came up with the goods at a great price. This resulted in a Baltic Marvels trip on the MS Marina out of the chic Oceania stable.

Entertainment anywhere is a subjective issue but with daytime activities including a unique hands-on cookery school at sea as well as an Artist’s Loft for the creative and artistic, there was always lots to do and see. The non-stuffy evening entertainment was courtesy of a highly talented troupe of singers and dancers who were ably supported by an excellent ship’s band. Also worth a mention is the Quadrivium string quartet which popped up all around the ship including adjacent to the very impressive Casino Bar. They were also very much in evidence at afternoon high tea - a very grand occurrence every day at 4pm.

ceania Cruises is a relative newcomer to the cruise industry. Formed in 2002 by three luxury cruise industry veterans, it is the world’s largest upper premium cruise line. Based on its owners’ experience of knowing exactly what makes a great cruise experience, the company’s mantra is “Your World, Your Way”. Its defining aim is to provide gourmet cuisine, comfort and service in stylish surroundings for cruisers seeking a truly refined but casually elegant, travel experience. Its meteoric success in the ultra-luxury cruise market did not escape the notice of one of the industry’s big hitters and both Oceania and Regent Seven Seas were bought out by NCLH last September for $3.28bn. That said, Oceania continues to operate under its own name and its six luxurious ships are deliberately aimed at the discerning cruiser - not the mass market end of the cruise spectrum. It offers experienced cruisers the chance to explore the world in style and comfort. Sophisticated and stylish without the snobbery, the on-board experience was relaxed and extremely civilised. Its ships sail to more than 330 ports around the world with a policy of multiple overnight port stays enabling an in-depth, enriching destination experience for travellers to immerse themselves in the local cuisine, culture and history of the ports visited rather than just a fleeting glimpse through a tour bus window. Built in 2011, the MS Marina is an intimate ship that can comfortably accommodate 1,200 passengers on 11 of its 16 decks. Our penthouse suite was truly luxurious which came complete with Himhit, our own very imposing, tail-coated young butler, who attended to our every need with great aplomb. Real Downton Abbey stuff! There is no designated restaurant or seating plan on the Marina. Non-suite passengers have use of the very elegant Grand (with a capital G) Dining Room offering silver service, à la carte dining on an open seating basis as well as the excellent more casual venues of the Terrace Café and Waves Grill. With four speciality restaurants also available - Jacques (French), Polo Grill (classic steakhouse), Toscana (Italian) and Red Ginger

Lalique Grand Staircase

(Oriental fusion), the culinary world on the Marina is literally your oyster. For a more intimate, exclusive dining experience, diners can book the La Reserve, a gourmet wine pairing restaurant or Privée, an exclusive private dining venue. Apart from the last two mentioned which we did not experience, all restaurants served amazing food in superb surroundings. As for the dress code on board - there isn’t one! There are no designated formal black tie nights unless you choose to dress up - after all, this is “cruising, your way”. Oceania describes its dress code as “country club casual” at all times. Think plain Oxford/polo shirts, chinos and loafers rather than Jeans, T-shirts and trainers (no matter what the designer label is) and you won’t go far wrong. All men are required to wear a jacket on an evening but without a tie, whilst women are expected to wear “elegant resort wear.” During the day, dress on board is casually elegant in keeping with conventional good taste in a 5-star plus environment. Our fellow shipmates, predominately American with a sprinkling of Brits, French, Germans, Spanish and Japanese, seemed well-seasoned cruisers. All shared a common love of gourmet food and wine served in cosseted, stylish surroundings.

Overall, a truly memorable top-end cruise experience that raises the cruising bar to a whole new level. After 30+ previous cruises, I can honestly say this had been the best overall cruise experience ever. I’ve been travel writing for over 25 years and I always strive to achieve an editorial balance but try as I might to find something, anything, that could have improved its offer, I simply could not. Oceania Cruises will appeal to discerning, sophisticated travellers in search of world-class cuisine, unparalleled service and a destinationoriented experience. Our Baltic Marvels package included return BA flights from London with a free upgrade to business-class, a complimentary unlimited Prestige drinks package (including Champagne), pre-paid gratuities and one-off access to all speciality restaurants. In addition, a free chauffeur-driven car (within a 50 mile radius) was provided to and from your chosen airport. Ports of call included Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Rostock in Germany, Tallinn in Estonia and St Petersburg in Russia. The latter was a most unexpected revelation which I hope to expand upon in a later edition. This had been an exceptional cruise experience at an exceptional price. The cost of this fantastic Baltic Marvels short notice package from Cruise.co.uk started from just £1,489 per person for a balcony cabin (usual price £3,259pp) and for just an additional £310 pp, a penthouse suite was on offer (usually £4,319pp) which was an absolute no brainer.

Check out Oceania Cruises for yourself on www.oceaniacruises.com

LEISURE INSIGHT

Relentless Media in a ‘relentless’ world of sport and music entertainment Although a firm believer in giving things a go the management at Relentless Promotions have been aware of the power and need of the media, and in turn social media, in order to keep a business in the public mind-set – that and it also provides a fantastic connecting medium with their increasing client base. It’s over ten years now since the current Head of Media and PR at Relentless Promotions, Peter Mann, embarked upon a journalistic career. He will however be the first to admit the difficulties faced, and the mountains climbed, along the way but, with the constant support of people like Steve Wraith and Danny Cox it’s fast becoming a path well-trodden. That connection between Peter and Steve goes back over eight years when Peter began writing for Players Inc. Magazine and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. Content was increased when Players became Toon Talk and Number Nine, as well with Wraith Promotions, then, when the transition involved a foray into professional boxing it was a no-brainer. “Working in and around the media, and alongside people like Steve and Danny has afforded immense confidence and a skillset needed within this industry,” said Peter. “I recognised the need for both companies (Wraith Promotions and Precision Sports) to have the outlet I believed I could provide and we just took things from there. What began as an occasional in a fanzine some eight years ago has blossomed exponentially into a full Media and PR role within Relentless Promotions. “I still believe that the need for such a position is paramount and we are utilising that fact, especially within a world such as event management where not every occasion is the same, far from it.” The provision of publicity for events has often proved a great advertising tool, it is a

unique selling point that can often be difficult to master but for Peter, who has a degree in Sport Psychology from Teesside University and recently completed the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, the role is most certainly a case of both quantity AND quality. Since the arrival of Relentless Promotions in late-2014 the need for content across the market, be that print or digital media has been valuable indeed, as has the launch of the Relentless website (details below). Now, the more the workload increases and events are provided, the more the company is placed in the public eye with Steve adding, in agreement, that: “There is no doubt that his press releases and command of social media has helped increase awareness of events, raise the profile of clients and sponsors and of course increase ticket sales for our events. “Peter has worked with me for over eight years now on a freelance and sometimes voluntary basis to gain the experience necessary to progress in a tough industry and he is a vital member of the Relentless team, deserving of a big break with a local newspaper.” That said, the company will continue to provide that much needed link between the sports, music or entertainment celebrity with their client base, whether that be the general public or corporate clientele. The need is there, and with an increasing database of events, clients and media presence, this Relentless trio knows no bounds.

For media enquiries contact Relentless Promotions visit www.relentlesspromotions.co.uk, telephone 07596657371, or email peter.mann@relentlesspromotions.co.uk.

SJF Northern Insight 180x267 21/09/2015 02:35 Page 1

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