Northern Insight - September 2015

INSIGHT NORTHERN

SEPTEMBER 2015

MTREC RECRUITMENT Engineering a greater North East

business property media technology motors leisure issue 3

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ReadMilburn & C O M PA N Y

Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors

71 Howard Street, North Shields, NE30 1AF t: 0191 257 0355 e: info@readmilburn.co.uk Annual Accounts • Self Assessment • PAYE Compliance • VAT Compliance • Management Accounts • Statutory Audits • Tax Planning • Revenue Investigations • Contribution Agency • Investigations • VAT Investigations • Company Formations • Business Start-Ups • Information technology • Forensic Accounting • Special Assignments

NORTHERN INSIGHT www.northern-insight.co.uk

foreword Welcome to the September edition of Northern Insight Magazine.

Firstly can I thank everyone for their support so far which reaffirms what a great place the region is to work and live.

This months edition is jam packed with news, views and social photographs and I hope you find much to appreciate and enjoy.

Happy reading!

Michael Grahamslaw, publisher

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contents september 15

Business News - 6 In Conversation With - 8 Duncan Young

Entrepreneurs Interview - 32 Danielle Dunn

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O Communications 10th Birthday Celebrations - 56 Technology news - 62 ITPS Ladies Day - 64 Leisure News - 74

credits Managing Director - Michael Grahamslaw Design & Web - Louise O’Rourke, Ruairi McGuinness Feature Photography - Adam Barr

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Editorial Contributors - Ken Spearen, Holly Grahamslaw, Gordon Taylor

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.

© 2015 Published by MJG Publishing Ltd

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BUSINESS NEWS

Stephenson Quarter reaches first major construction milestone A major milestone has been reached in the development of the £200m Stephenson Quarter in the heart of Newcastle. This important milestone represents the completion of all physical construction by the main contractor Galliford Try on the main components of the first phase.

Operational completion will be achieved within the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, bookings are already being taken for bedrooms and conferences in the hotel and parking permits are being sold in the nearby multi-storey car park.

Developer Clouston Group instructed contractors to start work on the 251-bed hotel, car park and offices in April 2013. Michelle Percy, director at Clouston Group, said: “Reaching this

milestone has been a real team effort, borne of many stakeholders. Without Newcastle City Council and visionary political support, along with Newcastle Gateshead Initiative we would never have got onto site. The next steps are marketing the Rocket office scheme and starting planning work on Stephenson House.”

The impressive seven-storey hotel on Hawthorn Square, Forth Street, has been built with 20,000 tonnes of concrete, 185 copper panels and 7,000 metres of timber panelling.

On entering the hotel, visitors will be wowed by a magnificent glass atrium constructed of 114 panes of glass. Standing at over 25m high, it provides panoramic views of the city from all levels of the hotel.

Andrew Fox, General Manager at Crowne

Gateshead Cricket Club bowled over by Miller Homes sponsorship Leading housebuilder, Miller Homes, is continuing to support sport in the North East after being unveiled as the new sponsor of Gateshead Fell Cricket Club’s junior teams.

Miller Homes’ support has allowed the club to invest in new equipment and team kits for its juniors. The club is also planning to use the vital sponsorship funding to train new junior team coaches. The budding young cricketers, aged from seven to 14 years, play in the North East division of the Durham Cricket Board Junior League.

Andrew Somerville, Miller Homes North

East’s regional sales manager, said: “We became aware of the great work that Gateshead Fell Cricket Club do to encourage young people into sport when one of our new home owners moved onto our Park View development. After hearing about the club’s fantastic community work we were thrilled to become the new sponsors of its junior teams.”

Peter Birney, Chairman of Gateshead Fell Cricket Club, said: “The generosity of Miller Homes North East has enabled us to provide our junior teams with new equipment and kit. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Miller Homes from everyone here at Gateshead Fell Cricket Club.”

Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter, said: “The operational team and I have been working behind the scenes on site for over six months and have witnessed the amazing transformation from a building site to a luxury hotel. With the main construction work complete, it’s all hands on deck as we prepare to welcome our first guests in late summer 2015. It’s all coming together nicely and I can’t wait to open for the public and have people come and enjoy it.”

BUSINESS NEWS

North East business celebrates a healthy expansion

Major refurbishment facilitates letting at New York Industrial Estate

World-class events programme lined up by Entrepreneurs’ Forum

A Gateshead-based health care provider has expanded into Business Central Darlington.

Firstcall Healthcare, which provides qualified nurses, health care assistants and support workers to health care establishments, has grown its team significantly since moving into the innovative offices last month.

The new branch will be headed up by Allan Gibbon who has increased the businesses’ clientele. Allan said: “We’re extremely confident Business Central Darlington is the perfect place for us. It will help us position ourselves as one of the leading health care providers that we are and pride ourselves on.”

Silverstone has been instrumental in facilitating the letting of a 54,000sqft industrial unit on Merlin Way at New York Industrial Estate, North Tyneside. The specialist firm has successfully completed a significant dilapidations claim and project managed an extensive £460,000 refurbishment of the property on behalf of the owners, Burren Investments.

Louise Stewart, associate at Silverstone, commented: “The property required a full stripout and refurbishment. We are delighted that a new tenant has been secured and we have been further appointed do a full fit-out on their behalf.”

The property is due to be ready for occupation in October.

People and personal development, succession planning, ecommerce and inspiring the next generation are among the themes of key events being run by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum in its autumn/winter schedule.

The newly-released events calendar for the final four months of 2015 will also include onsite visits to Ebac, The Lakes Distillery and Reece Group, as well as focus dinners with Sage Group founder Graham Wylie and Ian Watson, of Hadrian Healthcare.

Events start on the morning of September 8th with guest speakers on the subject of Getting The Best Out Of Your Team, at St James’ Park, Newcastle.

Koru Property Services ceases trading

Muckle LLP sees record Q1 turnover

Design, construction and maintenance company, Koru Property Services, has been placed in liquidation.

The Gateshead-based business sought advice from Rowlands Restructuring and Insolvency after contending with a string of issues which affected its cash flow, resulting in the company ceasing trading with the loss of 43 jobs.

Koru began trading in 2004, offering design, building and maintenance services for residential projects, health and leisure, education and listed buildings.

Leading commercial law firm, Muckle LLP, has achieved an impressive 25 per cent increase in turnover for April to June, compared to the same period last year.

The strong results have been generated through a strategy of focusing on Muckle’s core heartland across the North East business community. Muckle has completed 36 corporate deals with a total value of £347m since the beginning of the year. The transactions have been spread across a range of market sectors.

The future looks bright for North East business women A number of the North East’s leading ladies are in the running for some of the UK’s most prestigious business awards.

The judges for the Women In Business Awards, announced their shortlist this month, August, after narrowing down hundreds of candidates.

The shortlist includes a number of North East professionals including Kristy Giblin, co-owner of The Pudding Parlour, Prudhoe, and Jules Quinn, owner of The TeaShed, Newcastle.

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INTERVIEW

In Conversation with...

Duncan Young is Managing Director of Sanderson Young Estate Agents.

He spoke to Northern Insight about his love of the property industry and how he has grown the business over the past 16 years.

What was your first break in business?

How has the job evolved over the past 30 years?

I was initially recruited as a deck officer with P&O shipping at the age of 16 in 1980 but soon realised that it wasn’t what I had envisaged and that life on the high seas wasn’t for me.

We have undergone massive change as an industry. The demand for information is considerably higher due to the internet and, whereas a property could at one stage take 4 weeks to get to market, clients are now disappointed if it isn’t on within 4 hours! The days of sticking pictures on sales particulars are long gone. Everything has to be high quality with google maps, walk through videos and floor plans increasingly commonplace.

Why did you become an Estate Agent?

After taking a diploma I began work as a Trainee Valuer at Dudley Charlton and realised very quickly that this was an industry I loved. Its a people business, a big jigsaw puzzle and all about meeting a clients desires, wishes and ambitions.

How have you grown your business?

We have evolved from one office and 6 staff to 5 offices, a bistro and coffee shop and 80 staff. Many of my colleagues are great friends and the compliments I receive about them gives me great satisfaction.

What has been your career highlight?

Too many to single one Mike but I am particularly proud of our part in the regeneration of the City and the Quayside. In addition the opening our top of the range agency RARE was a landmark as well as the continued development of an outstanding mature team of professionals throughout all the offices.

What is your personal motivation?

A brighter economy has brought stronger demand and the ability to market with more confidence. This has led to a whole host of exciting new projects which are keeping me very busy.

Describe a typical day?

There isn’t one! I could be in my office (rarely), in the region (often) or transacting a clients needs from my villa in Corfu. I can be on call from 5.00 to midnight! My role is all about communication, patience and a lot of psychology.

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

The age old one.....cash is king!!

Only do good business is something I try to adhere to and be kind to people on the way up as you never know when you may need them.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

The satisfaction of handing the keys to clients to their dream home.... whether that be a small cottage, a castle, a modern mansion or a Quayside Apartment. Knowing you have helped make it happen is immensely rewarding.

How do you relax?

As often as possible with family and friends whilst being on duty to my clients. Golf, Skiing and Travel remain my keen interests.

Duncan G Young, Dip. Est. Man. FNAEA Managing Director, Sanderson Young Tel: 0191 2233500 Email: duncan.young@sandersonyoung.co.uk

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SELLING THE REGION’S FINEST HOMES

Brackendene House Low Fell

Brackendene House, constructed mid 1850s, has been renovated to a very high standard to create a magnificent Grade II Listed family home. This unique six bedroom property has a great deal of character with tall ceilings, elaborate carvings, solid oak doors and tremendous fireplaces. The substantial grounds have stunning views and there is a detached one bedroom coach house.

Price Guide: £1.695 Million

Blindburn Hall Wark, Hexham

Blindburn Hall provides a fabulous stone built, mid 19th century five bedroom country residence. The grounds of approximately 4 acres include a swimming pool, six stables, training arena and fishing rights. Subject to separate negotiation are further paddocks, a second training arena and a further 7 acres. There is planning permission for two, five bedroom timber lodges.

Price Guide: £1.25 Million

From Sanderson Young ALL CONFIDENTIAL ENQUIRIES TO 0191 223 3500 OR EMAIL: DUNCAN.YOUNG@SANDERSONYOUNG.CO.UK | WWW.SANDERSONYOUNG.CO.UK

SELLING THE REGION’S FINEST HOMES

Jesmond Park West Newcastle

A highly impressive double fronted semi detached house constructed in the early 1900s and occupying a prime location. The six bedroom property has been extensively renovated and refurbished to a very high standard and has a beautifully fitted contemporary kitchen, luxuriously appointed bathrooms, high ceilings, plaster cornicing works and superb interior design. EPC: C

Price Guide: £995,000

North Avenue Gosforth

This fabulous four bedroomed semi detached family home occupies an attractive corner plot. Properties in this area rarely come to the market and this is the first example of such a large house on this side of the street becoming available in recent years. The significant roof space and extra width to the side of the property provide the potential for further accommodation.

Price Guide: £895,000

From Sanderson Young ALL CONFIDENTIAL ENQUIRIES TO 0191 223 3500 OR EMAIL: DUNCAN.YOUNG@SANDERSONYOUNG.CO.UK | WWW.SANDERSONYOUNG.CO.UK

PROPERTY INSIGHT

Don’t sweat on the summer budget Kerrie Dixon

Kerrie Dixon here and a big hello from the whole team at Wright Residential.

As you may have seen or heard July saw the Chancellor lay out his summer budget. On top of the important things like the price of beer, George Osbourne also had a number of plans that affect both us as a letting agent and you as a landlord or tenant and anyone involved in the housing, renting or letting of a property, and with that, I wanted to give you a little bit more information about what the changes being introduced will mean to you.

Landlords seem to have been hit hard, with thisismoney.com describing them as the “losers” in the budget with tax perks for landlords to be cut. The current 10 per cent of rent that can be deducted from income tax in order to buy new furnishings for their properties from April 2016, is to be scrapped. This means that landlords will have to pay the full cost of repairing and replacing furnishings. Factor in a 25 per cent drop in the tax that can be reclaimed by a landlord (from 45 per cent to 20) and you can see why landlords have been called the “losers”.

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Tenants may also feel the effects from April, as the landlord cuts take effect, rent rises are expected. No matter the changes, here at Wright Residential we are more than happy to help you find a property that is affordable for you as a tenant, or find the right tenant for you as a landlord. So even though you may have been described as losers in the media, we will make sure that you continue to be winners, ensuring your property is bringing you a return on investment by having reliable tenants.

Osbourne says the budget is designed to level the playing field of properties. While the changes seem big for all involved, at Wright Residential we will always look to truly even the field by striving to make sure that no landlord is left with an empty property!

As always if you have any questions, are looking to find a place of your own or are a landlord with a place that needs filling don’t hesitate to contact myself or any of the friendly faces at Wright Residential either in branch or on the phone on 0191 240 1818.

Tell them Kerrie sent you!

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Who has been exceeding your expectations?

RESIDENTIAL SALES * LETTINGS & MANAGEMENT

urban base, exceeding your expectations for 10 years

* INTERIOR DESIGN * NEW-HOMES SPECIALISTS

Thank you to all of our clients from the last ten years.

To all our clients in the future, we’re looking forward to meeting you soon.

www.urban-base.com NEWCASTLE 65 Quayside Newcastle City NE1 3DE

DURHAM 61 Saddler St Durham City DH1 4NU

PROPERTY INSIGHT

Redevelopment of the Iconic Bruce Building l-r: Mark Walton, Michigan Investments; Dave Meldrum, Meldrum Construction; David Gilroy, Lloyds Bank; Mark Nixon; Alok Loomba, Sintons

The business behind the £5m conversion of a historic Newcastle building into student accommodation and office space is now eyeing further development opportunities across the North East.

The iconic Bruce Building on Percy Street – formerly the headquarters of Newcastle Breweries – has been redeveloped to offer 57 apartments, 4,000sq ft of office space and a restaurant. Half of the office provision has been taken by property company Walton Robinson.

The Grade II-listed building, which dates back to 1900 and had been part of Newcastle University since 1963, was purchased in 2013

by Michigan Investments Limited, with a view to developing it into much-needed additional city centre student accommodation.

The first phase of the development will open in late September, with the entire project due to be completed by the end of November. The Hotspur pub, which occupies part of the Bruce Building, has remained open throughout the 18-month conversion.

Now Michigan Investments has revealed it is looking at several other development opportunities around the North East, following the completion of its biggest scheme to date.

Mark Walton, director of Michigan Investments and also managing director of Walton Robinson, said: “This is a beautiful building which

has been very carefully restored and reworked over the course of many months to create a truly outstanding mixed-use development.

“At Walton Robinson, we see first-hand the growing demand for city centre accommodation, and interest in the apartments is even stronger than expected. I am delighted we will be based in the Bruce Building, with our sales and lettings and our management offices in two separate units, as this is without doubt one of the most exclusive developments in central Newcastle. Our strong track record in asset managing means that tenants can be assured of an outstanding management service, as well as premium accommodation.

“Through Michigan Investments, we are looking at a number of other opportunities in the region which we are keen to develop, and hope to soon add to the highly sought-after developments already in our portfolio.”

Construction work on the Bruce Building has been done by Gateshead-based Meldrum Construction, and the architects were Space Group, based in Newcastle.

Funding for the project was procured by corporate financier Mark Nixon through Lloyds Bank, and the real estate and construction legal

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work was handled by Newcastle law firm Sintons.

Alok Loomba, Partner in the Real Estate team at Sintons, said: “The Bruce Building is an iconic part of Newcastle city centre, which has had new life breathed into it through this outstanding development project. We look forward to working with Michigan Investments as they push on with their ambitious plans for other projects across the region.”

Andrew Bumfrey, Associate Director at Space Architects, said: “We are delighted to be associated with this project, which provides a significant investment in such a landmark building. The mixed-use development brings a range of vibrant functions adding a new charter to the building’s history.”

Dave Meldrum, Managing Director of Meldrum Construction, said: “Being so central in Newcastle’s city centre, the Bruce Building has been a challenging but exciting development.

Bringing the historic building up to a 21st century standard of student accommodation has breathed new life into it, and working within the eastern wing which has Grade II listed status has been truly fascinating, with its antique fireplaces, extensive ornate tiling and solid oak flooring and doors.”

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Engineering a Greater North East!

The region has a proud Industrial heritage with generations of families directly employed in one of the historic primary and secondary sectors including mining, ship building, steel production and heavy engineering. The North East today still continues this tradition though many of the historic sectors have been largely replaced by modern high volume and high technology production facilities including automotive manufacturing, electronics, food and pharmaceutical, oil and gas manufacturing and logistics operations. In 2015 MTrec Recruitment, an established Newcastle based Recruitment agency, launched its new marketing campaign “Engineering a Greater North East”. The concept behind the campaign is to celebrate and acknowledge this passionate part of the UK as being one of the vital industrial centres for the country and a key localised powerhouse for the UK economy. The feeling behind the campaign is also about supporting, promoting and developing engineering and manufacturing companies, jobs and talent in the North East, to make the companies and people that work and operate in these sectors as competitive and as successful as possible, and by doing so - contribute in making the region an even greater place to live and work... to Engineer a Greater North East!

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Trec was established in 2006, initially with two employees who provided recruitment services for permanent staffing to the manufacturing and engineering sectors in the region. The team has now grown to seven members of staff which includes a Technical Manager, two Senior Consultants, two further Technical Consultants, a Resourcer and an Administrator. All of the recruiters within the team joined as raw graduates and have provided the business as well as their customers with a dedicated and loyal service; the two Senior Consultants have been employed for over 7 years and 6 years respectively. Through the teams desire to provide exceptional service and the guiding principles of MTrec’s Graduate training programme, they now represent many of the region’s leading blue chip multi nationals and privately owned SME’s recruiting a range of permanent staff into key operational, supply chain and technical departments.

As a further quality standard of MTrec all of the team have successfully completed the Recruitment and Employment Confederations

(REC) certificate in recruitment practice as well as one of the team completing the Diploma level.

The combined service record within the team is now over 30 years, which MTrec believes is one of its major competitive advantages. The retention of key staff is critical in any industry, though none more so than recruitment which can be viewed as being quite transient. MTrec through its staff have developed and retained key clients and candidate relationships over the years which provides its customer with a sense of reassurance as well as a robust and continuous high level of service.

“We really do have an exceptional team who are all dedicated, hardworking and highly motivated and who provide cutting edge recruitment solutions to all of their customers. The teams philosophy is that each permanent member of staff that they introduce to their customers strengthens the clients business, that the new hire and the team they are part of contributes in achieving

their employers goals and objectives, making the business a success, which multiplied by all of our clients makes the region even stronger, to Engineer a Greater North East” quoted Rob Armstrong, Director.

The new marketing campaign has been well received by many of MTrec’s customers as well as providing the business with a number of high profile commercial enquiries.

The campaign has included significant out of home advertising locations including Newcastle Airport situated next to the business lounge in departures as well as a site next to St James Park, home of Newcastle United.

“The number of permanent staff we place into our customer base continues to grow year on year, with a record number of permanent placements made in 2014/2015, we are now looking to provide our exceptional level of service into new sectors including finance and accountancy and commercial sales/administration appointments” stated David Musgrave, Director.

If you are an experienced Recruiter operating in any permanent recruitment sector or you are a recent Graduate looking to start a career in recruitment please contact James Doyle for a confidential discussion on 0191 242 5606 or email to james.doyle@mtrec.co.uk

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l-r: Katy Cusworth, James Doyle, Marie Williamson and George Hall

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

Rising Star, Rebecca Tarn In a series of interviews with talented professionals, Northern Insight talks to Rebecca Tarn of Major Family Law.

Which star guides your way home?

What gets you star crossed?

I would have to say the North Star! I grew up in Teesdale, County Durham and did not fly far from the nest when I left home to live in Newcastle.

My family roots in the North East run deep and I have a strong sense of home here. I love the opportunity and vibrancy that Newcastle offers.

It’s becoming a real hub for science and discovery, which is exciting and shows we are a city that’s forward thinking and progressive.

The morning traffic when I’m rushing to get into work usually raises my temperature.

What do you consider to be your star quality?

The idea of predicting fates and astrology is not something I believe in. I like Shakespeare’s line “it is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” However, my star sign is Leo, which is particularly fitting as I own two cats that I am absolutely besotted with! I truly am a “cat lady”, which my colleagues can attest to, having seen far too many photographs of my cats!

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle” – Ian MacLaren This quote really resonates with me, particularly in my job. I think kindness is such an important personal quality. You never know how deeply you touch the lives of others and a positive word or gesture goes a long way. Every day I meet people who are dealing with difficult decisions and emotional situations and I always try to treat them with the compassion and respect they deserve.

What super star power would you like to have?

I would definitely like the power to control time!

I am always running late for everything and for once it would be nice to have as much time as I seem to think I have!

Who makes you starry eyed?

I have to say Dolly Parton! I saw her live last year and she was amazing – a force to be reckoned with! I think she’s a real inspiration, having started out at 18 to forge a career for herself in a predominantly male industry, whilst never losing sight of her values. She’s a great business woman, doing what she loves.

If you could wish on a star, what would you ask for?

My family is everything to me so I would wish for their health and happiness.

What is your star sign?

If you were a rock star, who would you be?

Growing up I listened to a lot of my dad’s records because he had a great collection - The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, The Stranglers…to name a few. But when forced to do karaoke I turn to the classic ABBA cheese - you can’t beat Super Trooper!

How do you plan to reach for the stars?

My goal for the next few years is to continue working hard as part of the Major Family Law team to provide the best service to our clients.

I came to Major Family Law as a newly qualified solicitor and both the firm and I have grown in the last five years. There are changes on the horizon of family law and new challenges to come, so it’s an exciting time to be a family lawyer!

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BUSINESS INSIGHT Joanne Major

Because families matter It is a generally accepted truism that divorce is one of the most stressful life events one can go through, coming second only to the death of a spouse on the Holmes & Rahe Stress Scale, with similar scores on the equivalent scale for children.

The end of a marriage has been likened to a bereavement and the physiological effects can be similar. Stress, anxiety, depression, tiredness and lack of focus are common symptoms, along with feelings of abandonment and rejection, the worry of coping financially, and adjusting to being one instead of part of a couple.

Whilst the range of possible effects of divorce are generally acknowledged, there has been little in the way of professional support available historically to help address those effects and to meet the needs of the individual. As lawyers, we are trained in legal procedure, in problem solving and in promoting our clients’ best interests, but not specifically in dealing with our clients’ emotional issues. Although we often find ourselves counsellor as well as counsel, better support is needed which focuses entirely on the client’s needs.

Whilst there has been a steadily growing acceptance in recent years within the legal profession that steps should be taken to make the divorce process less adversarial wherever possible and to focus on assisting clients to achieve a satisfactory resolution by constructive, nonconfrontational methods, this only goes some of the way to addressing the lack of emotional support for people struggling to cope on a personal and emotional level with the end of their marriage.

As a niche practice dealing exclusively with family law matters, Major Family Law have always

been concerned to offer clients a comprehensive service, and take a holistic view of the definition of client support. For this reason, in a unique step, we offer our clients the opportunity to access a Family Consultant as part of the separation and divorce process.

Whilst Family Consultants are already in use around the country, they are largely used for support specifically within the collaborative process when divorcing couples are working towards reaching an amicable agreement in relation to financial and children matters.

What makes the service we offer unique is that we do not offer it within the specific framework of a divorce settlement process; it is a stand-alone service accessible at any stage when a client feels the need for additional support.

Whilst being an independent and confidential service, it complements our own expertise and reflects our client-focused approach.

Graeme Armstrong, our Family Consultant, is qualified in delivering relationship counselling and guidance to individuals, couples, families and young people over the age of 11 and has been a Senior Team member for Relate Northumberland and Tyneside, and has Post Graduate Diplomas in Relationship Therapies. Over the past year Graeme has helped dozens of our clients to both process their emotions and work them at this difficult and potentially devastating time, allowing them to approach their relationships, and their future, in a more responsive and positive way. You don’t have to be seeing a Major Family Lawyer to see Graeme, and his work with you will

be confidential. Some of the issues that Graeme has helped our clients with include: onfused or devastated thoughts and C feelings oming to terms with the loss of C a relationship ow life changes after a H relationship breaks up: how do I survive and thrive? ow to work through this relationship H in depth and take steps to leave P arenting after parting: how to tell your children what’s happening and how best to move forward he impact of divorce on your children T and how to work to minimise this elp if you are struggling with H anxiety, low mood or lacking in self confidence From our point of view at Major Family Law, being able to offer this exclusive service to our clients is just as important as referring them to an expert accountant or pensions adviser when that is the advice they need. We are delighted to be working with Graeme and being able to offer our clients such a unique and holistic approach.

Divorce in the 21st century is not just about who gets the house. If you think you could benefit from the services we can offer, and in particular our Family Consultant, then please do contact us in strict confidence to find out more.

Joanne Major is the Principal 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 @majorfamilylaw

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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 Kathryn Taylor & Rebecca Harbron Gray

Law firm continues to build future vision following solicitor’s promotion A NORTH EAST law firm has promoted one of its solicitors to partner to help build on the future vision of the business.

Rebecca, who is from County Durham said: “I knew from early on that I wanted to make a difference at Gordon Brown so to have been given this trust and recognition is a real honour. I am really lucky to have a supportive team behind me, which will enable me to continue with my day-to-day role whilst supporting our managing partner and fellow partners.”

Rebecca Harbron-Gray, who heads up Wills Trust and Probate at Gordon Brown Law Firm, will play a key role in the future of the company, supporting Managing Partner Kathryn Tylor and the firm’s partners Ian Lawson, Moya Mason and Simon Dakers with the direction of the 85-strong business across its Newcastle and Chester le Street offices.

Managing Partner, Kathryn Taylor, said: “Rebecca’s appointment recognises her hard work and commitment to the firm. Not only is she respected throughout the business, she has a likeminded vision of where the company is headed and her input into this next phase will be invaluable.

The move follows Kathryn Taylor taking over the helm of the firm in 2013, which made her the second-only female managing partner on the North East legal scene at the time.

A Trust and Estate Practitioner, Rebecca is one of the region’s few Solicitors for the Elderly. She was also one of the North East’s first ever Dementia Friends’ Champion and has since recruited six members of Gordon Brown Law Firm as Dementia Champions and over 200 Dementia Friends across the region, through the firm’s work leading awareness and advice sessions about the condition with the community.

“We are a business striving to break the mould and buck the trend of the ‘traditional’ law firm – there is a clear path for both new and existing staff at Gordon Brown and absolutely no glass ceiling. The opportunities are there for our people to grab with both hands, which we hope Rebecca’s new status demonstrates loud and proud.”

www.gblf.co.uk

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BUSINESS INSIGHT Jonathan Flower

Pensions warning for divorcees A loophole in the law could lead to divorcees losing out on a share of their former partner’s pensions.

Jonathan Flower, head of Ward Hadaway’s family and matrimonial team, looks at the issue.

CHANGES freeing up people’s abilities to cash in their pensions could cause serious problems for ex-spouses subject to certain orders following a divorce.

on scheme members exercising their rights to benefit under the scheme at a time of their choosing, as the Court could not order a scheme member to retire.

the Order and take legal advice as to whether it is phrased in such a way to remain effective, such as specifying a percentage of the benefit, regardless of its form.

The end result could be a former spouse missing out on money which the courts have decided they are entitled to or a former spouse losing a greater proportion of their pension than was originally intended.

The pension reforms effective from April this year can make the ex-spouse’s lack of control into a major problem.

There is also the possibility that an ex-spouse with a Pension Attachment Order entitling them to a percentage of a pension lump sum may be able to claim that same percentage of any amount of pension that is drawn down. This could lead to the ex-spouse obtaining much more money than originally envisaged by the Order.

The issue centres on Pension Attachment (Earmarking) Orders, which were the main form of pension sharing on divorce between 1996 and 2000.

These Orders were issued at the discretion of the court to the trustees or administrators of a pension scheme, ordering them to allocate part of the scheme member’s benefits to his or her ex-spouse. The order could be worded to require the trustees or administrators to pay a portion of any lump sum or part or all of the pension instalments to the ex-spouse, as and when these benefits became available to the member under the scheme rules.

Attachment Orders were not often used as, amongst other problems, they did not provide a “clean break” between the spouses, amongst other problems. Ex-spouses remained dependant

Attachment Orders did not envisage the new flexibilities whereby a scheme member can potentially take all of a money-purchase pension pot as cash, which is neither a traditional lump sum nor pension income under the Attachment provisions.

This has inadvertently led to a loophole whereby ex-spouses could be deprived of money they envisaged they would receive in retirement if the scheme member decides to take their pension pot as cash.

Depending on the wording of the Attachment Order, it would be theoretically possible for a former spouse to take all their pension pot as cash and for their ex-partner not to receive anything.

This is a classic example of unintended consequences and one which could prove very costly for some former spouses.

Anyone who has a Pension Attachment (Earmarking) Order should check the wording of

While final salary schemes do not allow members to cash in their pension pots, it may be possible for a member to transfer his or her benefits to a money purchase scheme in order to do so.

There are other potential issues created by the clash of Orders made many years before the introduction of pensions freedoms, including a number surrounding final salary pension schemes.

While the Government has said it plans to close the loophole, it has yet to put forward any legislation to this effect.

As a result, anyone relying on an Attachment Order should take urgent legal advice in order to protect their income in retirement – before it is too late.

Additional material for this article was provided by Tristan Mander, Pensions Associate at Ward Hadaway.

For more information on the issues raised by this article, please contact jonathan.flower@wardhadaway.com

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

What is the impact of sickness absence on your workplace?

Square One Law associate, Eleanor Wilkinson reflects on managing employee absence Eleanor Wilkinson

Whatever the size of your business, the impact of employee sickness absence shouldn’t be ignored. The odd sick day here and there may seem insignificant but once totalled across the business, sickness could have a real impact on your bottom line, as according to a recent CIPD study, the annual cost of sickness absence has reached almost £29 billion for UK organisations.

As well as the financial implications of employee sickness, absence from the workplace

can create a number of issues for employers to deal with. Whether it’s employees failing to notify their employer correctly; employees having repeated, intermittent sickness absences; or employees on long-term sick leave, each can be disruptive in its own way.

A clear sickness absence policy is always a useful start to help tackle issues arising from sickness absence. The policy will set out the procedure to be followed and highlight the standards expected. Making sure all employees know of the steps to follow in the event of illness and that failure to comply may be dealt with as a disciplinary issue, will help ensure that employers are kept informed from the outset.

The policy will also make clear what contact can be expected during the course of the absence, what happens on the employee’s return to work and the level of absence that will trigger further action so that both parties know what is expected.

Maintaining accurate records of employee sickness is also crucial to managing the process effectively and ensuring consistency. These records should include notes of all return to work meetings which can be useful to ensure the

employer understands the reason for the absence and, importantly, to find out if the employee needs any further support. These meetings can also help detect whether there are any underlying reasons for the absence or any pattern in the absences, putting the employer in an informed position to determine whether to take further action. If the employee is disabled, the employer will need to consider discounting certain disability-related absences and whether it has put in place all reasonable adjustments to assist a disabled employee before taking further steps.

The procedure for more lengthy absences should also be assessed in the light of the new fit for work service being rolled out across the country. This scheme provides free health advice to help with absence prevention and also a referral to occupational health for employees who have reached or who are expected to reach 4 weeks’ absence. These referrals will help put return to work plans in place and a tax exemption will be available for certain medical treatments. As the scheme continues to be rolled out, it remains to be seen whether it will have the desired aim but employers will still need to ensure that they monitor and manage these absences carefully.

If you have any employment law queries call Eleanor Wilkinson on 0843 224 7940 or email eleanor.wilkinson@squareonelaw.com www.squareonelaw.com @SquareOneLaw

Family Matters “We deliver a highly professional yet personal legal service, employing the depth of expertise and experience that being a part of a top 100 full service law firm brings.”

Jonathan Flower Partner and head oF Family and matrimonial

Call Jonathan on 0191 204 4376 for a free and confidential conversation. www.wardhadaway.com Newcastle | Leeds | Manchester

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Balancing litigation risks Andrew Cawkwell

It’s an unfortunate fact that all businesses, regardless of size, will at some point be at risk of litigation.

Disputes that spiral into litigation and court appearances can be time-consuming, stressful, expensive, and above all, risky.

After all, a company reliant on a judge’s decision in court has to take its chances.

On one hand, the outcome might bode well for a business, but it could also be disastrous if the decision finds in favour of the other side.

Critically, all of this can distract a company from spending valuable time on making the business a success. An assessment of strategy where the outcome could really damage the business needs very careful thought. As such, litigation should always be a last resort.

At Muckle LLP, we can help companies minimise risk by adopting new practices and procedures, or tightening existing policies to reduce the likelihood of being sued or having to sue. We can also help a firm employ a contingency strategy and keep it under review. Having these approaches in place will ultimately put the business in a stronger position should litigation prove unavoidable.

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Opportunities to resolve differences are often missed because not enough resources have been dedicated to a problem at an early stage.

If a business takes immediate action to address and resolve an issue when it arises, it can often prevent problems progressing any further.

Businesses should never ignore a dispute in the hope that it will go away. There has to be a careful appraisal of whether to defend a claim or not. We can support business leaders in their decision-making and advise on the right thing to do in particular circumstances.

It’s important that business owners have a clear understanding of key legal issues and legislation changes in order to avoid potential problems. Whether it be to explore early settlement, resolution or restructuring options, the first step is to come and talk to us about the challenges your business faces.

Andrew Cawkwell Partner and Certified Turnaround Professional Banking and Restructuring Team Muckle LLP e: Andrew.Cawkwell@muckle-llp.com @CompanyRescue

Thank goodness

not every north-east commercial law firm is going the same way.

In an age where everyone seems to be getting bought up, swallowed up and ending up completely different, we are more than happy to be different. We remain incredibly proud of our enduring independence. We are free to make decisions that are true to our values and, above all, that are of most benefit to our clients. You could call it a sign of our individuality.

Muckle LLP. We think you’ll like the difference.

@MuckleLLP

BUSINESS INSIGHT

All Bar Tier One - Trinity Chambers So what do barristers actually do?

Traditionally the role of a barrister is to provide advocacy at court as well as independent expert advice and drafting of documents in cases involving complex legal issues. Barristers are instructed by solicitors on behalf of individuals and businesses. Individual barristers are self-employed “tenants” working under the structure and umbrella of a barristers’ chambers.

Trinity Chambers, founded in 1954, is one of the largest barristers’ chambers in the North East operating from the Grade Two Star Listed Custom House on Newcastle upon Tyne’s Quayside and with offices in the heart of Middlesbrough.

Despite the challenging economic climate, Head of Chambers Toby Hedworth Q.C., as well as spearheading the renovations and move to the Custom House, has overseen the continued growth of Trinity, resulting in ongoing recruitment and strengthening of a robust North East business. Nearly 80 barristers practice from Trinity Chambers across a wide range of areas through its specialist groups including Agriculture, Business, Chancery, Costs, Crime, Employment, Family and Matrimonial Finance, Immigration, Licensing, Mental Health and Court of Protection, Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence, Planning and Regulatory. The majority of these practice areas have been recognised in recent editions of the Legal 500 and Chambers UK legal directories.

As an indicator of Trinity’s constant emphasis on meeting its clients’ needs, Trinity has developed an Alternative Dispute Resolution team comprising of qualified Mediators and Chartered Arbitrators.

The most recent edition of one of the leading legal directories, the Legal 500, describes Tier One Trinity as “‘a fine set’ with ‘a fantastic reputation in the North East’. It has strength in depth across a broad spectrum of areas…the ‘helpful’ clerking team provides an ‘excellent’ service; the clerks are ‘knowledgeable about counsel and provide reasonable brief fees’.” The directory highlights that Chambers’ ‘broad commercial practice handles litigation, mediation and arbitration.

Insolvency and company law are also areas of strength’. In addition, Trinity’s ‘broad criminal law practice contains many members with

expertise in motoring offence cases and whitecollar financial crime.’ Recognised as ‘a fine set’ for employment matters. In addition, “The set is also recommended for financial remedy work, and cases involving companies, farming and agricultural businesses.” Trinity’s Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team are also recognised.

‘A number of barristers also have niche expertise in diverse areas such holiday-related claims, costs litigation and employers liability’. Chambers’ ‘Chancery barristers have experience in all aspects of property law, particularly disputes in relation to easements, restrictive covenants, repossessions, housing disrepair, and landlord and tenant matters.’

Toby Hedworth Q.C. who specialises in Crime, Regulatory and Judicial Review proceedings, said of the listings ‘At Trinity we continue to move forward despite challenging times in the legal sector. The directory has endorsed our barristers in more areas of practice than ever before, significantly Trinity is now ranked as a Tier One set, giving clients throughout the North East access to a chambers at the very top of the tree.’

In addition to winning Tier 1 recognition the past 12 months have been very busy for the team at Trinity. Three family barristers have qualified as Family Law Arbitrators and are now regularly undertaking Arbitrations saving much of the time and costs involved in matrimonial finance and property disputes. Another highlight for Chambers was the news that Head of Trinity’s Family Group and experienced Court of Protection barrister, Nicholas Stonor was appointed Silk.

Trinity has also attracted new barristers who have joined in recent months, Morgan Brien, Nigel Gowling and Natasha Andrews bolstering the Chancery, Employment, Family, Business and Agricultural teams. For the first time in many

years and reflective of Chambers’ confidence despite challenging times, Trinity has taken on two trainee barristers, known as Pupils who will qualify as practising barristers in October 2015.

Two of Trinity’s barristers even had short starring roles in the critically acclaimed “Bypass” film shot on location in the North East. Adding to the excitement is the construction next to The Custom House of the contemporary LiveWorks, a £10 million capital scheme by the Live Theatre creating commercial office space, a public park and a writing centre due to be completed in the Autumn. The project will complete the frontage of Newcastle’s iconic Quayside.

Despite the difficult economic conditions, particularly in the legal sector, Trinity has continued its upward trajectory with the barristers and staff at Trinity supporting its diverse client base including solicitors, insurers, local authorities, police authorities, Crown Prosecution Service, Government Legal Service, in-house legal teams and trade unions nationwide.

The key to Trinity’s success has been its long and established relationships with its local lay and professional client base. However, in line with the region’s other industries, the legal market is under significant pressure from suppliers from outside the North East. Toby Hedworth Q.C., the other barristers and staff at Trinity have long held the view that the business remains loyal to the region as reflected in Trinity’s engagement of local contractors and suppliers including web designers, builders, decorators, cleaning contractors, IT and telecommunications, graphic designers, accountants and printers. The barristers and staff at Trinity feel strongly that the region’s businesses should support each other contributing to the North East economy.

For further details regarding Trinity Chambers please contact Practice Director, Simon Stewart on 0191 232 1927 email simon.stewart@trinitychambers.co.uk or visit www.trinitychambers.co.uk.

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31

An entrepreneur interview with:

Danielle Dunn Managing Director of digital marketing agency DDCA

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INTERVIEW Danielle Dunn shies away from the label ‘entrepreneur’, despite having earned the title through the establishment of not one, but two successful businesses all by the age of 35.

Did you always want to be an entrepreneur and was that spirit encouraged when you were growing up?

I wanted to be an editor of a fashion magazine. My dad is a builder and my mum did promotional work, so she was a part-time sales advisor. There was entrepreneurial spirit; I come from a family that has all owned their own businesses, but it’s all been building, electricians, joinery, so it has mainly been the male characters in my family who have been very entrepreneurial in their own right.

How did founding DDCA come about?

When we sold Fresh Deli, eight years ago now, I realised that options in the North East for digital and design agencies, who also knew how to market websites, were quite limited.

The agency was born from me becoming a consultant in digital marketing as soon as I came out of Fresh Deli and I consulted for some quite large companies, including my own.

I took on a marketing executive within three months, and then another one, following this we won a job to build a website for a brand new estate agency. Our workload gradually increased and, before I knew it, the business began to grow exponentially. So, as a limited company, we are about four-years-old, and continue to succeed, year on year.

We now have a team of ten ranging from social media executives to account managers to a full design studio and, as an employer, I have always been keen to take on young talent and champion university graduates.

You’re about to move into new offices in the Toffee Factory, but where did it all start for DDCA? The Dockmaster’s House on the Fish Quay in North Shields was my first office for the agency, because I lived in Tynemouth, my little girl went to nursery in Tynemouth and I needed to live in a very small triangle to get from home, to work, to nursery. That was where I took on my first marketing executive; we were there for two years before moving to an old pub in Byker for a short time, then we moved here, to Union Street.

This office got us near Ouseburn, which has become a creative hub, and allowed for a nice

W

ithin minutes of meeting her for the first time it is clear that she is a lady who is ready to get behind any cause with gusto: “I just have ambitions, I see an opportunity and I want to go and do something about it. I get a bit embarrassed when people call me an entrepreneur.

“Aren’t we just the type of people who look for opportunity? We spot it, get our sleeves rolled up and go for it. I think we have that mentality in the North East, we just get on with it.

After graduating at the age of 21 with a Fashion Marketing degree from Northumbria University, Danielle founded her own handmade soap company, Fresh Deli, which received funding from none other than Sir Peter Vardy, a key figure in North East business.

open plan office space really close to things that the team need. Whether that be shops, somewhere to eat, pubs to socialise after work and the parking is also easier than it would be in the city centre.

In September, we move to the Toffee Factory, which is really exciting, for us this means more breakout spaces, more places to have meetings, more areas for people to go and read more difficult communication that they need to get their heads around. In an open plan office space there aren’t really enough places to get some headspace to concentrate and that’s what the Toffee Factory will give us.

business to be had then we can share it. The way that I have gained business, really, from London is just from contacts, meeting people and talking to other agencies.

All businesses have to keep an eye on changing markets, but few are as fluid as in the digital world. How does that affect your business?

There has been a massive shift in marketing over the last five years that most companies can’t keep up with. Instead of us going in quite aggressively, telling companies they are behind the times and need to do X, Y and Z, we have taken the approach of working with business owners to identify key objectives for their business and then evaluated their existing marketing to see what can be improved. That’s where we have been successful, because we tailor our services to suit the needs of each individual client.

Every business is different and they all change in unique ways and have their own needs, whether that be a legacy infrastructure of IT or technology that they have to hold on to. It’s not as easy as a digital agency coming in and just changing everything. As I am a business owner, I understand business owners’ challenges.

Many businesses in the digital sector talk about how difficult it is to attract and retain skilled people. How do you go about motivating and retaining your staff?

You have got to be flexible. Not everybody wants to work nine to five, we have got to be able to allow staff to start later, finish later, work remotely or work with clients when required.

There has to be flexibility with a creative team.

We motivate them and allow them a lot of personal and professional development. In terms of culture, trying to introduce some fun into the workplace is essential, whether that be breaking out for a spot of yoga, which we have done, or a football table, things like that. A lot of what we do is strategising, it is reports, and it’s pretty intense time behind a computer screen, so we do have to inject some fun and that motivates people.

It’s also about giving them training opportunities, for example to get a qualification with Google, that really motivates them to discover more, because creative talent needs to be given an opportunity to be able to get better at what they do, and that actually is what drives them and motivates them to do better for our clients, and to help each other.

Personally, I have just received my Master of Arts in Design Professional Practice at Northumbria University, so I am very much in favour of lifelong learning and professional development.

Many of your clients are based in London.

Have you found it difficult marketing to the capital as a North East agency?

About 30% of our business comes from London now, the rest from the North East, but we are looking to get more from London in the next six to nine months.

I wouldn’t say there is arrogance towards us being a Northern agency. It doesn’t matter so much. I think with people from London, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham, there is equal respect among the cities and an understanding that we are all good at what we do and if there is

What does the future hold?

I would love to work with some of the older businesses in the North East, the iconic North East brands, such as Fenwick, Ringtons and Barbour, that is my ambition. Because of my fashion background, of course I would love more retail clients, that would be fantastic.

I’m very passionate about the history of the North East. We have always been a base for talent and innovation right back through industry. So many famous people have come out of the North East in terms of innovators, so it would be great to work with some of those heritage businesses.

Danielle Dunn is a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, a unique group of like-minded people who come together through peer-topeer mentoring and a series of inspirational events to share best practice, create valuable connections and grow their businesses.

For more information, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

Entrepreneurs are set to battle it out for prestigious awards

N

orth East business bosses are battling it out for prestigious annual awards celebrating entrepreneurship in the region.

The North East Entrepreneurial Awards have been run by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum for more than a decade, honouring those business people who lead dynamic, innovative companies that stand out from the crowd.

In partnership with the North East LEP for the second year running, the awards will be presented at a special ceremony taking place at the brand new Crowne Plaza hotel, in Newcastle’s Stephenson Quarter, on the evening of September 25th.

In what has become one of the most highly competitive years on record, the categories being contested in 2015 are Emerging Talent, Entrepreneur of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and Mentor of the Year.

The shortlisted businesses are:

Emerging Talent (sponsored by United Carlton): Alice Hall, Pink Boutique; Alice started Pink Boutique in 2012 with only £90. Today turnover is more than £6 million and rising, with the company operating out of a 30,000 sq ft site in Newcastle, selling more than 2,000 dresses a day and shipping products around the world. To date they have created 50 new jobs in the region.

Ben Staerck, Furniture Clinic; Ben founded the business with his dad when he was still in

sixth form and took over as managing director in 2012 when his father retired. The business now has a turnover of £3 million and exports products across the world.

Richard Kirk, PolyPhotonix; Richard left behind a successful career as an artist to build upon his vast experience in the field of printed electronics. By founding Polyphotonix, he has pioneered the development of Bio-Photonics as a treatment for macular eye disease.

Tom Riley, Whitewash Laboratories; After completing a degree in economics and going through a graduate management training programme with Nationwide Building Society, Tom noticed a gap in the oral care market with his business partners and founded WhiteWash Laboratories in 2010. The company is on track to turnover £2 million this year and exports to 30 countries, including Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Russia and Australia.

Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by Ward Hadaway): Geoff Thompson, Utilitywise; Geoff is a science graduate and holds an MBA from Newcastle 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.

John Reece MBE, Reece Group; John was responsible for the success of two international engineering businesses on Tyneside, Soil Machine Dynamics and Pearson Engineering, before leading the expansion of the Reece Group, which now includes five engineering businesses and employs more than 500 people.

Tony Cleary, Lanchester Wine Group; Tony originally ran the business from his living room in Meadow Way, Lanchester, and now operates the group from four sites in the North East, supplying wines from all over the world to customers across the UK and beyond.

The Lifetime Achievement (sponsored by Barclays) and Mentor of the Year (sponsored

by The Malhotra Group) awards will be announced on the evening.

Gillian Marshall, chief executive of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, said: “Entrepreneurial businesses drive our economy, creating jobs and wealth, so it is only right that we celebrate the work of those people who lead these enterprises.

“There are some fantastic nominees battling for these awards, from well-known larger businesses to those that are just starting to come to prominence, and we are looking forward to an inspirational evening, honouring some fantastic people.”

Networking and drinks sponsor for the evening is SGP Consulting, with Growth Accelerator supporting the Awards programme.

For more information about the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, call 0191 500 7780 or visit www.entrepreneursforum.net.

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

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.

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

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

Michael Grahamslaw meets...

MICK THOMPSON, KPMG

What were your career ambitions growing up?

I loved Maths at school but really wanted to be a footballer, cricketer or rugby player. I wanted a good professional qualification after University so Accountancy made sense, although the family building company was a possible option when I was younger.

Tell us about your career path I went to Newcastle RGS and then Durham University and loved everything about them both, especially sport. An Economics degree was an added bonus. I joined Peat, Marwick Mitchell (now KPMG) in 1983. Qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1986, became a manager in 1988 and a partner in 1997. Became Office Senior Partner in 2008. I have had the privilege of working with many well known local businesses, including Greggs plc, Bellway plc, Durham and Sunderland Universities, Home Group and Gentoo Group as well as global clients like Rolls-Royce plc, General Electric, and many family owned businesses. KPMG has allowed me to get involved with a number of charities including Lord’s Taverners and I have been a Governor of Newcastle Church High School (now merged to form Newcastle High School for Girls) for 12 years.

What have you learned over the past 30 years?

Accountancy is not just about numbers, far from it. It’s all about people, at our clients, colleagues within the firm, and wider relationships within the business community and society as a whole.

I was shy as a child and now appreciate the value of strong professional networks and a wide circle of friends to supplement what has always been a small, but strong, family. I have always worked hard and played hard, and always appreciated meeting and learning from others with greater and wider experiences than me. Being positive is difficult at

times but we should always remember how lucky we are in so many ways.

Who has influenced you in your life?

Early influencers include several sports coaches, notably John Elders at the RGS who died recently.

My own father died at a relatively young age but I remember how hard he worked for his family, a fact I probably took for granted in my early years.

In business and social life I have met so many wonderful people, too many to mention, but many partners and staff at KPMG, past and present, have encouraged and supported me greatly. Most importantly, I guess the biggest influences have been my wife and daughters, the former keeps me sane (most of the time) and the latter because they are better behaved than I was at their age!

What has been your greatest achievement?

On a business level I never expected to remain at the firm for the last 32 years. Being made the first locally born and bred partner in the Newcastle office since the days of Alan Wardropper was a proud moment and having the privilege of taking over the office in 2008 was simply fantastic. On a personal note having a wonderful family and some great friends is extremely important to me, and playing some sports to a relatively high standard and others to a lesser standard to amuse everyone has always given me pleasure and some great memories.

What are you currently working on?

There is never a dull moment at KPMG, always something new and challenging and always fresh opportunities to test yourself and the wider team.

I have just enjoyed a lovely family holiday, but now back at work we are currently involved in a couple of flotations and a number of key tenders

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for professional work. On the charitable front we have a number of Lord’s Taverners events in the calendar and whilst September always represents a busy season for us I have a short golfing trip with some great friends to look forward to mid month.

How do you like to relax?

We have three ponds including koi fish as well as a lot of frogs and newts; we have three dogs including a seven month old golden retriever; two teenage daughters to keep me on my toes; and a social life built around a wife who is unfortunately an excellent cook, a love for good restaurants, and a passion for watching a broad range of sports. Lastly I always take my holidays (and encourage others to do the same) and love the thought of seeing new places.

Favourite Read?

I rarely do novels but I love National Geographic and anything factual linked to sport, space and ancient history. I also love reading the menus of favourite restaurants like Café 21, The Cliff, and the Jaipur curry take away!! And any wine list if it is linked to tasting the real thing!!

Favourite TV/Films?

I loved Groundhog Day although it was a bit repetitive, but I prefer comedy series like Little Britain and Big Bang Theory to entertain me, and I can watch rugby, golf and cricket at all levels and at all times of the day and night.

Favorite CDs? Ziggy Stardust and Hunky Dory by David Bowie, Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin 4 album, Tapestry by Carol King, and even some of the music my daughters listen to without me knowing who it is.

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Development

BUSINESS INSIGHT L-R: Paul Holborow RMT, Carri Cunliffe VRTGO, Martin Lea RMT

RMT accountants and Fujitsu make North East VR firms’ equipment wishes a reality Work towards making the North East a national centre for the emerging Virtual Reality industry has received a major boost with the installation of high-powered state-of-the-art computing equipment in the facility at the centre of this drive.

Three Fujitsu Celsius M730 Power workstations with several high-end NVIDIA graphics cards have been installed at the VRTGO Labs in Gateshead’s Baltimore House, thanks to the Fujitsu Select Expert Partnership that RMT Accountants & Business Advisors has with the Japanese technology giant.

The workstations are available for the growing number of VR businesses using the Gateshead facility to use to demonstrate their development projects to potential customers, funders and industry bodies.

The first request to use the workstations came within 30 minutes of them going live, with virtual/ augmented reality developer Vector76 looking to use them immediately for a client demonstration, and it is hoped that the new equipment will now encourage more firms operating in the VR sector to locate their operations in the region.

Members of RMT’s specialist technology and accounting teams are spending a day every month at the Gateshead facility in order to provide start-up VR firms located there with pro bono advice on the financial structures they need to put in place as their operations grow.

Both Fujitsu and RMT have already signed

up as sponsors for the VRTGO 2015 conference, which takes place at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art on 12 November.

The event, which aims to build on the success of last year’s first VRTGO conference, will explore the future of VR for both entertainment and serious applications, and has already attracted a growing list of high-profile VR industry pioneers.

Martin Lea, technology consultant at RMT Accountants & Business Advisors, says: “The North East’s knowledge economy has boomed over the last decade, and we’re rightly regarded as a centre of technological excellence across a wide range of disciplines.

“The virtual reality industry looks set to be the next technology sector to take off as equipment such as the Oculus Rift and Sony’s Project Morpheus headsets move into the mainstream, and there’s every opportunity for the North East to build a similarly strong position in this sector as it has in the gaming industry through the likes of Eutechnyx, Ubisoft Reflections and Double 11.

“While the uses of virtual reality in the gaming sector are becoming fairly well known, the range of commercial applications that it could be applied to, and the cost-saving and business benefits of doing so, are really only just beginning to be explored.

“For example, car dealerships don’t have the space or capital required to showcase every available model that they offer across all their ranges, but using fully immersive environments

located on site, they could build cars to customers’ exact specifications and give them the chance to experience what driving their desired model would actually be like.”

Carri Cunliffe, organiser of the VRTGO 2015 conference, adds: “ VR is a fast-growing sector and has great roots in the North East in the main due to our games industry heritage and strong technology courses at our universities. “ VRTGO Labs is the first facility of its type in the UK and is connecting VR knowledge and buyers, and helping strengthen the regions VR companies.

“The support from RMT and Fujitsu is helping the VR community and shows their belief in this cutting edge sector.”

RMT director Stephen Slater, who heads up the firm’s technology team, adds: “We’ve long worked with start-up and early stage technology firms around the region, many of which have gone on to establish themselves as national and international leaders in their fields, and the relationships we’ve built have been very beneficial for everyone involved.

“Making our expertise readily available to these nascent VR companies means they can get on with the business of growing their operations without having to worry that they’re not fulfilling their financial obligations, and with developments in VR now gaining real momentum, we fully expect to see many of them move on to bigger and better things very quickly.”

For further information on the VRTGO 2015 conference, visit http://vrtgo.co.uk/

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

UNW advises on historic motor dealership acquisition UNW tax partner David Ward

FAMILY-OWNED prestige car dealer Lloyd Motor Group has acquired one of the UK’s oldest BMW/MINI dealerships with advice from business advisers UNW.

Newcastle-based UNW helped the Northern motor company form the largest privately-owned group of BMW/MINI retailers in the country after it advised on the acquisition of Bateman of Lindale, in the South Lakes, for an undisclosed sum.

With nearly 90 years’ experience between them, the acquisition will enhance and grow the business and increases Lloyd Motor Group’s investment in the North with dealerships in Newcastle, Carlisle, Kelso, Cockermouth, Blackpool and Colne.

Lloyd Motor Group was advised by UNW, which is based in Citygate on Newcastle’s St. James’ Boulevard, on all tax matters relating to the transaction and all legals by Carlisle’s Baines Wilson.

UNW tax partner David Ward said: “UNW is proud to have worked with Lloyd Motor Group on this fast moving, significant Cumbrian acquisition that was completed within a month and cements Lloyd’s position with BMW and MINI in the region.”

The dealership will be rebranded as Lloyd South Lakes and will be serving South Cumbria and the Lakes, as well as the Lancaster and

Morecambe areas.

Lloyd Motor Group Managing Director Bryan Lloyd said: “Bateman of Lindale is a perfect fit for us. It complements our existing BMW/MINI offering across the North as it is similar to us in aspiration as well as sharing a passion for excellent customer service delivery.”

In addition, the Cumbrian-based group has purchased land in Blackpool for development into a prestige used car centre.

Lloyd Motor Group Franchise Director Gary Bingley added: “This is a very exciting time for us as our business has grown over the years and now with six BMW/MINI dealerships strong, our expanding family means we can offer even more choice for our customers”.

Lloyd Motor Group was founded in 1976 and today represents some of the world’s leading prestige manufacturers.

The company continues to be owned and managed by the Lloyd family. Together with Lloyd Ltd, they now employ over 1,000 people, all dedicated to providing the unique standards of service and attention to detail on which it has built its reputation.

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

David Nairn is a partner at Rowlands Accountants, www.rowlandsaccountants.co.uk, the largest independent accountancy firm in the North East. Here he takes the temperature of the healthcare sector, an industry in which the practice has significant expertise.

Tell us about Rowlands’ healthcare expertise and how this has developed.

Rowlands has clients in all areas of the healthcare industry and as a team we have almost 100 years of experience of dealing with healthcare businesses and professionals.

We provide assistance and back up within their businesses as well as ensure any worries and concerns regarding taxation and compliance are taken care of so they can concentrate on providing their services to clients.

Many in the caring professions are not ideally suited to financial management and we provide those skills so that they are able to take maximum advantage of opportunities as they arise.

What’s the latest overview of the healthcare sector?

The dust is now settling on the UK after the general election and the healthcare sector and the NHS wait to see how a freshly mandated Conservative government deal with one of the most politically charged areas of policy.

While political argument was heated as to how Government was going to square the circles of increased demand for health services and the country’s ability to fund these, new policies have yet to be rolled out. This could be because the election result was somewhat of a surprise and potentially the Conservative government didn’t

expect to have the option to draw up policies without taking into account the views of a coalition partner.

ensure that there will be increasing needs for healthcare products and services and this provides opportunity for enterprise.

What are the current challenges faced?

There is no doubt that the private provision of services to the healthcare industry will increase as efficiencies are sought. This has already seen the introduction of companies into the market place for ancillary and specific medical services.

The major challenge facing the Government and sector is increasing demand brought about by an ageing population who seek more sophisticated health solutions and have greater expectations of what health professionals should deliver.

These demands are made at a time when the Government continues to make budget cuts. While the Government struggles to meet expenditure it has pledged to maintain the budget of the NHS however there are likely to be massive shortfalls.

Previous reforms saw the empowerment of health professionals and GPs in terms of commissioning services. These were not widely appreciated and further changes are likely to be implemented soon.

In the next year or so, we may see GPs struggle with opening 7 days a week and offering more accessible opening hours as this policy is introduced.

Where do the big healthcare opportunities lie?

The demographics of the UK’s population

Private healthcare has engaged doctors and consultants, many of them from the NHS, to provide the skills required and this has led to many individual doctors forming limited companies as the medium for providing these services. Well run private nursing and retirement homes continue to thrive despite local authorities seeking to reduce fees.

There are also still many private dentistry operators looking to take over previous NHS practices and practitioners have been attracted to these opportunities for sale.

Finally, the pharmacy sector remains buoyant as prescription numbers increase even if Government seeks to reduce the overall budget and prescribing fees. Opportunities for sale are few and far between as the market is consolidated by larger operators rather than independent pharmacists.

For more information, please visit www.rowlandsaccountants.co.uk or call David Nairn on 0191 4112468.

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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

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

The changing face of procurement in social housing Rod Brasington, Chief Executive of NE Procurement

For many years, the success of procurement in social housing has been judged on the upfront monetary savings generated by the tender process.

opening up a number of apprentice opportunities to provide local people with skills for the future or even providing community facilities that can be used long term for multiple uses.

The role of the procurement team has historically been based on process management, negotiation and numerical analysis on everything from paper clips to boilers and more recently, even complete homes. However, as things continue to change in the social housing landscape; it’s time for the procurement process to develop into much more than just a money-saving exercise…

And with the recent stipulation that social landlords have to produce an annual value-for-money statement, the role of procurement and looking for added value within contracts will only become more important.

Procurement’s contribution to this document will be looking at more than just getting the best price for goods and services to generate savings; it will be about assessing how an organisation uses all of its assets to maximum benefit, providing quality services and delivering high tenant satisfaction at an optimal price. Ultimately, it comes down to housing organisations being more effective with their spend and demonstrating it in tangible ways.

This new era is about showing how procurement can be an effective, strategic business function that works across the whole organisation. It’s no longer about just saving an organisation the most in the short-term, but instead looking in-depth at the whole-life costs of a given project and how that particular contract can add, and clearly demonstrate, real value to the organisation and its customers in the long-term and beyond the end of the contract.

In the past five years, NE Procurement has generated throughput of more than £160m for a number of social housing landlords in the North East which, has in turn, generated over £1.3m for community projects across the region.

This ‘value’ materialises itself in various ways– it may be a saving on resources or staff time previously spent on procuring things internally,

To find out more about the organisation visit neprocurement.com. or email: rod.brasington@neprocurement.com

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

KP Simpson figures it needs new base...

An economy defying accountancy firm is relocating after outgrowing their current home thanks to record figures.

Andrew Potts

KP Simpson certified public accountants, currently employs 10 members of staff in its Hebburn offices. But just after just seven years in business, the company has seen its turnover hit such heights, that they have had to move into a bigger property and took the step to buy the property the accountancy will be housed in at the Pedal Inn on Jarrow’s Albert Road.

“Getting to the final of the accountancy awards, and a special mention by the judges that took place at the Hilton Hotel on June 25th was a great achievement for us and I am immensely proud of everyone at KP Simpson for their hard work and commitment.

The figures make for impressive reading with a 2014 turnover figure of £240,000 with that number set to exceed £360,000 by the end of 2016 – an increase of 34.2%. Profit is also expected to hit the 50% mark by the same time.

The success of KP Simpson is in stark contrast to the recent economic climate, with thisismoney. com reporting a tripling in the closure of high street businesses as of March 2015.

Business owner Andrew Potts 34, from South Shields puts their success down to their unique approach to dealing with clients. The married father of two said: “We deal with clients and businesses alike both on a B2B and B2C basis so we realise that a one size fits all approach would be effectively useless. Instead we offer a tailored service on a client by client premise.

“We started in 2008 when I started doing people’s books while working full time for another company. I joined a local BNI referral group and took on a lot of the chapters’ members and recommendations from them.

“This allows us to build up a rapport and a relationship with each and every one of our clients - each of them knowing they can come to us with anything and that they won’t get the same blanket service as each other.”

It’s a business model that has worked well for Potts and KP Simpson, which started from the humble beginnings of a BNI (Business Network International) referral group and a bit of work for friends in business for the entrepreneur.

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“It really was a rapid expansion and to be where we are in such a short space of time is incredible, and I am fortunate enough to have employed staff that genuinely care about the business and its clients.”

The move to the new Jarrow office is the latest step in the growth of KP Simpson, who have clients spread the North East and across the UK from Manchester to Glasgow - where it is planned offices will be opened in the near future.

Potts concluded: “I am delighted with the progress of the company and the plans for the future are coming together nicely. It’s a case of watch this space.”

BUSINESS INSIGHT Stuart McKinnon

Pensions: Buy now while stocks last?

Had he still been alive my father would have been 91 at the end of July. He was a real gentleman who took pride in the fact that not only had he always provided for his family but he provided for himself in old age by contributing to his firm’s pension scheme.

He saw it as a privilege to be invited to join the scheme (not everyone was in his day) and it did give him comfort that he could enjoy his retirement without money worries. This was in the days of final salary schemes and at first he managed well, but inflation took its toll on the real value.

When he died the pension switched to my mother and because of its fall in real value, we explored whether she would be entitled to any help from the State. Lo and behold, the pension was just sufficient to ensure she got no State help. I looked into it and without the pension she would have been only marginally worse off by the time rent and rate rebates were taken into account. My father would still have been pleased that the State didn’t have to help, but you can understand why pensions went out of favour.

Why bother saving if the State will pick up the tab?

From around the eighties onwards we turned from a nation of savers to a nation of spenders.

Cheap, and not so cheap but readily available, credit backed by house price inflation made us live for today and think less about tomorrow.

The recession, of course, halted all that. People reduced debt where they could and we started to save again. At the same time the Government looked again at pensions and we have seen some radical thinking with auto enrolment and the game changing pension liberation.

Then, in the first Conservative Budget of the new Parliament, we had the promise of consultation on the future of pensions, coupled with the withdrawal of tax relief for the highest earners. The main proposal in the consultative document is the removal of tax relief for all. We would still have tax free growth but no income tax on exit. Like an ISA but with some significant IHT benefits.

Now, I’m starting to get a little suspicious about the Government’s motives. We have just auto enrolled everyone and the Government is potentially giving significantly more tax relief.

If we scrap the tax relief altogether just think how much they could save! They are, of course, giving away future revenues, but that’s a future

Government’s problem isn’t it? And if you think about it, in some cases taxpayers are currently claiming 40% tax relief on their contributions to maybe pay only basic rate tax later, and even then over very many years. I can sort of see where the Government are coming from.

The transitional rules of moving from the current system to another would, quite frankly, be horrendous. And what effect will it have if we withdraw tax relief up front? How much does tax sweeten the pill of saving for the future? It just feels better, even though you trade that for paying some of the tax back further down the line.

My concern is that if we go down this route it could stop auto enrolment in its tracks. That puts us back to the position of the lost pensions generation who have just let the State take the strain.

An alternative way for the Government to save money might be to restrict tax relief to basic rate only. Now was that the plan all along?

For advice on tax relief in relation to pensions 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.

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Now that I have reached the end my body now realises that it hurts in numerous places that I didn’t think existed. Despite the aches, I have had a fantastic time, cycled with some mint people and had an experience I will never forget.

Becky Scott:

What an experience it has been, it was hard and hot and gruelling but in equal measure amazing, beautiful and rewarding! I am so proud of us all, and especially of how well 3 complete novices who took up cycling just 6 months ago have cycled over 580km.

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Neil Matthews:

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Jonathan Leather:

The TDF has been a fantastic experience and one I will never forget. It has succeeded in getting me a lot fitter than I could ever have imagined. The camaraderie I experienced and friendships that I have made on the trip will stay with me for a long long time.

Go Team Leathers A team of accountants have completed their ‘ultimate challenge’ of cycling over 2,200 miles through some of Europe’s most challenging terrain to raise £50,000 for good causes.

Team Leathers LLP has just completed the Tour de Force, a gruelling route which follows the exact path of the Tour de France, and is hailed as the ‘ultimate cycling challenge’ which is usually tackled only by professional cyclists.

The business, which has offices in Newcastle and Durham, has set a fundraising target of £50,000, which will go to the William Wates Memorial Trust, a national grant-giving charity which supports disadvantaged young people in the UK to fulfil their potential.

mad as the Tour de Force, every member of Team Leathers has taken on and succeeded in a huge personal challenge. We are far from accomplished cyclists but were absolutely determined to cross that finishing line in Paris, as we are to get to our fundraising goal of £50,000.

Michael Leather, managing partner of Leathers LLP - which is celebrating its 25th year in business - cycled the entire distance from Utrecht to Paris over three weeks, joined by other team members at various of the 21 stages. The team completed the trek last month, seven days before Chris Froome was crowned winner of the Tour de France on the Champs Élysées.

As a direct result of the fundraising from Leathers LLP, the Wheels Project - a charity in South Tyneside which helps to engage hard to reach young people by teaching mechanical and engineering skills - has received a £10,000 donation, which will sustain the project for a whole year.

“In finding ways to celebrate our 25th year in business, we agreed as a team we wanted to do something to ‘give something back’ to this brilliant region in which we live and work. We are grateful for the hugely generous donations we have received so far, and are delighted our efforts will help support the work of good causes in the North East.”

Michael Leather said: “By doing something as

To support Team Leathers, and to read the rider blogs from during the Tour, visit www.howdoyoucelebrate25yearsinbusiness.com

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

Do you own property abroad?

Universal Tax & Wealth LLP Team

Changes in European Union legislation, although passed in 2012, are in force as of mid August. If you have property in the EU then you need to be aware of it.

The Succession Regulation applies a single national law of succession to a person’s moveable and immovable property passing on death, whether the person has made a will or not. The applicable law is the law of the country where the deceased had his or her habitual residence, unless: the deceased was manifestly more closely associated with another State (which will be decided on case by case basis), or the deceased elected in their will for their national law to apply.

Even though the UK, Ireland and Denmark opted out of the Regulation it will still affect their citizens who own property outside of these countries.

The reason for the regulation is to recognise the fact that there is greater mobility throughout the EU and therefore succession rules should be harmonised rather than have the possibility of several different laws applying to one person’s estate.

Throughout most of the EU states such as France, Spain etc. they have the concept of heirship which means that children cannot be excluded from benefitting from a parent’s estate regardless of what the deceased desired! Scottish Law also has this concept, known as Legitim.

Consequently those of us living in England and Wales have the issue of needing to make a decision.

Expats wishing for English law to apply should advise the local notary of their wishes when making their will abroad but there are already stories of Spanish notaries refusing to comply as the UK has opted out.

If, like most readers, you are resident here but with property abroad then there is another issue. English law has a concept called Renvoi.

This means that your UK estate would be dealt with here but that your holiday home in, say, France would be dealt with there and under their succession rules. Consequently, for English law to apply, the owner will need to opt for this to be the case for his worldwide estate thus avoiding the enforced heirship rules. Consequently Renvoi will be specifically excluded.

This is a brief overview of the Regulation which is naturally much more involved. However, for anyone with overseas assets, properly qualified legal and financial advice is needed. Otherwise your assets may be forced upon a member of your family who may not deserve them or be capable of managing them.

Take advice sooner rather than later and revisit your will and other financial arrangements.

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

The secret to writing great job adverts Bryony Gibson

Bryony Gibson, managing director of Bryony Gibson Consulting, shares her experience in writing job advertisements that appeal to the perfect candidates.

With an increasing skills shortage in many of the region’s growth sectors, the need to stand out from the crowd when recruiting has never been more important.

There are countless ways to approach hiring new staff but, unless you’re exceptionally well connected, or the role is very niche, the recruitment process will almost certainly include some kind of job advertisement.

A.I.D.A. (attention, interest, desire and action) is the old marketing adage said to describe the mission of every successful advert; and the same can be said when looking to enlist new employees:

Attention: You gain attention in the job market by offering benefit and, when time is someone’s most precious commodity, you need to think very carefully about the first words you use.

You must consider who the perfect employee is and find a way to attract them to your advert, so they look at it and begin to read.

All too often people forget job advertising is meant to be creative. Consider your ‘headline’, which in recruitment is almost always the job title, but it doesn’t have to be. Instead, try using more persuasive words to connect with job seekers on an emotional level.

Interest:

Action:

Successful adverts are simple and direct, so if you know the qualities of the person you’re looking for, make it clear.

Hopefully your advert has offered some good enough reasons to take action, so try to get people to act immediately by being very specific about what it is you want them to do.

By resisting the temptation to charm the masses you will get the right people reading on and that’s what you’re trying to achieve.

Write specifically for those you want to respond and tell them what’s in it for them. This will tie them in to the advert, but you must make sure the benefits and opportunities are genuine, as if not, this will impact heavily on the recruitment process further down the line.

Desire: This is the part where you have to convince future employees that the best thing they can do right now is apply to join your company.

You need to overcome all of the objections they might have telling them not to submit an application.

Consider doing this through sensible reasoning and don’t be afraid to repeat key benefits more than once. This will only reinforce the messages you want to get across most and, hopefully, ensure they register fully with the reader.

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.

Make sure your contact details are clear and correct. Don’t add any extra barriers to the process that might put applicants off. Make sure the way to respond is as quick and simple as it can possibly be.

Advertising is one of the very few mediums you can completely control, so it’s worth taking your time to make sure you get it right.

When it comes to job adverts, often the urgency of filling the role takes over and there’s a temptation to go down the quick and easy route of replicating a job description.

I’m not sure what your job descriptions are like, but I’ve seen a lot over the years and can safely say this is not the way to excite and enthuse the very best people to come and work for you.

It’s important to think carefully about what you want and then, how you are going to position your vacancy as an opportunity to that perfect employee.

After all, it’s not about views, likes or clickthroughs here; it’s about quality job applications.

BUSINESS INSIGHT Jonathan Gold

Seeking Investment? It’s the people that count.

There is a recurring theme in what makes a successful business. It’s the people involved. When you hear about a terrific new start-up or amazing growth success what everyone wants to know is the founder’s story. The product is often taken for granted.

That’s not to say that the product or service is not important, of course it is, but it is the founder partners and senior team that make the business work. It’s the determination of the entrepreneur that carries on when the original business plan assumptions are found wanting or the market turns against the enterprise.

Perhaps this is just natural as the media love a good interview. If it’s a household name such as Google everyone knows what the product is and think they know the business. They want the story on Sergy Brin and Larry Page.

What’s true of success is also true of failure.

Small businesses and start-ups fail. Up to 40% of start-ups, as I have discussed before, don’t last.

When the causes of failure are examined the most common factor is management competence or lack of it.

It might also sound obvious but it is often neglected by new entrepreneurs and business owners seeking investment, that people are the key. We invest in the business but what we look for is the right founder and management team.

One of my favorite studies of the factors that venture capitalists look for in a potential investment was carried out in July 2000, and it is still very relevant. The study: ‘Tradeoffs in the investment decisions of European Venture Capitalists’ by D.F. Myzka and S.Birley summarised the point very well. In short, in their survey of around 160 venture capital investors across Europe the top 5 decision criteria of a total of 34 metrics used by investors were all to do with the entrepreneur founder and the management team.

So what conclusions can we draw form this information and data from the last 50 years of the modern era of venture capital? Well, the founder really matters to the business. If you are that entrepreneur do you know, I mean really know, your strengths and weaknesses? Have you ever had or completed a skills, aptitude or personality profile? If not have a go, but then act on what you know or find.

Find a business partner to share the joy, pain and success of the business. I have two in Rivers Capital: John White and Peter Hiscocks and after knowing both of them for around 10 years they are the internal mentors and fountain of knowledge that has helped build the business.

When you are talking to investors, be clear about the skills you have and also the gaps in the team you have yet to fill. There is nothing wrong with being a lone founder entrepreneur but the best are already planning the team they need on the board and in the wider business.

Also, take care not to clone yourself. As attractive as that sounds you want people around who compliment your skills and cover your weaknesses, not duplicate them. It’s all too obvious at times when I meet the entrepreneur’s team, either all of them are vocal front people or all quiet and detail focused. I exaggerate to make a point, you need a good mix of types.

In the, end of course, I see a lot of businesses seeking cash and we work with a lot of great entrepreneurs and management teams. When it comes together it’s a pleasure to behold.

Our approach here at Rivers Capital is to enable the founder to build the business, whether it’s a start-up or more established. I’m not expecting the team to be perfect or the founder to be the most experienced business leader. We can help, however some self-knowledge and analysis pays off and also helps you stand out from the crowd. We do really invest in the people even if the cash goes into the business.

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

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

Conflict resolutions Joanne Howe

One of the biggest issues to deal with in the workplace are conflicts. We’re not talking out-and-out fisticuffs and brawls here but more disagreements between staff. Although disagreements will always happen when spending time with the same people, most of the time the little

niggles that set in can easily be diffused if not avoided altogether.

Staff conflicts can have a big negative effect on staff morale and productivity, so it’s vital that you get the situation under control. But how exactly do you go about reaching an agreement between two members of staff with seemingly no compromise between them? Well, it’s easier than you think! Here are a few pointers from me to hopefully help you on the road to office nirvana.

A nticipate - If you can see something coming, or a problem brewing between staff, don’t be afraid to raise the issue. Anticipate the problem arising and nip it in the bud. Call staff involved into a private meeting – either together or separately – and thrash out the issue.

Acknowledge - Now you can see the problem, acknowledge the issue exists. In the meetings with staff, be absolutely transparent.

Hide nothing and let them know that you appreciate there is an issue. At the same time, let all involved know that you will be working towards a solution that suits everyone. Don’t make anyone feel left out or belittled no matter how small their complaint or issue is.

This could open up another problem so be fair.

Analyse – Having heard each side of the story about the problem, take time to review what has been said. Read back what all staff have said and think about the best solution for all parties. Look for patterns in people’s stories as it may be something seemingly small which is causing the disagreement. Even something as silly as a lack of stationery! It could be something as trivial as that which is easily put right. If it’s something bigger which is the root of the problem apply the same strategy.

Answer – Now you have your solution which seemingly solves each member of staff’s issues, call them into another meeting to discuss the resolution. Ask for feedback about the solution and take into account anything they may say. This may help with further tweaks to the policy which may need to be made. Once everyone is happy, agree to implement any changes and leave it at that. Monitor the situation though and get more feedback with a quiet word to see if it is working. If you’ve followed the steps and done it right, it will be!

Remember – staff get paid to work together not to like each other and this sometimes needs to be said.

So there you go - my simple solution to a seemingly simple problem which left unchecked could escalate. If you need any help with HR issues like conflict resolution, get in touch with us at Howe Consultancy on 07921 256 981 or email us through our website at www.howeconsultancy.co.uk.

Workplace Pensions - are you in?

Joe Bonallie

Hi again, Joe Bonallie here of Inspire Financial, delving into my decades of financial experience to talk to you about the issues of today.

One of the biggest focuses as a financial advisor is pensions. I’ve already spoken about the types of pensions available in a previous column

– if you can find it give it a read, you might like it!

But one pension which is often misunderstood is the workplace pension.

Also called occupational, works, or company pensions, workplace pensions see a percentage of your pay put into the pension scheme every payday. The employer will be obligated to match your input into the scheme’s pot. Currently being rolled out amongst businesses, by law your employer should provide workers with a workplace pension scheme by October 2018, with the majority of companies already operating the system.

Like most things financial however, there are a number of requirements you must meet in order to be part of the scheme. If you are a business, by 2018 you must enrol all workers who meet the following criteria: ust be aged between 22 and the state M pension age (65 for men, 62 for women as of 2015) Earn at least £10,000 a year Work in the UK Access to the amount in your pot works in a similar way to other pensions, usually allowing for 25% of the pot to be taken tax free, with the remaining 75% seeing income tax paid on it. Exactly what you can take and how you can

take it does however depend on the type of scheme your employer is offering, be it a defined contribution or a defined benefit scheme.

Workplace pensions don’t affect your state pension, which stands currently at the maximum of £115.95 per week for a single person. You can build a workplace pension pot along with the state pension pot without one eating into the other, so to speak.

Although your employer legally is required to enrol you into a workplace pension, you do have the option to opt out. Opting out within a month of being added to your employer’s scheme means that you will receive any money already paid in. If however you opt out later, the payments made will stay in the pot until you retire. Again there is the option to opt back in at a later date, either automatically or voluntarily. If you have opted in then out in the past 12 months you can voluntarily opt in by writing to your employer.

After three years of opting out your employer will write to you about enrolling you again, as long as you still meet the requirements.

This is just an overview of the workplace pension scheme, and there is a lot more reading to be done on the subject, but hopefully I have given you a little bit more knowledge on a scheme that is often not fully understood.

As always, if you need any more information on this or any other financial information, don’t hesitate to contact me on 0191 516 6326, or email me at joe.bonallie@ifne.co.uk

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BUSINESS INSIGHT

Multi-purpose: the future of Diamond All of the models in this range have been adapted so their paper trays and the automatic duplex feeder can hold higher paper weights than average printers. These printers come with a standard paper format of A3 but they can house sizes up to SRA3, banners up to 1.2 metres long and provide exceptional finish and security features, and on top of this they are very economical to run.

Their wide assortment of finishing options includes a 20-page booklet finisher, with automatic crease-fold, saddle-stitching and cover finishing, alongside tri-fold, stapling and hole-punching. The d-Colour MF PLUS range supports PDF, XPS, TIFF, JPEG and OOXML file formats, meaning users can print directly from the internet without the need for a print driver, or directly from a USB. In addition to the standard high speed scanning of up to 80 pages a minute, users can also preview scans via the scan preview function. In addition, with the newest Licence Option, LK-110, it’s possible to create Office Open XML files in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Being highly praised for their impressive ecoperformance, they not only match requirements set by Energy Star and Blue Angel for reducing power consumption, they exceed them. This is thanks to the array of eco friendly models which enable the machines to power down to as little as 0.2w when not in use.

to suit businesses and organisations of all types.

Boldon based Diamond Group is a serviceled business solutions provider working with some of the world’s leading office equipment manufacturers, to offer an extensive range of products and services

At Diamond they know that every customer is different so sometimes a basic, run of the mill idea isn’t a solution that can be used to best implement hardware and software in the demanding environment of business.

They are committed to providing solutions that fulfil the needs of their clients and maximise the return on investment, and in more cases than not, the most basic need is multi-functionality, or in simpler terms: one system to perform many tasks.

Combining the considerable expertise and knowledge that Diamond’s Business Systems sector has gained in the photocopier and printer market and the understanding of companies needs to provide output, they are able to offer the most effective solutions. On a company by company basis, they are able to bring colour to life while saving their customers money, effort and overall time.

Olivetti, a manufacturer that Diamond work closely with is a brand that has been synonymous with innovation and design over the last 107 years. Their range of colour multi-functional copiers, printers and scanners, known as the “d-Colour MF PLUS” range, has taken the idea of simple paper handling and propelled it to new heights for the office environment.

To find out what packages and services that the Diamond Group can offer, visit the website at www.diamond-group.net or give them a call on 0191 519 3700.

Data security, mobile culture & on-demand services: why businesses need to reconceptualise “the office” Pete Watson, CEO. Atlas Cloud

Whilst we use the latest technology for ever-greater convenience and connectivity in normal life, out-dated attitudes and tech in the workplace are causing businesses to fall behind.

In their personal life, employees are accustomed to near-constant internet access, on-demand services and app-technology in their pocket, and it seems contradictory that most businesses don’t offer this greater mobility and accessibility at work.

Equally, businesses need a system that is adaptable and able to cope with the data workload that will continue to uncontrollably rocket as it has done over the last couple of years.

Firms must therefore start thinking about an IT solution that is flexible, forward-thinking and secure.

Cloud computing has actually been in the mainstream for around a decade. Many wellknown systems use “cloud” platforms by storing data in external servers, such as Dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, though you might not associate them with the term. These services

make personal file-sharing and storage far more convenient and have accustomed us to accessing our diaries, emails and photos on all our devices, on the move. Catching up with and utilising this technology in a business context in an appropriate and secure way has the potential to transform the way we work.

An increasingly attractive option for many

SMBs is a complete hosted desktop solution that stores data and applications in off-site data servers. Through an online “cloud”, employees can connect to work programs and files from anywhere, on any internet-enabled device. This can turn a laptop, tablet or smartphone into a work desktop, making everywhere a potential work environment. This solution reflects both the modern employee’s expectation of technological convenience and the employer’s concerns for security.

Furthermore, adopting a mobile, on-demand mentality towards tech in business boosts productivity, efficiency and sustainability whilst offering greater flexibility for the employee.

Advancing technology both in and outside the business world inevitably means that the future involves adapting to a reconceptualization of “the office”.

Employees have evolved and so must businesses. It is time to truly utilise current technology to elevate business performance and agility, and optimise connectivity and convenience at work as a standard.

To explore what a hosted desktop solution could do for your business, get in touch with us at hello@atlascloud.co.uk, or visit our website at www.atlascloud.co.uk.

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MEDIA INSIGHT

One star review? Zero star response Christian Cerisola

Christian Cerisola, director at new communications agency, GluePR, argues that every customer is now your most important reviewer. It’s time to treat them that way.

I had the recent pleasure of breaking bread with a few of this region’s food bloggers. I took up the open invite from the team at Supper Social and spent a fascinating hour or two listening to their experiences.

They enjoy keen and loyal followings and generate audiences into the tens of thousands each month. They all agreed that authenticity remains the key word for their ongoing popularity.

They have to call it how they see it otherwise they lose validity and, subsequently, followers.

Of most interest was the fact that, at one time or another, all have had to deal with an angry chef or venue taking exception to a review that wasn’t 100 percent glowing.

Chefs, like all of us I suppose, can easily be hurt by criticism.

how it’s served. We don’t have to be Jay Rayner or AA Gill to inform our audience that the mussels had the consistency of a deflated inner tube.

Where once we might have criticized the portion size in hushed tones around the table, we’ll now immediately ask our 500 twitter followers to count the chips on the plate in front of us, or immediately reach for our TripAdvisor app’s ‘one star’ ratings button.

This feedback immediacy and amplification is a huge issue for customer-facing organisations.

Smart venues would do well not to take things quite so personally.

At GluePR, we’ve worked with a number of outlets on how it tackles tricky customers only too willing to air their grievances over their chosen social platform.

So what qualifies a food blogger to pass judgment on a chef’s skills or a waiter’s attentiveness? What gives them the right to suggest there’s no fun in the amuse bouche, or that the sommelier didn’t know their Sauvignon from their Soave.

TripAdvisor is a flawed, yet immensely powerful platform. I maintain those out for gain by posting pre-determined negativity are in a tiny minority. And in those cases, I’d always advise a venue to politely defend itself or take the appropriate action to have TripAdvisor investigate.

The results are usually just.

The answer is that bloggers have no greater or no fewer rights than the rest of us. All the tools are now at our fingertips in order to pass immediate judgment on what we’re served and

But reviews are, in the most part, subjective.

Two people can take a bite of the same artisanal, hand-crafted burger. One will say ‘too much salt’ another may believe it under seasoned. It’s

all about opinions. No matter how honed – or otherwise – the knowledge that opinion is based on, it’s not wrong. So I struggle to comprehend how chefs or venues get quite so defensive with bloggers and reviewers who might not wholly enjoy their experience.

Just guessing, but I don’t think many venues win sympathy or support if their response is a lengthy and public rant about how the reviewer is wrong, knows nothing about food, is bent or is paid by other restaurants to deliberately publish negative reviews. Drop me a line and I’ll show you the examples. Their what-were-you-thinking comebacks will make you wince.

Well thought-out, reasoned and level-headed engagement with those who decide to publish negative observations has a tremendous ability to disarm the ‘heat’ of the original critique and can win over new fans. Most appreciate that it can’t be bang on 100 percent of the time.

It can be very easy for any customer-facing establishment to feel like they’re only one negative tweet away from ruin. Depending on whom that comes from, they could be right. It’s all the more reason for them to think long and hard about just how they’re going to deal with any customer who feels empowered enough to air a review publicly.

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

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Extraordinary business times; extraordinary communications Northern Insight spoke to two of the North East’s most experienced PR ‘bedfellows’.

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MEDIA INSIGHT

The last 15 years have seen some extraordinary changes in media technology and the tools regularly used. Digital technology has driven dramatic changes in communications and at the forefront of adapting to and adopting these changes in the North East is MHW PR.

This leading business-to-business PR consultancy is celebrating its 15th anniversary, having being established in Newcastle by directors Wayne Halton (WH) and Ian Watson (IW) in 2000.

Things we now take for granted did not exist in 2000 – ‘Search’ or SEO was in its infancy. LinkedIn was launched in 2003 and both Skype and WordPress saw initial releases that year. Facebook was launched in 2004; YouTube was created in 2005 followed by Twitter in 2006. And then there’s the hardware developments from iPhone to the iPad, first released in April 2010.

Northern Insight spoke to Wayne (WH) and Ian (IW) about these extraordinary changes, their growth and evolution during this period and what the future holds:

You’re celebrating your 15th anniversary – what does this milestone mean to you?

WH/IW: A mixture of relief and great personal pleasure; we’ve survived! It’s been a largely enjoyable journey, with a few difficult periods along the way. We’ve lived through an extraordinary time of media and communications change, which have stimulated and excited us.

This, our anniversary year, sees us managing growth again - with many reasons to be optimistic about the future. We have a strong new team of staff to help.

Going back to the start, why did you set up MHW PR? WH/IW: It was the desire to do it for ourselves (as like-minded colleagues). We had ambition and wanted a business to drive and develop while also being be a little more in control of our own destiny. Originally we had a third director on board, Alasdair Mitchell, who later left to pursue other interests. We all understood the importance of integrated communications.

On reflection, what have been the standout moments during the last 15 years?

plans. Many rivals can be a little too focussed on the tactic; we take a more holistic approach.

WH: There’ve been many. Buying our own building was a milestone; breaking through the £1m barrier after a few years trading was a thrill – which we then repeated for two more years.

New business wins are always exciting and it’s good to see we’ve been on a winning run these last couple of years. During these last 12 months we’ve picked up Crowne Plaza Newcastle, and trade accounts Romag, Lucion Environmental, and Slaters Electricals

IW: In the corporate world, reputation and

IW: We’ve been lucky to have retained the support of a number of loyal clients who have been with us since our first days in business. We’ve developed by doing more for them as they have grown and done extraordinary things themselves and have added a host of new companies and organisations along the way.

WH: Making sense of the plethora of communication channels. You need to be aware of the changing landscape of tools and tactics; while never losing sight of the fact that ultimately people do business with people – we all engage with brands and communications at a human level.

How does MHW continue to make a mark within the PR and marketing sector?

WH: We stick to our strengths – key industry sectors and key areas of delivery expertise.

We’re challenging by nature, while also taking a practical and analytical approach to client tasks; understanding their customers and the best way to influence them.

IW: As ex-journalists we have always understood the importance of the story and the power of the message. Now that good content has become central to all PR campaigns, we can apply all our years of experience to the task in hand.

What does MHW offer that rivals don’t?

WH: We have a great understanding of the media – old and new. As a former press journalist, I’ve worked with different media channels for almost 30 years. We listen to clients, analysing their situation and problems to develop appropriate

For more information visit www.mhwpr.co.uk

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effective market presence aren’t things you can gain overnight. Taking a consistent and sustained approach is fundamental to building brands and awareness, so we work hard to build long term relationships with clients and the media.

What are the trends and challenges facing the sector in 2015?

IW: Digital communications gives companies more opportunities than ever to engage directly with key audiences, track responses and evaluate results. Identifying what works best for you, taking brave decisions and ensuring activities are properly resourced will be crucial.

What continues to get you up in the morning?

WH: Genuine interest in what I do, what our clients are doing and the fascinating and ever changing media channels. And never forgetting the need to still pay the bills.

IW: I’ve always enjoyed the variety of what we do. No two days are the same in terms of the news, information or issues we have to deal with – and we work with clients in a wide range of sectors with different priorities, products and personalities, so there’s plenty to keep you on your toes.

MEDIA INSIGHT

New beginnings with nesma nesma director Veronica Swindale

Summer’s over and it’s time to act on those holiday resolutions. Do you want to get to grips with social media, learn more about the professional practice of PR and marketing, go for promotion…?

Before the good intentions fade with the suntan, you should make nesma (North East Sales and Marketing Academy) your first post holiday port of call.

Veronica Swindale, Founding Director, is preparing to welcome new students to nesma’s centres in Newcastle and Carlisle later this month.

90 per cent pass rate When I look back over the achievements of our students over the past five years, I am proud of the overall average pass rate of 90 percent.

This is an outstanding record, and one which has enabled many students to take a significant step up on their career ladder. It also means that we are making a contribution to the success of businesses in the region.

Our students come from a range of businesses and organisations in this region, including The Great Run Company (formerly Nova International), Virgin Money, Sage and Berghaus.

As well as the household names we have people from smaller technology, construction and manufacturing businesses, and consultants.

Public relations and marketing today embrace more than consumer and commercial businesses, with social media in particular helping public sector, charities and other not for profit organisations to be more effective.

This broad range of sectors, and the diverse age ranges of students studying with us, provides a stimulating background for learning and debate, where public and private sector can learn much from each other’s challenges.

New courses This summer the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) accredited nesma as one of only five centres across the UK to deliver the CIPR Advanced Certificate.

In addition nesma becomes only the second teaching centre in the UK to be accredited for the CIPR Internal Communications certificate.

After a rigorous inspection and accreditation process, this means that nesma can deliver two more CIPR qualifications, alongside the existing CIPR Foundation Award programme.

Meanwhile nesma continues to be the only accredited study centre in the north east of England and Cumbria to provide every level of CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) qualification, so students can progress from the Level 3 Introductory Certificate in Marketing up to the Level 7 Professional Postgraduate Diploma.

From September students are also able take additional stand alone CIM awards to boost their specialist knowledge at levels 4 and 6. Students have already enrolled for digital awards...

In response to client and student demand, nesma tutors are developing a growing number of short course programmes, typically one day courses designed to meet a specific skills need.

Please get in touch if you would like to see something in our portfolio!

New venues After a growing number of students were studying with nesma in Cumbria, Veronica took the bold step to add a base in Carlisle. Tutors are now delivering the Digital Marketing Institute’s (DMI) Digital Diploma to the first cohort of students in September, in partnership with the Cumbrian Chamber of Commerce and CIM programmes will be delivered at the Business Interaction Centre in Carlisle.

Our first cohort of students came from Arco, where we delivered their CIM Postgraduate Diploma course in their offices in Hull. nesma continues to run bespoke qualification and training courses for employers who are looking to develop the skills of a whole team. This year for example, nesma has run in-house programmes for Gentoo, the NHS Training Agency and Durham County Council.

New funding Funding from Creative Skillset is available to widen diversity in the creative industries until March 2016. Students may also be eligible for funding for digital training from the Technical Partnership Training Fund. More details about this and other sources of funding are available on our website.

So, there is no excuse for putting off that training….

nesma, 19 Lansdowne Terrace, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1HP E:info@nesma.co.uk T:07590 018 205 For further information please contact: www.nesma.co.uk

MEDIA INSIGHT Sarah Hall

PR must deal with dissonance or die Organisations no longer rely on newspapers, TV or radio to get their message out. Thanks to digital technology, they’ve become their own media.

Self-publishing via blogs and broadcasting via YouTube and Vimeo is today’s norm. Apps like Periscope and Meerkat are now bringing video streaming to the masses.

Email databases, and social networks such as Twitter and Facebook provide a distribution mechanism.

As established brand storytellers, PR practitioners have reskilled in order to capitalize on these opportunities.

Meanwhile those in advertising and digital have done the same with PR. So while multi disciplinary approaches offer opportunity, they also threaten the PR industry’s very core.

Are there even blurred lines?

PR is no longer what purists think it is.

As the lines between advertising, digital and PR agencies have blurred, practitioners have no choice but to embrace new technologies and an integrated approach to their communications.

Stephen Waddington, chief engagement officer at Ketchum, argues that in many instances the lines between the disciplines are blurring to the extent that it not possible to tell one from the other.

“If a County Council posts an editorial news update in its Facebook newsfeed and then pays to promote it to ensure that all its followers see the message, is that advertising?

“If a retail brand works with a network analysis tool to identify the key influencers in its niche and then pays the company to manage an influencer

campaign on its behalf, is that public relations?

“One thing is for sure. The customer doesn’t care and the C-suite is following her lead.”

Sell paid or sell out PR practitioners’ reluctance to jump into what has traditionally been advertising territory is a risky business.

When PRs choose not to run paid campaigns because it doesn’t fit with their definition of PR, it leaves the door open for a competitor to fill that void. Ultimately there is just one choice: capitalize or capitulate.

Laura Sutherland runs Aura PR in Glasgow where there has been a shift in what the marketplace demands from PR agencies.

“We’re moving to a more integrated approach working across paid, earned, owned and shared media. We have to now look to engage with audiences in the most relevant way and sometimes that means having to pay to reach them. Social media gives us a huge targeting opportunity. It’s what business owners and in house marketers expect.”

Mirror the media’s model It’s not just businesses that want a more rounded service from PRs either.

Helen Dalby, editor at ncjMedia, which publishes the Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun, says that what journalists require from PR practitioners has also changed.

“How we work with PR practitioners has changed

considerably since the introduction of our digitalfirst strategy. We are continually innovating and we need people who will collaborate with us and work at a similar pace, and who can generate compelling content in different formats.

“For instance, we’ve recently worked with PRs on creating search-optimised content to accompany an advance editorial plan about a big North East event. Analytics inform our content decisions and it’s essential when dealing with PR practitioners that they understand the needs of the digital audience.

“Whether a campaign is editorial or paid, we generally offer an approach that integrates content across all our platforms - mobile, desktop, social and print. We look for technical and content expertise and will work with whichever discipline can supply this.”

Ultimately, the message is clear, PR practitioners need to be much more progressive, innovative and pacey when it comes to change. Expertise can be developed or hired in where the skillset is not a natural fit.

Agencies enjoying success are those that are service oriented with looser, more adaptive structures that allow them to pair the appropriate expertise to a communications campaign whichever discipline that has traditionally sat within.

As a practitioner you might not like it, but the choice is to deal with the dissonance, or PR might just die.

Sarah Hall is Managing Director of Sarah Hall Consulting Limited.

For more information visit www.sarahhallconsulting.co.uk or follow her on twitter @hallmeister

O PR’s 10th Birthday The sun shone down on creative communications agency O PR’s 10th birthday bash as it celebrated a decade of successful business with clients and friends at the spectacular Roof Terrace of The Botanist, Newcastle.

Giant ‘10’ light letters from Coco Lumiere illuminated the terrace, which was the perfect backdrop to the evening, which was packed with cocktails, live music, tasty deli boards and a giant bowl of gin punch.

O hosted the evening to say thank you to all its loyal friends, media and clients who have helped shape its last decade.

MEDIA INSIGHT

Can PR be Ethical?

Antonia Brindle of Get Brindled

And does the phrase Ethical PR refer to the content, the subject or the person delivering it?

I was recently invited by The University of Sunderland to give a lecture on the ethics of PR. This really got me thinking.

Can PR be Ethical? And does the phrase Ethical PR refer to the content, the subject or the person delivering it?

To answer this let’s look at the function of PR – is it a sales tool? A resounding yes. Is it a way to educate? Definitely, if done well. Is it a way to influence and persuade opinion? Of course, but that’s where the question of ethics really hits home.

Is influencing and persuading anyone’s opinion ever ethical? Politian’s do it on a daily basis and are hated for it. Sports pundits are main offenders too, yet sports fans can revere them.

My advice if you want an ethical campaign is to avoid the Politian and pundit approach. Look for a quality practitioner that has strong ethics and a good reputation too, as this will reflect on you.

When hiring an agency start with their relationships with journalists. Ethical PR’s only issue stories to journalists they know are right for the publication. The media therefore respects them, knowing the content will be strong and suited. If you, as a client, think you have a story but it isn’t newsworthy your PR consultant should

have the gumption to tell you that.

A good PR person will also advise on what is stretching the truth too far. Gone are the days of spin doctors. Journalists are very quick at ‘spiking’ stories and it is no longer ‘who you know’ or all about scoops. Reporters depend on quality news based in fact and reality, not bluff, exaggeration or unfounded claims. Strong, raw and honest copy is the order of the day.

An ethical PR person will stick to their guns on this as there is nothing more damaging to themselves or you than half truths being exposed – this exposure is not what a quality PR consultant will be looking to achieve!

An ethical campaign also comes down to the relationship between the client and the PR person.

There must be trust and honesty all the way. This is never truer than when crisis management is needed.

A good practitioner will not panic or look for excuses or reasons for any crisis. They will examine facts and prepare an open, honest response for both internal and external communication. Good practice is to not cover up or lie, but to plan carefully on how the issue can be put right. You’d think that would be automatic but it seems the more natural reaction is to be defensive and self protect.

Following a crisis, many organisations try to protect or rebuild their reputation with a quick dose of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Is this ethical generosity or is it throwing money at a community/cause to ease angst? Could it even be seen as blood money? There is currently a huge question mark over the ethics of CSR, particularly in America where companies need a CSR code of practice to protect themselves against accusations of bribery.

Again, good PR practitioners should advise whether it is the right scenario to donate or invest and whether this will be seen as healthy PR or unethical appeasement.

In a nutshell, a client who strives for an ethical campaign should have complete faith in their PR operator. Decent PR ethics only allow good practitioners to work with those that have a true story to tell and with clients that will benefit from investment. They should advise, consult and work with you to achieve the best reputation possible. Remember they don’t need to be an expert in your field or industry but they should show understanding, passion and a burning desire to achieve through ethical means the very best reputation for you, their customer.

Get Brindled is a PR, events, social media and crisis management agency, specialising in building the reputation of charities, SME’s and organisations that ‘make a difference’ or products that improve life, working conditions or the environment.

More information on the consultancy is available at www.getbrindled.com

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MEDIA INSIGHT

Ask Silver Bullet John Dias, Managing Director of Silver Bullet

What is real time marketing and do I use my social media to execute it?

Real time Marketing, as the phrase is now coined, will fly in the face of what many of us marketers state as best practice. We will often preach about plans, strategies and measurable targets, however real time marketing in an increasingly digital age can be an extremely effective marketing tool.

Real time marketing is essentially a reactionary, inbound marketing tool and is based on ‘content’. Modern day consumers possess a seemingly unquenchable thirst for information, knowledge and content, which they will actively search for, hence the inbound nature of this tool.

Real time marketing then primarily uses current events to generate this content.

The beauty of this social and digital content is the potential to share. Consumers rarely share our adverts among networks, but something that is relevant, interesting and engaging is then very ‘shareable’.

Whilst many big brands actively execute excellent real time marketing, and invest resource in the development of it, it could easily be a small brand, new business or individual that could actually go ‘viral’. The beauty of social media is that through its networks, it connects such a broad spectrum of organisations and individuals.

Real time marketing could potentially be

renamed ‘right-time marketing’. It is based on a quality, creative approach executed quickly and if we are honest, also involves a bit of luck. This is especially the case with the growth of the mobile device as we are consuming content throughout the day. With the rumoured event based twitter ‘lightning’ feature set to launch in 2015 this will only continue to grow.

So are there any good examples of real time marketing? Well, yes, there are thousands, but there is one that stands out. Oreos witty swift response to the floodlight failure at the 2013 Super Bowl with the creative “You can still dunk in the dark” went truly viral, posting 10,000 retweets and 20,000 facebook likes in an hour.

Oreos were said to have ‘won the Super Bowl’.

Some other creative and well executed examples include Kit Kat’s “We don’t bend we break” in response to the ill fated bending Apple iPhone 6. Brands also jumped on the back of the birth of Prince George - Warburtons ‘Bun in the Oven’ was one of many. Search through various social media and a number of the big brands do this very well. Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of real time marketing in crisis management as a witty and humorous response can, sometimes, be effective in diffusing a situation.

By its very nature, real time marketing is

real time, it has to be swift, but considered.

There have been several high profile instances recently of misjudged posting. For example, the Sheffield based personal injury law firm’s crass self-promoting following the recent Alton Towers roller-coaster crash with a tweet that was swiftly deleted. It is easy to sail close to the wind with real time marketing as Paddy Power, whose famed Mischief Department often produce excellent content, do often end up in hot water.

In all real time marketing, an ‘off the cuff’ method of marketing, the key principles of marketing still hold true. You have your brand and message, you understand your audience and this interactive content is the channel by which you communicate with them.

Real time marketing is not enough to solely promote your brand, yes a viral creative may give you that one off hit, but that’s all it is, one off.

A genuinely successful campaign still requires that co-ordinated integrated approach. Real time marketing should be part of your overall strategy and it is imperative that the content aligns with your brand. Even with the success of Oreo’s SuperBowl content, they had already planned a campaign around the Super Bowl (including the small matter of a $1m TV advert). A co-ordinated integrated approach is then the key to marketing success.

So do you need to be a bit more creative with your content marketing? Do you need to review your strategy or do you have another marketing question we can help with? 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

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MEDIA INSIGHT Jackie Marston, Managing Director of JAM Marketing

Re-branding not re-building The business world can often seem like a place akin to a casino floor; so much can ride on one decision.

Make the right choice and you could be laughing but make the wrong one and it could be tears of despair running down your face. As they say, you roll the dice you take the chance.

In a previous column, I spoke about the importance of a strong logo giving a company an identity. But what happens when your company and its logo becomes outdated, not of the time or in need of a refresh? One solution is you rebrand.

Rebranding is not solely a logo change, name change or a new tagline. Rather, it is a mix of all three along with a change in what the company stands for if appropriate. We at JAM underwent somewhat of a small rebrand in 2005, with the introduction of a new logo -one which we still proudly use today.

To the public, the most visual changes of a rebrand is the logo. It’s something that’s seen in sports teams in order to drive merchandise sales (although they might tell you otherwise) and in businesses away from the field it can also be an effective tool. Some brands rarely change - Coca Cola hasn’t majorly altered its iconic script based

design since the 1900s – but for some companies a rejig can be a blessing.

Take Topps Tiles as an example. After rebranding its stores and products, they reported a 31.5% rise in pre-tax profit to the year ending September 2014. Topps aren’t an anomaly either.

Apple, Starbucks and Microsoft have enjoyed success since rebranding at various points of their history.

Be warned though – just like that proverbial game of dice, if they don’t land in your favour as they did with the three companies mentioned, you might just end up with a ‘Tropicana situation’ – code for disastrous rebrand. Famed for its juice drinks, Tropicana decided to rebrand its packaging early in 2009. Sales of its Pure Premium line of drinks promptly fell 20%, in just over a month.

Vast number of consumers complained about the new design and eventually Tropicana makers Pepsi Co decided to listen, reverting back to the

old packaging – but not before losing a sum in the tens of millions.

If you feel your company needs a rebrand, there are a few points to follow which may help you avoid a Tropicana and help you be a Topps Tiles: Be bold – If you stand for something, show it.

Likewise, if your company is changing embrace it.

What are you doing not so well? – Find the areas of marketing that are letting your marketing and branding down and get rid of it. Apple did this – they focused on simplicity, simplifying their logo and all-round branding.

Keep an open mind – If you offer more than one service, don’t restrict yourself. Reflect it in your brand.

So that’s rebranding - used well it’s an amazing thing, but it does come with its risks.

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

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TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT

The case for Bring Your Own Device Garry Sheriff

Garry Sheriff, Managing Director of data centre experts ITPS, explains how BYOD is becoming the new normal.

Understand the risk

The rise in popularity of ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD), where staff use their own laptops, tablets and smartphones to access company data and applications, saw it become the new normal for many workplaces last year, and industry experts Gartner predict there will be twice as many employee rather than employerowned devices in use by 2018.

The most important factor in successful implementation is that the company and individual users understand the risks, responsibilities and obligations involved, which should start with a wide-ranging review of how BYOD would be implemented and used.

Alongside cloud services, BYOD is one of the most radical shifts in the IT world since PCs landed on our desks. It illustrates the consumerisation of IT, giving people what they want how, when and where they need it but concerns around security and employee privacy still present a challenge for businesses as they seek to balance the benefits with the risks.

Security of applications and data is the biggest issue for businesses trying to balance accessibility with security. A typical scenario might see sensitive company data stored in a secure or encrypted container on the device, allowing the company access to the information without the legal and data protection implications of having visibility of the personal data held on the device.

BYOD can see productivity rise as people have the ability to deal with things immediately rather than waiting until they are back at their desks, and can lead to lowered hardware and support costs. It can even boost morale, as staff are given more choice over how and when they work.

The challenge for businesses is to create integrated and easy to manage systems architecture that supports multiple operating systems across fixed and mobile IT, and keeps up with employee preferences for certain tablets and mobiles. That means IT managers working alongside HR, operations and other teams to address the issues and embrace the change

Security and management

At the core of BYOD should sit a Mobile Device Management system that allows the business to analyse, audit, log and control access for all devices joining the network. This needs permission levels agreeing for access to network resources, along with procedures for how devices will be added to the network and how restriction of any less secure devices will be handled.

Soft issues Alongside connectivity security there are soft issues to take into account, one of which is situation awareness, for instance you often see someone on a train switching between work and personal content on their laptop, in full view

of fellow passengers. We are all used to having anytime, anywhere access and flipping back and forth between home and work mode, and you may need to carry out some staff training to support a shift in thinking and encourage staff to become more mindful of which mode they are in.

Other issues include defining responsibility for any illegal or offensive material stored on the device, and who is liable if it is used on the company network. People change jobs and devices can be lost or stolen, so for optimal security the company should have the capability to remote wipe the device. This is essential from a data security perspective but has implications for the users too.

ICT infrastructure Many of the businesses we work with have found switching to virtualised IT infrastructures has put them ahead of the race by giving them a ready-made platform for BYOD, with a secure common environment for PCs, tablets and smartphones, and policies in place for controlling data access and storage. That is not to say non-virtualised environments cannot equally successfully implement BYOD, but there is no doubt that the two approaches bring combined and immediate bottom line benefits.

BYOD is a big step for any enterprise. Our advice is to tread carefully and choose an IT partner experienced in working alongside organisations of all sizes, helping them to decide how they can implement BYOD without compromising the business.

For more information visit www.itps.co.uk, email contact@itps.co.uk or tel. (0191) 442 8300

61

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Synergi drives efficiency for workers on the road at Mill Volvo There’s never been a better time to buy cloud technology The UK’s largest Volvo dealership, Mill Volvo in Newcastle, has appointed Synergi IT to support its adoption of the latest IT tools to help improve efficiency for workers when they’re on the road.

Mill Volvo enlisted the help of Gatesheadbased Synergi IT after identifying that current systems needed to be updated to manage the demand for more efficient technology, especially for those working remotely.

Simon Hewitson, finance director at Mill Volvo, explains: “It’s vital that our 180-strong workforce – which is based across four sites in the North East - has fast and efficient connectivity in a retail environment which operates at high speed and is highly competitive. We wanted a system

that allows users to access their email remotely and sync with all devices but which also provides high speed and reliable connectivity when they’re on the road.

“We turned to Synergi to help us integrate the new technology and provide consultancy support as we roll-out the new email services across the company. Whilst it’s early days of adopting we can already see the business benefits of even more efficient collaboration across teams and our employees have fuss-free access to the information they need, giving them greater flexibility as they carry out their roles.”

Fronted by well-known Tyneside businessman Peter Joynson, Synergi is driving the adoption of next generation of IT and business technology tools at Mill Volvo, including an email system

utilising Microsoft’s 365 cloud-based platform that works with Connected Car allowing users incar access to internet, email, contacts and apps.

David Charlton, senior consultant at Synergi IT, said: “We’re committed to helping businesses work smarter and faster with the latest and most reliable Microsoft technology on the market. Using the Connected Car system means that staff at Mill Volvo have instant access to business information - with just the touch of a button they can view emails, make calls and use other supported apps using Volvo’s built-in touchscreen display. It really is a great example of how advances in IT can increase the efficiency of businesses that operate outside of a usual office environment but still require the flexibility and assurance of a robust IT infrastructure.”

Surf’s up for Advantex with new contract win A Gateshead-based IT firm is riding the crest of a wave after winning a contract to provide IT and security technology for a new £15m surf complex in Wales. The undisclosed six-figure work will see Advantex installing a WiFi infrastructure at Surf Snowdonia to deliver and support state-of-the-art IP (Internet Protocol) telephony, access control and intruder alarm services.

Surf Snowdonia opened at the beginning of August and generates the world’s

longest man-made surfing wave - up to 2m high - every minute. The IT infrastructure will meet the needs of hundreds of staff and thousands of visitors at a site encompassing shops, cafes and accommodation pods.

Advantex won the Surf Snowdonia contract in the face of competition due to its cost effective solution, networking skills and IT expertise, enabling it to ensure that the work will be completed ahead of the park’s August opening.

Scott Logic sidesteps Eurozone crisis to surpass its half-year goals Local software development consultancy, Scott Logic, has prospered its way through the Eurozone debt crisis by focusing its 2015 activity on its local market the UK. The company, which delivers bespoke software solutions to global clients in complex sectors, is on track to make its 10th year in business the best yet after expanding into new premises to focus on attracting a number of UKbased clients.

Ready to reduce costs and achieve more from your IT spend?

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Managing Director Gary Scott said: “Our strategy this year has been to really focus on our home market, especially given the weakness in the Euro and lack of confidence across Europe. This has enabled us to further enhance our portfolio not only in financial services and capital markets, but also in new areas such as energy trading and wealth management.”

Scott Logic has also outgrown its Bristol office, moving to larger city centre premises.

IT Professional Services Ltd. Axwell House, Waterside Drive, Metrocentre East Business Park, Gateshead NE11 9HU. E: contact@itps.co.uk Follow us on

www.itps.co.uk

@ITPSltd

0191 442 8300

Managing your data, protecting your world

ITPS data services are built around your needs - now and in the future...

Our flexible data centre solutions give you the facilities, the network and the know-how to help you expand and support your growth. An extension of your own organisation, at a fraction of the costs and without the risk.

Our world assures yours

Contact us today to find out more:

call 0191 or email

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contact@itps.co.uk www.itps.co.uk

ITPS celebrates 15 years in business with a day at the races.

ITPS continued their 15-year anniversary celebrations with a day at the races for one of Newcastle’s flagship events of the racing calendar. On Saturday 25th July, ITPS invited staff, customers and partners to Ladies Day 2015 where guests dressed to impress and enjoyed a day of hospitality at the glamorous event. ITPS fully appreciate that their success as a business is as a result of the commitment their clients, staff and partner have shown them over the years and what better way to say thank you than a day at the races.

TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT

In this life Michael Jopling, Finance Director of Gateshead-based data centre business ITPS

“

“

There’s nothing in life you can’t achieve

What are you currently working on?

What has been your career highlight?

We have just completed the re-fit of our new £4m 33,000sqft data centre in County Durham, which has been a year-long process working with external contractors. Our next project is to remodel our existing head office while we search for larger premises to accommodate our growing workforce.

I was very fortunate to be asked to be one of the original founders of ITPS and I’m proud of having played my part in seeing turnover and profit increase year on year.

Who are your heroes in and out of business?

I really admire world record holder Paula Radcliffe’s drive and ambition. Starting as a club runner at the tender age of 11 she’s now 41 and retired, with an MBE and many sporting accolades to her name. She went all out for what she wanted to achieve, and got there thanks to determination and dedication.

What is your favourite film?

I love the new Jurassic Park movie, and Titanic will always be one of my all-time favourites too.

What was your first job?

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Following a brief stint as an auctioneer, my first real job was as a trainee auditor responsible for preparation of accounts for sole traders, partners, farmers, SMBs and limited companies, which was the start of developing a business acumen that has served me well over the years. I would recommend this type of career to anybody interested in accountancy and finance.

“There’s nothing in life you can’t achieve.” A lot of people don’t try to achieve their goals as they think things like a lack of money will stop them, for instance if they want to start a business but don’t have any capital. In reality there is always a way and if you set your mind to something there is not much that you can’t achieve.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?

Always spend as many hours of doing enjoyable things as those you spend working. In 2000 when we founded ITPS it was all about building the business and this left very little spare time to enjoy family and hobbies. It’s given me an appreciation of work life balance and we try to incorporate that into our working environment for our 100-strong team of staff.

What do you do to relax?

When I get the chance, I love family trips to the cinema and spending time competing on the tennis courts or golf course with friends and clients.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

What has influenced you in life?

As well as taking pride in running a successful business with a good reputation I enjoy seeing middle managers develop their skills and progress through the business, as part of our long term aims for ITPS.

In my previous role as company accountant, I could see how hard the business owners worked and the rewards they enjoyed. This inspired me to go out and achieve these same standards for myself.

66

MOTORS INSIGHT

Tivoli has arrived The new Tivoli is the latest edition to the range and is a compact supermini SUV. Available with either a 1.6 litre petrol or 1.6 Diesel engine the Tivoli provides the power that Ssangyong cars are renowned for. With a choice between a six speed manual and automatic transmission the Tivoli is a smooth and comfortable ride. Prices from £12950

Great value Ssangyong range Style & Substance The Ssangyong Korando is one of the most stylish SUVs on the market. With a powerful 2 litre turbo Diesel engine the 4x4 versions are capable of 0-60 in 9.9 seconds with a 2 tonne towing ability.

Complete with Air Con, Six Speaker Audio with Bluetooth, MP3 and steering wheel controls plus 5 year limitless mileage warranty the Korando is great value from £14995.

Versatile Driving The Ssangyong Rexton W is a robust but elegant 4x4 with the ability to tackle the most challenging terrain. The interior comes with a 7 seat layout with the option to fold the rear seats for an even greater boot space. Expansive space and automatic air conditioning endured complete comfort and with prices from £21995 it is great value also.

Sleek & Spacious The Ssangyong Turismo is an elegant 7 seater SUV and has a powerful turbo charged 2.0 litre Diesel engine. The huge 3000mm wheelbase allows for vast interior space giving optimum comfort whilst a selectable 4x4 system gives drives the ability to power through the most demanding terrain.

Prices from £17995

Practical & Comfortable The Ssangyong Korando Sports is a hugely versatile 4x4 with vast amounts of load space. The practicality is never in doubt with the option to add a moulded rear canopy and with a spacious 5 seat double cab , air conditioning and Bluetooth technology the Korando Sports is one of the best value 4x4 vehicles in its class. Prices from £14995

Dennis Common West Road Garage Longframlington Morpeth NE 65 8HX Tel: 01665 570542 www.denniscommon.co.uk

MOTORS INSIGHT

The new Toyota Avensis is a smooth and sophisticated vehicle that oozes premium quality.

Its elegant aerodynamics create a compelling aesthetic, whilst its refined interior establishes a distinct sense of luxury.

Adventurous Avensis

The car is available in a range of Touring or Saloon body styles enabling you to find your desired look.

Business trip or family outing the new Avensis is cleverly composed with an exceptionally spacious interior with plenty of legroom and head space.

The car design is prepared with sharp, dynamic styling and complete with eye catching LED headlamps.

Exterior features include privacy glass on the rear windows, traction control and a tyre pressure warning system.

The interior is no less impressive and includes leather steering wheel, dual zone automatic air conditioning and heated driver and front passenger seats.

With prices from ÂŁ17765 for the Active model up to ÂŁ26635 for the Excel model the Avensis offers great value motoring.

68

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Model shown is MY15 Avensis Touring Sports Business Edition 5 door 1.6 D-4D Manual £23,175. Price excludes metallic paint at £495. *Business Users only. Initial rental and VAT applies. Available on new sales of model shown when ordered and proposed for finance between 1st July and 30th September 2015, registered and financed by 31st December 2015 through Toyota Financial Services on Toyota Contract Hire. Advertised rental is based on a 2 year non maintained contract at 8,000 miles per annum with an initial rental of £1,098+VAT. Metallic or pearlescent paint are not included. Excess mileage charges apply. Other finance offers are available but cannot be used in conjunction with this offer. At participating Toyota Centres. Toyota Centres are independent of Toyota Financial Services. Terms and conditions apply. Indemnities may be required. Finance subject to status to over 18s only. Toyota Financial Services (UK) PLC. Registered Office: Great Burgh, Burgh Heath, Epsom, KT18 5UZ. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 5 year/100,000 mile manufacturer warranty subject to terms and conditions. Protection pack includes mud flaps, boot liner, scuff plates and rear bumper plate. †Free service and maintenance pack is available on model shown when used in conjunction with a Toyota Contract Hire agreement. Ordered and proposed for finance between 1st July and 30th September 2015, registered and financed by 31st December 2015. Cover includes scheduled servicing, maintenance and tyre replacement due to fair wear and tear, available up to 24 months or 40,000 miles, whichever is soonest. Toyota Roadside Assistance is available up to 24 months.

MY15 Avensis Touring Sports Business Edition 5 door 1.6 D-4D Manual. Official Fuel Consumption Figures in mpg (l/100km): Urban 55.4 (5.1), Extra Urban 74.3 (3.8), Combined 67.3 (4.2). CO2 Emissions 110g/km. The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU regulated test results. These are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience.

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MOTORS INSIGHT

Benfield Charitable Trust flying-high with the Great North Air Ambulance Service

Matthew Squires, Brand Manager, Benfield Motor Group hands over a brand new Volkswagen Up car worth over £9,000 to Chief Executive of the Great North Air Ambulance Service, Graham Pickering MBE and helicopter crew members.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) is giving one lucky ticketholder the chance to win a Volkswagen Move Up! worth £9,295, after it was handed over by the North East’s largest independent motor group, Benfield.

GNAAS chief executive Grahame Pickering MBE, air medics and Matthew Squires of Benfield Motor Group launched their annual fund raising raffle at the charity’s airbase at Durham Tees Valley Airport this week.

The epic fundraising campaign has raised £545,000 in its previous four years, which has helped save lives throughout the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Mr Pickering said: “We hope lots of people get involved and buy tickets for just £1 to be in with the chance of driving away with this brilliant prize.

“The money will be spent on flying missions throughout the region, and will make a real difference to the vital work of our crews. We are entirely dependent on donations to survive.

“Five years after kick-starting the raffle, Benfield have once more pledged to support us by supplying this year’s top prize. Since 2011, the annual fundraiser has raised a phenomenal six figure sum for the charity and we are so grateful.”

Second prize is an overnight stay for two at Wynyard Hall, near Stockton, and third prize is £100 cash.

Last year’s car raffle winner was Anne Duffield, from Ripon in North Yorkshire.

Matthew Squires, brand manager at Benfield Motor Group, said: “The service that GNAAS provides to people throughout the region is absolutely fantastic. It is staggering how much money the charity has to raise each year in order

to keep this emergency service operating.

“We are a North East based family business, with family values, so we are therefore delighted to donate this Volkswagen car, through our Charitable Trust, to GNAAS to help with their fundraising.”

The car will be at Skylive Airshow at Durham Tees Valley Airport on August 29th and at other events around the region.

Raffle tickets are £1 each and books of 12 can be purchased from the GNAAS website gnaas.com/shop or call 01325487263.

Books of tickets have been sent to GNAAS supporters already on its mailing list. The closing date to get ticket stubs to the charity is November 27, with the draw taking place on December 3.

Benfield donates 5 per cent of its operating profits to worthy and local causes through the Benfield Charitable Trust.

70

ARTS NEWS

21st Anniversary stage show of nation’s favourite movie to make Newcastle debut

T

he UK’s favourite movie of all time The Shawshank Redemption is 21 years old this year, and to celebrate, a brand new production will hit the Newcastle Theatre Royal stage this Autumn, 19 - 24 October. Prepare to be incarcerated again…

Presented by Bill Kenwright, this adaptation, inspired by the seven-time Oscar-nominated film, examines desperation, injustice, friendship and hope behind the claustrophobic bars of a maximum security penitentiary.

Despite his protests of innocence, Andy Dufresne is handed a double life sentence for

the brutal murder of his wife and her lover.

Incarcerated at the notorious Shawshank facility, he quickly learns that no one can survive alone.

Andy strikes up an unlikely friendship with the prison fixer Red, and things take a slight turn for the better. However, when Warden Stammas decides to bully Andy into subservience and exploit his talents for accountancy, a desperate plan is quietly hatched.

Based on the 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by celebrated author Stephen King, this production will be helmed by acclaimed Broadway director David Esbjornson, with design by Gary McCann. Stephen King is one

of the most popular authors of contemporary literature and has written 54 published novels which have sold more than 350 million copies around the world, many of which have been adapted into feature films.

The 1994 feature film, widely considered the number one all-time movie after topping the IMDb Top 250, starred Morgan Freeman as Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding and Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Freeman.

Star casting will be announced shortly.

Lesley Joseph to star as ‘Miss Hannigan’

Tommy Steele brings Glenn Miller Story to life at Theatre Royal

Tyne Theatre & Opera House welcomes Donovan to stage as part of his first UK tour in 10 years

A spectacular new show telling the extraordinary tale of the world’s most famous big band leader is heading to Newcastle Theatre Royal. The Glenn Miller Story, starring none other than music legend Tommy Steele, will be swinging into town for a must-not-miss run from 21 – 26 Sep 2015.

Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright team up again to direct the show, having been at the helm of several award-winning musicals. The Glenn Miller Story promises to transport audiences back to the days of the big band, and have them up on their feet jiving.

Donovan, ‘60s legend, icon, poet and one of our most enduring singer-songwriters’, is proud to announce a 22 date UK tour in October 2015 ‘The 50th Anniversary Tour’.

You will be treated to Donovan’s history of all his hits: ‘Sunshine Superman’, ‘Mellow Yellow’, ‘The Hurdy Gurdy Man’ and ‘Jenifer Juniper’ to name a few, plus also his legendary storytelling and cult songs.

These shows will celebrate Donovan’s 50th year in the music business, which also include his recent album release ‘Donovan Retrospective’.

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce a brand new production of the musical Annie starring Lesley Joseph as ‘Miss Hannigan’.

Annie will play Sunderland Empire from Monday 28 March – Saturday 2 April 2016.

Lesley Joseph is best known for playing ‘Dorien Green’ in the hugely successful sitcom “Birds of a Feather” alongside Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson. They recorded over 100 episodes over a period of nine years.

With its award-winning book and score, this stunning new production includes the unforgettable songs ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’.

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ARTS INSIGHT

Oh no it isn’t!

Now in its 13th consecutive year the Tyne Theatre Panto is at the heart of Newcastle Christmas tradition.

This years show follows Aladdin as he pursues his love of the beautiful Princess Jasmine from the steamy rooms of Widow Twankeys laundry to the distant shores of Egypt via a magic cave packed with treasure.

Laughs aplenty are guaranteed with the antics of Widow Twankey, Wishee Washee and the hapless Chinese policemen.

promises to be another blockbusting Panto from the hugely popular Newcastle Panto Company.

In typical Panto fashion the evil Abanazar tries to trick poor Aladdin out of the magic lamp and marrying Princess Jasmine in what

With tickets from only ÂŁ10 contact 07565 510364 for booking enquiries or email info@newcastlepanto.co.uk

LEISURE NEWS

Terry Laybourne offers fruits of the sea at Fenwick Chef and North East restaurateur, Terry Laybourne, is expanding his 21 Hospitality Group with the opening of a fish bar and fishmonger in Newcastle. The new venture – to be called Saltwater Fish Co - is part of Fenwick’s multi-million pound redevelopment of the Newcastle store’s Food Hall.

For Fenwick this sees the welcome return of a retail fish outlet within the Food Hall; for Terry Laybourne the move reflects a return to his roots with fish and seafood, which is where he built his reputation on returning to Newcastle in the early 1980s.

Saltwater will offer fast, casual seafood dining. Developed with London-based design consultancy, CADA Design, there will be counter seating for 23, an open kitchen, creative chefs and knowledgeable service staff.

The menu will reflect the ‘in season’ produce fresh from day boats working the North East coast. A fish focussed wine list will accompany the menu.

Terry Laybourne explained: “Our chefs will work hand in hand with the fishmonger, taking a ‘we cook what we sell, we sell what we cook’ approach. Fish is seasonal so both our fishmonger and menu will be constantly on the

move, reflecting the rhythm of the season. Our fishmongers will ensure we consistently offer the finest, highest quality seafood that comes from the fabulous larder off the North East coastline as well as other ports around the UK.” Fish will be lightly treated, grilled or steamed, to showcase their natural flavours. Terry said: “Fish cookery is all about the product, precision and restraint; fish really needs a light touch in order to show it at its best. People often get this wrong at home but we hope our experienced team will be able to demonstrate how to get the most out of great seafood.”

Newcastle hotel expands team with WorkFirst scheme One of Newcastle’s newest hotels has worked with Newcastle City Council’s WorkFirst team to appoint a new member of staff. Wayne Chapman has joined the Hampton by Hilton team as Kitchen Porter, after succeeding in his first ever job interview.

Hilton Newcastle, said: “We were so impressed

Newcastle City Council’s WorkFirst scheme supports people with disabilities in finding work through a programme of work placements and training. Before joining the Hampton by Hilton team, Wayne had completed his training at Capability’s, Supported Employment’s training centre in Byker, where he gained catering experience and qualifications.

Hampton by Hilton Newcastle is a newly opened

Paolo Franchi, General Manager at Hampton by

- I wanted to get stuck in and get started.”

with Wayne’s commitment and enthusiasm and he’s quickly become an integral member of our team, working with the other kitchen staff to provide breakfast for the hotel guests.”

160 room hotel located opposite Newcastle Central Station.

Wayne said: “I’m loving it. Since I started here I’ve never looked back and it’s a good team here.

Working at Capability gave me a taste of what work was like and I was keen to move on to a job

Shouting louder than your budget will allow.

1996

2015

THE MEDIA PLANNING & BUYING SPECIALISTS

www.mikelynchadvertising.co.uk

74

LEISURE NEWS

Crosbys Catering Equipment raises a glass to hotel contract win

Scalini’s set to celebrate refurbishment

Lunchtimes set to sizzle in the city at Bonbar

A North East catering firm has secured the contract to supply one of the region’s most highly anticipated hotels. Crosbys Catering Equipment, based at Brough Park Way, Byker, has been appointed to supply cutlery, crockery, glassware and light catering equipment for the Crowne Plaza Newcastle - Stephenson Quarter hotel in the centre of Newcastle.

Crosbys is supplying the hotel with products from Villeroy & Boch, as the firm holds the privilege of being the exclusive supplier in the North to provide the high quality tableware and crockery from the prestigious German brand.

One of the North East’s most popular venues is celebrating its newly refurbished function area with some fresh food offerings. Scalini’s Jesmond is set to launch its new Al Fresco dining menu to coincide with the reopening of the venue’s upper level, The Loft.

The new menu will include a range of tapas dishes, a number of sharing dishes and a selection of light bites.

The bar and restaurant’s new-look area will give guests the chance to eat and drink away from the busy atmosphere of the downstairs bar and will also be available for private hire for events of up to 130 people.

Newcastle’s Bonbar is set to make summer in the city sizzle as it encourages workers to reclaim their lunchbreak with the unveiling of its new food menu and appointment of a new head chef.

Diners at the city centre venue can expect a delicious range of dishes, packed with locally-sourced seasonal ingredients from Northumberland.

New head chef, Mark Docherty, joins Bonbar.

With over 10 years’ experience in the industry, the 29-year-old has worked with some of the region’s top chefs at prestigious North East restaurants, including Peace and Loaf.

Million pound ‘Spa Garden’ launches at 5 Rockliffe Hall

Rockliffe Hall concierge named as one of the best

Rockliffe Hall’s new spa garden was officially launched this week. A number of celebrities, including Boro stars George Friend, Ben Gibson and Grant Leadbitter, joined local VIPs to celebrate the opening of the new outdoor spa facilities.

The spa garden has two outdoor hot pools, under-floor heated decking, lounging areas, a traditional glass-fronted sauna cabin, a fire pit, a water feature, landscaped gardens and heated relaxation loungers.

The Society of the Golden Keys recognises the very best concierges around the UK and amongst Commonwealth countries. Anton Coburn, head concierge at Rockliffe Hall, has recently met with the exacting standards and has been accepted into the society, making him one of the best in the UK. Anton also becomes one of the only concierges in the North East region to have been accepted as a member.

*

Taste of India Restaurant and Takeaway

The Botanist toasts six months in Newcastle with new recruit Leisure operator, The New World Trading Company, marked six months in business this June for its Newcastle city centre bar and restaurant venue, The Botanist, and the arrival of a new manager.

The team is celebrating an incredibly successful first half of the year and a number of appointments. Ten jobs have been created as a result and one of which is 28-year-old David Caley, who has joined as a manager.

4 courses for £12.95 from 5.30 to 7.00 Sunday to Thursday

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9 Station Road North, Forest Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne. 0191 2663656/2709079

It pays to advertise...

1996

...but you have to do it with the right people.

2015

THE MEDIA PLANNING & BUYING SPECIALISTS

www.mikelynchadvertising.co.uk

75

LEISURE INSIGHT

An on-going love affair with great food

by Michael Grahamslaw

Sachins is a stylish Indian restaurant featuring terracotta urns and a spiral staircase. It serves great Indian food generally and Punjabi specialities especially.

This is not just another Indian restaurant and even the most discerning diners can have a unique opportunity to sample the very finest Punjabi foods in a fresh and invigorating environment.

Initially Bob and Neeta Arora frequented Sachin’s as regular customers because of its great food. The couple dreamt of owning the place one day and in 2000, they turned that dream into reality.

They immediately set about improving their acquisition and worked tirelessly in an effort to develop an already thriving business into an empire without equal in the city of Newcastle.

From a full kitchen re-fit to a complete interior refurbishment, the couple wasted no time putting a personal stamp on the beautiful building whilst retaining its essential character which they and other customers had grown to love.

Now fifteen years on, Bob and Neeta’s devotion and dedication has developed Sachins far beyond their expectations with the restaurant’s dishes appearing on the shelves of Fenwick’s as well as a thriving outside catering initiative which is very much in demand.

On the day we dined there, my business

guests and I quickly identified that the vast menus were much more inventive than standard Indian fare. With over thirty starters on offer we decided to think outside the normal safe comfort zone of chicken tikka bhuna and tikka masala and adventurously kicked off with dishes of Luckhnowi tikka, a delicious mixture of spiced chickpeas, paneer and baby spinach cakes, pan fried and served with tamarind sauce; Machi Kofta delicately spiced salmon, crab and potatoes cooked in bread crumbs, shallow fried and served with curried mayonnaise and Hara Bara kebab, vegetable tikka made with potatoes , peas, spinach and paneer combined with gram flour and pan fried for the vegetarian in our party.

Other items on the starters menu that caught my eye were Peshawari Bakra Tikka which consisted of diced spring lamb marinated in Punjabi spices and barbecued in a tandoor and Chilli Chingri, a great sounding dish of King prawns marinated with gram flour, chilli and garlic cooked in the heart of the tandoor. Either one (or both) of these will be my choice of starter next time – and there will definitely be a next time.

A big step forward for me but with such an extensive and tempting menu, it was time to try something at little more edgy and I’m so pleased I did.

For mains, there were separate menus for Murghi (poultry) detailing eighteen dishes, Bakra (lamb) with seventeen dishes and Sumunnddar

(sea food) with ten choices. Some dishes in each section were called Shearers, after the local legend himself and include a donation to the Alan Shearer Foundation. Apparently, Alan and Bob created the dishes together. Good on them both.

We dined regally on dishes of Karahi goshat, diced lamb cooked in Punjabi spices and tossed in an iron wok over a bed of onions served medium dry; Shearers, diced chicken cooked in Punjabi spices in a yoghurt and tomato based sauce, and Machar Joul, a speciality from Bengal with marinated monkfish pieces, barbequed and cooked in a medium spiced sauce. Oh wow.

Apart from being a very talented chef, Bob is probably one of the most industrious people on the Newcastle restaurant scene. Not only does he devote endless hours to the restaurant and the various schemes attached to it but he works hard away from it, preparing his speciality dishes at cooking demonstrations across the region.

Always well received by the public, Bob gets equal pleasure from these activities through meeting new people, seeing them enjoy foods they’ve never tried before and answering questions about his recipes. Thanks to Bob and Neeta, new generations are being introduced to Punjabi style cooking with a special local students menu.

With a history of prosperity, I am sure Sachins can look forward to a future of the same and knowing them like I do, it will endeavour to continue doing it with great panache and style.

Speaking of star quality, the restaurant was recently visited by Messrs Clarkson, Hammond and May formerly of BBC TV Top Gear fame.

Petrol-head Bob once auditioned and nearly got a presenters job on the show. Could that be who The Stig really is? Bob’s not telling!

Sachins has recently been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2015. This award is for UK restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from diners. It must be really satisfying for Bob when his culinary expertise is appreciated. It’s something the discerning people of Tyneside have all known for years – and long may it last.

Sachins in situated at Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne, (SatNav: NE1 3SG) T: 0191 232 4660

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LEISURE INSIGHT

Sunderland welcomes Indian Prince...

The launch of a new restaurant in Ashbrooke, Sunderland, was a huge success for Sunderland last night…

Yuvraaj restaurant opened to the public on July 23rd on Douro Terrace in Ashbrooke, bringing with it 17 new positions, including chefs, kitchen assistants, bar staff, waiting staff and office assistants.

The official opening saw more than 120 VIP guests treated to a Champagne reception, entertainment by the talented singer / songwriter Annabel Pattinson and a three course meal, courtesy of their talented chefs. The Mayor of Sunderland Councillor Barry Curran and Mayoress Karen Cullen officially opened the restaurant to guests.

Owner Monwar Hussain from Sunderland has invested £160,000 in a complete refurbishment of the destination restaurant, a move the team estimate will help the venue turn over more than £500,000 in its first year of business.

A raffle was held in aid of the Mayor’s three charities; Sunderland Mind, North East Disability Group and Sunderland Armed Forces Network,

which saw £200 raised.

Hussain told us: “We were overwhelmed with how many people turned out on the night – so much more than we could have ever anticipated.

It was challenging for the staff at times but this sets them in good stead for a busy future. They all coped under pressure and we’ve had some excellent feedback so far.

“I’d like to say a special thank you to the Mayor and Mayoress for officially opening the restaurant; it was great to have them involved in the night.”

Yuvraaj promises traditional Indian cuisine with western fusion influences and is opening in the shell of another former Indian restaurant; Cafe Spice.

Monwar concluded: “The building is beautiful and should provide the perfect setting for what we want to create. This linked to over 80 years between the owners in the catering industry means we are very excited for the future.”

The restaurant is open for bookings by calling 0191 510 2002 or visiting the website at www.yuvraajrestaurant.co.uk

Celebrate Christmas with an Indian Twist Winner

Diners’ Choice Award

Secret Diner Asian Restaurant of the Year

Haveli entices you to celebrate Christmas with an Indian twist. Our team has created special festive menus with dishes that use freshly ground Indian spices and locally sourced produce, all served to you and your guests in an elegant and festive setting.

CLASSIC MENU - 19.95 per person Start with our Chef’s selection of popular Street Snacks including samosas, onion bhaji bites and Kolhapuri chillies.

Followed by your choice of our Curry House Classics from a mildly spiced Korma to a fiery Vindaloo. Served with sides including Bombay Aloo, steamed Basmati rice and naan bread.

SIGNATURE MENU - 24.95 per person Enjoy our Chef’s selection of Signature starters including specialities from the tandoor like Prawn Ajwaini and Seekh Gilafi. This is followed by your choice from our Signature curries which include the ever popular Railway Lamb Curry made with slow braised Northumbrian lamb and our delicately spiced Goan King Prawns. Served with sides including Bombay Aloo, Dal Makhani, Basmati Pilau and a basket of assorted naans.

Both menus are served with poppadums and a selection of our delicious homemade chutneys.

The Classic and Signature Christmas menus are a treat for the tastebuds so don’t delay and book today.

PRIVATE DINING AVAILABLE For more intimate gatherings, Haveli boasts a 14 seat private dining room where guests will receive personal attention from their own dedicated wait staff.

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LEISURE INSIGHT

Keeping it in the family for the British Transplant Games

Joshua Crawley is volunteering at the Games, which was held at venues across the North East from July 30 to August 2, to support brother Alex, who was a competitor in the event.

Alex has already had two kidney transplants, and is now awaiting a donor for a third lifesaving operation. He receives dialysis treatment three times a week at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle as he awaits a kidney donor to be found.

The 27-year-old made history in 1991 when he became one of the youngest children ever to have a kidney transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, after being gifted a kidney by his dad Andrew.

Now Joshua, who has followed Alex around the world as he competed in Transplant Games, has got involved in the event in their native North East in support of his brave brother. As well as volunteering throughout the four-day event, Joshua also took part in the 5k Donor Run.

l-r: Joshua Crawley, Alex Crawley, Iona Sweeney

A young lawyer became a volunteer at the Westfield Health British Transplant Games NewcastleGateshead 2015 in support of his brother - a competitor in the event who made history when he received a kidney transplant as a child.

Joshua, a trainee solicitor at Newcastle law firm Sintons, was joined as a volunteer by his colleague Iona Sweeney, a registered UK Athletics Official who volunteers with Gateshead Harriers.

She has volunteered with them regularly since being diagnosed with cancer in 2012.

Joshua, 24, from Jesmond, said: “I am so proud of my brother and how he has coped with his kidney problems, the effects of which he has had to live with every day since he was born. He

is now awaiting a third transplant and we hope every day that a donor can be found soon.

“Alex has taken part in Transplant Games around the world since he was four years old and our family has always been there to support him.

I am really glad I have been able to get involved in the British Transplant Games in our home region, to be able to participate alongside him.”

Iona, from Gateshead, has dedicated herself to volunteering since being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, and undergoing five operations and lengthy treatment subsequently.

She said: “While I was off work during that time, I realised that I wanted to do a lot more for other people, and to give something back to my community. I now work with the Gateshead Harriers on a weekly basis and as a registered UK Athletics Official, I volunteer at as many other events as I can.

“At Sintons, I am hugely passionate about being involved in as many community and fundraising projects as I can – the firm were so amazing to me from the moment I was diagnosed, that doing my bit is my way of giving something back to them as well.”

Every 10 minutes, somebody’s name gets added to the donor waiting list whilst three people die every day because they can’t get the organ they need. In the North East alone there are currently more than 300 people waiting for transplants. To join the NHS Organ Donor Register and help save lives TEXT: SAVE to 62323, call 0300 123 2323 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.

To find out more about the Westfield Health British Transplant Games 2015 please visit www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk.

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LEISURE INSIGHT

Hotel Indigo

Michael Grahamslaw reviews Newcastle’s newest 4-star hotel

I am reminded every day that our region is a wonderful place in which to live and work.

London cannot compare to the vibrant city of Newcastle and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Why would I as I have the greatest job in the world getting to sample and review all the areas in-places and hotspots for Northern Insight’s enquiring readers.

This month was no exception as we booked into the Hotel Indigo, Newcastle’s newest four-star, boutique hotel, to experience everything it had to offer.

Positioned in the Grainger Town area the hotel boasts an enviable city centre location. It is conveniently located just a couple of minutes from Newcastle’s Central Station, a 10 minute walk from the hallowed turf of the Newcastle United Football Club as well the many shops, bars and attractions of Newcastle City Centre such as the Theatre Royal and The Sage Gateshead cultural centre.

The design of the hotel has been heavily influenced by its location within the historic Grainger Town area. Features within the hotel include bold geometric forms and repetitive patterns to mimic the rows of columns that can be seen within the local neighbourhood. As a hotspot for cutting-edge architecture, the Grainger Town area is the ideal destination for what is set to be a cutting-edge hotel. It has a very impressive façade externally and upscale features internally which includes contemporary rooms with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and work desks as well as mini-fridges, tea and coffee-making facilities, access to a cocktail lounge, an exercise room (for those who must) and a business centre (for those that have to) as well as the much vaunted Marco Pierre White 100-seater Steakhouse Bar & Grill.

Following their demise in the 70s, there is a huge resurgence in steakhouses and Hotel Indigo obviously has its finger on the nation’s culinary pulse by including such a prestigious one inhouse.

This sleek and sexy celebrity steakhouse takes gastronomy to a new level. Offering what Marco himself describes as ‘affordable glamour’, the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill offers diners world-class food in an environment that is fun and informal. We checked in with high expectations and these were well placed following a very cheery welcome before being shown to our super fourth floor room complete with a private balcony. We put this to very good use by having a livener before showering and going down to dinner. Looking out, we just couldn’t believe that we were in the centre of Newcastle. Great stuff.

Marco Pierre White restaurants aim to be all about the experience; the buzz, the atmosphere and enjoying the company of friends and family in sumptuous, comfortable surroundings. Well, they certainly proved the point very well indeed as we were shown to a highly prized corner booth.

Its menus reflected this with a range of tastes, textures and flavours along with an incredible wine list featuring full-bodied wines, champagnes, ports and ales for diners’ delectation.

After drinking in the atmosphere first before ordering the wine, we went all 70s (but without

the flares) and settled on a prawn cocktail, one of the largest I have ever seen, and a Beetroot and goat’s cheese salad with a walnut dressing which vanished very quickly before I had a chance to sample it. For mains we had fillet steak (what else would you order in a steakhouse?) and this was one the finest this steak aficionado has ever tasted. Sublime and truly memorable. This had been a great meal and whilst replete, we thought it was our duty to look at the dessert menu. It would have been rude not to. So that is exactly what we did – look. Even our favourite puddings of classic New York baked cheesecake with fresh passion fruit sauce or the Chicago warm chocolate brownie with milk ice cream or the stickiest of all sticky toffee puddings with vanilla ice cream couldn’t tempt us so we settled on coffee and liqueurs. This rounded off a great evening and a great meal.On returning to our room, there had been a momentary outage of power which was quickly resolved and the hotel sent up two glasses of wine by way of an apology. Now that is what I call service and attention to detail. A nice touch and great PR. The hotel management and staff are certainly on the ball in every conceivable way. Well done to them. This hotel is a great addition to the north east area and deserves our support.This had been a first class visit and everything you would expect from a top four star hotel. It ticked all the boxes for all the right reasons.

Hotel Indigo is situated at 2-8 Fenkle St, Newcastle upon Tyne, T: 0191 300 9222.

SatNav: NE1 5XU (car parking is available to the rear of the hotel).

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LEISURE INSIGHT

LEISURE INSIGHT

Steak Heaven by Michael Grahamslaw

Ramside Hall Hotel in Durham is the perfect venue for award-winning dining in luxurious surroundings. Ideally located on the outskirts of Durham City centre and only 400 metres from junction 62 off the A1 (M,) it is Durham’s highest rated privately owned four star hotel. Set in a superb location in 350 acres of private grounds and surrounded by two 18-hole championship golf courses, its award-winning restaurant offers one of the finest dining venues in Durham.

There are many dining options available at the hotel but he jewel in its crown however, is undoubtedly The Rib Room Steakhouse & Grill which was recently awarded an AA rosette.

As its name suggests, steaks are the house speciality, courtesy of some cuts of fine Durham Beef which have been matured for 28 – 32 days.

This is proven to produce a succulent and tender steak. Although steaks obviously take centre stage at The Rib Room, it is not all that is on offer and fish and pasta dishes are also available for an allround dining experience no matter what your taste.

Its extensive wine cellar, is also something to behold with over fifty carefully selected wines chosen to accompany any dish perfectly.

Prices start from just £17.95 a bottle. See www. ramsidehallhotel.co.uk for full details.

The Rib Room has booth seating available for an authentic Western steakhouse feel and its unique meat locker openly displays the exceptionally high quality meat that is served in the restaurant. You can almost pick your own steak.

As it transpired, my prospective new business clients are all confirmed carnivores, hopefully

a good omen for the future. You can only make a good first impression once and this is just the place to do it!

On the balmy summer’s evening of our visit, the restaurant already had a lovely buzz about the place which is always a good sign.

Ordering off the Classic Menu, my guests and I chose the oak smoked salmon, moules mariniere, prawn cocktail and oysters for starters. Generous portions were definitely the order of the day. This was followed by fillet and sirloin steaks which were absolutely superb and cooked to perfection.

A good bottle of Malbec at a reasonable price perfectly complemented our meal. This was dining heaven and very much appreciated by all around the table. As a self-confessed steak aficionado, I really must do this again – and soon.

The Rib Room Steakhouse and Grill has also gained a reputation for its Sunday lunches with a menu offering a choice of starters and main courses alongside the traditional Sunday roasts and homemade desserts. Again, something for all tastes.

Innovatively, it also offers first time diners different dining opportunities to sample what’s available with special offers. For example, its Sunday and Monday Steak Offer includes a choice

of 2 x 8oz rump or rib eye steaks with a bottle of House Wine for just £34.95 per couple. Thursday Surf & Turf Offer includes 2 x 8oz rump or rib eye steaks with half a roast lobster plus a bottle of house wine for £44.95 per couple. TFor those on a tight budget, this is a good way of dining at a top venue as diners know exactly what the meal with wine is going to cost beforehand and there are no nasty surprises when the bill arrives.

The ladies are also well looked after with its Friday is Ladies Night promotion. This ensures they receive a complimentary glass of champagne when ordering a starter and main course. Sounds like a winner to me!

Additional special offers include live music in Pemberton’s Rotisserie every Friday and Saturday night between 8.30pm - 10.00pm when two main courses are on offer for just £10.00! On a Monday to Saturday basis and between 3.00pm - 6.00pm, the same venue also has a Carvery offer with main course and any dessert for only £7.95. All special offers are obviously subject to availability and are not available in conjunction with any other promotion.

Ramside Hall’s sister hotel, Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield, also has a Rib Room Steakhouse and Grill for those living in the southern part of the region.

To reserve a table for lunch, dinner or afternoon tea, contact the hotel reception on 0191 3865282 or for the Rib Room make an online booking at reservations@ramsidehallhotel.co.uk Ramside Hall Hotel is situated at Carrville, Durham, T: 0191 386 5282: (For SatNav: DH1 1TD – ample free car parking)

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A HOTEL FOR ALL OCCASIONS Located in Newcastle city centre it is the perfect location for all your business needs. From informal coffee meetings and accommodation to gala dinners, we have it all covered.

Your ideal base in the heart of the city, opposite all key transport links for rail, metro and road.

• Grade II listed Victorian grandeur, sympathetically refurbished in a contemporary style • Directly opposite Newcastle central station • 114 bedrooms, including 9 deluxe rooms and a junior suite • 10 meetings and event rooms - max capacity of 200 theatre style, including 4 newly refurbished executive boardrooms • Rendezvous restaurant & cocktail bar • Pavement cafe • Car park on site (19 spaces - chargeable) • Complimentary access to Eldon leisure (off site)

CALL US ON 0871 376 9029

or email county@thehotelcollection.co.uk thehotelcollection.co.uk Neville Street, Newcastle, NE1 5DF Follow us

LEISURE INSIGHT

Double Tree by Hilton is a class act Michael Grahamslaw sees double.

With more than 400 hotels in 33 different countries and overseas territories, the Hilton’s Double Tree brand successfully spans the bridge between business and leisure requirements with the usual classy Hilton style and panache.

Opened in 2011, the 4-star Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Newcastle is a perfect place to stay either for a short stopover for a business meeting in Newcastle or to use as a base to explore an area rich in history.

On arrival, you can clearly see from this upscale strikingly contemporary building that this is not just another airport hotel. It is very imposing and oozes class.

Only a two minute walk from Newcastle International Airport and its Metro station, guests are well within striking distance of all the City’s attractions, shopping centres and of course, its renowned night life. As we all know, Newcastle loves a party!

Each of the hotel’s attractive, modern guest rooms feature 37” Flat-screen LCD TVs, free WiFi and mini-fridges, as well as custom-designed beds, tea and coffee making facilities and even an MP3 alarm clock radio so you can awake to your own choice of music. It certainly beats the incessant drivel issuing forth from the breakfast show presenters. All is designed for the creature comfort of its guests. Some rooms even have interesting runway views through perfectly sound-proofed windows but it’s definitely a case of seen and not heard. No sleepless nights here.

Other on-site attractions include a sleek, wood-panelled pub and a chic Italian eatery as well as a fitness centre. Business facilities include a ballroom for conferences, meeting rooms with angled windows and a business centre with all modern day business requirements.

Visitors can stay connected with wireless internet access at the spacious in-room desk and a restful night’s sleep is guaranteed by the Sweet Dreams by DoubleTree bed. I can personally vouch for its irresistible charms.

It also boasts a tempting in-house dining venue called Fratellos restaurant which serves great Italian cuisine and freshly prepared local favourites for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After unpacking and showering for our overnight stay, this is where we headed.

With my daughter Holly away,

Lisa and I took our son Jack out for a treat as it has been a mad month for all of us. There’s a lot of pressure on University students these days and it inevitably takes its toll so we thought a night out away from it all would be a relaxing break for him – and us.

We sat down at our table somewhat tired and subdued and it was very obvious that some good old comfort food was in order. To get us into the mood, we kicked off with a sharing platter of chargrilled vegetables served with warm artisan breads and a choice of three toppings e.g. chorizo, goats cheese or prosciutto etc. plus a sharing garlic bread topped with Mozzarella and caramelised onion. That did the trick and smiles were returning. For mains we chose pasta Arrabiatta, a hot and spicy dish that certainly worked its magic on me, whilst crab ravioli in a rich shellfish bisque and a substantial looking 10 oz rump steak served with a rich, dark Barolo sauce was the choice of Lisa and Jack. We had already ordered our mains when I noticed that king prawns in garlic butter were on the menu which would have been an option had I had seen it.

Our conversation was obviously overheard by a waitress who must have informed the chef as a side plate of the said dish duly arrived for us all to sample. Now that’s what I call attentive service.

Other eye-catching dishes on the menu included lamb fricassee, oven roasted lamb with peas, beans, baby onions and pan gravy (mmm!) and a barbequed pulled pork (all the rage these days) pizza on a BBQ base, roast peppers and taleggio, an Italian cows’ milk soft cheese with a mild fruity flavour, that I must try. Those dishes along with the gambaretti in garlic butter of course and if I’m honest, probably everything else on the menu as well actually.

Although we really should not have done, we rounded off a super meal with Fratellos tiramisu and a slice of dark chocolate and cherry torte, but all in the interest of culinary research you understand. I’ve arrived at the conclusion that there is

absolutely no hope for my waistline as there is so much great food to eat and so little time in which to eat it all. I have to face facts; I’m a total foodie that just needs a wardrobe of bigger clothes, that’s all!

With Jack, Lisa and I fully re-energised, we said our farewells and headed home ready for the new week and anything it throws at us. Well, almost anyway!

This hotel is a class act but don’t just take my word for it. Simply research the hotel and Fratellos before you book on www.hilton.com/Newcastle or phone: 01661 824266 for further information.

Double-by Hilton Hotel, Newcastle Airport, is situated in Woolsington, Newcastle upon Tyne.

(SatNav: NE13 8BZ).

LEISURE INSIGHT

Crowne Plaza Newcastle is open for business Newcastle’s newest luxury hotel, Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter is open for business, bringing a fantastic new leisure, accommodation, conference and banqueting and spa facility to the heart of the bustling city centre

and three treatment rooms. Spa visitors will be pampered with a selection of holistic sensory treatments from the sumptuous Germaine de Capuccini skincare range. The gym within Mineral House will be fully equipped with the latest TECHNO GYM machines and personal trainers will be on-hand to advise and train in dietary and fitness requirements. It will also offer a modern take on exercise using the city for urban obstacle training. In addition to Mineral House the hotel will have a Run Station that will supply fresh fruit and towels along with a Newcastle City run map of suggested routes for all running abilities.

The impressive seven-storey, 251-bed hotel on Hawthorn Square, Forth Street boasts a plush interior, including a magnificent 25m glass atrium which provides panoramic views of the city from all levels of the building.

Bedrooms are elegantly equipped with extra features such as high quality double showers, a Club level and lounge. 14 luxury suites, four with separate lounges, but all with balconies will provide great ‘blue sky’ panoramic views and ‘fresh thinking’ air! Wireless internet access will be complimentary to all IHG reward guests and individual Wi-Fi signals for each bedroom allows for uninterrupted and reliable internet connection.

Andrew Fox, general manager at Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter, said: “The operational team and I have been working behind the scenes on site for over six months and have witnessed the amazing transformation from a building site to a luxury hotel. We have a brilliant team in place and a hotel and leisure experience which brings something completely new to the centre of Newcastle. I’m looking forward to welcoming both business and leisure tourists to enjoy what we are so proud to be able to offer.”

Conferencing and events facilities at Crowne plaza Newcastle are among the best in the business with purpose-built, flexible meetings rooms, a high AV spec and special break-out areas that come with the IHG hallmark of a dedicated meetings director for business events. The uniquely-shaped Stephenson Suite seats and caters for around 400 people while eight adaptable meeting rooms accommodate small seminars of 12 people up to large private meetings of 32 and delegate meetings of 100.

The hotel will open its doors as the city prepares to host three Rugby World Cup 2015 matches and the thousands of visiting fans from across the world in October. Bookings are also being taken for festive celebrations which will see the hotel roll out the red carpet for its first Christmas. Plans include Festive Party nights in a themed room with delicious food and DJ – prices start from £35. There will also be a special Christmas Day Lunch and a New Year’s Eve Ball that is set to become the talk of the city – all provided with special accommodation rates. During December Hawthorns brasserie will offer festive lunches with wine and drink packages.

Hawthorns restaurant and bar is the perfect place to either network or unwind with colleagues and friends. The chic brasserie serves North East regionally-inspired cuisine in informal and relaxed surrounding while The GIN Bar offers something unique to the region – the opportunity to ‘engineer’ your own Martini where customer can choose the liquor, the garnish and the way it is mixed and served…there’s more than 20,000 options!

Mineral House is the hotel’s luxurious spa, pool and gymnasium.

Facilities include a 10-metre feature pool, spa pool, steam room, gymnasium

Crowne Plaza Newcastle’s events team can take the stress out of planning and organising something to suit your needs.

For more information or to book, contact the hotel on 02843 053130 or email NCLSQ.MEETINGS@IHG.COM

Crowne Plaza Newcastle’s events team can take the stress out of planning and organising something to suit your needs.

For more information or to book, contact the hotel on 02843 053130 or email NCLSQ.MEETINGS@IHG.COM

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LEISURE INSIGHT

A local golfing gem are looking for elitist golf with a snobby outlook then Ravensworth probably isn’t for you.

Like many clubs the age profile has gone upwards over the years but recent concerted efforts with schools and within the local community has seen an upsurge in new members from a younger generation. The club currently boasts three County players that have come through the free junior coaching and support programme run by the club and the latest batch of youngsters promises to produce even more in the coming seasons.

It offers members and visitors quality golf at affordable prices. The clubhouse and restaurant both offer value for money and the views from the balcony across the valley below are stunning.

This fantastic golf course with views overlooking the Angel of the North is one of the oldest in Tyne & Wear having been around since 1906. It boasts 18 very individual holes many of which were redesigned by the world famous Dr Alistair Mackenzie who also designed Augusta National, the home of the Masters.

The course layout caters for all standards of golfer, with some long par 4’s which are a real test, interspersed with some shorter holes which gives the higher handicapper a chance to recover shots. The club is true to the Geordie culture which is friendly warm and welcoming whilst still retaining traditions of fairness and respect. If you

Unlike many clubs, Ravensworth do take weekend visitor bookings and discounted rates are available for larger parties. The club is easily accessible from the A1 just South of Gateshead and 10 miles North of Durham turning off at the Angel of the North roundabout making it an ideal meeting point.

Memberships and sponsorship packages are available for the rest of the year and into next season.

All enquiries should go to secretary@ravensworthgolfclub.co.uk

Wedding Fayre Sunday 1st November 12-3pm

Call for details

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LEISURE INSIGHT

Are carbs the enemy?

James Milburn, is owner and head trainer of James Milburn Training in Ponteland.

He is an award-winning nutritionist, sports coach, lecturer and former UK athlete.

Carbohydrates are used as energy by the body; they fuel our workouts, as well as providing ample fuel to be used throughout the course of the day. Ingesting carbs also replenishes our glucose and glycogen stores to prevent fatigue.

Carbs are not the villain they are often made out to be, but as most of us experience varied levels of carb sensitivity, eating the wrong foods and at the wrong times, however, can cause carbs to be stored as fat. Whilst they’re not not essential to the body, carbohydrates do make dieting, and eating in general, a lot easier and more pleasurable... as long as they are derived from the “proper” sources.

Proper sources means choosing carbohydrates full of fibre, which get absorbed slowly into our systems, avoiding spikes in blood sugar levels.

Choose wholegrains, vegetables, fruits and beans.

If the only change you made to your diet was to eliminate or cut down on processed food, you would still lose a lot of fat, and look and feel much better for it. Never eat carbs within an hour of waking or going to bed, opt for protein instead.

Sugar laden processed foods are always bad, and they are comprised mostly of carbs, and ‘bad’ fat.

In turn, they should have no place in a serious healthy diet.

Concentrate on eating lean meats, poultry, fish, oils and fats but be aware that you should not look to entirely eliminate carbs from your diet. The brain needs a certain amount of carbs to function optimally, and no/low carb diets can also

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TRAVEL INSIGHT Michael Grahamslaw meets

Alex Nelson, Station Master with Chester Le Track What was your earliest ambition?

Describe a typical day

I suppose to become the cashier at the Bank of England when I realised I would not have to sign every banknote!

I’m pleased to say I don’t have one. The thought terrifies me!

What is your best business achievement

Whilst at Durham University I worked during vacations at London’s Victoria Coach Station during coach deregulation, the ultimate holiday job and good money too. I joined the National Bus Company’s Senior Management Training Scheme and was attached to Eastern Counties Omnibus Company in Norwich for two years, and transferred to the north east in 1985.

I suppose buying Chester Le Street station and transforming it from a derelict site into a thriving rail hub from which you can purchase tickets to anywhere.

This is closely followed by taking over and improving Eaglescliffe station which has enjoyed similar success.

What do you most enjoy?

The sheer variety of my work and meeting lots of people. The rail industry is in great shape with more people travelling than in the 1920s heyday. Figures have doubled since we opened Chester-le-Street’s ticket office with safety records being at an all time high within the industry. Long may they remain that way.

Who has inspired you in your career?

Not a well known figure by any means but Eric Martin, Area Manager (South East) of London Country Bus Services was a fine manager who was prepared to help me start as a loading reporter at the age of 15 and encouraged me to go into the bus business and taught me much about it.

What is the best piece of business advice you have received?

Undoubtedly from my father...write everything down as the worst handwriting survives the best memory!

And the worst?

When I was looking at the Eaglescliffe project Business Link (of blessed memory!) told me no grants were available and I would have to finance it myself. This was complete nonsense as Network Rail, Northern Rail, Grand Central, Stockton Borough Council and Tees Valley Unlimited all contributed to create a greatly expanded station and car park.

Where do you want to be in 5 years time?

Still alive but the details I’d rather not know!

Favourite Book?

I’ve just finished David Starkey’s book on Magna Carta - I’ve never been gripped by thirteenth century history before.

Favourite CD? Anything by Richard Hawley

Favourite Film The Outsiders - so many young stars who later made big film careers.

How do you relax?

Travelling by train of course! I get out on the mountain bike on the former rail lines, and my wife wants me to spend more time at home.

www.chester-le-track.co.uk

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TRAVEL INSIGHT

Vibrant Vancouver Stanley Park

by Travel Writer, Ken Spearen

Canada Place Cruise Terminal

T

he city of Vancouver is a vibrant and safe tourist destination for the adventurous. Unlike the US, its noisy neighbour, Canada, and in particular BC, is much more laid-back. With a population of over 2m in Greater Vancouver of which ¾m live in the City itself, this thriving and bustling coastal seaport complete with modern cruise terminal is the third most populous area in Canada.

Originally home to the indigenous Squamish, Musqueam and Tsail-Waututh Indian tribes some 8,000-10,000 years ago, the original settlement began with the advent of the famous Fraser Gold Rush in1858 which brought over 25,000 men, mainly from California, to a nearby canyon on the Fraser River in search of riches.

Vancouver is among British Columbia’s youngest cities and the first European settlement (in what is now Vancouver) was only established in 1862. Hastings Mill on the North Shore basically began the city’s long relationship with logging and in 1867, this sawmill and a makeshift tavern connected to it by a single plank spanning two tree stumps was the basis around which a new colony grew. It was called Gastown back then and was named after Gassy Jack (don’t ask!), one of its earliest settlers. In this somewhat inauspicious place, trading stores for miners and hotels mushroomed fuelled by the demands of the gold rush and it became the nucleus around which today’s Vancouver grew. From humble beginnings, Vancouver has developed into one of today’s top tourist and shopping destinations.

The residents of Vancouver don’t do too badly for themselves either as it is consistently named as one of the top five cities in the world to live in for its quality of life. And we could all do with some of that!

In recent times, Vancouver has hosted the

British Empire Commonwealth Games 1954 and the prestigious Expo 86, which really put the City firmly on the world map. Since then it has hosted the Winter Olympics in 2010 and is currently hosting the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in which the England team is doing well. Go Girls!

While forestry remains its largest industry, Vancouver is well known as an urban centre surrounded by Mother Nature at its finest, making tourism its second-largest industry.

With so many diverse tourist attractions, it would take six months to experience them all but my top six must-see venues are listed below.

As witnessed by the many totem poles still standing in Stanley Park, it was originally home to an indigenous Indian tribe and is a real beauty spot that attracts nearly 8 million visitors each year. Featuring numerous lovely beaches, miles of well-maintained paved and dirt trails, as well as Canada’s largest aquarium and an array of child-friendly spots (including a pool, water-park, miniature railway and more), this 1,000-acre haven is recognized as one of the greatest urban parks in the world.

Capilano Suspension Bridge is a simple suspension bridge that is not for the faint-hearted.

In the style of an Indiana Jones movie, it is 140 metres long and swings (literally) 70 metres above the Capilano River in North Vancouver. Its cliff walk is also amazingly terrifying - but in a good way.

Grouse Mountain is one of the North Shore Mountains of the Pacific Ranges. Exceeding 1,200 m (4,000 feet) in altitude at its peak, it is serviced by cable cars, chairlifts and 60mph zip wires. Great views for those without a nervous disposition.

Gastown steam driven clock. Raymond Saunders’ first steam clock was built in 1977 to solve the issue of a steam vent in a popular

Capilano Suspension Bridge

sidewalk for the renovated Victorian Gastown district. It incorporates a steam engine with electric motors and the clock displays the time on four faces. It announces itself every 15 minutes with a whistle chime.

Vancouver’s Chinatown is the largest in Canada and a popular tourist attraction being one of the largest historic Chinatowns in North America. Amazing authentic food and souvenirs abound.

Kitsilano Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Vancouver, especially in the warm summer months where you can somehow combine sunbathing whilst looking at snowtopped mountains Tip: When in BC, two of the best value souvenirs to bring home are carved BC Jade objects and hand-painted Chinese eggs. Superb quality and reasonably priced too.

We stayed at the Westin Wall Hotel in Richmond which is basically equidistant from Vancouver International Airport and the City centre. This 188-room tastefully furnished, modern Starwood Hotel has 15 floors featuring floor-to-ceiling bedroom windows for some great panoramic views. It is ideally placed to use as a base for all that Vancouver has to offer. Two big fashion outlet shopping centres are within walking distance. It is also the hotel that top cruise companies put their overnight guests prior to cruising so consistent quality is assured. I particularly liked its light and airy Apron Restaurant with great food and service with a smile.

For a myriad of reasons, Vancouver is a great tourist destination. It has all tourism requirements covered from beaches, accessible mountains, canyons and beautiful scenery to cultural museums, nightlife, shopping and even panning for gold.

My grateful thanks go to Nicole at the Vancouver tourist office for her help and use of the Barberstock pix.

For further info on what Vancouver has to offer, log onto www.tourismvancouver.com

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Cliff walk at Capilano Canyon

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HEALTH INSIGHT

Whatever your diet, respect your ‘Micro-Biome’

Don’t compromise your gut health says Be Fits Antonia Pellegrino Freeman.

Paleo, primal, vegetarian, vegan, calorie counting, tracking macro nutrients, low fat, high fat, ketogenic, low sugar?

There are so many diets in the media, it is no wonder that people are confused about what is best.

In my experience, people focus too much on calories, macros, meal times but ignore the most important thing, gut health.

can cause a whole host of issues. Wind, bloating, stomach cramps, brain fog, mood swings, depression, joint pain, constipation, diarrhoea, fat gain/ fat loss, skin problems are just a few signs of a compromised gut health.

I ncrease fibre. Eat your greens. Aim for around 8 portions of fibrous veggies a day. Try adding chia seeds or flax seeds to shakes and smoothies. Fibre helps with gut transit and detoxification.

Many people want to drop fat from the abdominals, muffin top and legs. If your body is internally stressed or toxic, fat loss will not be the bodies main priority.

E at prebiotics. Prebiotics are foods such as artichokes, onions, garlic, these give the good bacteria a nice environment to live in.

I recently attended the online Healthy Gut Summit. Hosted by the top nutritional experts and functional medicine doctors in the USA. Including Dr. Leonard Smith, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Tom OBryan and Donna Gates.

Before you embark on a new diet or fat loss plan, you should address the health of your micro biome. Firstly consult your GP to see if they can run tests for you, if gut health is something that you are concerned about.

The buzz word was ‘micro biome’. Basically, our internal gut eco system. To put it crudely, we have hundreds of trillions of bacteria in our micro biome. The small intestine alone is around 23 feet long.

We need a lot of the so called ‘good bacteria’ to balance the system. Many of our diets are rich in sugar and this actually feeds the ‘bad bacteria’.

We live in a world of anti bacterials, which can also affect our internal good bacteria.

It is common in our society to find many people with gut dysbiosis (poor gut health), leaky gut, yeast overgrowth, IBS, food sensitivities, to name a few.

If your gut is imbalanced and unhappy, it

Here are a few tips that may help you with gut health.

D iscover your food sensitivities. I use a system called Health Kinesiology to muscle test foods.

H ydrate with filtered water. The gut needs water to move the toxins along.

L imit exposure to toxins such as; processed food, additives, sugar.

E at good fat. Such as; coconut oil, grass fed organic butter and omega 3 fish oil.

L imit gluten (wheat, rye, barley, spelt, oats) as these can be inflammatory to the gut.

E at fermented food for natural probiotics.

Foods such as sauerkraut, pickled veggies, kimchi are great natural probiotics. Try to avoid those made in vinegar, but increase those in brine (salt water fermented).

You can also make your own kefir from starter kits available online, or buy ready made kefir yogurt. This is another way to get good bacteria on track.

Pre and probiotics are especially important if you have been prescribed antibiotics as these can kill the good guys too!

If your palette is not ready for the fizzy, sour taste of fermented foods, aim for a multi strain capsule. The supermarket yogurt alternatives can be loaded with sugar which can feed the ‘bad bacteria’.

At Be-fit, we can do a simple zinc test. Zinc is an important nutrient for muscle building, immune system and nutrient absorption. We also offer digestive enzyme tests and a range of beneficial nutritional support.

To see how you can be healthy from the inside out, call us on 0191 2135300. As with all of our advice, consult your GP before starting a new regime. Or if you have concerns about your health. www.be-fit.co.uk

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LEISURE INSIGHT

Wraith & Cox are Relentless in giving back to the business community Amalgamations of friendships and business nous can go a long way, and in the corporate world it’s good to keep those in the know close to you.

For Steve Wraith and Danny Cox at Relentless Promotions it was a logical transferral from what they did individually, to what they do as a combined force, and, with long-term sponsors Grosvenor Casino and Ideala Health onside for the long-haul the dynamic duo are building bridges to last.

Combining what they had from their previous business ventures, Wraith Promotions and Precision Sports, the pair flexed their muscles to maximum effect to the benefit of not only the paying customer but also the corporate industry, ensuring that, in the business world, there is still time to relax and give clients that little more.

“At the time both Wraith Promotions and Precision Sports were vying for the same type of event promotions in the area but, with the friendship spanning some fifteen plus years it was a logical step to make to join forces and become Relentless,” began Steve. “I learnt a lot when I set up my first business, Players Inc. (with Andrew Brewster and Joe Allon) before going solo with Wraith Promotions which arrived like a phoenix from the ashes. I was reluctant to name a business using my own but it ultimately proved worthwhile and I took things to the next level.

“Danny meanwhile was setting up Precision Sports and we did the Exhibition Darts event at the Federation Brewery which not only opened my eyes but I thoroughly enjoyed it. We worked really well together and it started us both thinking that we could do more and ended up promoting a lot over the next year or so. It made sense that we combine forces and, although I

was initially nervous to begin with we’re settled now and it’s come together nicely with our combined contacts and business nous.”

With events the biggest that’s been promoted would be ‘Entertainers Re-United’ (October 2011) and ‘Mike Tyson’ (October 2012). Now they’ll present evenings with Robin Reid and Frank Harper, Ossies Boys, Anthony Joshua, and Paul Gascoigne to name a few.

Reid and Harper combined is, in itself, a once in a lifetime opportunity; Ossies Boys is great for Newcastle United fans with the area being a hotbed for the sport and this is a rare treat, something different. They are events where Grosvenor and Ideala help play a big part.

“A lot of the events we’ve promoted would not have been possible though without the support of Ideala Health and Grosvenor Casino,” continued Steve, “and it’s an added bonus with the Casino as a sponsor as they have great facilities we can use as well that have housed press conferences , weigh-ins and after parties. Jacob meanwhile has helped with some fantastic sponsorship at events both with the fighters and providing nutritional support there, and the support he’s given at local amateur football side, Dunston UTS.” A big part of the services is relayed around the Grosvenor and their Business Development Manager, Cheryl Flowers, has been a great support over the past five years or so. The Casino was also seen to play a visible part when Matchroom and Sky Sports came to Newcastle earlier this year.

“There’s always an element of apprehension at the beginning of any business partnership but with Steve and Danny there’s not been any

event that hasn’t been a success,” said Cheryl.

“Here at the Grosvenor we’re not just a gaming venue, we have the function space to host any type of event and, with us being a 24/7 venue, people can enjoy the atmosphere a lot more as well.

“As a company we’re exceptionally keen to support talent, local and otherwise so we’re looking forward to this, and future offerings, especially as we’re the leading, land-based casino in the country with 57. That’s why we supported ‘Geordie Roar’ to the hilt for it was a great stage to be involved with, especially the size of the event and the exposure provided.”

At Ideala Health in the heart of Newcastle city centre, Jacob Ideala has come a long way since he arrived in toon around 2006. Always appreciative and understanding of those around him he added that, “working with Steve has been one of those relationships that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed since I arrived in Newcastle nearly ten years ago and he took a big chance on me which I’m appreciative of.

“I’ve been working on different projects with them for around seven years now and always found them to be ethical, trustworthy, loyal and good friends and business associates.

They always seem to put a lot of emphasis on the events in which they promote and it helps others, as businesses, to build a brand alongside them.

“The first event I worked alongside Steve on was probably the Howard Marks event which was nothing short of amazing, especially for someone like me, a little-known businessman.

It’s just really great to work with them and be able to meet people you wouldn’t normally do.”

To contact Relentless Promotions visit www.relentlesspromotions.co.uk, telephone 0191 2299618 or email info@relentlesspromotions.co.uk