new members

summer 22 new members

who’s joined recently

Martin Anderson, Lesley Wratten Lemon Contact Centre Bruce Durham Huddle Culture Graeme Tennick Tennick Accountants Natasha McDonough MMC Research & Marketing Jack Atha, Tom Atha Atha Developments Marie Ranson Key Wellbeing Elaine Jordan Extension Recruitment Kim Davis Explain Market Research Jaimie Longmuir USAsports.co.uk Graham Robson Business Doctors Stephen Meenaghan StoZone Laura Hepburn Greenology Steven Parker Causal Effect Rob Smith William Smith Group 1832 Paul Wilson EDM Zone Scott Savin, Paul Milner ALT STUDIOS Louise Kennedy Oculus HR Peter Williams, Adam Smith, Craig Wood Smart Manufacturing Solutions Diana Bourke Echo-U Emma Walker EW Estates Kimberley Cattin WBCo Jon Dudgeon, Dave Gibson Blu Sky Tax Peter Mallon North East Times Lee Durham durhamlane Elliot Smith, Brigitte Keatings, Tom Smith Ringtons Chris Park Park Corporate Insurance Brokers Alan Easton Boxmodel John Devitt Recovery4Life Joe Thompson TT Industrial Dale Smith The SDDE Smith Group Di Gates Stick Theory Andrew Greenwell BMNE Lizzie Adamson-Brown Travel Counsellors Sarah Pittendrigh Sarah Pittendrigh Coaching Kevin and Sarah Howell Howell Technology Group Jeni Smith NetKno John Jones Tyneside Training Services

Scott Savin and Paul Milner ALT STUDIOS

What does your business do? Both: ALT STUDIOS embodies a genuine desire to maintain a point of difference in a growing world of homogeneous approaches and soulless solutions by providing an alternative to the mainstream. We are a driven team specialising in, but not limited to, high quality, design-led architecture and bespoke interiors. We create experiences – influenced by a curiosity in context, lifestyle and culture. We help transform people’s lives and businesses through carefully crafted design, grounded in rigorous research and a devotion to detail. What was the attraction of joining the Entrepreneurs' Forum? Both: The opportunity to mix with a large eclectic community of business owners and like-minded people, both formally and informally, as well as benefitting from the mentorship programme. What do you hope to achieve with the Entrepreneurs' Forum? Both: Ultimately, we want to engage and learn from inspiring entrepreneurs beyond the field of architecture to broaden our knowledge of the business world. If you weren’t doing what you do now, what do you think you would be doing? Scott: Product Designer or Property Developer (nearly diverted after the first architectural degree to the latter). Paul: Fashion Designer or Graphic Designer (naively thought I could concurrently study fashion design alongside architecture!). What was your first job? Paul: Hotel porter. Scott: Police line-up participant (never as a suspect!). What is something most people don’t know about you? Paul: Ever since combing through Dad’s Science and Engineering exercise books from the 60s and 70s I’ve been fascinated with abstract book covers – particularly the work of Willi Baum and Fred Troller. Scott: Throughout my teens I was an avid basketball player, so much so, in wanting to further my knowledge, I even undertook my coaching qualification at age 14. I was by far the youngest one there! Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with? Paul: Table for three. Always admired the unwavering integrity and critical confidence of Austrian architect and

theorist, Adolf Loos, countered with the experimental, yet influential thinking/practice of Brian Eno. Scott: Since I was young I’ve always been a big fan of Richard Branson and his outlook and zest for life… he’s the epitome of an entrepreneur and would no doubt be good entertainment. What are you most proud of? Paul: Aside from taking the leap and establishing ALT STUDIOS, I’d say designing and delivering the multiaward winning headquarter building for tombola on the banks of the River Wear, Sunderland. Scott: Biting the bullet and starting our own business. How do you unwind or deal with stress? Paul: I’m quite disciplined at leaving stress at work and unwinding by spending quality time with my wife and two children. Scott: Typically, I get out of the studio and go for a walk to get some fresh air… but if it’s a particularly bad day the whisky may get opened. If you had a time machine, where would you go and why? Paul: A casual stroll through the Roman Forum, Rome to appreciate it in all its glory and purest form. Scott: When I was eleven my parents bought me a very old book (published 1906) called ‘The Story of Rome’, since then I’ve always had a fascination with Ancient Rome so I’d probably say there. Our answers are a co-incidence here!

alt-studios.com

Kim Davis Explain Market Research

What does your business do? Explain is a full-service research agency with specialism across quantitative, qualitative and digital methodologies and has been delivering insight since the nineties. What was the attraction of joining the Entreprenerus' Forum? Previous experience of attending great events that inspired creative thinking and new ways of doing things. What do you hope to achieve with the Entrepreneurs' Forum? Getting to know other likeminded people to share good practice and new ideas. What was your first job? Working in retail at age 15 for Adams childrenswear followed by Greggs and C&A! What is something most people don’t know about you? That I have always been a BonJovi fan. What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind? Cadbury’s products. Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with? My Dad – I know we all think it but I was lucky enough to have the best Dad ever. What are you most proud of? Other than my lovely family it is being part of a business that continues to evolve and thrive – no two years are ever the same and that brings great experience and variety for our team. How do you unwind or deal with stress? A good book and huge bar of chocolate. What is your biggest fear? I have always had a huge fear of public speaking. In my role I sometimes have to do it and so have learnt to face my fears, I’m always pleased when it’s over though!

explainresearch.co.uk

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Claire Parry Week2Week Serviced Apartments

What was the attraction of joining the Forum? I was introduced to the Forum by my colleague Linda. She thought it would be a good fit, as I’ve got colleagues that go to local networking events but I don’t like being sold to. She felt the Forum would be a better fit to meet like-minded people, share ideas, best practices and collaborate. What do you hope to achieve with the Forum? I’d like to grow and strengthen my business network whilst supporting other people in business. I’m very passionate about the North East and the business community. I want everybody to be successful, we’re all about supporting other businesses within the region. We’re looking forward to sharing our experiences and learning from others. What was your first job? I was a chambermaid in our small family guest house. My parents bought a small guest house when I was seven and we lived in part of that. It was in Jesmond and with it being the 80s it was filled with magnolia. It was great having business people around me from a very young age and getting stuck into work. What is something most people don’t know about you? I studied art at college and love crafting! I love glass painting, I do painting in general too but more on the textile side. I often make little crafty gifts for people too. I used to do more crafts with my kids when they were younger but they’re more of a Kevin and Perry age now - too cool for crafts! What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind? Serviced Apartments of course! Our focus is on offering alternative accommodation for the corporate market, people that are staying away from home for three to six months for example that wouldn’t want to stay in a hotel. We’re cost effective, it’s much better from a health and wellbeing perspective with us being a home from home environment. Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with? Robin Williams! I really enjoyed Mork and Mindy and I just think he’s brilliant. He was an amazing person, I’ve got a lot of respect for him and I’ve aways enjoyed him on screen. Classic films like Mrs Doubtfire and Patch Adams are just amazing. He just had a bit of sparkle about him. What are you most proud of? We’ve got a long list of shortlisted awards and amazing achievements to date. But recently we’ve been shortlisted for the Think Global People Relocate Awards for the 6th year in a row. Which is amazing, because they’re globally recognised awards. I always describe us as the Anita Roddick quote - “If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.” I think that really sums us up, because there are a lot of smaller businesses that wouldn’t go in for an award on that scale. How do you unwind or deal with stress? Watch a good crime drama – can’t beat a thriller to relax to. If you had a time machine, where would you go and why? I’d go back to when my Dad was alive, fit and well. Me and him were like two peas in a pod, he was my best mate and my dad in one. He had a cracking sense of humour and someone I absolutely look up to. What is your biggest fear? Spiders!

week2week.co.uk