BUSINESS NETWORX
FIBRE BROADBAND REGENERATION MULTI-MILLION POUND BOOST FOR THE REGION
W W W. T E A M V A L L E Y P U B L I C A T I O N S . C O . U K I S S U E # 3 2 • A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 8
Employment rate joint record high
Employment Law Changes Your guide to the latest April updates STAND OUT CREATIVE BRANDING SOLUTIONS GATESHEAD COUNCIL £307m CAPITAL INVESTMENT
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ISSUE 33 June / July
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0191 487 1834. 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 Š 2018 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.
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Entrepreneurship
Government startup scheme launches following significant demand across North East The team behind a series of regional companies has announced expansion plans in response to rising demand for its services from entrepreneurs around the UK. Transmit Startups launched in 2013 after becoming a national delivery partner of the Startup Loans Company, a government scheme to encourage a new wave of entrepreneurs. Since then, the Gateshead-based company has lent £28.5m to 2,813 businesses, and provided them with mentoring to pursue their ambitions. A series of sister companies has been developed to expand the range of services offered by the team to provide support for growing and established businesses as well as those starting out. Now these companies have been brought together under a new umbrella brand, the Transmit Group, opening up new opportunities for the team to handle bigger contracts and support more ambitious businesses. Commercial director, Richard Myers, said: “The launch of Transmit Group is a major step forward for our team. It means we can support entrepreneurs
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throughout their long-term journey to success, satisfying their needs as they develop.
doubled its team, as well as Lingotot which has expanded globally since starting out in Durham.
“We now have the breadth of expertise, the processes and the technology to make a real difference to customers ranging from micro businesses to major franchises.
The group employs 17 people plus 10 freelance staff at its headquarters in Gateshead International Business Centre and at its Scottish base in Glasgow.
“We’re also perfectly positioned to deliver effective services to enterprise agencies, government departments, local councils and development agencies around the UK as they strive to strengthen our economy.”
Richard added: “We pride ourselves on being a new breed of business support organisation. We don’t just deliver the same old, same old and everything we do is about giving the customer the best possible support.
As well as Transmit Startups, Transmit Group now incorporates Transmit Consulting, providing consulting and coaching services; Teal, a finance brokerage for UK growth businesses; Transmit Enterprise, experts in the social economy, and Signal, a UK licence holder for the global Poverty Stoplight movement. Startup stories include Riley’s Fish Shack to Newcastle-based media production company, GetFilm, which has just
“The majority of Transmit staff are entrepreneurs themselves and want to provide the level of service that they’d like to receive for our own businesses. “Our growth is testament to the strength of our team and we look forward to the next stage in our own company’s development.” Source: bdaily.co.uk
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Property
Naylors concludes £2.25m acquisition of offices at Team Valley
Commercial property specialist Naylors has completed a £2.25m investment acquisition at Team Valley
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arquis Court on Kingsway South, which comprises 21 individual offices totalling 31,000 sq ft, has been purchased by Bronze Investments. The investor plans to undertake a programme of refurbishment works before making them available to purchase and has retained Naylors to provide property management, building consultancy and agency services. Naylors will be managing the full project for Bronze Investments and will be marketing the individual refurbished offices at a starting price of £150k. Fergus Laird, director and head of property investment at Naylors, said: “Our purchase of Marquis Court was an off-market transaction. “We have been involved with the scheme since it was built, and this is the first time we will be in a position to sell individual offices, which offers a rare opportunity on Team Valley.
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“Going forward, we are very pleased to be working with Bronze Investments and together we have a strategy in place to create fresh office stock with prices set to start at £150k.”
“There are many benefits which make the offices a sensible purchase option” A six-figure refurbishment project to upgrade Marquis Court, including the interior and exterior of the vacant offices, landscaping, signage and parking areas is set to commence immediately and the units are expected to be available this month.
The remaining 17-office units are occupied by tenants including Pertemps and In2 Developments, and if not purchased by the individual tenants, they will be available as small office investments. A spokesperson for Bronze Investments added: “Team Valley has benefited greatly from the recent upgrade of the A1 Western Bypass and we were particularly attracted to this opportunity due to the strength of its strategic location within the region’s largest business park. “Marquis Court enjoys a prominent position and is within walking distance of Retail World, so there are many benefits which make the offices a sensible purchase option.”
Sourced from www.bdaily.co.uk. Receive the Bdaily business news bulletin by registering at www.bdaily.co.uk/register
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Economy
Gateshead Council aims to invest over £300m into borough over half a decade Gateshead Council has announced that an extra £307m capital investment will be pumped into the borough over the next five years.
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he capital programme will see significant levels of money invested into the local economy, housing regeneration and carbon management in order to maintain financial stability in a time of increasing cuts. The schemes will encourage economic and housing growth, in particular helping to facilitate the development of over 1,000 new homes. It could also attract almost £470m of private investment. The funds were agreed by councillors and include £35m to facilitate the wider development of Gateshead Quays where the council is working with development partner, Ask Real Estate and Patrizia UK.
of the money that we used to receive from central government and this is challenging but we are committed to making Gateshead a place where everyone thrives. “Investing and growing the local economy helps us to do that. We will bring more jobs to the area, support and retain new businesses and build more affordable homes. “The planned investment may be ambitious but it has been set at a level which is considered sustainable and our major projects will involve consultations with the community.”
This project has the potential to create more than 1,100 new jobs and generate £29m each year for the region’s economy.
Further development of Baltic Business Quarter and Follingsby Industrial Estate set at £22m has the potential to create a further 2,100 jobs and provide workspace for our growing SMEs.
Cllr Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, explained: “We’ve lost half
Around £90.7m has been set aside for improvements to the council’s housing
“We will bring more jobs to the area, support and retain new businesses and build more affordable homes”
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stock and will include heating upgrades, insulation measures and external improvements and the provision of 21 new council homes. £2.1m will go towards supporting the extension of the award-winning Energy Network, which provides low carbon energy solutions whilst generating revenue savings and £11m will go towards a new 50-60 bed rehabilitation health and social care centre. Other schemes include £1m for leisure centre improvements and £5.6m to support the delivery of highway maintenance and road safety improvements. The 2018/2019 programme total comes in at £102.9m. Source: Bdaily.co.uk
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Branding
STAND OUT BE CREATIVE Team Valley Printers can help bring your branding to life. Here is a selection of printing ideas that can be provided.
ROOM WITH A VIEW We can now help you brighten up your walls as well as your windows with our new printed roller blinds. We can print your logo, photo, message or design to either standard or blackout material to create a colourful and effective promotion or decoration.
upload your images
GET CREATIVE with PAPER types Design doesn’t start and end with the image you’re printing. One thing that is often overlooked is the choice of paper you use for your print. We’re all familiar with the standard gloss and silk coated papers that the majority of leaflets and booklets are printed on along with the occasional use of uncoated paper, but there is a wealth of creative papers out there from colours, to metallics, textures and even tactile finishes. Yes, some of them attract
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a premium price but not all of them and especially for short runs, like invitations and cards, the cost difference can be negligible. So when it’s time for your next print job whether it’s a business card, an invitation or a brochure ask us about our creative paper options. Make your design complete and it’ll stand out from the rest!
CREATE-IT RANGE Have you ever been frustrated trying to find promotional items for your business in small quantities? Well Team Valley Printers have the solution. Our Create-It range contains various items that you can personalise and use to promote your business; from bags to ring binders to rulers and even display solutions. The range is specially tailored to provide bespoke, small order quantity solutions for exhibitions, promotions and conferences. We’ve got a full range here in our showroom so if you’re interested feel free to call in and see how we can help.
MAGNETIC D I S P L AYS Keeping your retail area fresh and up to date can be difficult and expensive if you don’t choose the right display solution. Posters can become worn and tired if up for too long and rigid signage can be expensive to replace. One of our favourite solutions is to use magnetics. With a self adhesive magnetic sheet fitted to your wall or display area we can print graphics on a ferrous film that will fit easily onto the magnet and peel straight off once you’re finished with it. It’s ideal for changing promotions and prices or for just giving a quick and effective makeover to a reception area or office.
FLEXIBLE EXHIBITION STANDs Our Link2 exhibition system is a flexible and modular system that will help you create an attractive and tailored exhibition space. It combines the simplicity of a pull up banner with the ability to link together to create an exhibition stand to match whatever sized space you need. The graphics are easily swapped and replaced and by using flexible connector panels you can create numerous configurations.
Call Team Valley Printers: 0191 491 1525 Email: info@teamvalleyprinters.co.uk www.teamvalleyprinters.co.uk 3 Octavian Way, Team Valley, NE1 1 0HZ
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T e c h nTool uo rg iys m
New £7.8m tech centre close to completion for Gateshead’s Baltic Business Quarter
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he £7.8m complex is being funded by Gateshead Council, the European Regional Development Fund and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). PROTO is set to open this summer at Baltic Business Quarter situated next to Gateshead Quays; an emerging district for knowledge driven and innovative companies.
Construction work to build Europe’s first centre for emerging technologies and digital innovation is close to completion in Gateshead.
The research and development (R&D) facility will allow businesses within the tech sector to develop digital solutions to real business challenges. It will showcase the latest emerging technologies including virtual and augmented reality. Alongside the new R&D building, 2,300 sq m of empty office space is also being transformed into high-specification workspaces over four floors for tech companies wanting to base themselves at PROTO. Cllr John Adams, Gateshead Council’s cabinet member for the Economy, said: “Our ambition to serve the region’s growing augmented and virtual reality sectors has brought a dedicated centre for emerging technologies to the North East. “If we want Gateshead businesses to succeed in the global market, creating high quality jobs for local people, we need to be at the cutting edge of R&D. PROTO will put Gateshead and the North East at the forefront of this new technology.” PROTO has received grant funding of £968,830 from the North East LEP through the Local Growth Fund. Helen Golightly, executive director at the North East LEP, commented: “The creative and digital sector is identified in our Strategic Economic Plan as one of the key areas that provides an opportunity for growth within the North East economy and this centre will enable the growth of a powerful cluster within this sector. “It will also serve to encourage more businesses to start their innovation journey, and embrace exciting technologies of the future and explore the potential for
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the commercialisation of their ideas and concepts which, in turn, will lead to more and better jobs for our region.” Technology at PROTO will include VR headsets, haptics and wearable bodysuits, as well as motion capture equipment. The centre aims to build on the North East’s reputation as a UK leader in immersive technologies. The council is working in partnership with Digital Catapult North East and Tees Valley (NETV) to ensure the support available at PROTO promotes digital innovation and transformation in the region. Naomi Morrow, lead for Digital Catapult NETV, also said: “The launch of PROTO
provides an opportunity for businesses in the North East to gain hands-on experience with the latest technologies being developed. “Emerging technology is already having an impact on traditionally non-digital businesses such as those in the automotive and manufacturing sectors - which are particular strengths in the North East. “PROTO will give these businesses the chance to explore the bleeding edge of technology, at a much lower entry cost point and without the commitment of purchasing equipment to trial.” Source: bdaily.co.uk
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News
UK high-speed rail network set to unlock £100bn in Northern Powerhouse Northern MPs, civic leaders and businesses say that the UK must have a high-speed rail network linking North to South by the early 2030s to unlock a £100bn boost to the North’s economy.
GET READY FOR APRIL 2018 EMPLOYMENT LAW
The Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) is calling on Government to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) at the same time as HS2 to narrowing the North-South divide. The NPP suggest that this will open up much larger potential labour markets for businesses and enhanced leisure and social activities for families. International connectivity would also be transformed as 10 million people will be within two hours of Manchester Airport - the Northern Powerhouse’s international hub - compared to three million today. Phase 2b of HS2, linking Manchester and Leeds to London and the West Midlands, is set to open in 2032/33. Opening NPR at the same time would mean that children born last year could explore further education, apprenticeships or job opportunities throughout the UK, without the barrier of poor connectivity. To realise the overall economic benefit to the North, major towns such as Sunderland, Preston, Carlisle, Middlesbrough, Barnsley and its neighbours in South Yorkshire must be included in high-speed connections.
Gender Pay Gap Data Employers with 250 or more employees will be required to publish information about the differences in pay between men and women.
Northern Powerhouse Partnership Vice-Chair Lord Jim O’Neill said: “Getting Northern Powerhouse Rail delivered to the recommendations of Transport for the North is crucial for the success of the Northern Powerhouse.
National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage Rate Changes
“Without connecting as quickly and efficiently as possible the many closelylocated towns and cities of the Northern Powerhouse, it will not be able to create the agglomeration benefits that would transform the economy of the UK, never mind just the North. Source: bdaily.co.uk
• Workers aged 21 but under 25 - from £7.05 to £7.38 per hour • Workers aged 18 but under 21 - from £5.60 to £5.90 per hour • Workers aged 16 or 17 rises from £4.05 to £4.20 per hour • Apprentice rate (under 19 or in first year of apprenticeship) - from £3.50 to £3.70 per hour • The national living wage, for workers who are aged 25 and over, rises from £7.50 to £7.83 Changes to Income Tax Allowance The personal income tax allowance increases to £11,850 and the higher rate tax threshold increases to £46,350. Statutory Payment Increases Statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay
increases from £140.98 per week to £145.18 per week. Statutory sick pay increases from £89.35 per week to £92.05 per week. Pension Auto-Enrolment Earnings The earnings trigger for autoenrolment for 2018/19 remains unchanged at £10,000. The earnings band continues to be aligned with National Insurance contribution rates. Minimum employer pension contributions increase to 2% and minimum employee contributions increase to 2.4%. Tax of Termination Payments All payments in lieu of notice, whether contractual or non-contractual will be subject to tax and National Insurance Contributions. Employment Allowance The Government is implementing further measures to ensure employers to vet employees so that they do not engage illegal workers. If found to have recruited an illegal worker, employers will not be able to claim the Employment Allowance for one year.
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T e c h nTool uo rg iys m
North East to benefit from £7m fibre broadband regeneration scheme The North East is said to be getting a multi-million pound boost from an initiative which sees local communities forming partnerships with Openreach.
The initiative is set to bring high-speed fibre broadband to rural homes and businesses. A study published last month had estimated that Openreach’s Community Fibre Partnerships (CFP) programme will be worth £7m to the North East within the next 15 years. The report, by Regeneris Consulting, has highlighted the business, residential and social benefits provided by the partnerships, which are calculated to be worth an average of £800k to each community. Across the UK, more than 500 communities have already signed up to the CFP programme, of which around 20 are in the North East. Simon Hooton, director at Regeneris Consulting, said: “Despite delivery challenges in more rural areas, high speed
“This technology is making a major contribution to the future success and prosperity of people across the North East” 26 | www.teamvalleypublications.co.uk
broadband is vital to the prospects of communities across the UK. “This report shows the breadth and scale of benefits generated when you bring high speed connectivity into those communities for the first time. “The evidence from the latest research, and from residents and businesses themselves, is that broadband opens up new opportunities which enhance people’s lives and can have a positive impact on their health and the environment around them.” The CFP programme enables communities wanting faster speeds, but not included in any fibre broadband rollout plans, to jointly fund an upgrade to fibre alongside Openreach - the business responsible for Britain’s largest phone and broadband network. The report, ‘The Impact of High-Speed Broadband for Communities’, examines the economic impact of Community Fibre Partnerships on businesses and households over 15 years and the social benefits in just over seven years. For North East businesses, improvements in productivity, efficiency, flexible working, innovation and finding new markets and customers are expected to be worth more than £2m; whilst households get economic and social benefits worth about £4.9m.
The boost to the value of a residential property when fibre broadband is provided is highlighted. For the UK as a whole, it is estimated to account for £100m of the £340m economic boost expected to be generated by Community Fibre Partnerships nationwide. Derek Richardson, Openreach’s programme director for the North East, added: “The tremendous power of fibre broadband is made very clear in this report. “It’s heartening to see the many benefits that these partnerships are giving to our communities in so many different ways. This technology is making a major contribution to the future success and prosperity of people across the North East. “More than 97 per cent of North East homes and businesses now have access to superfast fibre broadband - but we recognise there is more to do. We are committed to making faster broadband as widely available as possible.”
Sourced from www.bdaily.co.uk. Receive the Bdaily business news bulletin by registering at www.bdaily.co.uk/register
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Employment rate reaches joint record high The employment rate is at 75.3% - up from 74.6% compared to a year ago and the joint highest since records began. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that 402,000 more people have moved into employment in the last year. The unemployment rate (4.3%) has not been lower since 1975, and the number of people out of work is down by 127,000 compared to a year ago. The number of people not working and not looking for work fell by 158,000 on the year. The rate has not been lower since records began. Employment rate is at a joint record high of 75.3% (March 2018). Since 2010, over 70% of employment growth has been in permanent roles, with around 70% in higher skilled work.
News
Diamond Group wins major contract with Northumberland’s Age UK A North East provider of dynamic office solutions is celebrating a three-year contract win from Age UK Northumberland.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Esther McVey said: Getting a job means securing an income for a family and the chance to build a better future. That’s why up and down the country we are doing all we can to help people into work. And from April, we’ll be taking thousands more people out of paying tax and also increasing the National Living Wage, benefiting those on the lowest pay and making sure they keep more of what they earn. Ken Slater, The Protector Group.
In fact by raising the National Living Wage we have ensured that the lowest earners have seen their wages grow by almost 7% above inflation since 2015. The amount of money people can earn before they start paying income tax will rise in April 2018 from £11,500 to £11,850. From 1 April 2018, the National Living Wage - the minimum paid to employees aged over 25 - will rise from £7.50 an hour to £7.83, equating to a £600 annual pay rise for full-time workers on basic pay. This comes as we have reformed welfare to make work pay, backed businesses to take more people on, and built a stronger, fairer economy. But we want to help even more people benefit from a well-paid job. That’s why we are: • improving the welfare system with Universal Credit, which helps people move into work faster and to stay in work longer • introducing a modern Industrial strategy to help businesses create better, higher-paying jobs • helping people stay in work longer with our Fuller Working Lives strategy • tackling inequalities in employment highlighted by the Race Disparity Audit.
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The Diamond Group, based in Team Valley, Gateshead, which has clients such as Your Move and Bluebird Care on its books, has won the bid to provide a comprehensive technology solution for the Northumberland charity. The solution will encompass Diamond Group’s cloud server environment, IT helpdesk support, photocopier supply, leased line provision and mobile phones. The group will also be providing the charity with user training and education at no extra cost.
The contract will result in the creation of a new IT Technician job for Diamond Group, with the possibility of further employment opportunities in the future. Helen Mills, chief executive of Age UK Northumberland, added: “It’s wonderful to be able to work with an organisation who shares similar values to our organisation. “The team at Diamond Group are clearly passionate about ensuring that the service we receive is of the highest standard.
John Burns, group managing director, said: “We’re thrilled to have been chosen to work with Age UK Northumberland.
“I’m very optimistic about the Diamond Group taking over our IT contract and I look forward to having a great relationship with John and the team.”
“After carrying out an audit, we proposed options for a solution which considered both its system requirements, and the requirements of its people, who work from offices and remote locations.
The Diamond Group hope the new contract will be the start of a good relationship with Age UK Northumberland, and aim to continue development and expansion throughout 2018.
“We believe that our dedicated team at Diamond Group can provide Age UK Northumberland with the security and reliability they need from a technology provider.”
Sourced from www.bdaily.co.uk. Receive the Bdaily business news bulletin by registering at www.bdaily.co.uk/register
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