BUSINESS NETWORX
advantex racecourse contract win firm to install new control system
WWW . TEAM V ALLEY P U B LICATIONS . CO . U K I S S U E # 2 6 • A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 7
Express group engineering specialist secures £1m submarine contract
TRAVEL AND TOURISM NORTH EAST’S STRONG SECTOR
Guidelines on
Retaining Employment Records
In a ss o c i at i o n w i th :
T H E TEA M VA L L E Y TRADIN G ESTATE ’ S NU M B ER ONE B USINESS F OCUS M A G A Z INE
2 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
Business Networx Magazine | 3
BUSINESS NETWORX
Be part of it
Editorial
T: 0191 491 1525 info@teamvalleygroup.co.uk
Sales and Advertising
T: 0191 487 1834 sales@teamvalleygroup.co.uk
Advertising
cut off date
ISSUE 27 June / July
Booking Distribution Deadline Date
19th May
2nd June
Distribution As well as delivering the publication into every business, approx 800, on the Team Valley the magazine is now delivered / distributed in the following places making the total print run 1500 copies.
Sainsburys Team Valley Angeethi Indian Low Fell The Bank Bar Bistro Low Fell UK Land Estates Westray Recruitment Biz Space Business Centre, Earlsway Team Valley Dave’s Hair Salon Team Valley Cafe Team Valley Links Team Valley News Dentist (centre of Team Valley)
Regus Main Gate Team Valley FX Leisure Owner’s Business Centre Newburn Blaydon Business Centre Metropolitan House Business Networks (Metro Centre) Northern Design Gateshead MPH Stonehills Greenfield Business Centre Gateshead International Business Centre
An electronic copy is available to view here: teamvalleypublications.co.uk/business-networx-magazine/ 4 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
Team Valley Publications 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley, Gateshead, NE11 0HZ Tel: 0191 487 1834 E-mail: info@teamvalleypublications.co.uk Web: www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk Team Valley Publications is part of the Team Valley Group, All contents copyright © 2012 Team Valley Printers Ltd. All rights reserved. All artwork remains the property of Team Valley Printers Ltd and cannot be copied or reproduced without permission of Team Valley Printers Ltd. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for illustrations, photography, artwork or advertising materials or the services provided by the advertising companies. All information is correct at time of going to print.
Business Networx Magazine | 5
Te c h n o l o g y
Gateshead IT firm gallops ahead with Newcastle Racecourse contract “We are at the forefront of developing this technology in the region”
Newcastle Racecourse’s Paul Elliott (left) and Advantex’s Tony Easingwood shine a light on the new control system.
IT firm Advantex has won a five-figure contract to supply an intelligent new control system for Newcastle Racecourse’s floodlights. The Gateshead-based business has installed building management technology and software to enable the floodlights to be remotely switched on and off, via a new web-based command and control system. The Paxton10 technology can be integrated with existing building infrastructure systems to control functions such as lighting, heating, air conditioning, intruder and fire alarms. The new installation forms part of a multimillion pound investment programme at
6 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
Newcastle Racecourse by the owners to improve facilities at Gosforth Park for trainers and customers.
Advantex, which saw a 40% growth in the last financial year, currently employs 60 people.
An all-weather track has been laid alongside the installation of a system of new floodlights to enable twilight race meets.
Tony Easingwood, Advantex’s account manager, added: “We are at the forefront of developing this technology in the region and have received a significant level of interest from customers across the UK.
Arena Racing Company, the racecourse owners, decided to opt for the Advantex system to improve the management of the floodlights, deliver energy cost savings and operator benefits. The system was designed by technical engineers to be upgraded easily to accommodate growth and any future lighting requirements. Paul Elliott, operations manager at Newcastle Racecourse, said: “We were impressed with Advantex’s cost effective solution, which will not only deliver cost saving benefits but can be adapted to meet the changing needs of the business.”
“It’s part of a strategy that sees an ongoing investment in the latest services and products to ensure customers benefit from quality, high performance and trusted solutions, which add real value and ROI.”
Sourced from www.bdaily.co.uk. Receive the Bdaily business news bulletin by registering at www.bdaily.co.uk/register
Business Networx Magazine | 7
Education
Persimmon Appoints Gateshead College To Support Construction Initiative The UK’s leading housebuilder Persimmon Homes has appointed Gateshead College to support its programme to re-train ex-military personnel for a career in the construction industry. Gateshead College will train all of Persimmon’s Combat to Construction employees. The college will also support Persimmon with its new programme, ‘Up-skill to Construction’, which aims to be a gateway into the construction industry for those looking to change career or enhance the building skills they already possess. Persimmon Homes has been at the forefront of the movement to use the skills of ex-forces men and women with between 12,000 and 15,000 leaving the armed services each year. The new starters will train in bricklaying and joinery while being paid during the duration of their training period. The service leavers and up-skill trainees will also work on live housing developments across the UK eventually obtaining an NVQ Level 2 qualification at the end of their studies. Richard Latham, Group HR director at Persimmon Homes, said: “The two courses are aimed at delivering skilled workers to Persimmon developments across the UK. “Ex-forces personnel are bringing many
8 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
benefits to Persimmon. In our experience they are well motivated, keen to learn a new trade and used to being in a learning environment. We have already seen some of our successful combat to construction trainees move beyond the building site and into site management.” Michael Torrode, has joined the Combat to Construction programme having served for six years in the Royal Signals where he trained as a communication and electronic warfare technician. The 29-year-old from Buckley in Flintshire said: “I saw Combat to Construction before I ended my time in the military and thought it was unique to have an opportunity beyond the age of school leavers to learn a new trade. I have friends who work in the building industry and they speak highly of it so I knew it would be something I’d be interested in. “My aim is to master the skills I’ll acquire and get out onto the Persimmon sites where I can show people what I can do.” Ivan Jepson, director of business development at Gateshead College, said: “We’re delighted to support Persimmon’s
Combat to Construction and Upskill to Construction programmes. “As well as helping ex-military personnel and other professionals forge a worthwhile career in the industry, the programmes also develop a pipeline of skilled talent that will enable Persimmon to remain competitive going forward. They are also helping the company to anticipate and address skills gaps in the workforce. “Our productive partnership with Persimmon is a good example of how we work with employers to adapt training provision to meet their business needs. We will continue to work with the company to ensure it has access to work-ready staff with the skills and aptitudes required to grow their business.” Source: bdaily.co.uk
Business Networx Magazine | 9
Travel and tourism North East’s strongest sector of 2017 so far, says report.
The latest national business stability tables are showing the North East’s travel and tourism sector to be outperforming most its regional UK counterparts. According to the latest research by insolvency and restructuring trade body R3, the regional tourism operator sector was ranked only behind Northern Ireland out of 12 UK regions in terms of the proportion of firms with a heightened risk of entering insolvency in the next year. The region’s pub and restaurant industries are also continuing to do well against their regional rivals, with the former ranked as the most stable in the ten English regions, and the latter listed only behind Scotland. Overall, regional businesses in six of the 11 key industries that R3 monitors have been found to have a lower proportion of firms with a heightened risk of entering insolvency in the next year than the national average, with the North East’s technology, transport, and professional services businesses all outperforming the average in their respective sectors. The North East construction sector is once again the least stable of any of the 12
10 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
regions across the UK, while the region’s retail, manufacturing, agriculture, and hotel sectors are all fairing worse than their respective national averages. Across all 11 industries that R3 monitors, a quarter (25%) of all North East businesses have a heightened risk of entering insolvency in the next year, which is the same as the overall national average. R3’s insolvency risk tracker is compiled using Bureau van Dijk’s ‘Fame’ database and measures companies’ balances sheets, director track records and other information to work out their likelihood of survival over the next 12 months. Neil Harrold, chair of R3 in the North East and a partner with Hay & Kilner Solicitors, said: “The depths of winter always see holiday companies and resorts maximising their marketing efforts to tempt customers to book as many holidays in the sun as possible, and this has translated into a strong start to 2017 for the North East tour
operators and travel agencies that fulfil these bookings for them. “The overall picture for the North East remains very mixed, with our pub and restaurant sectors maintaining the momentum they built in the run-up to Christmas and the professional services sector recording gains in the first part of the year, but the construction, manufacturing and retail sectors all continue to have their struggles. “The best way for any business to recover from financial difficulties is to take proactive steps to address them as soon as they become apparent, so their management teams can access and benefit from the widest range of possible solutions to the issues they’re facing.” Sourced from www.bdaily.co.uk. Receive the Bdaily business news bulletin by registering at www.bdaily.co.uk/register
Business Networx Magazine | 11
IT Support
Smart IT relieves Sunderland Academies of IT headache Gateshead-based ICT solutions provider Smart IT has secured contracts with Southmoor Academy and Sandhill View Academy to help them overcome IT and telecoms issues that were heavily impacting productivity and teaching. Ageing servers, wireless, telecom and network infrastructure as well as expensive IT support costs and a slow and unreliable internet connection, hindered the ability to teach and learn as effectively as possible with both schools struggling with their existing ICT environment. “Technology plays a vital role in modern day teaching,“ said Pam Davison, a Multi Academy Trust Business Manager who works across both academies. “A fast, reliable internet connection, secure data storage, an efficient but cost productive telephone system and 24/7 support in case anything does go wrong is so important. We chose Smart IT because they listened to what we needed - a fast, reliable internet and more robust IT infrastructure as well as onsite IT support - at a fraction of the current cost. In the past, we’ve found that IT partners are great at the upfront stuff getting the infrastructure and services in place - but lacked in the aftercare. With Smart IT however their aftercare support and guidance is second to none.”
Tony Wilson (Smart IT), Pam Davison and Guy Parkin (Southmoor Multi Academy Trust), Simon Bartlett (Smart IT)
12 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
Both academies are now benefiting from a fast high-quality internet leased line connection with MPLS and failover fibre connections, E-Safety Ofsted approved monitoring software Impero, a new cloud based telephone system providing free calls and, importantly, an IT support package to ensure day-to-day IT operations within both schools run smoothly. “We’ve helped to replace an entire ICT infrastructure for two very large academies with over 2,000 pupils between them. Doing this has solved the issues at both schools that were causing major problems for staff and students alike,“ said Simon Bartlett, who manages the academies’ accounts at Smart IT.
“We’ve helped to replace an entire ICT infrastructure for two very large academies”
“They are now able to enjoy and reap the benefits that a state of the art IT infrastructure provides including reliable connectivity that enables fast internet and cost free telecoms. Not only have we been able to solve the ICT problems both academies faced, we’ve also been able to reduce their IT costs substantially - which means the school can use the money they’re saving on ICT resources on other facilities that need a financial boost.” The school contracts are worth approximately £1 million to Smart IT over a five-year period. With more and more schools choosing to work with specialist IT providers rather than their local authority, Smart IT expects to expand its presence in the education sector by working with other schools across the region who are struggling with similar ICT issues, helping them to improve productivity and reduce costs. For more information about the IT services and support Smart IT provides, visit: www.smartitgroup.co.uk contact sales@smartitgroup.co.uk or phone 0330 223 3525.
Business Networx Magazine | 13
14 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
Business Networx Magazine | 15
16 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
Business Networx Magazine | 17
News
VisitBritain to bring flagship event to Newcastle Gateshead NewcastleGateshead will host VisitBritain’s annual flagship travel trade event, ExploreGB, next year where hundreds of international buyers will descend on the region to meet travel trade suppliers from across the UK. This year’s ExploreGB, held in Brighton, saw more than 400 international buyers from 40 countries do business with 430 travel industry suppliers from across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The event gives UK tourism suppliers and local destinations a valuable opportunity to get their products and services in front of hundreds of international buyers and do business with global markets, boosting visitor numbers and spreading the economic benefits of tourism across the UK’s nations and regions. Sarah Stewart, chief executive at destination management and marketing organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “We’re very excited to be working in partnership with VisitBritain to bring their flagship event to NewcastleGateshead. “The event itself will provide a boost to the local economy and will be a fantastic opportunity to not only showcase NewcastleGateshead, and the wider region, to international buyers, but will be an opportune time to present Great Exhibition of the North and the full programme of art, culture and innovation, which will commence in the following months.
Guidelines for Retaining Employment Records We often get asked how long employee records should be retained for so here is our basic guide covering some of the main documentation/ data that is typically held and used during employment. • Application forms and interview notes for unsuccessful candidates: 6 – 12 months • Application form: Duration of employment
• References given/information to enable references to be provided: 5 years from end of employment • Records relating to accident or injury at work: 12 years
“Visitor spend in North East England is an estimated £4.2bn each year and is a key contributor to our local economy, supporting almost 60,000 jobs.
• Payroll and tax information: 6 years
“Our Convention Bureau worked closely with both VisitBritain and our partner venues to ensure we put forward a strong bid for NewcastleGateshead. Delegates will be able to explore the huge variety of experiences NewcastleGateshead has to offer tourism visitors, and will see how these experience will be amplified through Great Exhibition of the North in summer 2018.”
• Annual leave records: 2 years
• Clocking cards/records: 2 years
• Unpaid leave/ special leave records: 3 years
• Leavers files: 7 years
bdaily.co.uk
18 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
• Sickness records: 3 years
• Parental leave: 5 years from birth/adoption
• Annual appraisal/assessment records: 5 years
Telephone: 0800 533 5143
• Records relating to promotion, transfer, training, disciplinary and grievance matters: 1 year from end of employment
Website: www.mcdougallconsultancy.com
Email: HR@mcdougallconsultancy.com Address: Tanfield Lea Business Centre, Tanfield Lea North Industrial Estate, Stanley, Co. Durham, DH9 9DB
Problem Solved Pest Control Mobile : 0773 021 8883 Telephone : 0191 460 6789 info@pspestcontrol.co.uk
www.pspestcontrol.co.uk
PEST CONTROL & BIRD CLEARANCE SERVICES SOLVING PEST PROBLEMS at a COMPETITIVE PRICE
CONTACT US TODAY FOR A QUOTATION
Business Networx Magazine | 19
Business Networx Magazine | 21
Manufacturing
Astute Express lands submarine deal Tyneside based precision engineering specialist, Express Group, has secured around £1 million worth of work on one of the UK’s biggest defence projects.
Manufacturing components at the Team Valley.
Tyneside based precision engineering specialist, Express Group, has secured around £1 million worth of work on one of the UK’s biggest defence projects. Using new machinery in a specially created clean manufacturing cell on Team Valley, the company is producing critical components for the Royal Navy’s Astute submarines, under construction at Barrow-in-Furness. Selected by Rolls Royce to join its FastMake initiative - established to improve the performance of the build programme - the Express Engineering team was able to set up the production line in just six weeks and then drive down manufacturing lead times by as much as 80 per cent, whilst delivering components with 100 per cent accuracy. The seven figure contract will run for the next 12 months but it is hoped that high quality performance will lead to work on the next generation of nuclear submarines - the 20 year Dreadnought project. Said Gary Thirlwell: “Securing this contract has given us a major boost as we seek to win more work outside the depressed oil and gas sector. It demonstrates the diversity of our team, which has had to adapt extremely quickly to meet new demands. “What is probably most pleasing is the fact that we have been able to do so whilst providing parts of the highest quality. To date there have been no defects whatsoever and in addition, we have reduced lead times on delivery to about a fifth of what they were before. “In recent years we have invested over £12 million in our facilities to increase capacity and improve scheduling systems to co-ordinate the activity and logistics of
(Left to right) Express Engineering’s design capability is key to delivering accurate components. Neil Ransom (right) outlines Express Engineering’s credentials to Defence Procurement Minister, Harriett Baldwin, watched by Express Sales Manager, Paul Ellison.
complex full turnkey projects - enabling smooth and seamless deliveries all over the world.” Matt Anderson, Head of Manufacturing (Submarines) with Rolls Royce, added: “FastMake is an initiative created to speed up the manufacturing process in primary components operations. We have bought factory capacity with Express Engineering where a dedicated cell, involving our own engineers, is working to ensure standards are maintained. This
means we can reduce lead times from several weeks to a few days. “It’s an investment that reduces cost in the long run and ultimately satisfies the customer because there’s no delay to the build programme and components are delivered promptly. The responsiveness of Express Engineering is very good, so everyone is a winner.” The first of the seven Astute submarines being built became fully operational in 2014.
News
Converged Communications looks to match Gateshead expansion with recruitment drive
Sevcon given green light for Team Valley expansion
North East technology firm Converged Communications has launched a recruitment drive after recently opening new offices in Gateshead.
Gateshead Council has given electric vehicle firm Sevcon the go ahead to move into larger premises as on the Team Valley. The relocation will see Sevcon take over 55,000 sq ft of premises at the rear of Gateshead College’s Skills Academy for Construction on Kingsway, supporting its plans to create 200 new jobs by 2019. Sevcon, which manufactures components for electric and hybrid vehicles, has accrued a £320m order book and is looking to take its overall headcount to 300. Matt Boyle, President and Chief Executive Officer at Sevcon, said: “We are delighted to secure approval for this new development. “The new premises will provide us with the facilities and space to achieve the next stage of our growth strategy. We will be investing heavily in the new offices and testing facilities and hope to be up-and-running by the summer.” Sevcon was supported by commercial property agents Gavin Black and Partners and Newcastle firm Square One Law in securing the new premises. Mr Boyle added: “We had outgrown our existing premises, where we have been based for over 50 years, and were keen to stay on the Team Valley as it is an ideal location, with good transport links.”
“The new premises will provide us with the facilities and space to achieve the next stage of our growth strategy” 26 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
A BT Local Business, Converged is part of a national network of independent businesses backed by BT and EE, bringing technology products, services, expertise and local understanding to the doorstep of the region’s SMEs. Recently recruiting two new members of staff, the business is looking to fill a further 10 desk and field sales positions to bolster its 25-strong team. Owners, Matt Holmes, 44 and Steve McQueen, 44, set up the IT business in 2007, originally the covering the Newcastle area. Scaling up, the firm expanded to cover the whole of the North East in 2013 and now serves around 80,000 customers in the region. Matt said: “Ten years ago Steve and I spotted the potential of the North East as business and tech powerhouse so we both made the big decision to move from
the North West and build this business. Living and working here has been invaluable and we can’t imagine being anywhere else now. “The official opening of our new building is an exciting chapter for us, and we’re thrilled to be making it even easier for North East businesses to get a competitive edge and maximise what they do by using the latest digital technology. “We’ve designed a fantastic demo suite so we can show people how the latest technology works rather than just tell them. This helps the technology come to life and makes it much easier for people to visualise how a particular system or service can work for them.” Sourced from www.bdaily.co.uk. Receive the Bdaily business news bulletin by registering at www.bdaily.co.uk/register
Business Networx Magazine | 27
28 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
Business Networx Magazine | 29
Don’t forget to mention the magazine when using any of these business services.
Business Networx: Directory
List your business in our directory for as little as ÂŁ30 + VAT for a full 12 months. Call us on 0191 487 1834 or email sales@teamvalleypublications.co.uk. Advertising Business Networx 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley NE11 OHZ T: 0191 487 1834 / 0191 491 1525 E: info@teamvalleypublications.co.uk The Advertiser Magazine 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley NE11 OHZ T: 0191 487 1834 / 0191 491 1525 E: info@teamvalleypublications.co.uk Team Valley Publications 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley NE11 OHZ T: 0191 487 1834 / 0191 491 1525 E: info@teamvalleypublications.co.uk W: www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
Commercial Cleaning
Printing/Graphic Design
Web Design
Mannpower Cleaning Service Ltd T: 07958 076 637 E: info@mannpowercleaning.co.uk W: mannpowercleaning.co.uk
Team Valley Printers 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley NE11 OHZ T: 0191 491 1525 E: info@teamvalleyprinters.co.uk W: www.teamvalleyprinters.co.uk
Team Valley Web Design 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley NE11 OHZ T: 0191 487 5180 E: info@teamvalleyweb.co.uk W: www.teamvalleyweb.co.uk
Call us to put your classified advert in place here for the next issue of Business Networx
Plan Printing Fast service plan printing with delivery available
printed while you wait
same day service
local delivery
next working day courier service
Call: 0191 491 1525 Send by email: info@teamvalleyprinters.co.uk Bring your USB stick or hard copies for scanning: 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley Industrial Estate, NE11 0HZ
Business Networx Magazine | 31
32 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk