north east times magazine

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4

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C O N T E N T S

December 2014

BUSINESS NEWS – 10

SAVE THE DATE – 12Business events – mark them on your calendar.

ON THE MOVE – 14New executive appointments.

10 QUESTIONS FOR... – 16David Laws, Newcastle International Airport.

COVER STORY – 60Meet Brewin Dolphin's financial experts.

STATE OF THE ART – 70

THE LONG GAME – 74William Morris, Perfect Image.

INTERVIEW – 96Craig Scott, Redstones Newcastle.

BUSINESS LUNCH – 106Hotel du Vin, Newcastle.

MOTORS – 132

7

C R E D I T S

Editorial:Contributions should include a fully stamped addressed envelope. No responsibility is accepted for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission, or while in the

Editor’s or Printer’s hands. Editorial must be received by the 12th of the month or no responsibilty 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, or loss of artwork, transparencies or photos. Complaints:

regarding advertisements will only be considered for up to a week after publication. Advertising must be received by the 15th of the month. No responsibilty is accepted for errors.© 2014 Published by North East Times Ltd.

Directors: Mike Grahamslaw, Mick O’Hare

Commercial director: Martin Stout

Editor: Jessica Laing

Editorial: Elise Rana Hopper, Sarah Colwill

Senior designer: John Haxon

Feature photography: Chris Owens

Additional photography: Jim Appleby, Chris Lishman

Front cover: Jo Jackson, head of financial planning at Brewin Dolphin

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9

B U S I N E S S N E W S

Newcastle International Airport reveals nonstop service to New York with United Airlines

United Airlines will introducenonstop flights betweenNewcastle International Airportand its New York hub, Newark

Liberty International Airport, from May 23to September 7, 2015.

The nonstop service will allowpassengers to fly direct to the Big Apple,five times a week. All flights are scheduledto depart at approximately 9.10am,allowing for a noon arrival at NewarkLiberty International Airport.

The flights will be operated by Boeing757-200 aircraft, with a total of 169 seats:16 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst

and 153 in United Economy, including 45Economy Plus seats with added legroomand increased personal space.

David Laws, chief executive ofNewcastle International Airport, said: “Formany years, and everywhere I go, peoplehave been asking when the North East willbe getting a New York service.”

“We have been carefully and quietlyworking behind the scenes, with ourshareholders, to secure what will beanother game-changing new route and Iam delighted that we are finally able tomake the announcement everyone hasbeen hoping for.”

Bob Schumacher, United Airlines’managing sales director for the UK andIreland, said: “United already offers trans-Atlantic services from more cities in theUK than any other airline, and we’reconfident that this new service will be asuccess.”

Councillor, Iain Malcolm, leader ofSouth Tyneside Council and lead of theLA7 shareholders, commented: “This newservice will be hugely significant, in termsof further enhancing regional connectivity,growing the regional economy, attractinginward investment and encouraginginbound tourism from North America.”

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

NECC marks a year of exporting success

Newcastle’s first trans-Atlantic nonstop service will start May 2015.

OOver 80 North East businesses havebuilt solid international foundations,

thanks to the ERDF-funded NECC AccessProgramme, lead by Nynzi Maung(pictured), which helps the region’sbusinesses develop a market presencein Brazil, India and Russia. Just one yearin and the Access Programme’s unique

combination of grant support, freeevents and market visits has providedvital business insight into how thesecountries operate, hosting upwards of 13free events to 100 attendees andprovided over £16,000 in grants tosupport travel expenses to visit thesemarkets.

10

Best newcomer

PwC, the professional services firm, haswon the award for ‘Best Newcomer’ in

the large employer category at theNational Apprenticeship Awards. Now in its11th year, the awards ceremonycelebrates the achievements of thecountry’s most outstanding apprenticesand apprenticeship employers. In the last12 months, the firm recruited 22 HigherApprentices in the north, with three basedin Newcastle.

40 years in business

Sunderland-based vending machinebusiness, North East Vending, is

celebrating 40 years in business. Over thedecades, the family-run business, whichwas founded in 1974 to supply factory andoffice workers with drinks and snacks, hasgrown into a multi-million pound enterprise,supplying vending machines to some ofthe region’s largest firms, universities,hospitals and community buildings.

New business centre

Citibase has opened a new businesscentre in Newcastle to meet growing

demands of the ‘new economy’. Locatedin Milburn House on Dean Street,Newcastle, the fully serviced centre willprovide much needed office space, onflexible terms, to the city’s growing numberof small and medium-sized business andstart-ups. It will be Citibase’s secondcentre in Newcastle, with the originalcentre based on Mosely Street.

In the pink

One of the North East’s youngestentrepreneurs, Alice Blackie (right),

has been recognised for her achievementsin business. The 26-year-old received the‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ award atthe North East Woman Entrepreneur of theYear Awards, held last month, for her onlineretail business, Pink Boutique. The annualceremony, hosted by Women into Network,is recognises, rewards and promotesachievements of women in local business.This year, Pink Boutique has achieved aturnover of £4.5 million and predicts aforecast of £10 million next year.

Student success

Three 22-year-old students havelaunched a successful holiday business

with the help and support of NorthumbriaUniversity, Newcastle. Created by Universitystudents, Ben Trattles, Warren Pearson andHarley Gibb, as part of the University’sEnterprise course, ‘Summer Takeover’ catersto travellers, who wish to work abroad, byoffering working holiday packages to partydestinations. Launched in 2013, thebusiness has become the University’s mostsuccessful placement to date, achieving aturnover of £100,000 in its first year.

A family affair

Gateshead-based dessert manufacturer,Dessert Heaven, has launched its

second shop, as part of its plan to expandthroughout the North East. Headed-up byRachel Charlton (left), who recently won theNorth East Woman Entrepreneur of the Yearaward for Best Rural Business, DessertHeaven produces freshly-made cakes,desserts and pastries, which are distributedto hundreds of restaurants, cafes and hotelsacross the region. Rachel’s 19-year-olddaughter, Dayna (right), will run the secondshop, based in Whitley Bay.

MBL Solutions expands

Newcastle-based provider ofinnovative retail systems, MBL

Solutions, has appointed three retailspecialists, as part of an ongoingrecruitment programme. KatherineWilkinson, who will head up thecompany’s e-commerce account forCaffe Nero, joins as marketing andaccount manager, while Mike Morely joinsas account sales manager and BethWales as sales and marketing manager ofits online EPoS software and hardwaresales.

Signs of hands-on success

Sign language tutor, Debbie Jervis, hascelebrated a year of business success

with thanks to a Birtley-based enterpriseagency. Debbie, from Ashington, who hasbeen deaf from birth, launched her ownsign language training business, HandsOn, last year, with the help of Pinetree, alocal enterprise agency that offers freebusiness support and access to finance.The business offers British Sign Languageand deaf awareness courses, as well asfamily sign language and taster sessionsacross the North East.

Creative champion

Founder of Crafter’s Companion, SaraDavies, has won Creative Industries

Entrepreneur of the Year at the GreatBritish Entrepreneur Awards. Sara fought offcompetition from six creative professionalsfrom across the UK to pick up the prize ata ceremony held in central London. Thecompany, which employs over 60 peopleacross its County Durham headquartersand its US operation in California,specialises in the manufacture anddistribution of crafting tools, along with itsown brand goods.

11

D I A R Y

Save thedate

Charity balls, business dinnersand seminars.

THE NECC CHRISTMAS EXCHANGE

The Copthorne Hotel, NewcastleTel: (0300) 303 6322

Web: www.necc.co.ukEmail: [email protected]

Price: Free (members), £30+VAT perexhibition stand

This Christmas-themed lunch, in a round tablesetting, will provide members with a chance togather together and share their successes andchallenges during the past year, along withtheir ideas and endeavours for the future.Includes opportunities for networking around amini-expo, with exhibition stands available.

CHRISTMAS WITH BELLS ON

St James’ Park, NewcastleTel: (0191) 201 8525

Web:www.prestigevenuesandevents.sodexo.com

Email:[email protected]: £75 per person

Dec3

Dec19

Businesses, families and groups offriends are invited to a premier eveningof festive food and entertainment at thehome of Newcastle United FC.Beginning with a champagne reception,this black tie event includes a four-course meal, created by chefs fromSodexo Prestige Venues & Events, adisco, Christmas novelties and acaricaturist, who will be creating lighthearted mementoes of the evening. Allhouse wines, single house spirits anddraught beers throughout the eveningare included in the ticket price.

HR KNOWLEDGE EVENT:INTERVIEWING FOR SUCCESS

NECC DurhamTel: (0300) 303 6322

Web: www.necc.co.ukEmail: [email protected]

Price: Free

This two-hour seminar, aimed at improvingbusinesses’ recruitment processes, will provideguests with advice on improving and refiningtheir interviewing processes. Hosted by HRexperts, who will be offering their tips andtricks in an effort to help prevent commonmistakes made during recruiting, the seminarwill cover everything from interview planningto assessment and preparation.

Dec4

NEWCASTLE CHARITYMASQUERADE BALL

Newcastle RacecourseTel: (0791) 805 6109

Web: www.newcastlecharityball.co.uk Price: £65 per person, £600 per table (10

people)

Guests are encouraged to join in on a night ofdancing, fine food and mystery, all in aid of theGreat North Children's Hospital's PediatricIntensive Care Unit. Commencing with asparkling reception and including over sevenhours of live entertainment, plus a three-coursemeal, the night hopes to raise funds for a newtransfer trolley.

Dec7

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT SEAHAM HALL

Seaham Hall, County DurhamTel: (0191) 546 1400

Web: www.seaham-hall.co.ukEmail: [email protected]

Price: £195 per person

Say goodbye to 2014 in style at Seaham Hall’sNew Year’s Eve party, which offers guests anight of fine dining, dancing and fireworks.Includes a sparkling reception, complete withcanapés, a five-course meal in the hotel’saward-winning Byron’s Bar and Grill, musicfrom North East function band, Anna Reay,and a fireworks display, which can be enjoyedfrom the hotel’s terraces.

Dec31

‘A NIGHT AT THE OSCARS’BLACK TIE BALL

Rockliffe HallTel: (01325) 729 999

Web: www.rockliffehall.comEmail: [email protected]

Price: £92 per person (members), £115per person (non-residents)

This glamorous, ‘red carpet-style’ promiseshotel guests and visitors a New Year’s Eve toremember, offering everything fromchampagne and canapés on arrival to a four-course banquet to help ring in 2015. Includeslive entertainment (including a celebratorysing-along to Auld Lang Syne), a disco and latenight snacks and refreshments.

Dec31

[email protected]

with your events

UKTI NORTH EAST: MANAGINGAGENTS AND DISTRIBUTORS

Newcastle RacecourseTel: (0791) 805 6109

Web: www.gov.uk/uktiPrice: Free

UK Trade and Investment works with UKbusinesses of all sizes that are either interestedin or actively transporting. This workshop willprovide attendees with support with and expertadvice on motivating and auditing ‘the perfectagent’. Topics covered will include type ofdistribution channels, marketing investigationand problems within managing relationships.

Dec17

12

A P P O I N T M E N T S

On the MoveYour monthly guide to

appointments and promotions.

STEVEN FOISTER

Jesmond-based restaurant, Jam Jar, hasappointed Steven Foister as head chef.Gateshead-born Steven, who trained atNewcastle College and has worked at some ofthe North East’s best-known restaurants,including Terry Laybourne’s Café 21, will betasked with developing the restaurant’s menu,updating its specials menu and introducing anew range of bar snacks.

HUGH LANG

Stockton-based community interest company,CES Group, which operates the StocktonGoWarm and is responsible for installingenergy efficiency measures into thousands ofhomes across the borough, has appointed HughLang as chief executive. In his new role, Hugh,who has spent most of this career runningairports, including Teeside Airport, plans tobuild on the company’s existing strengths andmaximise its flexibility.

BEN HUNT

Seaham Hall Hotel and Spa, County Durham,has appointed Ben Hunt as restaurants and barsmanager. Yarm-born Ben, who has more than20 years’ experience working at some of thecountry’s leading hotels, will be responsible forensuring the smooth running of the hotel’s AArosettes Byron’s Bar and Grill and pan Asianrestaurant, Ozone, inside its Serenity Spa.

JEREMY MOUNTAIN

North Shields-based IT consultancy, WolfGroup, has appointed Sunderland Universitygraduate, Jeremy Mountain, as marketingassistant. In his new role, Jeremy, who hasexperience in business to business PR, willwork alongside senior staff in the firm’smarketing team to devise and execute a PR andmarketing strategy to help define the WolfGroup brand.

HELENA GANLEY

The Best Western Roker Hotel, Sunderland, hasappointed Helena Ganley as events manager.The 28-year-old, who has more than eight years’experience in events and hospitality, willoversee all private and corporate events held atthe venue. Her appointment is the latest in aseries of appointments made by TavistockHospitality Ltd, as part of a year-longprogramme of development at the hotel.

STEPHEN PATTERSON

Business improvement district company ofNewcastle City Centre, Newcastle NE1 Ltd,has appointed Stephen Patterson as marketingand communications director. 36-year-oldStephen, who has been involved with companysince 2007 and was part of the original teamthat established it, has been responsible fordelivering a number of its economy-boostinginitiatives, including NE1’s Alive after Five.

14

What was your first breakin business?

Getting a job as a traineefireman at the airport, back in1979. It was through that jobthat I was able to meet theairport’s managing director,Jim Denyer. I told him I wasfascinated by aircraft. It wasn’tlong before the airport wasadvertising for a health andsafety adviser, which I soonbecame, despite taking asubstantial pay cut. This gaveme a platform from which todevelop my career.

What attracted you toyour current role?

Having refereed footballprofessionally - and to a highlevel - I had always enjoyedmaking high-pressuredecisions. It never phased me.I had been very fortunate towork in various business unitswithin the airport, includingbeing part of the team thatsecured the arrival of Emirates.I, therefore, felt ready to applyfor the position of chiefexecutive, once it becameavailable. However, as one of62 applicants, I didn’t expect toget it!

What has been yourcareer highlight?

Can I have two? The first washelping to bring Emirates tothe region, as this opened theNorth East up to the globalmarket. The second was theannouncement that, fromMay 2015, NewcastleInternational Airport will beflying direct to New York, withUnited Airlines. It was a longhaul (literally!) and has thepotential to be a real gamechanger.

And your careerlowlight?

The recent announcementthat, from March 2015,easyJet will be cutting itsservice to Gatwick. This leftme feeling flat for a day ortwo, but I’m pleased to saythat I picked myself up andwent on to secure the Flyberoute to Stansted.

What do you enjoy mostabout your role?

Many things. The sheervariety and responsibility, Isuppose. No two days are thesame. I love improving ourcustomers’ experience andwatching staff develop, too.

I N T E R V I E W

David LawsDavid Laws is chief executive of Newcastle

International Airport. David joined the airport in1979 and has since worked in a variety of areaswithin the business, including its fire and health

and safety departments. He became chiefexecutive in 2007.

16

What's your biggestchallenge?

Working through therecession and making sure theairport family survived. Thebusiness plan had to be right,as airports were closing.The ash cloud incident was aninteresting one, too, as therewas nothing I could do to helpsolve the matter. Reacting tothe ongoing threat ofterrorism and keeping theairport safe has also provedtesting.

Who are your heroes, inand out of business?

In business, it’s Willie Walsh.He’s done an amazing job atBritish Airways and IAG. Outof business, having runCramlington Juniors and Iwas fortunate enough to workwith Alan Shearer from ayoung age. He was theultimate centre forward. SirBobby Robson was also anincredible man. Oh, and SirIan Botham, too, for hisoutstanding charity work.

What is the best piece ofbusiness advice anyone

has ever given you?

Employ good people; lookafter them and they will lookafter you.

What does thefuture hold NewcastleInternational Airport?

In addition to the new NewYork link, we recentlyannounced Flybe will begin aStansted service next Marchand easyJet recentlyannounced a year-roundservice to Geneva. All willprovide the businesscommunity with greatconnectivity. We are alsolaunching a range of newbars, shops and restaurants inthe terminal, which are beingmade to suit customerdemand. Finally, there willsoon be an Airport BusinessPark that could be anothergame changer. We’re goinginto our 80th year and wearen’t sitting still! It’s veryexciting.

What do you doto relax?

Having ceased all footballactivity in the last 12 monthsand after 20 years as a refereeand 10 years as a PremierLeague delegate, I have aseason ticket - and I love it. Ihave also started cycling,which gives me time to think,analyse and relax. Getting upto the Cheviot hills is a greatescape.

Photo credit: Chris Lishman

17

D E V E L O P M E N T

A renowned North East manufacturing entrepreneur is readyto share the secrets of his success to support local businesses

in reaching their full growth potential.

Malcolm Humble, founder ofCramlington-based Opsol UK,has joined Oxford Innovation’steam of 15 coaching specialists to

deliver the Business Northumberland HighGrowth programme.

“Having established and grown my ownbusiness, I really want to help other localentrepreneurs do the same,” explainsMalcolm. “I know what it’s like to take abusiness through difficult economic times andhow it feels to be taking a risk on aninvestment when there is no guarantee ofsuccess. Running a business can be a lonelyexistence, so I want to be there to supportpeople going through the same.

“I don’t claim to have all of the answers, butI can draw on my own experiences, which willhopefully be of value to other local businesses.My guiding principle is that people should beempowered to get on with what they’re good at.I hear so much jargon in business today and it’seasy to see how good, talented people can endup getting bogged down by buzzwords and thelatest management trends. Keep it simple, do

what you do well, and you won’t go far wrong.”Bedlington-born Malcolm set up Opsol UK

in 2002, taking it from a home-based businessto one that now employs 40 people in a 14,500square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturingfacility. Opsol UK designs and manufacturescircuit boards for a wide range of blue chipclients in sectors, including rail and highwaysignage, education, security, medical andenergy. The company is set to achieve aturnover of more than £3.5 million this year.

In June 2014, Malcolm sold Opsol UK toone of its clients, Ashington-based A-BelcoGroup, global specialists in electrical andmechanical engineering. Malcolm remainsmanaging director of Opsol UK and willcombine this role with coaching OxfordInnovation clients.

“Malcolm is a fantastic addition to ourcoaching team, says Mike Jobson, OxfordInnovation’s programme manager. “He bringsgreat experience and an outstanding trackrecord of success. If any Northumberland-based business, especially from themanufacturing sector, would like to receive

completely impartial, straight-talking supportfrom Malcolm, they should contact OxfordInnovation to arrange an appointment.”

The Business Northumberland High GrowthProgramme offers established and start-up firmsin the county fully funded support in achievinggrowth and creating jobs. Since the launch ofthe programme in April 2013, 80 businesseshave been supported by Oxford Innovation’steam of expert coaches, resulting in 82 jobscreated or protected.

The £1.35 million programme is funded bythe North East European RegionalDevelopment Fund (ERDF) and is beingdelivered by Oxford Innovation on behalf ofArch, The Northumberland DevelopmentCompany.

Anyone wishing to find out more aboutthe Business Northumberland High GrowthProgramme and how Oxford Innovationcan potentially support their business,should call (01670) 528403, [email protected], or visitwww.businessnorthumberland.co.uk

Humble entrepreneur makes it hisbusiness to support others

Malcolm Humble (left) and Mike Jobson at Opsol UK in Cramlington.

18

After working hard to win a sale,make sure you keep your customerhappy by practicing pro-active andeffective account management. It

may seem obvious, but so many promising,and profitable, relationships have been ruinedafter failing to follow some simple guidelinesin this respect.

It starts with the development of athorough understanding of your customer’sbusiness, including their goals andaspirations. How can you help them to servetheir customers more effectively? It also paysto assess where you should spend your time. Itis often the case that we spend most time withthose accounts we have the best relationshipswith, not necessarily the ones that can deliverthe strongest, most profitable business.

Key Account Management methodologieshelp us to think differently about the way weinteract with our customers. Try not to assessa customer’s potential or value on revenuealone; instead, consider other elements thatmake a successful customer for your business.When developing relationships, a couple ofdurhamlane’s sales mantras play will help toguide you along the right path: be interestedto be interesting and under promise, overdeliver, overwhelm. Multiple successes,

however small, all add up and help to buildtrust rapidly.

Politics is also something to always beaware of. One great relationship won’tnecessarily unlock the true potential of anaccount and may leave you vulnerable incase your contact leaves the business; so thesign of a good account manager is that theyare able to navigate through the politicswithin a customer’s organisation, in order togrow and nurture further business. Anotherkey requirement is the need to be pro-active.Account management has, in the past, beenseen as ‘order taking’. This has had tochange, as winning business has becomemore difficult and today’s account managerhas to be far more agile, politically astute andfocused on ‘helping a customer to serve itscustomers more effectively’ than ever before.When we get people into this mind-set,amazing things can happen.

Introducing a Key Account Managementprogramme should not be seen as a ‘quickwin’ and is not always met with open arms bythe sales force - people are often reluctant tochange, have vested self-interests and alwayswant to know what’s in it for them. It isimportant to gain buy-in from across thecompany when how your customers are

managed and maintained is at stake. KeyAccount Management is a business strategy -not just a sales strategy. By structuring yourprogramme properly, including stakeholdersfrom across the business and communicatingthe benefits clearly, you can be sure that itwill be embraced by both your customers andyour employees.

durhamlane is a sales performancespecialist, which helps companies becomemore commercial by improving theperformance of their people and bymanaging outsourced sales campaigns ontheir behalf – creating new businessopportunities. It delivers a measurabledifference through consultancy, training andcoaching sales and non-sales people andembedding best practices throughtechnology, delivering outsourced sales andbusiness development services that increasethe footprint and success of clients. Itsproven ‘Selling at a Higher Level’methodology sits at the heart of everything itsservices, improving performance regardless ofwhere a client is in the lifecycle of itsbusiness.

For more information, call (0191) 481 3800or visit www.durhamlane.co.uk


Begin with the end in mindRichard Lane, partner at Newcastle-based sales consultancy, training and coaching

services firm durhamlane, explains how getting under the skin of your customer and theirbusiness is paramount for effective key account management.

20

E V E N T

Rowlands CharteredAccountants day

The North East accountancy firmgathers at Hexham Racecourse.

Tynedale was at its autumnal best forthe latest National Hunt race meeting

when, once again, dire warnings of rainand high winds failed to materialise.Partner at Rowlands CharteredAccountants, Alan Hynd, hosted the eventfor clients of the firm’s Hexham andPortobello offices. The Rowlands CharteredAccountants Handicap Hurdle was wonby bottom weight, Mrs. Grass, who rompedhome by 12 lengths at odds of 16/1. Thehorse had over 20 failures to winpreviously, however the owner, trainer andbreeder, Mr J C Haynes, was warmlycongratulated on his success andpersistence. Alan Hynd said: “It proved tobe an exciting day in excellent company.”

www.rowlandsaccountants.co.uk

21

Unfortunately, you never quite knowwhen disaster will strike. Mostbusinesses have insurance andreserves it for a ‘rainy day’. However,

proactive approaches can be taken to riskmanagement - time taken to consider towhich risks the business is most susceptibleand then plan for when the risk materialises.

Disasters strike when least expected

Many will remember the terrible floods in theNorth East in summer 2012. I was drivinghome on the A1 on the day of the worst flood.All was well until I got to Washington services.While there is no mitigation I could haveundertaken to prevent the floods, throughknowing lots of routes into the city,unknowingly, I had built a contingency planto get me home on the unaffected roads.

I was lucky that day, but less lucky severalyears ago when my then company’s buildingwas severely damaged in an instant aseveryone sat at their desks. Access was limitedfor several months. The company coped, butit did make me think that pre-planning mighthave produced a better outcome. The first fewdays’ stress and confusion might have beenreduced with a step-by-step guide for such anevent.

Carrying out a risk assessment?

Unfortunately, risk management is not aproduct that you can buy off the shelf. Everybusiness faces different challenges and willneed to respond differently - even to genericrisks. If your company is very IT reliant, acrash in the IT system for a significant periodcould prove very costly. A service industrycompany would have real headaches if 50 percent of its staff were unable to turn up –whether that is due to weather, pandemic or

headhunted by a competitor.Pre-planning is essential to maintain

continuity and will ensure a more orderlyapproach than the post-event confusion youmight expect if no planning has taken place.You wouldn’t start in business without abusiness plan, so why face predictable disasterswithout any kind of process in place?

The first step will be to carry out anobjective Business Impact Analysis to assesswhich parts of the business are vital in theshort term. Priority can then be given to thoseareas. However, a risk assessment should becarried out across the entire operation. It willbe necessary to involve senior staff andrelevant stakeholders in each functional

department to review threats. This review alsoneeds to be done regularly. Working with oneclient recently, the risk register drawn upseveral years ago is almost unrecognizable tothe one that has just been ‘accepted’ by thebusiness.

Once a register of risks has been drawn up,to make sense of it, you will need to applysome weighting. So, each risk will needprobability and severity factors. The sum ofthose will dictate your approach. Those risksthat are identified as highly likely to happenand which would have a serious negativeimpact on the business will obviously requiremost and urgent attention.

Contingency planning

In a crisis, the last thing to do is think! If yourbusiness has identified a risk, it needs acontingency plan for it: a procedural table forwhat needs to be done, who is going to do it,and what resources and time it might require.The nature of the possible event will dictatehow detailed this needs to be. But, the simpleexercise of documenting procedures inadvance means that a business will beequipped to cope and to reinstate the mostvital areas.

Are you ready to start businesscontinuity management planning?

This can be a daunting exercise, but willproduce real benefits. To ensure the projectmaintains momentum and tackles all of thenecessary issues, it is often beneficial toemploy an external consultant. I have workedextensively with the client mentioned aboveand while unseen to the outside world, I amproud of the positive changes and planningthat has been undertaken. Your businessmight benefit too.


You never know when disasterwill strike: are you prepared?

Asks Rod Findlay, consultant at Your Sport Consulting.

EXPERT VIEWRod FindlayConsultant

Your Sport ConsultingEmail:

[email protected]: @RodFindlay

22

December simply isn't like any othertime of the year. Aside from anoverwhelming urge to put the diet onhold, dress your house in fairy lights

and watch Home Alone, the month offers upboth high-risk and great opportunity foremployers.

The risk comes in terms of staff retention.December is, in general, a quiet month forrecruitment, but January is a notoriously busyone for people beginning to search for a newchallenge.

The closer you get to the festive period, themore office productivity tends to slow, meaningyour team has extra time on their hands tothink about their current role, career and futureoptions.

If you combine this with an increase inmonthly personal spending, New Yearresolutions being just around the corner andpeople already having received their annualbonus, then it's clear to see that this is a criticaltime for employers to ensure their staff feelappreciated, happy and secure.

Assuming you already have a positive cultureof support and team work in place at yourorganisation, then the flip-side of this festivepredicament is, of course, the opportunity itpresents to recruit.

As others in your industry begin to winddown, you’re gifted with a golden opportunitythat has the potential to see you hit the groundrunning in January and gain a big advantageover your competitors.

While you might have traditionally used theextra time December offers to develop nextyear’s strategy, just take a moment to considerhow well your plans will be implemented ifyour best staff decide to leave in January, or youcan’t find the right people to help you drive

things forward.Currently, the number one barrier

preventing business growth in the North East isfinding and recruiting top talent. So, if you’reworking in a sector which has challengingmarket conditions and a scarce supply of greatpeople, rather than take your foot off the pedal,you should instead keep the momentum going.

By beginning your winter recruitment now,rather than waiting until the New Year, you willbe able to take advantage of a time when a lotof potential new employees are not only joiningthe market, but are also able to excuse

themselves from work to meet with you moreeasily.

As people take time out to reflect on theiroptions, the additional pressures a chaotic runup to the holiday period can bring, all too ofteninfluence and alter what it is that motivatesthem.

Money can emerge as a driver wherepreviously it, perhaps, wasn’t. Similarly, peoplemay be more open to considering opportunitiesthat they wouldn’t have entertained earlier inthe year, so you have to be opportunistic.

Technology is another changing variable thatnow helps to make December recruitmentpossible. Traditionally, people would be metwith radio silence if they tried to recruit arounda holiday period, especially Christmas.

Now, technology means people don’t switchoff in the same way they used to when they areaway from work. Social media is an ever presentin many people’s lives today, and a mobilephone is never far away from the majority;especially when they have a little more time ontheir hands.

More contactable and receptive candidates,with very little competition, seems like anopportunity not to be missed and could reallyput you in the driving seat for 2015.

New recruits would not only signify yourambition for the coming year, but also help tofire up your existing team and get everyoneready and raring to go.

Don’t tell anyone, but if I didn’t know better,I might even say that December was, in fact,the perfect time for you to recruit.

Contact Bryony for help finding the right taxand accountancy role or recruits on (0191)375 9983. Alternatively, connect on LinkedInor follow @bryonygibson.


Christmas:a time of risk and

opportunityBryony Gibson, managing director of

Bryony Gibson Consulting, discusses whyDecember should be a key month in

your recruitment calendar.

EXPERT VIEWBryony Gibson

Managing directorBryony Gibson Consulting

Tel: (0191) 375 9983Web: www.bryonygibson.com

Twitter: @bryonygibson

24

In fact, rarely a day passes by without hearingsomething about the foundations that are beinglaid towards a positive future for the North East,and the creation of the right conditions to allow

entrepreneurs to capitalise on opportunities. Whether it's the announcement of the new

£160 million JEREMIE2 fund or the creation ofjobs, the continuing low interest rates andinfrastructure developments or the trans-Atlanticflights and investment in training, the ground islaid for growth.

Many in business will start 2015 feelingconfident and excited about the year ahead –something strongly backed up by our very ownentrepreneurial business tracker survey results,which show how the majority of our members areanticipating increases in sales and profits,employee numbers and investment in the comingmonths.

It won't all be plain sailing, of course, but if anupbeat spirit is any sort of measure, there is realcause for optimism.

As business owners prepare to invest ininfrastructure and people, to seek new marketsand open the gates of innovation, the role of theEntrepreneurs' Forum is perhaps more importantnow than it's ever been.

We've supported entrepreneurs through toughtimes, given them access to experience,knowledge and invaluable contacts and shownthose who have faced challenges that they're notalone.

Through our events, we've provided theinspiration and networking opportunities and ourspeakers' stories have shown entrepreneurs at alllevels that if they can, then others can too.

The Forum's 300-strong membership, whichhas a combined turnover of £6.9 billon andemploys over 34,000 people, is proof, if it wereneeded, of the ambition and achievement alreadyhappening in the region.

We have countless examples of exceptionalgrowth in both domestic and export markets, jobcreation, and global success stories among ourmember businesses.

Just last month, at our annual autumnconference, Fortune Favours the Brave, heldduring Global Entrepreneurship Week, wefeatured the inspirational stories of:

• Pamela Petty, a Forum board member andmanaging director of Ebac, the NewtonAycliffe-based manufacturer of water coolersand other appliances that’s also bringing backwashing machine production to the UK;

• Richard Kirk, CEO of PolyPhotonix, based atNETPark in Sedgefield, who has pioneeredthe treatment of macular eye diseases usingphotonic technology, a radically different andinnovative solution to a major healthcareproblem that could save the NHS £1billion ayear in diabetic treatment;

• Bryan Bunn, founder of Wynyard-basedNortech Solutions Group, and a finalist forthe Forum’s Entrepreneur of the Year awardin 2014;

• Alex Hayward, MD of engineeringinformation management specialists PhusionIM, based in Billingham and focussed onmaximising the global opportunities openingup before them;

• Arnab Basu, CEO of Sedgefield-basedleading technology company, Kromek Group,which designs, develops and produces x-rayimaging and radiation detection products forthe medical, security screening and nuclearmarkets and was valued at £55m when itdebuted on AIM in October 2013.

Meanwhile, Utilitywise, Onyx Group,ClicTime, Wilton Group, Hays Travel andQuantum Pharmaceuticals, to name just a few,are among a host of businesses led by Forummembers that are achieving incredible successnationally and internationally. They all stand asshining lights to inspire the next generation.

Learning from others with businessexperience to share is central to the Forum'sethos and is manifested in our mentoringprogramme.

Entrepreneurs who've 'got their hands dirty',who've risked everything and achieved successare the best people to support those who arestarting out or are ready to take their business tothe next level.

As well as our success in matching mentorsand mentees, many of whom have gone on tobuild mutually beneficial, rewarding andinvaluable relationships, the Forum has:

• Worked to give North East entrepreneurs acollective voice and campaigned on theirbehalf;

• Backed the Pay Fair campaign to encouragefaster payments to businesses further downsupply chains;

• Built relationships with crowd funding andequity investment organisations to helpsupport members' growth ambitions;

• Developed relationships with entrepreneurialorganisations across the UK, offeringopportunities for members to create newconnections in London, Leeds, Sheffield andScotland;

• Brought a diverse range of business owners tothe region to share their knowledge andinspire local entrepreneurs.

The region now has a huge opportunity to laydown a marker as the number one region forentrepreneurship and innovation, whichremains the Forum's ambition.

Going forward, we, along with our partnersin the NECC, IoD, CBI, business supportcolleagues and our own corporate partners,must play a central role in the development ofthe 'Northern powerhouse'.

With HS2 also set to improve access to theNorth West, the worst thing that could happenis that our region is left on the periphery of thiscritical development in re-focusing attention onthe North.

The Forum is here to serve the whole area,from Northumberland to Tees Valley. Just asthe region must act as one, we touch everytown and city and break through any parochialboundaries.

Entrepreneurship is all around, andentrepreneurs come from anywhere andeverywhere and in all sectors. Whatcharacterises them is ambition, innovation anddetermination.

Given that entrepreneurial businesses arethe driving force of our economy, add inoptimism as well and the future really isshining for the North East.

To find out more about the Entrepreneurs’Forum, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net.

B U S I N E S S

The future’sbright, the future’sentrepreneurial

Christmas is coming and there's added sparklein the entrepreneurial world this year, according to

the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

26

FortuneFavours the

Brave

Aday of amazing stories in an amazingspace, the Entrepreneurs’ Forum

Global Entrepreneurship Weekconference, held last month at WynyardHall, saw over 200 of the region’s leadingbusiness owners come together tocelebrate entrepreneurship, makevaluable new contacts, learn from theexperience of others and return to theirbusiness inspired and with freshmotivation.

www.entrepreneursforum.net, tel: (0191)500 7780.

27

L E G A L & F I N A N C I A L N E W S

Hay & Kilner wins national award

Law firm advises on strategicpartnership

Real estate and corporate experts atnational law firm, Bond Dickinson, has

advised Grainger, the UK’s largest residentialproperty owner and manager, on anagreement with Sigma Capital Group plc todeliver regional private rented sectordevelopments. The agreement grantsGrainger the exclusive option for an initialfour-year term to acquire developmentopportunities sourced by Sigma, to create alarge scale Private Rented Sector portfolioacross some of the country’s key cities.

Silk Family Law gains nationalrecognition

Newcastle-based specialist family lawpractice, Silk Family Law, has been

placed in the top band in the ChambersUK 2015 Guide, which ranks law firms acrossthe UK based on extensive research,alongside feedback from clients. The guidehighlights the Silk’s team’s expertise in high-level financial proceedings for a range ofhigh net worth individuals. This year’s clientfeedback rates the firm as “undoubtedly,the best firm for matrimonial finance in theNorth East”.

Ward Hadaway advises onrenewable energy project

National law firm, Ward Hadaway, hasadvised one of the UK’s leading

biogas developers, JFS & Associates, on anindustrial food waste scheme in Yorkshire. Inconjunction with city funders, LeemingBiogas has been developed by JFS toconvert waste material from the foodproduction industry into green energy. Theproject is expected to be one of the largestfacilities of its nature in the country.Construction of the plant is due to becompleted by September 2015.

The firm has won a national LawNet award for its quality of service.

Leading North East law firm, Hay &Kilner, has won a national award forthe high quality service it delivers toits clients. The Newcastle-based firm,

which is a founding member of nationwidenetwork, LawNet, fought off stiff competition

from other law firms across the UK andIreland to win the LawNet Mark of ExcellenceAward in recognition of its commitment todelivering an excellent level of service. Itreceived the award having posted the mostimpressive combined performance across

mystery shopping and online clientsatisfaction measurement. Senior partner,Martin Soloman, said: “We pride ourselves onoffering the highest quality of service andadvice to our clients, which is why we aredelighted to receive this award.”

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Left to right: Chris Marston LawNet CEO,Rayne Tompson Director at Law League(sponsor of the award) Paul Taylor, Partner atHay & Kilner and Helen Hamilton-Shaw,LawNet Director of Services.

28

Much is made of the sentimentbehind pre-nuptial agreementsand whether they’re an indicationthat the parties don’t have faith in

their marriage lasting. Let me put it to you likethis, though: when you buy holiday insurance,you don’t do so in the expectation that somemisfortune will befall you while sunningyourself in Cancun; but should it happen, youwant to know the damage can be minimisedwith the least fuss, expense and distress. It’s thesame with a pre-nuptial agreement: if you neverneed to use it, so much the better, but theinsurance is there just in case.

Talk of pre-nups for ordinary folk is fairlynew though, and what if you’ve already tied theknot without the benefit of such insurance?You’ll be pleased to hear that it’s not too late.The logically named ‘post nuptial agreement’ isbasically the same as a pre-nup, but enteredinto when the parties are already married.

Like a pre-nuptial agreement, it sets out thefinancial arrangements that the parties will bebound by in the event that the marriage everbreaks down. The parties can enter into thistype of agreement at any time after themarriage takes place and before the

marriage breaks down. There are many reasons that parties may

wish to set out their financial arrangements in awritten agreement of this type: one of theparties may have inherited or expects to inherita sum of money that they wish to protect; theparties may have encountered a maritaldifficulty that they have agreed to work throughand have agreed that entering into a postnuptial agreement will avoid unnecessaryfinancial arguments, either in endeavouring toreconcile or in the event that the reconciliationfails and the marriage ends.

If the parties to the marriage have enteredinto a post nuptial agreement and theyeventually get divorced, they will be expectedto abide by the terms of their agreement. Thelegal status of their agreement is the same asthough they had entered into a pre-nuptialagreement. This means that they will be held tothe terms of the agreement, unless there is avery good reason not to – for instance if one ofthe parties deliberately concealed assets fromthe other.

It is important that anyone entering into thistype of agreement understands the nature ofthe other party’s finances. Both parties are

expected to be clear and frank with each otherabout the value of their assets and debts. Thisincludes business assets, pensions and offshoreinvestments. They both must understand thenature of the agreement; it helps if they haveboth taken independent legal advice on theterms of the agreement before they sign on thedotted line. Both parties must enter into theagreement freely; there must be no pressure byone party one the other to sign the agreement.If there is pressure, then the agreement maynot be upheld as being binding by the courtwhen the parties divorce.

Overall, the agreement must be fair to bothparties. The court will want to see that thefinancial needs of their children have beensatisfied in the agreement. If the agreementstates that one party gets everything and theother party gets nothing, it is not likely to be afair agreement and, therefore, won’t be upheldby the court.

Ultimately, the court has the power to makean order that it thinks is fair in all thecircumstances. If the agreement is properlydrafted and entered into by the parties, it ishighly unlikely that the court will interfere withthe agreement reached by the parties.

L A W & F I N A N C E

Post NuptialAgreementsLucinda Connell, senior solicitor at Major Family Law, on why

post-nupital agreements are worth considering.

EXPERT VIEWLucinda Connell

Senior solicitorMajor Family Law

Tel: (01661) 824582Web: www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk

Twitter @majorfamilylaw

30

Iwas really pleased to be able to attend theCounty Durham Community FoundationAGM recently. Not because of the World WarOne themed buffet (although the corned beef

pie was very good) but because it really broughthome to me how important to our communitiesand our economy these Foundations have nowbecome. In fact, this is a major North East successstory that many people are blissfully unaware of.

We are blessed – the North East has three ofthe biggest Community Foundations in the UKand all of them are having a significant impact ontheir local communities, producing far morepositive results than I, and probably plenty ofothers, ever thought would be possible, say, 15years ago.

The success of the Durham, Tees Valley andTyne and Wear Community Foundations is aresult of tremendously generous giving, utterdetermination from Trustees and some excellentmanagement from various senior staff over theyears. As we have seen with the Northern RockFoundation, nothing can ever be taken forgranted. One advantage that these Foundationshave is that they are all funded by a wide range ofgenerous local benefactors, rather than oneorganisation or individual. As the endowmentscreate and grow funds for future generations to

benefit from, the longevity of these Foundationslooks assured.

So, why have the three North EastFoundations grown so successfully, particularly

when compared to some in the rest of thecountry? It is because of our greater need in thisregion? Is it because our benefactors have beenmore generous? I suspect that one of the secretshere resides in the word ‘community’. All threefoundations have worked themselves ‘into’ thecommunity with great success.

Barbara Gubbins, chief executive of CDCF,told a wonderful story at the AGM. Briefly, itregarded a lady who had suffered considerablemisfortune in her life. In trying to rebuild herconfidence, the Foundation provided her with asmall amount of funding to help her train as a doghandler - her lifelong ambition. The result is onerenewed and reinvigorated lady and another smalluplift in our economy.

What we have to understand is the fact thatthese Foundations, and indeed many othercharities, are generating economic activity andmovement across our communities. Theirimportance to the North East is now clear for allto see and this was emphasised by the tremendousturn out at the County Durham CommunityFoundation AGM.

Well done to them and well done to theFoundations of the Tees Valley and Tyne andWear, as well. Let’s treasure and support them alittle bit more.


Foundations for successVinay Bedi of UBS Wealth Management on why we should treasure and support Community Foundations.

Authorised and regulated by Financial Market Supervisory Authority in Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, UBS AG is authorised bythe Prudential Regulation Authority and is subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential

Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from us on request.

32

EXPERT VIEWVinay Bedi

Executive directorTel: (0191) 211 1015

Email: [email protected]: www.ubs.com/uk

On November 4 2014, theEmployment Appeal Tribunal(EAT) gave its decision in BearScotland Limited vs. Fulton and

Baxter, Hertel (UK) Limited vs. Wood andOthers and Amec Group Limited vs. Law andOthers. The decision has attracted considerablemedia coverage.

The current legal position in relation tocalculating a worker’s holiday pay is thatholiday pay should be equivalent to a worker’s‘normal’ pay. Following the EAT decision, andvarious European judgments, what is ‘normal’depends on whether the type of paymentconcerned is paid with sufficient regularity tojustify inclusion in the holiday pay calculations.

The types of payment that may requireinclusion are allowances, commission and nowovertime. As historically employers have notincluded such payments in the calculation of aworker’s holiday pay, for some employers, theywill see an increase in their overall payrollfigures. The actual financial impact, however,will depend very much on the type of business

and how the business is operated. Employers may take comfort from the recent

EAT judgment in relation to historic underpayments of holiday pay. The EAT took theview that workers will only be able to recoverunderpayments where there is less than a three-month gap between those underpayments.Where the gap has been longer, any claim forhistoric underpayments will fail. It should benoted, however, that this aspect of thejudgment is likely to be subject to an appeal.

The EAT judgment also only applies to the20 days’ annual leave, which is provided for inthe Working Time Directive. The additionaleight days’ leave, which is provided for underthe Working Time Regulations, is not affected.Therefore, workers can expect to receive ahigher rate of holiday pay for 20 of their 28days’ annual leave.

This may cause administrative difficulties forsome employers. There may also be a questionas to which type of leave a worker is taking atany particular time, particularly if the contractof employment is silent on the matter.


Holiday Pay Judgment:much ado about nothing?

... asks Lee Betchley, solicitor at Clark Mairs LLP.

EXPERT VIEWLee Betchley

SolicitorClark Mairs LLP

Email: [email protected]: (0191) 245 4817

34

It is not often that one comes across a newinvestment offering that is genuinely excitingand capable of changing the way one thinks ofinvestment; something that combines high

returns with reduced risk to capital.Unfortunately, your local IFA is unlikely to beable to recommend it, as you will see.

If you ask any investor what they want, it ishigh returns with no risk. That is impossible inreality and we were all shocked when theGovernment had to come to the rescue of anumber of major banks in 2008.

Banks had been considered to be ‘no risk’homes for our money and yet we had queuesforming outside the Northern Rock. It wasreminiscent of the ‘run’ on the Bailey Buildingand Loan in the Frank Capra movie ‘It’s aWonderful Life’.

Historically, there has been a straight choicebetween equities (the stockmarkets) and fixedinterest securities, such as gilts and corporatebonds. However, I believe that could wellchange. I have been privy to a new fund which isdue to be launched in the near future called‘Serenity Plus’, which invests in foreign exchangetrading.

According to the Bank for InternationalSettlements, foreign exchange trading increasedto an average of $5.3 trillion a day by 2014. Toput this into perspective, this averages out to be

$220 billion per hour. The foreign exchangemarket is largely made up of institutionalinvestors, corporations, governments and banks,as well as currency speculators. Roughly, 90 percent of this volume is generated by currencyspeculators capitalising on intraday pricemovements. The size and liquidity of this marketdwarfs every stockmarket in the world.

But why would a foreign exchange tradingfund be attractive to an investor? Quite simply,the returns quoted are so attractive, that they aredifficult to ignore and there is an element ofcapital protection, too.

The fund’s objective is to pay 2 per cent to 3per cent per month to the investor. The traderalso employs a stop-loss strategy, so that themaximum loss is limited to 10 per cent of thecapital invested. As we have seen, stockmarketscan lose more than that in a day.

How does the trader achieve thereturns?

There is a continual ebb and flow of currencyvalue against a paired currency. The traderutilises a system of skimming off many smallprofits during a trading day, rather than seekingsustained weakening or strengthening of acurrency. By continually banking small profitsand minimising losses, the trader can produce a

very healthy return for the investor and of coursefor the FX trading company.

So, who is this aimed at?

As the fund will be based offshore and is notregulated by the Financial Conduct Authorityhere, it is described as an Unregulated CollectiveInvestment Scheme. As such, it should only bebought by high net worth individuals,sophisticated or professional investors. It will beavailable to pension funds and trusts.

This does not mean that it is not regulated. It is,but overseas. Unfortunately, regulation here islimiting the fund managers in what they can offerthe UK investor. I think that is a shame, as thisfund offers a real alternative to the stockmarkets.

For those that qualify, and as part of a portfolio,I believe that this will be very attractiveproposition. Where else can you achieve suchhigh returns with downside protection? After all,after four months of 3 per cent returns, a 10 percent fall would still leave you ahead of your initialinvestment.

I would stress that I am not recommending thisinvestment through this article, as Universal taxStrategies LLP is not an authorised adviser.However, that should not stop appropriate partiesinvestigating it further for themselves. I believethat they will be pleasantly surprised.


The investment “holy grail?”Peter Rutherford of Universal Tax Strategies lifts the lid on a new fund

that invests in foreign exchange trading.

EXPERT VIEWPeter Rutherford

PartnerUniversal Tax Strategies LLP

Tel: (0191) 374 0333Email: peter. [email protected]

36

Under UK laws, holiday pay has beencalculated based on an employee’sbasic salary, meaning those whoregularly work overtime can often be

paid less when they are on holiday.Last month, the Employment Appeal

Tribunal (EAT) announced in a landmarkruling that holiday pay should be based on aworker’s normal pay, which may includeovertime and commission if they are regularlyrequired to work extra hours, rather than justtheir basic salary.

Employment law expert and head ofNewcastle-based Square One Law’semployment team, Jean-Pierre van Zyl, saysthat the impact of the ruling should not beunderestimated, as the potential financialimplications for many employers could besignificant, especially considering the scale ofpotential claimants across various sectors andindustries.

To help manage the change, the Square OneLaw employment team has drawn up a fourpoint checklist for employers that are unsure ofhow to approach the new legislation.

Square One Law’s action plan says:

1 - Go through your remuneration structure toidentify terms and staff that are affected byabsence due to annual leave

2 - Manage the payment of historicliabilities by calculating the time periodthat has lapsed since the lastunderpayment

3 - Consider whether you wish to enhancefuture holiday pay, “to the minimumextent required by law from time to time”

4 - Consider whether you wish to take stepsto amend policies and contractualprovisions to reduce and recognise theimpact of this decision and implementany changes you wish to make (such asdistinguishing between the value of EUHoliday and UK Holiday pay)

Jean-Pierre said: “Square One Law has beentracking this issue for some time and ouremployment team is already briefing clientson the implications. This is a complex andfar-reaching decision. Permission to appealto the Court of Appeal has been granted, soa risk remains that the decision may beoverturned.

“We believe the retrospective applicationwill receive most attention. The judgementconcluded that claims for the underpaymentof holiday pay must be brought within threemonths of the last underpayment. This

means that if an employee has had a holidaywithin the past three months, they can claimfor any unpaid holiday pay owed. Claims cango back in three-month increments, if withinthose three months the employee has beenunderpaid following a holiday.

“The risk for employers is if an appeal bythe employees on this point succeeds, claimscould stretch back to 1998 when theWorking Time Regulations wereintroduced.”

Jean-Pierre continued: “We are advisingcompany bosses that their staff and tradeunions will query the value of holiday pay ifit does not include overtime and otherpayments. Our advice is to be proactive andreview your position.

“The key to managing this situation and theimpact of the ruling is to be prepared for alloutcomes. This won’t be the last we hear onthe ruling so now is the time to putpreventative measures in place. “We willkeep updating businesses as the situationmay change as appeals are launched andindividual cases decided.”

For further advice or information call Jean-Pierre van Zyl on (0843) 224 7925 or visitwww.squareonelaw.com


Bosses given four-point plan afterholiday pay ruling

Are you prepared for the changes to holiday pay and the financialimpact that new and backdated claims could have on your business?

Asks Square One Law’s employment partner, Jean-Pierre van Zyl.

38

As we approach the end of the year, it’snatural to reflect on the challengesand successes of the last 12 months.Tait Walker Corporate Finance has

had another strong year and has worked withsome great businesses – but I will leave that tosomeone else to shout about. I joined the teamin November to support the growth of thebusiness, so I’m looking forward to 2015 andthe opportunities it brings.

Economic signs are positive: the UK isexperiencing growth of around 3 per cent, as isthe US (although the Eurozone is stagnating).The discussions I have had with businessesduring 2014 have become increasingly positive– confidence remains fragile, but businesses areinvesting in people, equipment and growth.Confidence thrives on certainty and, of course,the May general election will create someuncertainty for North East businesses the sameway the referendum in Scotland did. Changesto government spending plans could impact onmarket and consumer confidence and there isthe potential for the UK’s relationship with theEU to change forever. A business owner ormanager can’t always predict the outcome of

these events, but they can take steps to beprepared.

The Scottish referendum shows that theuncertainty around political change doesimpact on businesses in the region – somedeferred investment decisions until theoutcome was known, while others focused onthe opportunities an independent Scotlandmight provide. Some didn’t think it wouldmake any difference to them at all. The key todealing with this kind of uncertainty is tounderstand your objectives, the main drivers ofyour business; those under your control andthose which aren’t. This allows you tounderstand what factors you can influence andplan for those that you can’t.

Having previous experience of this process, Iunderstand that having the time to step backfrom the day job and focus on reviewingstrategy isn’t always possible. That’s whereworking with an adviser you trust can help indeveloping a plan for the future. Byunderstanding and having a clear businessplan, you give yourself the best chance ofmaking the most of the opportunities that willarise in 2015.


Planning for businesssuccess in 2015

Economic signs are positive, explains associate partner in corporate finance at Tait Walker, Chris McCourt.

EXPERT VIEWChris McCourt

Associate partner in corporate financeTait Walker

Tel: (0191) 285 031Web: www.taitwalker.co.uk

39

As an independent financial adviser,our job is to manage our clients’monies by conducting thoroughresearch regarding savings and

investments strategies. But, moneymanagement isn’t always about investmentsand so, recently, I asked each member of mystaff to come up with their best money savingtips that they have employed in the past year.

So, without further ado, here are our topfive:

1. Review your savings rates

Review your cash ISA rates regularly and watchfor when headline ISA rates drop, and moveyour money to a better deal. Providers of ISAsavings accounts entice us in with higher ratesof interest, offering a bonus rate for a limitedperiod of time, but those rates can be cutfurther down the line. People who opened acash ISA this year may find that the providerhas already cut their rate of interest relying oncustomer apathy to stay put rather than shoparound for the best deal.

2. Look at re-mortgaging

As the consensus is that interest rates are aboutto rise, this could be the right time to look at re-mortgaging to a potentially better deal,especially as a number of big name banks andbuilding societies have recently reduced theirfixed rate mortgages. While interest rates arenot expected to rise rapidly, most mortgages inthe UK are variable rate, so rates tend to go upand down with the Bank of England Base Rate.Do the sums – most providers offer mortgagecalculators on their website, and look at theterms and conditions of both your existingmortgage and any potential replacement, inparticular areas like early exit charges.

3. Opting for a regular income lifepolicy rather than a lump sum

Often when people select life insurance covermany pick policies that pay out a lump sum totheir beneficiaries on their death. This can bean advantage where there is a mortgage to payoff, but where there are no big ticket items tosettle, an alternative is to buy a policy that pays aregular income for a set period of time. Whileinflation may not seem to pose much of a risknow, lessons from the past show us it is afoolhardy assumption to make thatcircumstances will be the same in the future asthey are now.

A regular income can be linked to inflationto keep the spending power in line with risingprices and help to maintain a family’scomfortable lifestyle. Another point to note onthe subject of income to maintain acomfortable lifestyle is while the new pensionfreedoms will allow more access to your pension

pots, the need to plan for your income to last foryour lifetime and deal with unprecedentedevents is essential.

4. Write down a budget

As simple and common sense as this may seem,it is surprising how many people don’t do it.One of the key principles of financial advice isplanning and that applies as much to next weekas it does to five, 10 or 20 years ahead. It alsopays to bear in mind that life can occasionallythrow us a curve ball, so knowing ourexpenditure limits and having somecontingency money set aside can be a prudentstrategy no matter what our level of wealth is.

5. Make the most of the annual giftexemption to reduce futureinheritance tax liability

HMRC allows us to give certain levels of assetsaway every year, which will then not be countedas part of our estate for inheritance taxpurposes. These include set lump sum giftpayments, but also any regular gifts made out ofafter-tax income, not including your capital.

These gifts will only qualify if the person hasenough income left after gifting them tomaintain their normal lifestyle. These include:monthly or other regular payments to someone,regular gifts for Christmas and birthdays, orwedding/civil partnership anniversaries orregular premiums on a life insurance policy - foryou or someone else. An Independent FinancialAdviser can help you navigate and make use ofthese gifting rules to reduce your future IHTobligations.

As we move towards Christmas and as wemake our New Year’s resolutions employingeven one of these money saving tips alongsidean effective financial planning strategy from anIndependent Financial Adviser can helpprovide you with a brighter financial healthoutcome for the future.


Money saving tipsto consider now

The team at LowesFinancial Management

reveal their moneymanagement tips.

EXPERT VIEWIan Lowes

Managing directorLowes Financial Management

Tel: (0191) 281 8811Enquiry: [email protected]

Web: www.lowes.co.uk

40

1: For Christmas week online foodshopping deliveries, book your slot afterNovember 30.

2: December (actually, from November 5onwards, so this one is cheating a bit)employers should expect a letter indicatingtheir HMRC online filing and electronicobligations for 2014-15.

3: Last day for payment of October 2014 VATliabilities by online or telephone banking isDecember 7 2014 (cheque payments forthose exempt from online submissions mustbe in the post by November 20 2014).

4: Last day for guaranteed delivery of second-class post is December 18.

5: December 22 is the last day for electronicpayment of PAYE and NIC liabilities forNovember 2014 payroll (earlier forpayments by post).

6: Last day for guaranteed delivery of first classpost is December 20.

7: For those last minute Christmas presents,Eldon Square, Newcastle, is open until 5pmon Christmas Eve.

8: December 25 is traditional Quarter Day,when rents are due.

9: December 30 marks the deadline for onlinesubmission of Self Assessment tax returns fortax year ended 5 April 2014 for HMRC tocollect tax through PAYE codes (where lessthan £3,000 is owed).

10: December 31 is Companies Housefiling deadline for limited companyaccounts for financial years ended 31March, 2014.

11: Happy New Year! Remember: FATCAregistrations to be with the IRS by January1 2015.

12: Deadline for online submission of SelfAssessment tax returns for tax year ended 5April 2014 is January 31 2015 (papersubmission deadline was so last year-October 31 2014).

Merry Christmas everyone, from Leathers LLP.

For more information about Leathers LLP,visit www.leathersllp.co.uk or call(0191) 224 6760


12 days of seasonal deadlinesWith Christmas approaching, the team at Leathers LLP eveals its seasonal deadlines.

42

It is a sad fact of life that many divorcelawyers find that their busiest times occurjust after the festive season finishes. Inparticular, we are increasingly seeing

couples break up around this time because offinancial pressure and worries.

For example, a spouse may be spendingmore than they can afford or incurring debtwithout the other knowing about it, whichcan lead to serious difficulties, especiallywhere one spouse is forced into bankruptcy.

So, what happens if a spouse becomesbankrupt? What will become of the familyhome?

All property belonging to, or vested in, thebankrupt at the date of the bankruptcy orderwill automatically vest in the trustee, who issomeone appointed to administer thebankrupt's estate.

If there is a family home, this will notescape the bankruptcy, but will form part ofthe bankrupt’s estate. This means that if thereis equity in that property, the trustee can lookto realise that equity by forcing a sale of the

property. The trustee has three years inwhich to realise the interest or else it willautomatically re-vest in the bankrupt.

Often, family homes are in joint names sothat if one party is made the subject of abankruptcy order, their 50 per cent beneficialentitlement will vest in the Trustee. At leastthis provides some security for the non-bankrupt’s spouse, as the Trustee must limittheir claim to 50 per cent of the equity.

It also means that the non-bankrupt spousecan negotiate with the trustee to buy outtheir interest and sometimes this can be donewithout having to pay out the full amount ofthe other’s half share. For example, this canbe done where a spouse has given security forthe other’s secured liabilities, such as halfshare of the mortgage payments, or where aspouse has given security for the other’sdebts.

If you believe your spouse is, or is likely to,become bankrupt, you must obtain urgentadvice from both family and insolvencylawyers.

Jonathan Flower, head of family law at Ward Hadaway, explains why many divorcelawyers could find themselves busier than ever this festive season.

Why Christmas is not alwaysa merry time

EXPERT VIEWJonathan Flower

Head of family lawWard Hadaway

Tel: (0191) 204 4376Email:

[email protected]


Over-trading pitfallsAndrew Cawkwell on the side

effects of growth.

As many markets continue to improve,it’s clear that businesses are starting tosee the benefit of new opportunities.The temptation is to fill the order book

- and fast - but a bulging pipeline can lead totrouble if a firm is not ready for more rapidgrowth.

Having survived the recession by beingcautious and reducing costs, business owners stillneed to exercise caution when the orders pickup. The side effects of growth can be seen in thelatest Government insolvency statistics. Whilethese demonstrate an overall decline in companyadministrations since last year, the number ofadministrations has increased this quarter.

If a business accepts more orders than itsworking capital can sustain, cash flow canbecome a problem and a firm may find itself‘overtrading,’ creating the risk of insolvency.That’s where I come in. As a certifiedturnaround professional, my role is to prepare abusiness for the road ahead as part of a businessplanning and growth strategy. Access to finance

is critical to avoid funding gaps and I can seekout the right solutions for a business – tailored totheir needs.

If a company lacks the necessary finance totake on the work, but goes ahead regardless, abusiness owner risks adverse personalconsequences too. A recent example of thisinvolved a business I was partly involved with inthe energy sector. There was a healthy orderbook, but the business couldn’t get the fundingto complete its orders.

The company had contractually committed tothe work, but a lack of funding meant thedirectors breached their directors’ duties. Adirector can be held personally liable whenthings go wrong, so ensuring your workingcapital is sufficient to meet the needs of thebusiness is vital.

At Muckle LLP, we like to get involved at theearliest opportunity. We will evaluate operationsto ensure your business is adequately financedand ensure it is structured for the conditionsahead.

EXPERT VIEWAndrew Cawkwell

PartnerMuckle LLP

Email: [email protected]: @CompanyRescue

44


UNW advises drug wholesaler incrucial finance raising

Deal experts at Newcastle-based business advisers and chartered accountants, UNW,have assisted a Northumberland pharmaceutical wholesaler to secure a six-figure funding

boost to grow its business and create 25 jobs.

UNW's corporate finance team advisedthe highly experienced shareholders ofCramlington-based PMCPharmaceuticals Limited in securing

the finance round from the North East GrowthPlus Fund, managed by FW Capital.

PMC Pharmaceuticals, which is run by twoequal shareholders, will use the cash injection asworking and growth capital to allow it to beginwholesaling drugs from its warehousing facilitieson South Nelson Industrial Estate.

Paul McCourt and Paul Healey, who betweenthem have over 30 years' experience in thepharmaceutical sector, approached UNW tohelp it secure the crucial investment followingthe successful receipt of the necessary licencesand permits.

UNW senior corporate finance manager,Mark Simpson, who worked on the deal withexecutive, Leon Cassidy, said: “This massivelyexperienced management team has used UNWin the past for various financing, acquisitions andtax advice in relation to previous companies and

they approached us to help them with thisrecently established business.

“We produced a financial model andapproached various potential funders that we

highlighted as relevant from our extensivenetwork. Once we had received offers of funding,we selected FW Capital, as their teamdemonstrated a good knowledge of the sector,which meant they understood this business reallywell and they structured investment to facilitateour growths plans.

“We are delighted to have been able tosuccessfully advise the directors once again andlook forward to watching the business grow into asuccessful wholesaling operation.”

PMC Pharmaceuticals sales director, PaulMcCourt, said: “Securing this level of fundinghas enabled us to commence trading with state-of-the-art software and distribution systems. Weexpect to create 25 jobs in the next couple ofyears and deliver a level of service to ourcustomers that will make us their automatic firstchoice regional supplier.”

For more information, visit www.unw.co.uk,email [email protected] or call (0191) 2436000

L-R: PMC Pharmaceuticals shareholders, Paul Healeyand Paul McCourt, with UNW corporate finance

manager, Mark Simpson.

45

Tell us about the Sunderland office –how long has Rowlands had a basein the city and what type of work doyou do?

The practice that is now Rowlands started intrading as Ainleys in 1993. I was the partnerwho ran the business in Sunderland. I built upthe practice, which primarily dealt withaccounts, tax, VAT and payroll, mainly workingwith SMEs in Sunderland, and CountyDurham. Since we became part of Rowlands inJuly 2012, we have expanded to cover the fullrange of accountancy services includinginsolvency and corporate finance. We now dealwith very large clients through to small non-VAT registered start-ups. I also do voluntarywork for the Prince’s Trust as business mentor,helping young people who are starting upbusinesses and a number of them have becomeclients, which is great.

What challenges face the area andwhere are the opportunities forgrowth?

Sunderland has changed a lot over the yearssince it was a centre for shipbuilding, miningand brewing. The city is now more serviceindustry-based. A lot of the money that used tobe spent within the city has gone out ofSunderland. People who worked for the bigindustries spent their money here and they

have now gone. Although Nissan softened theblow when the shipyards closed, it has notreplaced them and, physically withinSunderland, there is no longer the same retailstrength as before, so people don’t spend theirmoney here as much as they did.

Rowlands is the first large accountancy firmto move into the city in many years. Theprofessional businesses here, the solicitors andaccountants, tend to be the old names thathave been in Sunderland for years. I believethe city needs investment both from local andnational Government. Although we have seengrowth with the arrival of Software City, weneed radical change to bring more jobs. Theroads, railway station and image of the cityneed a revamp.

How does Rowlands work with thelocal business community and howdo you intend to build on this?

The professional businesses in the town used tohave quarterly meetings, but that has recentlydried up. Networking is something thatSunderland and other professionals couldbenefit more from. At Rowlands, I meetregularly with local banks, which leads to newclient recommendations. Colleagues and Irecently took part in the Barclays’ Fired up forGrowth Seminar in Sunderland at the end ofNovember and this is the type of thing that’sneeded in the city.

I would like to see more seminars organisedas joint ventures between ourselves, the banksand solicitors, to discuss mutual work. It isimportant within our group to keepprofessional services’ work in the city, ratherthan seeing it go elsewhere. The majority ofbusinesses in Sunderland prefer to keep theirprofessionals in the city, unless they can’tsupply their needs. It’s important to get themessage out to people in the city about what wecan do. You don’t need to go elsewhere for yourprofessional services, because it’s all here onthe doorstep.

What three things would you likepeople to know about RowlandsAccountants?

Firstly, we offer so many services that otheraccountants in the city don’t, with specialistsavailable in a variety of different fields fromagriculture to insolvency, so you don’t need togo out of Sunderland. Secondly, we are afriendly and approachable firm, providingquality advice from a lovely old-fashioned officewith a great atmosphere. Thirdly, we’re easilyaccessible. Our offices on Douro Terrace, nearMowbray Park, are just a short walk from thecity centre. We have plenty of free parking andwe’re away from the one-way system.

For more information, visitwww.rowlandsaccountants.co.uk


Plans for the futureRowlands, the North East’s largest independent accountancy practice, now has a significant

presence in Sunderland. Consultant, Brian Logan, who heads the city’s office, discusses how thefirm is expanding and its plans for the future.

46

The image of successful entrepreneurs haschanged: gone is the suit-wearingbusinessperson generating wealth fromtraditional industries. Now, any student in

your local coffee shop could be creating thenext Facebook or WhatsApp.

Entrepreneurs, throughout time, have alwaysbeen driven by the thought that if there’ssomething out there that needs fixing, they canfix it by quickly developing a technologicalsolution. This disruptive economy sees studentsdevelop an idea, turn it into a business and exitall within their summer holiday. This may beon the extreme end of the spectrum, but it iscertainly becoming more common.

This democratisation of entrepreneurship,opening the concept to younger audiences withless traditional business experience, isundoubtedly what the UK economy needstoday, yet there is still room for improvement.Entrepreneurship isn’t something that justhappens in HTML code, to those in suits, orwithin London’s ‘Silicon Roundabout’.

Our bi-annual Entrepreneurs Index,developed in conjunction with BusinessGrowth Fund (BGF), measures entrepreneurialactivity across the UK. The report demonstratesthe significance of regional growth, debunkingthe myth that the economic recovery is beingled by London, or that it is confined to thecapital.

The fifth and most recent volume ofEntrepreneurs Index shows that, betweenMarch 2013 and 2014, the number ofenterprises in Newcastle alone rose by 4.6 percent to 6,680, while the North East region as a

whole experienced 5.2 per cent growth,bringing the total number of enterprises to59,340.

And the North East has continued to move inthe right direction, with a further 6.4 per centincrease in the proportion of high-growthcompanies, following positive growth observedin the last report we released. The region hasalso seen the highest year-on-year percentageincrease in the number of enterprises in theregion after London, with a 5.4 per cent risefrom 2013.

Supporting these findings, a recent reportfrom Bibby Financial Services found that morethan half of North East SMEs enjoyed anincrease in sales in the first quarter of 2014, with12 per cent reporting a significant rise. Morethan a third (35 per cent) of businesses said theywill invest in staff or recruit new employees,with 70 per cent are planning to invest in theirbusiness during 2014.

While traditional industries of the NorthEast, such as oil and gas, are performing well,there is also a strong cluster of businessesemerging in the tech sector, particularly in the

Sunderland and Middleborough areas. This islargely thanks to increased skills investmentfrom universities in the area, as well as strongmultinational firms starting to set up in theNorth East, creating a buzz around thetechnology sector not seen in previous years.

In the wake of the financial crisis, policymakers and business leaders have repeatedlystressed the need for economic growth to bemore balanced across every region of the UK. Ifthe economic recovery is to be sustained,entrepreneurs need an environment in whichthey can start and grow successful venturesanywhere in the country. They need access tofunding and talent, policies that remove growthbarriers, and support networks to guide andencourage them onto a strong growth trajectory.

There is a true entrepreneurial spiritemerging in the North East and these talentedindividuals should be recognised for their rolein driving the economy forward. At Barclays, webelieve it is imperative that initiatives thatencourage young entrepreneurs continue to besupported and have even brought out our ownto complement these existing offers. From ourLife Skills training to network of entrepreneurclinics and seminars, we make sure that we aregoing beyond banking to give fledgling, as wellas established, entrepreneurs the vital supportthey need to take them on the next phase intheir enterprise lifecycle.

We are committed to fostering thesefundamental frameworks and supporting localentrepreneurs, whether they are at the start-upor exit phase of their journey and whether theyare wearing a suit or Converse.


What is driving theNorth East’s new breed of

entrepreneurs?Asks Andrew Miller, head of Barclays

Wealth and Investment Managementin the North East.

Barclays does not provide tax or legal advice. We therefore recommend that you obtain independent tax and legal advice tailored to your needs.

EXPERT VIEWAndrew Ward

Head of Barclays Wealth and InvestmentManagement in the North East

www.barclays.com

48

P R O P E R T Y

Engineers enjoy continued growth

As buoyancy in the construction marketreturns, Portland Consulting Engineers,Gateshead, is on track for a record year,significantly increasing turnover by 25

per cent and staff numbers by 40 per cent.Additionally, Portland continues to work across

the housing, commercial, industrial, and furthereducation sectors, delivering design services for amulti-million pound housing scheme in the heartof Ouseburn Valley earlier this year for TyneHousing Association, and completing work on achurch conversion at St Francis of Assisi inWalker.

The team is currently on-site with threeprojects: a new hydrotherapy pool for the Percy

Hedley Foundation, student accommodation onClaremont Road, for student property specialist,Ziggurat, and new education centres in York andMiddlesbrough for Askham Bryan College.

Portland has also developed civil and structuraldesigns for a new training facility in Bowburn, forCounty Durham and Darlington Fire Services.

According to managing director, Lee Barr, thescope of work the consultancy undertakes,coupled with its customer focused approach, iswhy Portland continually wins repeat business.He said: “With a rise in demand for our services, Iam confident that our development strategy forsustainable growth is being delivered with strongresults. We continue to invest in BIM technology

to stay abreast of the advances in construction and,together with recruitment and retention of highlyexperienced individuals, we cannot only meet thedemands and requirements of clients, but do sowithout compromising on our quality of services.

“To meet this demand and provide clients withfurther resources we have grown our team bysome forty percent, recruiting at all levels of thebusiness.”

Portland’s new arrivals include senior projecttechnician, David Scrimgeour, senior civilengineer Mick Taylor, receptionist/administrator,Amy Goldspink, revit technician, Nick Atkinson,graduate engineer, Andrew Coyle and, mostrecently, senior engineer, Stephen Hunter.

Back row left to right: David Scrimgeour, Mick Taylor,Lee Barr, Nick Atkinson. Front row left to right: AndrewCoyle, Amy Goldspink, Stephen Hunter.

Portland Consulting Engineers headed for record year.

49

The leading firm is regarded in thehighest terms for its work in a largenumber of fields, including corporateand commercial, commercial property,

banking and finance, insolvency, employment,dispute resolution, clinical negligence, privateclient and rural.

Martin Soloman, Hay & Kilner’s seniorpartner, who leads the firm’s dispute resolutionservices, is highly regarded by clients for hiswork in commercial dispute resolution,construction, intellectual property, IT andtelecoms. He is named as a ‘leading individual’in this year’s Legal 500 guide.

He said: “We are delighted that ourexcellence in so many different practice areashas been recognised by the Legal 500. Ourreputation and success is down to our peopleand the exceptional level of service we deliver.We put our clients at the heart of everythingwe do and provide a tailored and personalservice, which has helped us win new clientsand retain our many loyal clients over theyears.”

Singled out as ‘outstanding’, Hay & Kilner’scorporate and commercial team has gained anumber of new clients and continues toprovide support to its long standing client baseof regional and national businesses. Leadinglawyers, Mark Adams and Jonathan Waters, areboth recommended.

The commercial property team at Hay &Kilner continues to excel, representing clientssuch as Persimmon Homes, Anvil Homes andThe Longhirst Group. Partner, Nicola Tiffen,gives ‘well-thought-through and clearlycommunicated advice’, according to the guide.Both Nicola and Richard Freeman-Wallace arerecommended.

Hay & Kilner’s Banking & Finance team,

meanwhile, ‘offers a professional and promptservice delivered with a personal touch’.Department head, Phil Broadhurst, isexperienced in advising on consumer creditlaw, mortgage law and FCA regulation, and is‘a great team player, whose advice andguidance is provided in a professional, timelyand above all friendly manner’.

Named as a leading individual, NeilHarrold, who heads the insolvency practice atHay & Kilner, is described as ‘proactive’,having ‘significant practical experience’.

Valued for its ‘quick’ responses and‘business-focused, jargon-free advice’, theemployment team has performed strongly overthe last 12 months. Partner, Sarah Hall, is‘extremely knowledgeable and experienced’and, in common with department head, NeilDwyer, and associate, Sarah Furness, takes a

‘practical approach’. The team recentlylaunched a new training service available to allclients. HR Showcase offers a range of differenttraining styles including seminars withinteractive scenario based role plays, coveringall HR related topics.

In the clinical negligence field, Hay &Kilner is again positioned as a top tier firm byThe Legal 500. The team, led by leadingindividual, David Bradshaw, and includingClare Thompson and Helen Morland, has awealth of clinical negligence experience.

Hay & Kilner has long been regarded in thehighest terms for their private clientdepartment. Kirstin Cook leads the ‘prompt,knowledgeable and approachable’ team, whichis active across the full range of private clientmatters, including wills, trusts, estateadministration and tax planning. Hay &Kilner’s family department, led by ‘extremelyexperienced’ partner, Nicola Matthews, has astrong presence in all areas of family law work.

The rural team at Hay & Kilner, led byrecommended partner, Alison Hall, hasconsiderable expertise in this sector. The teamrepresent a number of clients on a range ofmatters encapsulating estate planning, propertyand dispute resolution.

Hay & Kilner continues to grow,consistently attracting high calibre solicitors.During the past year, the firm has strengthenedits specialist construction and engineeringoffering with the appointment of solicitor, JanRzedzian, as they add to their considerableexpertise in the construction sector.

For further information on Hay & Kilner,contact Mike O’Beirne on (0191) 232 8345,at [email protected] or visitwww.hay-kilner.co.uk


An ‘outstandingregional business’

Newcastle-based solicitors, Hay & Kilner, has onceagain been featured in the independently researched

guide to the legal profession, The Legal 500.

50

Hay & Kilner’s senior partner,Martin Soloman

Newcastle-based Rivers Capital hasopened an office in Middlesbrough tomake expanding companies onTeesside more aware of the Microloan

Fund and the extra finance it has to distribute toeligible firms.

Jonathan Gold, co-founder and director atRivers Capital, which recently took over theMicroloan contract, said: "We have received agrowing number of enquiries from companies inthe Tees Valley, in places such as Middlesbrough,Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland. While wehave retained our Newcastle headquarters, we feltthat it was appropriate to open an office inTeesside to further improve our service offering toclients in that part of the region."

Around £4 million of the £6.5 millionMicroloan Fund has been invested in 338companies across the region, leaving a further£2.5 million to invest before the end of next year.The fund typically provides loans of £1,000 to£25,000 and works exclusively with businessesthat have struggled to secure mainstream finance.

An event was recently held in Middlesbroughto officially open the office and promote the fund.

For more information, visit www.riverscap.com,email [email protected] or call(0191) 230 6370


Rivers Capital extendson to Teeside

North East business fund manager, Rivers Capital, has expanded its services acrossthe region to enable smaller, growing companies to access finance.

left to right: Rivers Capital team - Karen Bestry, Esther Wilson, Dr MichaelDickens, Jonathan Gold, John White, Emma Neal and Nikita Bazko

Joan Louw of GrowthAccelerator; andGraeme Boagey of Chipchase Manners

Jonathan Gold, Rivers Capital, (front right) talkingto guests at Teesside office launch

Stephen Catchpole (left) of Tees Valley Unlimitedwith Jonathan Gold of Rivers Capital

Directors at Rivers Capital, Jonathan Gold (left),Peter Hiscocks and Dr. John White

52

Leathers LLP, founded in 1990, movedinto 19 1/2 Old Elvet in Durham in1991 as a small business, run by founderMichael Leather. Since then, the

company - now based in Newcastle - has grownto become one of the North East's leadingbusinesses of its kind, working with clientsacross the UK and beyond.

After leaving Durham several years ago tooperate from a single site, Leathers LLP hasreturned to the city in response to asignificantly increasing workload and recentlyopened a new office at 26A Old Elvet, which is

managed by partner, Catherine Milbanke. However, due to the premises becoming

flooded, the firm has had to temporarilyrelocate to the very place the business firststarted out.

Michael Leather, managing partner ofLeathers LLP, said: "We are delighted to beback in Durham, the place where the firmstarted out as Leather & Co, a one-personbusiness, almost 25 years ago. It is ironic thatwe are now back in the exact building wherewe launched. Because 19 1/2 is such an iconiclittle doorway, people always knew where to

find me in those early days - and now they cancome and visit us here again!

"We are grateful to our landlord, Steve Best,for finding us new premises so quickly after therather unfortunate flood and we should beback in our more permanent home by theNew Year. But, what a lovely coincidence thatour very first office should play a role onceagain in the growth and development ofLeathers LLP."

For more information,visit www.leathers-llp.co.uk


Leathers LLP makes itsreturn to Durham

In a twist of fate, accountancy firm,Leathers LLP, has returned to the officesin Durham where it was first established

almost 25 years ago.

Partner, CatherineMilbanke and founder,Michael Leather

54

Sintons’ six new starsThe Newcastle law firm appoints six new lawyers.

The North East meets Hong Kong A new North East branch of the Hong Kong Society has been established.

The brainchild of Chris Fraser OBE andClinton Leek OBE, who have spent manyyears working in Hong Kong, is open to

anyone with links to Hong Kong or any

interest in the former colony. Chris Fraser andClinton Leeks are co-chairmen, Barry SpekerOBE DL is vice-chairman and Alvin Cheungis regional coordinator. The inaugural dinner

was held at Sky Restaurant in Newcastle'sChinatown. The guest speaker was AndrewSeaton CNG, former British Consul Generalin Hong Kong.

Andrew Carser joins the firm’scorporate recovery and insolvencydepartment and will act

predominantly for licensed insolvencypractitioners during their appointment andadvise on a wide range of corporate andpersonal insolvency matters. Julie Fawcett,meanwhile, who has more than eight years’experience advising clients involved in road

traffic, public and work-related accidents,joins as a personal injury lawyer. Lastly,Donna Hunwick, who specialises inemployment law, will head up Sintons’Employer and HR Networking Forum, realestate lawyer, Sarah Parish, joins the firm’shealthcare team and Emma Pern and LukePhelan both join the firm’s corporate andcommercial department.

The One Life Building in Middlesbroughhas been purchased by Assura, whichnow owns 233 medical centres across thecountry and has a contracted rent roll of

£48.9m. Assura bought the property from Teesside-

based Park Medical Services Limited, a group ofGPs who originally developed the medicalcentre.

The 3,300-square metre building is a keyfacility in health provision in Middlesbroughand the wider South Tees region. A part-NHSand part-private health resource, itaccommodates a GP practice, a pharmacy, aday case operating theatre, community services,mammography and X-ray services, along withother outpatient services.

Newcastle law firm, Sintons, whichspecialises in healthcare work has a nationalreputation, advised Park Medical Services onthe sale.

This purchase by Assura follows shortly aftertheir £62.5m acquisition of the 32 medicalvenues owned by North East-based Trinity

Medical Properties - a deal in which Sintonswas also involved.

Assura said it remains on the acquisition trailfor additional properties to add to their portfolio.

Chief executive of Assura, Graham Roberts,said: "The One Life Building, with the widerange of medical services it offers, is a prime

example of the type of space that is needed tomeet the increasing role that primary care isplaying in the NHS. As such, it is in line withour strategy of adding high quality premises andincome to our growing portfolio."

The healthcare team at Sintons – led in thistransaction by Partner Anthony Evans withnewly-promoted associate, Sarah Parish, leadingthe commercial real estate advice - acted for theselling GPs.

Anthony Evans said: “Park Medical Serviceshas created and developed a very impressivehealthcare facility that plays a key role inmedical provision throughout Middlesbroughand the wider Teesside area. The wide variety ofservices it offers to the local community makesit an ideal fit into Assura’s national portfolio.

“The healthcare team at Sintons has amasseda national reputation for its expertise andcapability across the full range of legal mattersin the sector, and we are very pleased to be ableto handle yet another significant transaction.”

For more information visit www.sintons.co.uk

Sintons oversees£12.3 million property sale

Sintons Law Firm has overseen the £12.3m sale of a well-known North East medicalbuilding to a leading UK primary care property investor and developer.

55

An intensive year-long fundraisingcampaign has seen the GordonBrown team host everything fromquiz nights, golf days and wine tasting

evenings, to coffee mornings and comedyevents. Individuals have also taken on personalchallenges, such as the Coast to Coast bike rideand the Great North Run.

This is in addition to a number ofcommunity initiatives the team has participatedin, for the benefit of both its clients and youngpeople across the region, just in time forChristmas.

Heading up the firm’s charity efforts,marketing manager, Wendy Peffers, went upagainst extreme temperatures and humidity tocomplete a trek along the Great Wall of China,in order to raise money for the Sunshine Fund.

Business development manager, AmyWhyte, has also played a pivotal role inleveraging support for the Sunshine Fund,which provides specialist equipment to disabledchildren across the region.

Amy’s role on the advisory board for theFund’s annual ball, alongside sitting on thejudging panel for 2015 Glass Slipper Awards –

for which Gordon Brown is a headline sponsor– has further cemented the firm’s support forthe charity’s calendar of events.

The team also showed the value of timethrough its support of the Percy HedleyFoundation, donning overalls and paint brushesto redecorate one of its esteemed communityresources, The Linskill Centre. This was inaddition to hosting a business event to bringtogether top professionals to debate regionalissues all in aid of the charity – which caters forthe needs of disabled children and adults acrossthe North East.

The team will also be supporting this year’sPercy Hedley Mistletoe Ball, held onNovember 29 at the Marriott Hotel, NewcastleGosforth Park.

In the wider community, Gordon Brown hasmade a conscious effort to increase theaccessibility of its service, with six of the staffachieving a sign language qualification in orderto provide legal support to the deaf anddeafblind community.

Staff have also participated in events led byVODA and the National Citizens Service,supporting young people across North Tyneside

with planning and delivering their own projectswithin and for the benefit of the localcommunity.

Five members of the team are DementiaChampions and have held a number ofworkshops and talks with local groups and carehomes, in partnership with the Alzheimer’sSociety.

Kathryn Taylor, managing partner at GordonBrown Law Firm, said: “2014 has been anincredible year for us in terms of giving backand I’m incredibly proud of the team and thehard work and dedication they have shown –more often than not, giving up their free timein aid of these worthwhile causes, which Iknow are close to their hearts.

“We’ve had an incredibly successful year sofar, but we are not going to stop here.Corporate social responsibility underpins ourbusiness ethos here at the firm and we areconstantly looking for new ways to give back tothe community. We are already looking forwardto what challenges 2015 will bring.”

For further information, visit (0191) 388 1778or visit www.gblf.co.uk


Gordon Brown law firm banks impressive fundsfor local charities and community initiatives

North East-based Gordon Brown Law Firm has put its people firmlybehind local causes this year, raising upwards of £8,000 for the region’s

charities across it’s Newcastle and Chester le Street offices.

Left to right: GordonBrown Law Firm’s WendyPeffers and Amy Whyte

58

C O V E R S T O R Y

As one of the UK’s leading wealth management firms, with over350 people employed in Newcastle alone, their expert financialplanners and investment managers are working hand-in-hand to

help many of the region’s successful executives and business owners toprotect and grow their hard-earned wealth.

Many of Brewin Dolphin’s clients in the North East now rely on theirwealth management service, which combines the firm’s investmentmanagement and financial planning expertise under one roof.

Brewin Dolphin recognises that unpredictable stock markets needcareful navigation, complicated insurance products need explaining andthe intricate tax landscape can be a minefield.

Using proven know-how, Brewin Dolphin’s comprehensive wealthmanagement service has been designed to take a holistic view offinancial situations to devise an approach that can help busy businesspeople and entrepreneurs to make the most of their money - for now andfor the long-term.

Head of financial planning, Jo Jackson (middle), explains: “When youwork in a fast-paced, often stressful environment, it’s easy to forget yourown finances by parking this at the bottom of a long ‘to-do’ list.

“If you’re a business owner, you understand the importance of havingthe right people to help grow and protect your business - and you shouldview your own personal finances in the same way.

“Ignoring this, can perhaps spell missed opportunities, overpaymentsof tax, legal and accountancy issues, and more importantly, wasting yourtime and hard-earned cash.”

Jo continues: “So why wouldn’t you seek some professional advice, ifyou knew it could save you precious time and money in the long-run? Asecure future demands careful preparation, but our complete wealthmanagement service proves that getting there needn’t be difficult.”

As Brewin Dolphin’s newly appointed head of financial planning, Joand her expert team work alongside Brewin Dolphin’s investmentmanagers to help find the right solutions for senior executives and businessowners.

Guided by award-winning research insights, together, they can helptackle everything from retirement planning, to investment portfoliomanagement, protecting family income, estate and succession planningto tax planning and reliefs.

Jo explains: “We can guide you through the maze to help find the rightplan and solution to suit your particular needs.

“Many of us could do with a hand in that respect, and many of ourclients value the combined expertise our financial planners and investmentmanagers bring.

“Indeed, it is likely that we have come across certain circumstancessimilar to yours before. We can use these collective insights to help put aplan in place with the aim of giving you, and your family, greater peaceof mind so you can just get on with the day-to-day running of yourbusiness.”

Divisional director, Gary Fawcett (right), an investment specialist withover 14 years’ experience, has been closely working with the financialplanning team to help entrepreneurs to reach their financial goals.

“I’m lucky that I work for a firm who has always appreciated that asuccessful regional economy depends on business people and businessowners doing well in the North East.

“For a good number of years, Brewin Dolphin has taken pride insupporting organisations that nurture and recognise the talents ofambitious business people who are helping the regional economy tothrive.”

Gary explains: “For example, Brewin Dolphin has long sincesponsored the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, the NECC’s President’s Club andwe have supported the Journal North East Business Executive of the YearAwards for many years.

“Understanding the business community and what makes it tick istherefore really important to us, and we like to think that this can help usto provide the best possible service to some of the business people andentrepreneurs who are leading the way in putting the North East on themap for future generations.”

Brewin Dolphin also recognises that it needs to invest in its own futuretalent to provide a sound basis for its own success going forward.

The firm has a well-established and well-respected graduate trainingprogramme, which has nurtured many talented investment trainees, suchas Samantha Dolby (right).

Graduating four years ago with a 2:1 in Economics from NewcastleUniversity, Sam joined the company training scheme and is now a fullyqualified investment manager, a well-known face at Entrepreneurs’ Forumevents, a member of the Tees-Valley Business Club and a regular columniston the Northern Echo newspaper.

She represents the next generation of Brewin Dolphin and, like hercolleagues, she is set on helping the company to engage with theentrepreneurial community who are amongst those leading the way inbusiness in the North East.

Sam says: “I’m really motivated to be working for a firm that placessuch a great emphasis on a joined-up approach, which produces tangibleresults in order to help business people and their owners to protect andgrow their wealth.

“For that reason, wealth management is about more than just sortingout someone’s finances. We want to help make some of the individualsbehind the best businesses in our region even better.

“Brewin Dolphin can help with this, and you can be confident that aprofessional is looking after your finances with as much dedication asyou look after your business.”

For more information, or to book a free and no-obligationappointment, please call Jo Jackson on (0191) 279 7300 orvisit www.brewin.co.uk/newcastle for more information.

The value of investments can fall and you may get back less than you invested. No investment is suitable in all cases and if you have any doubts as to an investment'ssuitability then you should contact us. The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily the views held throughout Brewin Dolphin Ltd. No Director, representative

or employee of Brewin Dolphin Ltd accepts liability for any direct or consequential loss arising from the use of this document or its contents.

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Left to right: Head of financial planning, Jo Jackson;financial planners George Slack, Gareth Davies and Rob

Brotherton; investment specialists, Gary Fawcett and Sam Dolby

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T E C H N O L O G Y N E W S

Entrepreneurs unveil award-winning technology

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

S underland-based sisters, GillianFrary and Deborah Briggs, alongwith Paula Lumley fromDarlington and David Frame and

Andy Walton, who are both based inHebburn, have launched a new mobileapp, POINTSoftware, to offer accuratereporting and increase damagerevenues and profit margins. The award-winning app, which has seen a six-figureinvestment, has been under developmentfor two years and was created inresponse to increasing demands frommanufacturers, hire companies anddealerships for a standardised approachto the reporting of a vehicle’s use as itpasses through a supply chain. It is thefirst of its kind in the vehicle rental sectorand can be used by a range ofbusinesses with a fleet of vehicles ofvarying sizes.

A group of North East entrepreneurs has launched a uniquemobile app to improve the vehicle supply sector.

Teesside multimodal transport logisticscompany, AV Dawson, has invested

£367,500 in its IT infrastructure to supportmoves towards a 24-hour quaysideoperation and further growth inoffshore and energy support. As part ofambitious infrastructure developmentplans and a need for a robust andhighly resilient IT systems, the companyturned to Technology Services Group(TSG) for a solution to underpin businesscontinuity and provide in-built disasterrecovery.

AV Dawson invests in ITinfrastructure

Washington-based IT specialists firm,KCS Datawright, has leased 7,000

square-foot of office space at MayflowerHouse on Team Valley, Gateshead. NaylorsChartered Surveryors acted on their behalf,negotiating on a 10-year lease. The firm isrelocating from Parsons house inWashington as part of their long-termexpansion and development programme.General manager of KCS Datawright, AndyGough, said: “The new offices will supportour business growth by providing the rightimage and accommodation space for ourexpanding business.”

IT experts sign up to TeamValley offices

IT specialists, Razorblue, which hasoffices in Newcastle, York and Leeds, is

on target for its predicted growth aftercompleting a major deal with BeverleyTickton Grange hotel, Yorkshire, to help itimprove its business facilities, enter newmarkets and develop its meetings,conferences and events business. Thecompany worked closely with the venueto install its most efficient Wi-Fi system,allowing it to offer 100 per cent coveragein all of its rooms.

IT experts on trackfor growth

Left to right: David Frame,Andy Walton, Paula Lumley

and Gillian Frary (front)

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Arecent survey by SME mentoringorganisation, Vistage, shows that 49per cent of SMEs in Britain haveadopted some form of cloud-based

service, and 11 per cent plan to invest in thecloud in the near future. This shift to cloud,which typically involves rent and purchase,rather than purchase-only models, shows nosign of slowing down.

As a business that has been delivering cloudsolutions for the past decade, we are careful notto push it as the answer to everything. It’s not ablack and white issue: businesses need tochoose the right model for their needs, whetherthat is public, private cloud or a hybrid of thetwo, and involving on and off-premiseoperation and backup elements.

This year has seen a sharp uptake of cloudservices, as people start to cut through the‘cloud wash’ myths and misunderstandingsaround cloud, and see the very real benefits itcan bring, particularly in areas such as businesscontinuity and disaster recovery.

While cloud and high-speedcommunications links form the environmentthat delivers the service, users are now lookingfor the same innovation in terms of how theirsoftware is delivered, hence the increasingpopularity of clients seeking the benefits ofrenting software under a ‘software as a service’,rather than a capital expenditure model.

This market shift is just one of the driversbehind our recent partnership with softwareexperts, Synergi Information Technology.

Managing director, Peter Joynson, and his teamtook their decades of industry experience andtechnical knowledge and created Synergi, anew venture designed to give businesses accessto the next generation of IT businesstechnology tools, such as Microsoft Office 365and SharePoint, along with specially designedweb-based business apps that can be integratedon-site or via the cloud.

Synergi’s SharePoint focus is fronted bydirector and nationally recognised technologyexpert, Justin Short. First launched in 2001,SharePoint is a powerful business tool thatconnects people with business data via intranetportals; it’s a gateway to document libraries,improving the way we collaborate internallybetween departments and externally withclients and supply partners.

Our expertise in IT consultancy, services andsupport, combined with Synergi’s specialistsoftware capabilities, mean big benefits forclients. For instance, a recent project saw uswork together with Newcastle-basedstatexcolourprint to help the business improveits business processes and deliver services moreeffectively. By improving the communicationsconnectivity, we were able to implement acloud-based solution with Microsoft Office365, plus a series of apps developed by Synergito automate and improve business processes.

While services such as email and documentstorage are delivered via cloud, critical systems,such as ERP, remain on statexcolourprint’spremises and are backed up to our Tier 3,

ISO27001-certified data centre. This hybridcloud solution involving both on and offsiteinfrastructure and backup gives the client thebest of both worlds, streamlining the delivery ofIT services and supporting both its office-basedand remote staff.

Our partnership with Synergi is alreadyattracting regional and national companies,who welcome the fresh approach that we bring.We have the same culture and that is basedaround being honest, providing our clients withthe best possible quality advice and service, andfocusing on innovation that will help them findsmarter ways to work.

Peter Joynson, managing director of Synergi,said: “SharePoint can help all businesses – largeor small – perform better by automatingbusiness processes, encouraging more effectivecollaboration and communication. SharePointis one of the key components within Microsoft’sOffice 365 cloud offering and also withinWindows Server platforms, so whether you arehosted or not, we can help modernise the waybusinesses work and perform better.”

Our strategic alliance between expertpartners helps us continue to deliver best ofbreed technology solutions to all sizes and typesof business. Together, we can give them faster,more reliable tools, so they can focus on theirbusiness and not their IT problems.

For more information, visit www.it-ps.com,email [email protected] or tel: (0191) 4420250

T E C H N O L O G Y

Tech experts alliance tobenefit businesses

Gateshead-based data centre business ITPS has joined forces with software experts Synergi InformationTechnology, to deliver the best in technology solutions to businesses.

Left to right: Justin Shortand Peter Joynson ofSynergi, with GarrySheriff of ITPS

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IT has arguably advanced more in the lasttwo years than in the previous two decades,with cloud computing being one of themajor game changers in the industry.The rise of smartphones and tablets and

improved connectivity and internet access haveopened up entire new ways of conductingbusiness. A recent study by Microsoft showsthat, by embracing mobility alone, SMEsexperienced 40 per cent higher revenue growthover the course of 12 months, compared tocompanies that continued doing business thetraditional way.

Even though mobile gadgets haven’t beenaround for long, people are already used tobeing able to access their emails anywhere,adding and removing apps depending on whatthey need, as well as syncing and accessingtheir data across various devices. With cloudcomputing, they can now enjoy the same

functions and benefits at work. This means thatthey have all their emails, apps and data at theirfingertips, on any device and wherever they are.The flexibility that is gained by utilising cloudcomputing in the workplace increasesemployee engagement and overall productivity,improves collaboration and simplifies remoteworking, all in a secure environment.

For business leaders, cloud computingmeans that they can forget about their ITentirely. We constantly see leaders struggling tokeep up with current trends and changeswithin IT while maintaining a working, secureinfrastructure – alongside running their actualbusiness. Especially when lacking neededexpertise, the risk of IT outages increaseswhich, in turn, has a direct, negative impact onbusiness performance. With cloud computing,businesses can have their IT taken care of byexperts in the field. Their business intelligence

is held securely and is managed by theprovider, so they can focus on their customersand on remaining competitive in themarketplace. Instead of being a nuisance and aconstant source of worry, companies’ ITsystems are turned into a solid foundation forbusiness operations. In addition, businesses thatshowcase a forward-thinking, modern culture,attract good young talent. The youngergeneration of employees has grown up withtechnology and expect to use the best toolsavailable in their workplace.

We are only at the start of this excitingchange and as technology progresses,businesses need to make sure they jump onboard quickly in order to avoid being leftbehind. This means that businesses need tobreak out of their usual IT cycle and routineand embrace the cloud, which – inevitably – isthe future of IT.

T E C H N O L O G Y

The Cloud is settingbusiness leaders free

Says Pete Watson, CEOof Atlas Cloud, who has

experienced first-hand thebenefits cloud computing

brings to businesses.

EXPERT VIEWPete Watson

CEOAtlas Cloud

The Hosted Desktop Specialistswww.atlascloud.co.uk

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This year, Calibre has gone from strength tostrength on the back of an expanding teamand continued to build its reputation as oneof the region’s foremost providers of ICT

and related services and solutions to core publicsector markets: education and local authorities.

This has been driven not only by investment innew talent and resources, but also by a genuineability to get under the skin of an organisation tounderstand its values and philosophy to identifythe compelling issues driving decisions to investin IT and technology – today and in the future.

For instance, in the education sector,investments have to be definitely financiallyviable, with dynamic and flexible IT services thatpropel schools, colleges and higher educationfacilities forward to a new golden age in educationand teaching but, ultimately, the testimony to thesuccess of one of our projects has to be the longterm legacy it leaves.

This has to be measured not only in terms ofcost savings (value for money is always animportant factor), but in delivering an enhancedlearning environment – one in which pupils can

thrive and lead rounded young lives that areenriched by better, faster and safer access to anabundance of online, digital and interactivelearning resources, materials and supportwherever they are and whatever time of day it is.Truly, 24/7 learning for the 21st Century.

Success for Calibre is also about never standingstill, always looking to the future. It’s about beingproactive when recommending solutions toproblems our clients didn’t even realise they had,while our can-do, go-ahead attitude is alwayswelcomed by customers as refreshing in anintensely competitive yet complacent IT services’sector.

While it’s been a vintage year for Calibre, theambitious firm will certainly not be resting on itslaurels as it heads into 2015. Work to providestate-of-the-art video conferencing technology fora FTSE Top 100 company is among a plethora ofnew contracts providing the springboard for evenmore success next year and beyond.

Blue-chip projects, such as this, strengthenCalibre’s believe in the advantages ofpublic/private sector partnerships built around a

long-term commitment to using collaborative andcomplementary cloud-based technologies,underpinned by the highest quality pre and aftersales advice and support.

Furthermore, increasing capacity in 2015 willcontinue to bring closer together Calibre’s sales,marketing and technical support functions as acentral feature in a raft of strategic initiatives thatwill secure a prosperous and enduring future forone of the region’s fastest growing, brightest andbest IT innovators.

Calibre provides ICT solutions, working acrossthe UK and Europe with clients building long-term strategic relationships to deliver added valuesolutions, which provide lasting user benefits.This includes services and solutions, whichenable schools, local government organisationsand companies to maximise their return oninvestment through the deployment oftechnology to meet their business challenges.

For more information, visit www.calibre-secured.net, tel (0845) 5576355 or [email protected]

T E C H N O L O G Y

Growth and expansion have been top of the agenda for Newcastle IT firm, CalibreSecured Networks Ltd, over the past 12 months. Managing director, Karen Nelson, reflects

on what achievement means for her and looks forward to more success in 2015.

Calibre marks year of growth ...and promises more in 2015

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T E C H N O L O G Y

Sarah Colwill looks at what’s new in the worldof technology and gadgets.

State of the art

IPAD AIR 2

Introducing the new iPad Air 2: Apple’s ‘mostpowerful iPad ever’ and, at present, thethinnest tablet in the world. At just 6.1millimeters thin and weighing less than a

pound, the sleek, aluminium-built device offersunrivalled portability and comfortable hold –making it the perfect companion for people onthe go. Its improved Retina display, whichfeatures an anti-reflective coating that reducesglare by 56 percent, provides enhanced contrast

and colour vibrancy, while innovations to itsiSight camera (including an 8MP sensor and ahost of new features, such as time-lapse video,slo-mo and 1080p HD video and FaceTime HDcamera which captures over 80 per cent morelight that the iPad Air’s camera) allow users tocapture crisper, higher quality footage. Otherhighlights include Touch ID technology,enabling users to unlock their iPads with justtheir fingerprint and support for Apple Pay

within apps (which is just as well, as the tabletcan run more than 675,000 of them). If thatwasn’t enough, it also offers a 40 per centimprovement in CPU performance and 2.5times better graphics performance compared tothe iPad Air– all thanks to a new Apple designedA8Xchip. Available in metallic gold, silver andspace grey. From £399.

www.apple.com

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SENNHEISER URBANITEON EAR HEADPHONES

Sennheiser introduces its new Urbanite OnEar Headphones – the new choice for great

sound, deep bass and urban style on the move.Designed for music lovers on the go, theheadphones deliver powerful bass, whileensuring excellent clarity through the entirefrequency range. Their robust (yet flexible)quality, meanwhile, thanks to URBANITE’spremium stainless steel hinges and aluminiumsliders, guarantee years (rather than months) ofuse. Highlights include a detachable cable thatfeatures a three-button remote control andintegrated microphone. Compatible with Appleand Android devices. RRP £149.99.

www.sennheiser.com

HTC EYE EXPERIENCE

The ideal phone for those with a passion forphotography, the all-new HTC Experience

boasts dual 13MP cameras, each with dualLED flash. Both offer 1080p HD videorecording through their wide-angle lenses. Alsoon offer, guaranteed to please Instagramaddicts, is a brand new editing application,dedicated to perfecting photos and videos. Alsoincludes face-tracking, conferencing, splitcamera and even a ‘voice selfie’ mode.

www.htc.com

MOTO 350SMART WATCH

This clever watch does so much more thansimply tell the time. Stay connected and up-

to-date just by telling it what information youneed. Finely crafted with stainless steel, leatherand scratch-resistant glass, the classic design isa stylish juxtaposition to its hi-tech appeal. RRP£199.

www.moto360.motarola.com

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E V E N T

NorthstarVentures’ AnnualDrinks Reception

Northstar Ventures hosted its annualAutumn Drinks reception at The

Biscuit Factory, Newcastle, last month. Inattendance were a range of localbusinesses including lawyers, advisors,fund providers and Northstar Ventures’own portfolio companies. The evening wasa celebration of the year for NorthstarVentures and a kick-start to the Christmasfestivities.

To find out more about NorthstarVentures, please visitwww.northstarventures.co.uk

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I N T E R V I E W

The long game

PASTAfter graduation, I had aspirations to head

to the city, but the big crash in 1987 putpaid to that. I joined Andersen Consulting(now Accenture) straight after University andworked in IT and corporate strategy. At thetime, the business was pioneering and, sowith huge growth in the firm and the ITindustry, came big career opportunities. Itwas a very exciting time.

A lot of my work in the early years wasworking on huge mainframe-baseddevelopment projects. It’s hard to imaginenow in our super connected world, but at thetime there was no such thing as the internetand mobile phones were still simple things.You could make a call, but by no means werethey the hand-held computers we knowtoday. At the time, most business ITapplications were text-based green-screens, asGraphical User Interfaces had just begun toemerge through the launch of the AppleMac.

FUTURESoftware and computing power use is

changing: they will no longer be purchasedoutright, but will be consumed as a utility.This allows costs to be variable withoperational activity, which is what allbusinesses strive for - a low fixed cost means alow breakeven point.

Fantastic technical and social connectivitymean you can act on a business idea quicklyand collaborate with others to bring it tofruition, so entry barriers to the industry arelow. As a result, these barriers will continue tolower, meaning less agile IT companies willfall by the wayside.

What hasn’t changed in the industry is theemphasis on attracting the very best peopleyou can find, providing an excellent careerpath on which they can flourish, whileproviding the very best service to clients, andmaking your company a great place to work.It’s something that I concentrate on every dayat Perfect Image.

North East Times asks successful business men and women, with more than 25 years’ experience in their field, what theirindustry was like when they first started, how it has changed and where they see their sector going.

PRESENTI’m finding that many people prefer to work ina forward-thinking, fast-growing SME than

being lost in an IT corporate giant. Being partof a smaller team, you’re able to enjoy directaccess to clients, experience agile working andwork with new technologies – like true cloudcomputing.

I fear for IT service companies who haveinvested in their own bricks-and-mortar data-centres. There are offerings, like Amazon WebServices, that do it so much better with a hugematrix of virtualised servers across the world,where you simply pay for the computing poweryou use.

I wouldn’t generate my own electricity or geta small company to generate it for me – andthe same goes for my computing power.Neither would I buy or rent servers in a discretephysical data centre, where I would be lockedin to the services of that particular company.For the forward-thinking in the industry todayit’s all about ‘flexibility’.

William MorrisManaging director of Perfect Image

1987: Graduated from Imperial College with a degree in Physics1987: Joined Andersen Consulting - now known as Accenture - as a graduate, working in IT

and corporate strategy, mainly in the financial services sector2001: Became a partner at Accenture

2003: Joined the Uniys leadership team with responsibility for the banking sector2005: Invested in Perfect Image, becoming managing director

TIMELINE

M E D I A N E W S

Young influence

Technical director, Daniel Hoggan(pictured), at Gateshead-basedcreative search agency, Mediaworks,

has been named one of ‘Tomorrow’s TravelLeaders 30 Under 30’ - a prestigious titleawarded to influential under-30s working inor with the travel industry. The competitionwas organised by TTG Digital and Tui, inassociation with the ITT.

Recognised for his exceptional work onthe Travelex Netherlands campaign, whichalso earned Mediaworks a Big Chip 2014Best Use of Search award, Daniel wasinstrumental in the formation and successfulexecution of this integrated, multilingual SEOand PPC project.

With an aim to help Travelex Netherlandsincrease its share of the online currencymarket, Daniel led a team that createdcontent, implemented technical tweaks andconducted outreach. In just 12 months, theclient witnessed a revenue increase of 779per cent.

TTG Digital invited Daniel and the otherwinners to the first of a series of networkingevents, where they enjoyed the opportunityto share their stories and learn more aboutwhat it means to be one of Tomorrow’s TravelLeaders.

Daniel said: “We are exceptionally proudof the Travelex Netherlands results and it’s

fantastic to be recognised for ourachievements. I’m looking forward tomeeting the rest of the 30 Under 30

community and learning how others aresucceeding in the fiercely competitive travelindustry.”

Mediaworks’ technical director named one of ‘Tomorrow’s Travel Leaders’.

O PR celebrate a hat trick of launches

Following a successful launch for TheLakes Gin on the Yacht London to a

variety of national media and bloggers, OPR has welcomed a further two newlifestyle brand clients.

The Newcastle-based firm has beenappointed to launch brand new premisesfor lifestyle salon and spa, House ofSavannah, and The New World TradingCompany’s The Botanist bar andrestaurant.

Set across the top two floors ofNewcastle’s Monument Malldevelopment, The Botanist’s 8,000 square-foot bar and restaurant venue will be afirst for the company in the North East andis set to open on Monday December 15.

The venue will offer nine bar stations,an extensive drinks menu, serving over 50different bottled beers and ciders, caskales and 48 cocktails, plus unrivalled viewsof the city from its terrace area.

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Q. Is the investment in DatabaseMarketing worth the cost?

We are now told that Database Marketing is fastbecoming the key element in marketing strategyand we all now must invest in often expensiveCustomer Relationship Management (CRM)systems, but what does database marketingactually mean?

Database marketing is a form of directmarketing and is a method of utilising theinformation (data) of current or potentialcustomers. Customer Relationship ManagementSystems are simply the programmes used toanalyse this data, breaking it down via variouscriteria in order to target specific groups andindividuals

Unlike generic advertising, which could bemissed by your target market, databasemarketing allows you to get your messagedirectly to your target audience, increasing theefficiency and effectiveness of yourcommunications and reducing wasted budgetspend.

Building a database will give you informationabout not only current, but also potentialcustomers, with the data including variouscriteria (age, gender, geographical, behavioral,social and purchase profile history are the mostcommon). However, seemingly innocuousquestions, such as choice of free time activities orpreferred brands, reveals information which isgold dust to marketers, as we want to know asmuch as we can about our customers. This

understanding will shape all additional marketingtechniques you employ, as you now know towhom exactly you want to get your message.

So, how do you get this data? Databasedevelopment must be a cultural practice withinyour organisation. Everyone in the organisation,especially those who are customer facing, has tounderstand the value of information and shouldseek to collect data at every opportunity. Datacan come from existing customers and there ispotential to undertake data collection exercises.Loyalty cards, for example, are an excellent formof data collection, as every purchase is recordedallowing real profiling of the consumer.

You can also share information with partnerorganisations and even purchase data. Socialmedia accounts are also effectively databases,with large amounts of valuable information onprofiles, including likes and interests.

It is then imperative to tell consumers howtheir data is being used, how you are going tocommunicate with them and, in many cases,what incentives they will receive for consentingto the use of their data.

Consumers, however, are now beginning tounderstand how much the marketers want theirinformation and researchers have begun to placevalues on data records. 78 per cent of consumersare said to understand how important their datais. With estimations of customer data wortharound £140 per record, this is not a cheapcommodity.

Orange mobile stated 59 per cent ofcustomers would not share email addresses,

while 39 percent would not share purchasehistory. This realisation of how importantpersonal information is has led to high levels of‘opt outs’ and consumers not giving awaypersonal information.

However, we seldom want to be perceived asjust consumers, but rather as individuals,meaning that the balance and tone of thecommunications with your database becomesimperative. If the content is of interest andrelevance, there is increasing chance it will beread, understood and engaged with.

A constant sales message can make theconsumer feel intimidated and lose interest inthe communication. Should they becomedisenfranchised, they may unsubscribe orremove themselves from the database altogetherand it is extremely difficult to get what wereonce loyal customers back into the fold.

Ultimately, a well-managed databasemarketing campaign can reap real rewards foryour business and get your message directly toyour target market. It also allows you to developa conversation with your customer and can bethe most effective way of achieving themarketing holy grail of customer retention.

Do you want to know more about DataMarketing or do you have another marketingquestion we can help with? Email yourquestions anonymously to Silver Bullet [email protected] or tweet(not so anonymously) to @SilverBulletPRusing the #AskSB

M E D I A

Ask Silver BulletAccount manager, Richard Hopper, answers your marketing queries.

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All of us want more clients, morebusiness, more sales, and more profit.But, to get there, it’s not those that arecheapest that always win the race; in

fact it can be quite often the opposite. The biggest and most successful businesses

are actually the ones who differentiatethemselves from the competition, with one ormore USP’s (Unique Selling Points).Competitive positioning in the market place iswhat sets your product, service and companyapart from your competitors. What value do youprovide and how is it different from thealternatives in your area? So, competitivelypositioning yourself in the market is one of thefirst steps you should address when starting or re-strategising your marketing plan.

So, with competitive positioning being aboutdefining how you’ll ‘differentiate’ your offeringand create value for your customers, how are yougoing to carve out a spot in today’s competitivebusiness landscape, and win mindshare in yourmarket place?

Well, the cold, hard truth is that if you nail it,it gets you off to a great starting point. You needto offer something different to be better thanyour key competitors in at least three ways if youwant to survive and thrive. This means that evenif your competition is Sage, Greggs, or evenFenwick, you have to find a way to outdo and

out think them. The good news is, if you're asmall to medium sized business, which meansyou're more adaptable, more flexible, you’llalready be better than many big brands indozens of ways that you’ve probably over-looked.

So, let’s look at how you can use these tools toyour advantage, allowing you to take on yourcompetition. Two key marketing tools you canuse to attack when looking to fight to yourcompetition are:

Your product:

Can you make, or is your product: better quality,longer-lasting, rarer, cheaper, more expensive,easier to use, safer to use, more efficient, morecompact, more retro, more modern, morequirky, more stylish, endorsed by a celebrity,quieter, packaged in an unusual way,fresher/tastier, approved by a respectedorganisation, or more daring than yourcompetitors?

If you can nail three or more of these keyUSP’s, then you are on to something veryspecial. Just look at some of the items youcurrently own, and think about these criteria. Agood example of this would be the all-conquering iPhone. When launched, it wasbetter quality, more compact, easier to use,stylish, modern, and faster than its competitors’

products. Think about it: how many celebritiescan you remember seeing with the iPhone? Itcouldn’t have ticked many more boxes.

Your service:

Does your services, or could your service have:better customer service, faster delivery options,better payment options, offer online orderingwhere competitors don't, an easy to use website,offer relevant freebies that competitors don't,employees who know the industry inside out, ora smart trustworthy looking uniform, than yourcompetitors?

Again, employ three or more of these USP’s atone time and you’ll be surprised with the warmpositive response you receive from your clients.

Researching your industry is critical as,unfortunately, it’s not as easy as picking a few ofthe above variables (i.e. offering a wider range ofproducts than a competitor doesn’t at a cheaperprice, still won’t work if no one wants to buy it).

So, with this array of variables, it’s aboutfinding the right blend that is appropriate foryour customer base. Here at JAM, wemeticulously analyse your industry andmarketplace to create the right marketingstrategy that will hit as many of these key criteria,ensuring the industry knows you for what makesyou truly different and makes you truly great.

M E D I A

Don’t be cheap,be more!Why competitive positioning is so important,

says Micky Knowles of JAM Marketing.

EXPERT VIEWMicky KnowlesJAM Marketing

Tel: (0845) 900 2127Email: [email protected] Web: www.jam-marketing.co.uk

Twitter: @JAMMarketingUK

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Mediaworks isn’t just an SEOcompany; we’ve evolved with thedigital landscape and grown into apremier creative search agency that

works with, not for, our clients. In short, thatmeans that we think up innovative new ways forGoogle to point potential customers to yourbusiness and develop your online presence.

We offer support and expertise in three coreareas. We identify online opportunities that willbenefit your business; protect your brand fromonline threats and outdated marketing methods;and share business intelligence via customerdata, analytics and insight.

So, why is online marketing important?Obviously, we all use Google. With an ever-growing mobile and tech-savvy world, yourbusiness needs to be digitally accessible —otherwise, it’s like having a shop in the middle ofthe desert.

To improve your site’s visibility, we offerinnovative client-focussed campaigns, tailored toyour business objectives. We don’t talkgobbledegook or throw technical acronyms atyou. Rather, we focus on figuring out exactlywhat your business challenges are. From there,we discuss your requirements with you and then

tailor a bespoke solution to make them a reality. Having developed a unique way of being a

‘digital partner’ for our clients, we’ve seen greatresults when we work centrally to their entiremarketing activity rather than a plug-in or add-on service.

This allows us to influence our clients’ digitalthinking regarding aspects of their business theywould not normally associate with digital. Indoing so, we unearth the value from traditionaloffline channels and build a digital platformthat maximises both offline and onlineelements. This approach has led to fantasticresults for our local clients such as Gentoo,Jules B, Newcastle College, TSG and NorthgatePLC.

We never get too comfortable. Google isalways changing and it’s our mission to ensurewe remain on the cutting edge of technologicaladvancements. If you place your trust inunscrupulous or outdated agencies, your entireonline business and brand are at risk of aGoogle penalty. Thankfully, none of our clientshave ever received the dreaded ‘Google slap’.

The key to success is being real. Don’t try totrick Google. It doesn’t like that and if you’recaught, you’ll feel the wrath of Google’s pandas,

penguins, pigeons and humming birds. Weknow the ingredients that Google likes and wepass the recipe onto our clients. It’s simple…not everyone bakes great cakes, even thoughthey know the ingredients.

What does the future hold for Mediaworksand our clients? We doubled the size of ourbusiness every year for the first five years. Thepast 12 months has seen us invest heavily in ourdelivery teams, ensuring the most successfulcampaigns for our clients.

Over the next five years, we predict ourturnover and workforce to double. Animmediate strategy for the next two years is togrow into several exciting new markets andposition more local businesses at the top ofGoogle.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, morechanges to the market are predicted. So, if yourbrand is online, make sure you don’t build yourhouse on sand. Give us a call and come and seeus for a coffee and chat and we can get yourdigital presence where you want it to be.

For more information, visitwww.mediaworks.co.uk or call(0191) 404 0100

M E D I A

Mediaworks: yourlocal digital partner andcreative search expert

Develop and perfect your online presence with the help of creative search agency, Mediaworks.

Mediaworks’ managingdirector, Brett Jacobson

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This year, we’ve really seen Twittercome into its own as a marketingmedium, thanks to the almostuniversal take-up of smartphones and

the ‘share anywhere’ culture that’s grown uparound it. Social media is no longer in itsinfancy and businesses, big and small, arerecognising that they need to be part of it ifthey want to get noticed.

We’ve also seen an explosion in the use ofvideos as a marketing tool, again with an eyeto social media. Google, which owns thevideo-sharing giant YouTube, has evenstarted to invest in content from some of themost popular short-video makers – orYouTube ‘stars’ as it calls them.

While becoming a YouTube star may notbe on everyone’s list for the New Year, thereare some trends that are gathering pace andare worth taking note of. I asked some top PRand marketing gurus for their 2015predictions.

Author and celebrity service and OMGmarketing speaker, Geoff Ramm, said: “Mycrystal ball goes something like this: we willcontinue to see great viral videos and content- bigger brands will be competing for viewsand shares like never before. SMEs willbecome bolder by creating OMG momentsaround global events, such as the secondroyal baby. I also have a feeling we will seethe next big social media site to challengeFacebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

“Finally, events are as popular now as theyhave ever been. I predict a rise in the amountof events for companies seeking face-to-faceopportunities with both business andconsumer audiences.”

Ross Wigham, head of communicationsand marketing at QE Gateshead, is expectingmore of the strategies we’ve seen making adifference in 2014.

“When it comes to predictions I’m verymuch with footballer, Paul Gascoigne, whofamously said ‘I don’t make predictions... andI never will’. With regards to PR/marketing, Ithink the next 12 months will continue to seebrands looking to use digital and social as away of reaching out to customers. But here’sthe thing – with the market becomingincreasingly crowded it will be those who cancut through the white noise and avoid beinglost in the social system that succeed.

“How do you communicate with peoplewhen everyone is talking (or shouting) at thesame time? Good content and strong storieswill be king in 2015. Same as it ever was.”

Jen Robson, writer with digital marketingagency, Sparkle Communications, believesworking with others will help to createeffective campaigns over the next 12 months.She said: “If I had to select one trend for nextyear, it would be greater collaboration.Working in partnership and playing tostrengths instead of competition will becomebetter understood.

“Creating a talented pool of collaboratorsmeans you can tap into fresh, innovativeideas and concepts while remaining inspiredand ahead of an ever-changing industry.More importantly, working in this way willensure maximum effect and return oninvestment.”

Finally, Stephen Waddington, Europeandigital and social media director forKetchum and president of the CharteredInstitute of Public Relations, predicts thatbrands will start listening more to theircustomers.

He said: “Brands will truly become social.Consumers deluged with inappropriatecontent will fight back. Much of so-calledcontent marketing is the equivalent of directmail in the 90s and noughties - too often it’sinappropriate and spam.

“The difference between what camethrough your letterbox and what is served onyour Facebook page is the volume. Our newsfeeds are packed with brands trying to hijacka news event or own a moment. At themoment they don't really care about whatyou think, but in 2015 they’ll have to.

“The brutal truth is that brands which failto engage with their audiences on a sociallevel will be ignored.”

For more information, visitwww.sarahhallconsulting.co.uk or followher on Twitter @Hallmeister

M E D I A

Top tipsfor New Year

marketing trendsSarah Hall, managing director

of Sarah Hall Consulting Ltd, the PRand marketing consultancy thatbuilds profiles and profits, takes a

look ahead at some of the trendsthat are likely to impact our

marketing efforts in 2015.

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E V E N T

RMT’s diamondanniversary eventThe Gosforth-based accountancy firmcelebrates 60 years in business at City

Tavern, Newcastle.

More than 200 North East businessleaders raised a glass to RMT

Accountants & Business Advisors’continuing success at a special event tomark its diamond anniversary. Clients,contacts and friends joined RMT's directorsand staff for a sparkling reception, held atCity Tavern in Newcastle City Centre. Thefirm’s special anniversary comes at theend of a highly successful 12 months,during which it has recorded a double-digit increase in its annual turnover. RMTprovides a full range of financial andbusiness advisory services through itsaccountancy, specialist tax, medical andhealthcare, corporate finance andrecovery and insolvency teams.

Tel: (0191) 256 9500, www.r-m-t.co.uk

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Next year will see the award-winningOuseburn agency mark its 10thanniversary in business. It willcelebrate by encouraging its team to

organise 10 charitable activities over the courseof the year to raise money to help change thelives of children with disabilities in the region.

Since its inception, O has always had acorporate social responsibility policy,supporting many charities from localorganisations, such as Women’s Aid Newcastleto national campaigns, such as Breast CancerUK’s Wear it Pink Day.

Managing director, Kari Owers, said: “Nextyear is a milestone one for us, so we wanted tomake a bigger difference to just one charity tomark 10 years of not just being in business, butputting back into our community.

“We have chosen The Sunshine Fund toreceive our fundraising efforts, which will beanything from a skydive to a cake bake, to raiseas much money as possible for this very worthycause which is close to all our hearts.

“I’m excited to see what the team come upwith; as we are a creative team, I’m sure thiswill provide a lot of fun throughout 2015 too.”

O PR also actively encourages its staff to givetheir time and skills to the local communityand, as part of its volunteering programme, hasseen its staff help organise events and advisecharities and non-profit organisations on PRand communications, such as Age UK,Childline North East and Young Enterprise.

For more information, visit www.opr.co.uk orcall (0191) 232 5690.

M E D I A

10 years in business marks 10charitable acts at O PR

Creative communications agency, O PR, is set toorganise 10 fundraising events for its chosen charity,

The Sunshine Fund, as it celebrates a decade ofsuccessful business in 2015.

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Chartwise UK has nearly 30 yearsexperience in the industry and islooking to grow its business andemployee base further, right here in

the North East.Established in 1985, Chartwise UK has been

delivering training services and tachographproducts to the transport industry in the NorthEast of England for almost 30 years and hascontinued to grow ever since, gaining areputation for excellent customer service alongthe way.

Ran by father and son owners, Dave and PaulKing, Chartwise UK is now located on one oflargest trading estates in Europe, Team Valley inGateshead. The pair are now keen to grow theirbusiness with a few strategic changes, while alsoensuring they maintain their outstandingcustomer service levels. The team plans toincrease sales and, in turn, create more jobs inthe region.

The new options they’ve been planning for awhile, which will utilise their knowledge of thedriver’s hours and tachograph legislation more,as well as utilising their staff’s wealth ofknowledge for handling dangerous goods, willallow for an even more competitive pricingstrategy, for both training and their productsalike.

Chartwise UK has built its brand on itsimpeccable level of customer service, offeringclients a personal contact, rather than thefaceless non-contact approach many of itscompetitors take. This is the core reason why somany of its clients are long-term repeatcustomers. With a superb range of legislativelycompliant, accredited and bespoke products, it’seasy to see why top companies, such as RBS, theNHS, Harvey’s and Warburton’s, to name a few,like and trust Chartwise UK.

Owner, Paul King, said: “We’ve built thiscompany with the customer at the heart of ourfocus. With our latest investment,improvements and increase in our trainingservices, along with our competitive pricingstrategy, both new and existing clients will wantto use us more than ever for all of theircommercial training needs.”

Chartwise UK now offers an extensive rangeof accredited courses, including:

Digital Tachograph Training – Thiscomprehensive training takes the user fromlearning how to download their digitaltachograph and drivers’ cards, to making senseand understanding of the data and inputtingentries. It also covers making manual changesand printing off daily and legal data.

Driver CPC (Certificate of ProfessionalCompetence) Training – You must attendDriver CPC periodic training if you’re a lorry, busor coach driver. It has been introduced acrossEurope with the aim of improving road safety.The new legislation means that all drivers’ mustdo 35 hours of periodic training every five years.

Driver Hours Training – Tailored courses indriver hour’s laws and working time regulations,ensuring you get exactly what your businessneeds. After the course has been completed, thebusiness and all necessary employees can stay upto date with any legislation changes, withcomplimentary handbooks available at anytime todownload from their website.

ADR training – With their recent appointmentof new staff, specialising in the dangerous goodsarea, this new training offers both dangerousgoods awareness, as well as carriage of dangerousgoods by road.

For more information on all of the servicesavailable from Chartwise UK, visitwww.chartwise-online.com or call the team on(0191) 491 5032. For regular posts and updates,find Chartwise UK on Facebook, or followthem on Twitter @chartwiseUK


The wise Kings charting fora successful future

Ensuring that your business is running safely and legally is paramountand one North East-based company is doing all it can to make this as

straight forward as possible for local businesses.

Paul King, owner of Chartwise UK

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S T Y L E

Topman,£90

Get the lookFashion and accessories for men.

By Sarah Colwill.

The suit is a staple part of any man’swardrobe: a trusted piece that can haveyou looking sharp in an instant, withminimum thought or effort. However,

when it comes to layering over it to fight off thewinter chill, all the while remaining officeappropriate, it pays to have a flattering andversatile coat on hand. The grey, slightly boxy,coat is a key trend this winter: large enough toslip over suit jackets and neutral enough to beworn against just about any colour. For extrawarmth, why not team yours with woolen suittrousers and a smart jumper (bright coolshades, such as teal, are big hits this season)worn over your shirt? A simple scarf, drapedaround the neck and over the shoulders, alongwith a pair of brown suit shoes, tie this easy-to-achieve look together.

MODEL ATTIRETrousers, £40Jumper, £18Jacket, £99Shoes, £55

All from Burton Menswear London’sAutumn/Winter 2014 Collection

Ted Baker,£85

Whitestuff,£65

Mens at Dune,£89

Barbour at House of Fraser,£39

Marks and Spencer,£299

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WORKSPACE & CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Landmark Jesmond siteto create 100 jobs

The former site of the famousJesmond Picture House inNewcastle is set for a majorrevival after Milton Keynes-based

property investment firm, MK Partnership,announces a £6.4 million developmentscheme. At an official launch event, it wasunveiled that the landmark that includesoffice and retail space will be known as ‘TheJesmond’ and, in turn, will create around100 jobs. Architect, Kevin Owens, who wasthe Design Principal with the LondonOrganising Committee for the London 2012Olympic Games, conceived the design ofthe new development, which has beensupported by the Department forCommunities and Local Government’s(DCLG) and a grant from the EuropeanRegional Development Fund (ERDF). SunilMehra, of the MK Partnership, said: “We aredelighted to unveil the updated plan forthis historic sire tat will help regenerate thearea and deliver a huge amount of valueto the local economy.”

Property investment firm announces £6.4 million development.

Miller Homes grantsfestive offers

Leading UK housebuilders, MillerHomes, has introduced a number of

price reductions across its North Eastdevelopment to help buyers make theirnext move for less. Offers include a£10,000 reduction on four-bedroom familyhomes at Wensleydale Park, Blyth, a£10,00 reduction on a plot at Park View,Gateshead, and a selection of dealson the last few homes remaining atits Newcastle development, GreenvalePark.

Cyber office space

North East and Yorkshire-basedsurveyors, Addisons Chartered

Surveyors, has re-designed its Richmondoffice. As part of the redevelopment, thecompany, which can provide a homestaging service for clients, has invested inbespoke Open Door user-friendly software,allowing clients to login and track theprogress of the marketing and sale of theirproperty at any given day or time.

Investing in next generationof engineers

Award-winning building servicesengineering design consultancy,

Desco, is helping combat skill shortages inthe construction industry by supportingyoung engineers into their future careers.The company, which has offices inSunderland and London, has invested in aspecial training programme combining auniversity degree with on-the-job learning.To date, the company, which is committedto training young individuals throughUniversity with funding towards their coursefees, has supported almost 30 youngpeople through the scheme.

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R U R A L

Rural planning – you’ve neverhad it so good!

Willy Browne-Swinburne from Rural Solutions discusses the great opportunitiesand pitfalls in the current planning environment.

For the first time in the last 30 years,owning a plot of land in the rural Northmay just offer a big opportunity. The2012 NPPF (National Planning Policy

Framework) mandated Local Authorities tochange their planning ethos to one of a‘presumption in favour of sustainabledevelopment’. A considerable shift to thepositive.

What has also become apparent is thatallocation of brownfield sites in urban areas willnot be enough. Even initiatives to build newGarden Cities don’t overcome the desire formany people, which is to live in villages awayfrom the main conurbations.

Furthermore, these villages need newhousing. The addition of 20 new houses to asmall village that has a school, a pub and avillage hall brings young families in and newfaces that, in turn, will support these facilities.In short, housing correctly allocated at the rightdensity can make a hugely positivecontribution to the vitality of the ruraleconomy and village life.

For the Politicos, the rural sector offers agreat opportunity to try and attain housing landtargets, without upsetting the green belt

occupants and losing their votes. It seems that,at last, we realise that a sensible allocation ofhousing land in rural settlements is a win win.

At Rural Solutions, we are not planningconsultants who simply help clients throughthe planning process - we do much more.Ultimately, we provide the evidence required tojustify a housing scheme in the form of aSustainability Report. The report is crucial, notjust in terms of informing the planningapplication process, but also more importantly,in understanding the requirement for housingand therefore the demand.

The bottom line is that even with a red linemarked on the plan, if people don’t want to livein a place, they won’t buy a property there andso, ultimately, the site won’t sell.

Residential development aside, the criticaland robust assessment of the marketopportunity in any rural situation, commercial,leisure or any other new use is the key.Informed innovation over and above smash-and-grab development means that clients cande-risk schemes to ensure that they ultimatelysucceed.

We work with many clients on developmentsin some of the most sensitive and precious rural

environments in the UK. It is this combinationof a deep understanding of the rural sector,with all the tools and data, to confirm themarket opportunity with creativity and a trueentrepreneurial spirit that really delivers.

Landowners in the UK have never had it sogood and the rural sector has a huge amount tooffer the North East in particular, but don’t betempted by the feeding frenzy for the sake of it.If the opportunity is there, make the most of itby understanding it as well as possible. Valuemay lie in something happening in 20 yearstime, in which case it is worth talking to usabout how we can help ‘landscape’ a site tomake it viable in the future. A new access pointand some careful tree planting can leave a site‘in bond’ for future generations to enjoy.

There has never been a better time toconsider what land holdings, or even redundantor previously developed sites can offer,although the consumer will always dictatewhere and when the true opportunity lies.

Willy Browne-Swinburne heads up RuralSolutions in the North. For moreinformation, email [email protected] visit www.ruralsolutions.co.uk

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P R O P E R T Y

Business growth fuels officemarket activity

... says Neil Hart, director at Bradley Hall

It’s hard to believe that only three or fouryears ago Britain was in the depths of arecession. The North East commercialproperty market was hit harder than most

sectors, but the strength of its recovery has beenastonishing. During the last couple of years, theindustrial and office markets have beenparticularly buoyant, although that in itself hasspawned some tough challenges.

In the office market, for example, there is acurrent shortage of Grade A space. This hasbeen triggered by a sharp increase in thenumber of businesses looking to expand intohigh-quality premises. In the recession, whichsapped the confidence of the local businesscommunity, companies conserved cash andheld back on investing in new equipment ormoving to bigger premises. Expansion was noton the agenda.

Now, however, the picture has changed.Companies are winning more orders,increasing their workforce and, in many cases,moving to bigger and better premises.Increased demand has led to a shortage of topquality office space in the region.

The obvious solution would be to buildmore Grade A offices – but that’s not as simpleas it sounds. New developments can often takea couple of years to get through a convolutedplanning process, which is little use when theyare needed now.

That need will become even more pressingas more businesses seek high-quality office

space to comply with legislation. Under the UKEnergy Act 2011, in four years’ time it will beillegal to occupy buildings if they do not meetminimum standards on energy efficiency.

The expansion of out-of-town officedevelopments can fill the gap while new GradeA schemes are being pushed through planning.For example, there’s still scope for growth atNorth Tyneside-based Cobalt, which is alreadythe UK’s largest office park, with more than twomillion square feet of developed space. BradleyHall assisted IT firm, Perfect Image, in its moveto Cobalt 3.2 and has been instructed to marketan additional 30,000 square feet of spaceelsewhere on the site.

In the short term, the shortage of Grade Aoffice space will push up rents, but there arestill some excellent incentives for people whoshop around. In the medium to long term, theregion needs an acceleration of new officedevelopments to attract investment and keepthe economic revival on track.

For further information, visitwww.bradleyhall.co.uk or call (0191) 232 8080.

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When did your interest in estateagency begin?

When I was about seven or eight, I rememberasking my Mum why a house near us hadhad a For Sale board in the garden for solong! The idea of people moving from oneplace to another really fascinated me … andthe fact that you could have a job doing thiswas intriguing. When I was living in mystudent flat in Gosforth, I was always lookingat the house prices in the area compared tothe rental prices, but it was the service Ireceived as a landlord that inspired me tobecome a property professional. One of thethings I noticed in particular was – and thishappens in a lot of industries – there is a lotof focus on the people paying the money i.e.the landlords. But without the tenants andthe buyers, the whole operation is a waste oftime. So my plan was always to start up abusiness based on excellence from the pointof view of all of these groups. Even in acompetitive market there is market share tobe had if you can do things better, deliveringservice that exceeds customers’ expectations.

When and where did you beginyour career?

I actually started my career in the mortgagedepartment at Northern Rock, workingthrough customer services to sales coach. Itook real pleasure in helping both buyers andinvestors secure the funds for their propertypurchases, and took interest in theirambitions.

When did you join Redstones?

Having gone on to work for Your Move in LowFell then Bowson Lettings in Jesmond, Istarted Redstones in June 2014. Redstonesdelivers the service levels that I would expectto receive as a customer - being a landlordmyself, this was very important to me, so Ijumped at the chance to open up and run theNewcastle office.

What do you enjoy most aboutyour job?

I love meeting new people and seeingdifferent properties and what people havedone with them. I’m afraid I’m one of thosethat will watch all the property programmeson TV and have opinions on them all! Butwithout doubt the best part of what I do iswhen you help somebody find their newhome. I love hearing about their ambitionsand future plans and if I’ve helped make thema reality then that is really satisfying.

What are the key things needed toget ahead in an estate agencycareer?

Personal skills – you will meet a lot of differentpeople from many different backgrounds, andit’s crucial that you can build rapport anddemonstrate you are trustworthy. Doing whatyou say you will do is another obvious one.Getting back to someone before they have tocall you is a great way to build that trust.Allied to all of this is the ability to give the

right advice – even if it’s not what the otherperson wants to hear.

What’s the most difficult thingabout being an estate agent?

Here in the North East, the economicdownturn has had a big impact on theproperty market - it’s difficult when you meetpeople that want to sell but may struggle toachieve their target price if they have boughtat the height of the market. Whilst things willimprove, this will take time and it is importantto manage expectations professionally.

What are your hobbies outside ofwork?

I’m a keen golfer and play cricket for two localteams, though my favourite thing to do thoughis to take my 2-year-old cocker spaniel Oscaron a walk through our local nature reserve. It’simportant to find a balance, but luckily myfamily and friends are incredibly supportive,and they understand that if I’m working allweekend this means I’m growing my business.

What are your career aspirations,short and long term?

To grow a customer base where the majoritycome from a testimonial or arecommendation - I never underestimate thepower of word-of-mouth! Long term - to berecognised as not the biggest, but the bestproperty marketing and managementcompany in Newcastle.

I N T E R V I E W

Red hotand rising

Director at RedstonesNewcastle, Craig Scott talks to

North East Times about hiscareer in estate agency andwhy his company is definitely

one to watch.

96

E V E N T

Clark Mairscelebrates a year

of success

Newcastle-based solicitors, ClarkeMairs LLP, celebrated another

successful year, with drinks and canapésat Harry's Bar, Grey Street, Newcastle. Theparty was a great success, with over 100guests attending including clients,bankers, accountants and businesscontacts. Clarke Mairs’ success since itslaunch in 2007 prompted their recentmove to new City Centre premises, onHood Street, to keep up with thecontinuing expansion of the firm.

For more information, tel: (0845) 1110795 or visit www.clarkemairs.com

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Relaxing relocation

Lifestyle salon and spa, House ofSavannah, opened its doors at a

sought-after location in Newcastle lastmonth, after moving from Nelson Street toa 6,500-square foot property at 1 EldonSquare. The urban retreat, founded in 2000by Marc and Kay Cunningham, now offersa L’Oreal-designed hair salon, a nail bar,spa relaxation lounge and boutiquetherapy loft rooms – all set across fourfloors.

L E I S U R E & H O S P I TA L I T Y N E W S

Winning winter package

St James’ Park is offering businesses arange of perks thanks to a new ‘You’re a

Winner This Winter’ corporate package,available from January to March 2015.Created by Sodexo Prestige Venue andEvents, which manages conferences andevents at the stadium, the packageincludes room hire, complimentary Wi-Fi,equipment hire, unlimited tea and coffee,stationary and bacon sandwiches onarrival – all for £33.95 per person.

Lola Jeans expands

Following on from its success inTynemouth, bar and restaurant, Lola

Jeans, celebrated the launch of its secondbranch in Newcastle City Centre lastmonth. Located on Market Street, the newsite, which boasts a mix of classic 1800sdécor and contemporary furnishings, offersdiners a menu of barbequed Americanplates and traditional English dishes, alongwith customised cocktails created by ateam of experienced mixologists.

£18 milliondevelopment plan

R amside Hall, County Durham,has unveiled its plans for an£18m development, which willsee the creation of a luxury spa

and 47 new deluxe rooms. The new spa,set to open in spring 2015, is set to offer arange of state-of-the-art facilities,including new saunas, a 25-metre longpool, a hydrotherapy pool, and a varietyof different steam rooms. The project willalso include an outdoor balcony,complete with an infinity pool spa, a hotplunge pool and a Rasul mud chamber,12 therapy rooms, a gym, dance studioand hair salon, along with a new Asian-inspired restaurant and bar. Theadditional bedrooms, meanwhile, willbring the four-star hotel’s offering up to128. General manager, Tim Boyd, said:“This will be a massive boost for the NorthEast and will cement our reputation asone of the most exciting destinations inthe region.”

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Ramside Hall reveals plans to create new deluxe bedrooms and a luxury spa.

Confession: I’ve never really been fondof festive restaurant menus. Call mecrazy, or indeed unimaginative, butI’ve always believed Christmas food is

best enjoyed in the comfort of your own home.Mum’s homemade pigs in blankets? Check.Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ on full blast? Of course.Enough turkey gravy to swim in? Always.

While dining out with friends and family is,undoubtedly, a great way of celebrating the festiveseason, in my experience, restaurants’ versions ofChristmas food have always been two things: a bitforced and, all too often, underwhelming. Whowants to eat deconstructed trifle anyway?

So you can imagine my hesitation, then, whenI was invited to sample Eslington Villa’s take onChristmas cuisine. However, after reading manyencouraging reviews of its restaurant and armedwith an optimistic dining partner, I hoped that,perhaps, the place would prove to be anexception.

Tucked away in an unassuming area of LowFell, Gateshead, Eslington Villa, which is actuallya family-owned and ran hotel and one of thearea’s most esteemed venues, is a popular hauntamong the middle-aged and silver-haired, knownmost notably for its tranquil atmosphere andsmart, yet homely, surroundings.

Its award-winning restaurant, meanwhile, ispraised for plating up a varied range ofsophisticated, yet unpretentious, dishes, with anod and a wink to classic French cooking.

Once seated, my Mum and I are presentedwith the restaurant’s ‘Christmas Dinner’ menu.Available for parties of 15 and under untilDecember 23, the menu, despite being

pleasantly simplistic, offers something for justabout everyone: beef and turkey for thetraditionalists, handsome salads and meat-freeterrines for the vegetarians, plus a few less typicaloptions for the more adventurous (did someonemention dahl?).

While my Mum enjoys a medley of rocket,beetroot and tangy whipped goats cheese, dressedin a light drizzle of balsamic vinegar and asprinkling of crushed hazelnuts, I begin with thepotted salmon and dill pate, served with Scottishoatcakes and a sweet celery chutney for dipping.Surprisingly, the pate is well-seasoned andgenerously filled with fresh salmon flakes,providing moreish texture and a gentle, smokyflavour with every mouthful.

In the true spirit of Christmas, for mains, Ichoose the slow-cooked beef shoulder, joined bycreamed potatoes and spinach. To my delight (or

should I say sheer relief?) the meat, which arrivessmothered in rich red wine jus, rather than gravy,is cooked to perfection: slightly charred on theoutside, with a tender, melt-in-the-mouth centrethat makes it nothing but an absolute pleasure todevour. In a word: faultless.

My Mum, meanwhile, settles for something alittle more exotic – the lentil dahl. Marrying spicypulses with cauliflower, crispy gnocchi andsmoked cheddar, this inventive, Indian-inspireddish may look slightly out of place on a Christmasmenu, but it certainly earns its spot thanks to itswinning combination of textures and unusualflavours.

Ever the dessert enthusiasts, we round off ourmeal with classic crème brulee, infused withMadagascan vanilla, and pannacotta, served withstrawberry jelly and rugged white chocolate andalmond brittle. Both are beautifully presented –so beautiful, in fact, that it seems a shame to eatthem – and taste exactly how they should:gloriously creamy and delicately sweet.

I left Eslington Villa in a glassy-eyed haze ofsatisfaction, trying desperately to remember why Iever shunned restaurant Christmas menus in thefirst place. While I may not have receivedsausages wrapped in bacon, or heard GeorgeMichael’s voice oozing from the stereo, what I didreceive was an innovative feast, full of flavour andfestive flair. A meal so good, I’ll probably still bethinking about it come next Christmas.

£28.95 per head. Other festive menus areavailable. For more information, or to book atable, visit www.eslingtonvilla.co.uk or call(0191) 487 6017.

L E I S U R E & H O S P I T A L I T Y

Festive FlairJessica Laing visits Eslington Villa for a Christmas meal with a difference.

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Make January 2015 the best start tothe year ever. It’s time to ditch thewinter blues and make the most ofthe crisp, wintry days, warming

seasonal food and cosy evenings. Whether you’recheering up, warming up or shaping up,Rockliffe Hall is the ideal place to be thisJanuary, with lots of new ideas to get the year offto the best start.

Cheer up!

It may be cold outside and Christmas may beover, but there is still a lot to celebrate! Takesome time out, plan a night or two away and getsomething in the diary to really get excited aboutat the start of the year. Rockliffe Hall’s ‘Beat theJanuary Blue’s break showcases the best in five-star hospitality with full spa use, a stunning roomto relax, recline and unwind in, and breakfast inThe Orangery.

And don’t forget, Rockliffe Hall is home tothree restaurants that offer new dishes thatchange with the seasons. Whether you choosecreative British cuisine in The Orangery, setwithin the walls of the iconic Old Hall, simplegastro-pub grub in The Clubhouse, with its viewsacross the Championship golf course, or all-newtasting and sharing plates in the Spa Brasserie,there is something for everyone.

Warm up!

Ward off those winter chills with a spot ofRockliffe Hall’s renowned afternoon tea.Homemade cakes, scones, pastries and

sandwiches jostle for space at the table, providingyou with an unforgettable afternoon treat. Thereis also always a glass of champagne on offer, forextra sparkle.

January is also a great time to cocoon yourselfin Rockliffe Hall’s multi-award winning spa,which you can visit during the day, as part of abreak, or even at night as a special ‘twilight’ treat.As well as a extensive range of signaturetreatments, using some of the most luxuriousproducts available from names such as Murad,Comfort Zone and ORLY, and you’ll certainlyleave feeling revived for 2015.

Shape up!

The New Year is also a great time to startthinking about getting in shape. Luckily,

Rockliffe Hall has its own state-of-the-arttechnogym, offering a variety of classes for allages and abilities, membership options to keepyou motivated and a few hidden extras that mightjust tempt you to try something new for the NewYear.

A ‘Centre of Excellence’ for Nordic walking,Rockliffe Hall also provides walks around itsstunning grounds. Afterwards, warm up with arefreshing herbal tea, or perhaps a hot chocolate.

As well as activities and facilities to improvewith your fitness, Rockliffe Hall also offers arange of experienced sports therapists, who areon hand to help with any ailments or issues thatmight be stopping you from getting started. Fromclinical sports medicine to postural and muscularproblems, Rockliffe Hall’s experts can help youbanish those aches and pains.

And don’t forget golf – another great way ofgetting fit for 2015. Players of all levels can enjoyRockliffe Hall’s championship course, famed forhosting the likes of Ian Woosnam and SamTorrance during the European Tour EnglishSenior Open. What’s more, thanks to the course’sexceptional design and choice of tees to play off,you can play as much or as little of the course asyou wish. There is also a driving range availableand Rockliffe Hall’s PGA professionals are onhand to offer tuition. New membership optionsare also now available.

So, whether you’re looking to banish the bluesor the bulge this January, Rockliffe Hall canmake it the most wonderful time of your year.

For more information visitwww.rockliffehall.com or call (01325) 729999


Cheer up, warm up, shape up!However you plan on bringing in 2015, do it right at Rockliffe Hall.

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I’m pretty ashamed to admit that, despitereading numerous glowing reviews andhearing countless good things about the place(for years, might I add), I’d never actually

stepped foot in Hotel du Vin until this month. Situated on the banks of the River Tyne (and,

rather conveniently, minutes away from ouroffice), the hotel has long been celebrated bylocals and visitors not only for its charming goodlooks and luxurious accommodation, but also forits exceptional food offering.

It was with great pleasure, then, that Iaccepted an invitation to visit the hotel’srestaurant, Bistro du Vin, with my twocolleagues, to enjoy and indulge in my firstbusiness lunch as editor of North East Times.

Renowned for its French home-style cuisine,infused with classic British flavour, the well-presented, mahogany-rich bistro, which issmaller and more intimate than I had imagined,serves up a fuss-free jumble of simple, yetundeniably elegant, plates and hearty, slow-cooked dishes that rely heavily on fresh, seasonalproduce.

Once seated, we were presented with twomenus: a limited edition set menu, created incelebration of the hotel’s 20th anniversary

(which, unfortunately, will have ended by thetime you’re reading this), and the main a la cartemenu, which has recently been redesigned forautumn/winter and provides diners with agenerous selection of French-inspired entrees,comfort food, grilled meat dishes and classicdesserts.

After much deliberation and salivation,eventually, we made the majority of ourselections from the a la carte menu. While mycompanion tucked into delicate Shetlandscallops, doused in a silky sauce vierge (an oliveoil, lemon juice, tomato and basil infusion), Ibegan with the cheese soufflé, which was highlyrecommended by our waitress. Smothered in arich, béchamel-like cheese sauce, its tall andcrisp exterior was definitely impressive and, oncepierced, revealed a lighter-than-air centre thatwas a pleasure to eat.

Our mains, meanwhile, especially the duckshepherd’s pie, which united tender flakes ofmeat with velvety creamed potato, and thebraised beef bourguignon, which arrived proudlyon the bone and accompanied by an earthy mixof Portobello mushrooms, shallots and smokedpancetta, provided depth of flavour and mouth-watering richness with every bite.

Although very nearly tempted by the cheesetrolley, which teases the taste buds with a variedselection of French and British cheeses, chutneysand biscuits, to round off our meal, we willinglygave in to the sweet treats available from themenu’s enticing dessert section. It felt wrong notto devour a French classic or two within such avenue, so we opted for tarte au citron, served witha slick of sweet raspberry sorbet to cut throughthe sourness, and bubbly mousse au chocolat,joined by a generous dollop of crème Chantilly.

Having left licking my lips and feelingcomfortably full, I’m extremely pleased to reportthat my first dining experience at Hotel du Vinwas a definite success. Most deserving of itssuperb reputation, the hotel’s bistro does nothingshort of deliver when it comes to plating uprobust, high-quality dishes, with plenty of Frenchfinesse.

For more information, or to book, call (0844)736 4259 or visit www.hotelduvin.com

Early evening dining is encouraged by acomplimentary glass of wine before 7pmMonday to Friday, if dining two courses fromthe a la carte menu.


Business lunch

Hotel du VinJessica Laing enjoys first-class comfort food at one

of Newcastle’s most respected hotels.

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Shetland scallops, servedwith sauce vierge

£12.95

Beef bourguignon on thebone, braised beef short ribs with

Portobello mushrooms, shallots andsmoked pancetta

£19.95

Tarte au citron, served withraspberry sorbet

£6.95

Comte cheese soufflé

£8.95

Duck shepherd’s pie

£13.95

Jerusalem artichoke soup, served withwild mushroom ragout

From the 20th Anniversary menu

Pan-fried chicken breast, served withchorizo, thyme, garlic and orange lentils


Mousse au chocolat, served withcrème Chantilly

£6.95

Chargrilled bananas, served with toffeesauce and vanilla ice cream


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Following a major renovation,transforming it into a family and dogfriendly food-led bar, City Tavernopened its doors in March this year,

receiving great reviews for both its food and itsatmospheric exposed brick interior, as well asits choice of craft ales.

Using his expertise in the leisure sector,managing director, David King, set aboutdesigning a bar that would stand out from whatwas currently on offer in the mainly retail areaof Newcastle and one that would appeal to awide range of customers looking for somewhereto go throughout the day and evening, whetherfor coffee, lunch, dinner or simply a glass ofwine or beer.

A key ethos of the business is to buy localwherever possible and so City Tavern supportslocal food and drink producers, using the bestquality ingredients. Head chef, Mark, hascreated an appetising range of menus, onwhich all dishes are available as a gluten-freeoption.

Furthermore, King wanted to create a multi-function venue that would fill the void foranyone wishing to hold a more intimate privatefunction with a quirkier backdrop to that foundelsewhere in and around the city centre. It is

safe to say he has succeeded in his endeavours. Recently, local costume designer, Paul

Shriek, chose City Tavern as the runway for hiscollaborative collection, ‘Marnie to Monster’,which he designed with Matt Fox.

City Tavern is often the preferred destinationof those who have married at the nearby CivicCentre and want to hold their reception in thedistinctive venue. Not content with hostingwedding receptions, City Tavern is also alicensed wedding venue, allowing couples tomarry in the iconic building, which stands outbecause of its distinctive facade.

However, the pub’s appeal doesn’t just liewith the man in the street. It is fast becoming avenue of choice by many professional firmswith offices in the city centre. Recently, itplayed host to accountancy practice, RMT, as itmarked the occasion of its 60th birthday.

Other companies who have chosen CityTavern for corporate and staff events includeRyder Architecture, Portland ConsultingEngineers and solicitors, Bond Dickinson, toname a few. As the Christmas season kicks off,some of the major retailers located close-by willbe partying there throughout December.

Despite being less than a year old, CityTavern’s early success has been recognised with

nominations in three of Heineken’s nationalStar Pubs and Bars Awards. Againstcompetition from 1,300 other pubs across theUK, City Tavern has been shortlisted in the‘Team Training’, ‘Best Newcomer’ and ‘Retailerof the Year’ categories.

Speaking about this early recognition, Kingsaid: “This is fantastic news for City Tavern, itsstaff and its customers. To be shortlisted at all,so soon after opening, would have been great,but to be selected for three categories against somany other pubs throughout the UK at such anearly stage of the business, is actually quitehumbling. It is also a reflection of the efforteach member of staff contributes to the pub’songoing success.”

Finally, in a coup that no other venue hasmanaged to pull off, King has persuaded thefamous Yorkshire brewery, Theakstons ofMasham, to create Bar Hound, a cask aleunique to City Tavern.

King continued: “When we opened CityTavern, I wanted to create a venue that wasstylish and comfortable and would appeal to awide variety of people looking for somewherethat would provide good beers, good food andwhere you walk in and feel you’re amongfriends. I think we’ve achieved that.”


Bar Hound’s firstventure exceeds expectations

In less than 12 months, the first venture for Newcastle-based bar operator,Bar Hound, has fast become a favourite haunt for those who like sophistication

and a laid-back atmosphere in Newcastle City Centre.

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With more than 11 million albumsales, sell out tours and 20 yearsof hits, including Learn to Fly,the Pretender and Best of You,

the Foo Fighters have earned an internationalfan base and carved their place in musichistory.

Now, the Grammy award-winning group,fronted by charismatic singer, Dave Grohl, areheading for Sunderland’s Stadium of Light,where they’ll play the opening night of theEuropean leg of their Sonic Highways worldtour on May 25.

Tickets for the bank holiday gig – theband’s only English stadium performanceoutside London – start from £55, with a rangeof hospitality packages also available for giggoers who prefer to rock out in style and avoidthe crowds.

The new packages, expanded beyond thosepreviously offered at the stadium’s rockconcerts featuring Bruce Springsteen, BonJovi and the Kings of Leon, all include aselection of specially crafted Americancuisine, prime seating, red carpet entry andaccess to a post-show bar.

Those booking the Gold Package, priced at£175 per person, will also enjoy a reception

drink on arrival, use of private bar facilitiesand a selection of easy-to-eat dishes, includingsticky BBQ ribs, spicy curly fries and sliderburgers.

The next level Platinum Package, priced at£235 per person, offers the addition of aspecially crafted Champagne cocktail, tableservice and a selection of grazing and sizzlingplatters, including grilled steaks and pulledpork, along with the option to have pictures ofattendees taken by a professionalphotographer.

This will be hosted in one of the stadium’sPlatinum Suites, where groups of 10 people orless will share tables to boost the partyatmosphere.

For those who prefer to air guitar in private,SAFC and its specialist subsidiary 1879 EventsManagement, is also offering use of thestadium’s executive boxes for £285 per personwith a minimum of 10 guests.

This includes access to a balcony, offeringdirect views of the Foo Fighters in action, plusChampagne, canapés, two free bottles of wineand a selection of USA-style grazing andsizzling platters, equivalent to a three coursemeal.

But, for a true American feast, you’d be

hard pressed to beat the Diamond VIPSummer BBQ Party Package and its selectionof starter-style snacks, barbecued mains andcanapé desserts.

Just imagine tucking in to brisket, chicken,steaks and baby back ribs, all fresh from thegrill on the outdoor terrace, and enjoyingChampagne and Pimms before taking yourpadded seat when the Foo Fighters hit thestage.

Picture, also, the convenience of returningto the Riverview Brasserie or James HerriotSuite after the performance to enjoy moresnacks, including chili dogs and tacos, set to asoundtrack of rock anthems, while otherconcert goers battle the traffic on the journeyhome - it’s all included at £325 per person.

For more information, or to book any of thehospitality packages for the Foo Fighters atthe Stadium of Light, call (0871) 911 1555or email [email protected]

For more information about the concert, aswell as other concerts being held at thestadium in 2015, visitwww.safcconcerts.com, Facebook atStadiumofLight and Twitter.


Foo Fighters– hospitality that rocks

International rock legends, the Foo Fighters, are hitting the North East in spring2015 and the Stadium of Light has all the details on how you can drink, dine

and air guitar at one of the biggest gigs the region has ever seen.

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I N T E R V I E W

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My parents didn't play any instruments but we had a pianoin the garage which I messed around on. I can't remember howout of tune it was but it must have been pretty bad. My Mam andDad grew up alongside pop music - the usual stuff really - Beatles,Stones, Zeppelin, 10cc, Roxy Music, Kate Bush, The Police, PeterGabriel - and it all got played and sung at home and in the car.

The first record I bought myself was probably 'Stutter Rap' byMorris Minor and the Majors although my parents had boughtme many records before that. 'Green Door' by Shakin' Stevensmight the first of that bunch. It's the first song I really rememberloving. The last record I bought was probably the Hyde and Beastrecord. I got sent Freeze Puppy's fantastic new album a few daysago too.

Initially, what made me want to become a musician wouldhave been the usual thing - to impress the girls in my year atschool. But, like Shania Twain said, it didn't impress them much.So, luckily I started to really like music.

I don't think I have a very defined sound. Other people mightthink otherwise, which is fair enough. I prefer to hear otherpeople's attempts at defining what I do.

Make your own place in the world and don't worry if it seemsas if nobody likes it. If you have to work within the music industry,make it work for you, to do the things you need it to do. Not theother way around.

There're a few people in the North East who I've known foryears and they all still seem to keep getting involved in new andexciting things - not just the musicians but also the venues, thepromoters, the labels and such like. Those people and places tendto be very supportive of things that are going on across theregion. I feel that there's a certain camaraderie - people tend to

be supportive rather than competitive. If there is such a thing asa scene in the North East then I hope it's defined by that attituderather than any kind of 'sound'.

I like getting into the nitty gritty of music - figuring out how thingscan be done, how to change things. That's all lots of fun. But, ifI've ever been inspired at all I have my family and friends to thank.

I've had too much essential advice to single anything out.Someone once suggested that completing something andabandoning something is much the same thing. I'll be testing thatone out for the rest of my days.

Career? It's more that my hobby has taken over my life andnow I can't do anything else. The best moments are always whenI think I've written something new and decent. It's still a thrill.

Let's pretend that my greatest pleasure in life isn't spendingtime with my family and friends and say that it's drinking a cup ofstrong black coffee alone in Louis, Park Lane, Sunderland. I'd beidly watching the world go by through the huge windows whilelistening to the sound of cutlery, crockery and chit-chat. It's magicbut it'd still only just get into my top 20.

In the very near future I'm looking forward to some muchneeded sleep after a week of long drives and the head-spinninglogistics of doing sessions with a 9 piece band. In the not-too-distant future I'm really looking forward to the three dates we havefor Frozen by Sight in December. It's been an amazing experienceto be able to work with such a great band.

Peter Brewis and Paul Smith perform Frozen by Sightat Sage Gateshead on December 20. Tickets from£10.50 (www.sagegateshead.co.uk). For moreinformation see www.frozenbysight.co.uk

PREPARING TO TOUR HIS ACCLAIMED NEW ALBUM, FROZEN BYSIGHT, A COLLABORATION WITH FELLOW MERCURY PRIZE NOMINEE PAULSMITH, FIELD MUSIC FRONTMAN PETER BREWIS TALKS ABOUT PIANO IN THEGARAGE, HOW HIS HOBBY BECAME A CAREER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF

MAKING YOUR OWN PLACE IN THE MUSIC WORLD.

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E V E N T

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ITPS Race Day

ITPS and Cellular Solutions hosted theirannual Race Day event at Gosforth Park

Newcastle last month. The event was heldas thank you to customers and partnersfor their commitment and supportthroughout the year. The Bond-themedoccasion saw 330 guests dressed to thrillfor a day of fine food, racing and goodcompany. The two companies chose toraise funds for local charities The SunshineFund and The Percy Hedley Foundation,and a total of £2,600 was raised.

www.it-ps.com

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Tell me a little about SunderlandHigh School…

Founded in 1884, Sunderland High Schoolis an independent school for boys and girlsaged between 2 and 18. We’re part of thebiggest national group of schools, UnitedLearning, and the only independent schoolin Sunderland with a Sixth Form. Theschool is close to Sunderland City Centre,however our pupils come from a widegeographical area - stretching fromHartlepool to Jarrow – and many of them useour minibus service.

How long have you beenheadmistress at the school?

This is my seventeenth year as headmistress.During that period, there have been a lot ofchanges in the North East’s educationallandscape and I’m very proud that our schoolcontinues to be the independent school ofchoice for families in Sunderland and thesurrounding area. This is because, in additionto providing a vibrant extra-curricularprogramme, ranging from fitness and film clubsto knitting and robotics, we achieve excellentresults. Recently, we achieved a 100 per centpass rate at A-level, with 84 per cent of thosepasses being the all-important A* to C grades.At GCSE level, meanwhile, 87 per cent of ourpupils gained five A* to C grades, includingEnglish and Maths.

What is Sunderland High School’sethos?

Our aim is to bring out the best in everyone byexpecting the best from everyone – and thatmeans both pupils and teachers. Our class sizesare small, enabling our teachers to provideeach child with individual attention, whichthey benefit greatly from. This is reflected inthe fact that we achieved 36th place in the2013 Sunday Times Top 100 Prep Schoolslisting. Our pupils are able to experience awide range of activities as part of their normalschool day. Lessons are planned to be fun andengaging, taking advantage of opportunitiesthat arise outside of the typical classroomenvironment, from the school garden to ourannual ExCEL Week. In our Sixth Form, wedon’t just help the students achieve their A-Level target grades. We start them off on theirjourney beyond school by providing individualsupport and advice about their future universityand career paths.

Tell us about some of your highlightsduring your time at the school…

Each day has its highlights - some of which areentirely unexpected. This morning, forexample, brought two: a trip to our nursery tosee our two-year-olds painting with ‘happy’colours and the delight of witnessing a Year 8student successfully identify the opening line ofGeorge Orwell’s ‘1984’. Last week, it was the

intense rivalry in the ‘Sound of Music’ themedchoir section of our House Music competition.I am always thrilled when former pupils comeback to visit us and let us know what they’redoing now. Our most recent returnee, who isnow working in London and living in CanaryWharf, was very keen to try out the new schoollunch menus and compare them with thosefrom ‘the olden days’ – (all of five years ago!)It’s also particularly special when former pupilscome along to register their own children aspupils here. They want their sons anddaughters to enjoy their school days here asmuch as they did.

What makes Sunderland HighSchool special?

We treat each child with the individualattention he or she deserves; our teachers knowthat they are here to provide the best possibleteaching and learning environment. As we arepart of a large, national group of schools, we aresupported in everything we do and have accessto a wonderful range of resources andprofessional development opportunities. We arealso a registered charity, meaning that everypenny goes towards providing an excellenteducation for each pupil who comes throughour doors. Our aim is to be the school forSunderland.

For more information about SunderlandHigh School, visit www.sunderlandhigh.co.uk

E D U C A T I O N

Super schooling Headmistress at Sunderland High School, Dr Angela Slater, talks to North East Times

about what the independent school offers its students ...

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E D U C A T I O N

The latest achievements from theindependent school.

News fromDame Allan’s Schools

Thank you from Sir Bobby RobsonFoundation

Pupils and staff from Dame Allan’s Schools inNewcastle, from the nursery to the Sixth Form,voted to raise funds for Sir Bobby RobsonFoundation this year. Together, they undertooka sponsored walk along the Derwent Valley,raising £7,807.84 for the cancer charity that SirBobby launched in 2008.

The walk was organised by the Schools’charity prefects, Amy Shaw and Rob Kellaway,and their successors, Suzie Barwise-Munro andPatrick Cunningham, who took over their rolesin May.

Alan Shearer, a patron of the Sir BobbyRobson Foundation, was pleased to meet upwith representatives from the Schools to receivetheir cheque for the money raised.

Alan said: “It’s fantastic that the entire schoolvoted on which charity they wanted to supportthis year and we’re really pleased they chose theSir Bobby Robson Foundation. They’ve raisedan impressive amount of money and includedeveryone in their challenge, from the veryyoungest to the most senior pupils. That’ssomething I’m certain Sir Bobby would havebeen greatly touched by.

“It was a pleasure to meet the staff and pupilsfrom Dame Allan’s Schools. They’ve done theFoundation proud.”

Pupils and staff were sponsored to walk all orpart of the 11-mile route between Blackhill andBlaydon. They received a great boost when they

were joined by cancer charity fundraiser, andnow Pride of Britain Fundraiser of the Year,Tony ‘the Fridge’ Phoenix-Morrison carryinghis trademark appliance.

Dr John Hind, Principal of Dame Allan’sSchools, says: “It was a truly memorable day forDame Allan’s. It epitomised the sense ofcommunity, which is central to all we do in thefamily of Dame Allan’s and which makes theSchools such a special place.”

Black Holes, Science and Dr Who

Year 11 girls at Dame Allan's have beeninspired to pursue science, technology,engineering and maths (STEM) careers afteran enthralling lesson with former pupilProfessor Ruth Gregory.

Ruth, who is Professor of Physics andProfessor of Mathematical Sciences at DurhamUniversity, took a Year 11 girls’ physics classentitled ‘Time and Extra Dimensions inSpace’, discussing black holes, the galaxy andmore, with a Dr Who-inspired twist.

The lesson aimed to encourage girls’involvement and engagement in the sciencesand also touched on the exciting careerprospects it can hold for them.

Professor Gregory was the perfect role modelto inspire the girls, having been the first womanto be awarded the prestigious Maxwell Medalby the Institute of Physics for her work intounderstanding the structure of the universe.

As students prepare to make their A level

subject choices, Professor Gregory encouragedthe girls not to feel intimidated by physics ormaths. She said: “Only your imaginations canlimit you.”

During the lesson, Professor Gregorydiscussed many fascinating aspects of her workand the world of science, with the girlsparticularly interested in black holes and theprocess of ‘spaghettification’.

One of the students in the lesson, HannahRichards, 15, wants to pursue a career inscience and commented: “It was a brilliantopportunity to have Professor Gregory inschool. To know that she was a student here tooreally makes me feel like I could achieve whatshe has.”

Professor Gregory is an alumna of DameAllan’s Schools, having left in 1981. She notedthat, although the school had inspired herscience career, she was impressed by thelaboratories, which have been upgradedsignificantly.

She recalled her time at Dame Allan’s:“What I most remember from school was thediscovery of what I wanted to do, and theoutstanding, consistent and often humoroussupport that I had from my core of sixth formteachers. Finally, my best recollection aboutschool years was the freedom and support todevelop as an individual.” That is what DameAllan’s is all about.

For more information, visitwww.dameallans.co.uk

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The confidential, hour-long sessionsfocus on what options are available, thepotential complications associated with theprocedure and how much it is likely to

cost.Consultant, Mr Tom Collin, one of the

hospital’s breast enlargement specialists, said:“Much of the time spent is discussing the patient’sexpectations - why they want the procedurecarried out, what they hope to achieve and whatthe goal is in terms of shape and size.

“The discussions always cover the pros andcons of having surgery and we generally discussthe safety of silicon implants – people are stillconcerned about safety after the PIP crisis and it issomething we take extremely seriously.”

At the consultation is the opportunity to trysome implants from the ‘sizer kit’ to get an idea ofwhat sort of size and shape is right for you, bothnow and in the future. Although breast implantsdon’t have a set ‘lifespan’, they aesthetically lookat their best for six to 10 years. Changes in weightor body shape can affect the way the implantslook, just as with natural breasts.

“My experience is that most people are prettyconservative and look for a naturalenhancement,” said Mr Collin.

“It’s important to note, however, there may besome deterioration in the tissue surrounding theimplants as the person gets older. There is ageneral downward movement in everyone’s body,as skin starts to sag slightly and when there are

implants that becomes enhanced. If you haveoverly large implants, you can imagine that effectis more noticeable. That said, people can havethem in for years and they can continue to lookgreat.”

The implant operation takes around an hourand a half to two hours and most people go homethe same evening or the next morning. Afterhaving the procedure, a sports bra or a hospitalbra needs to be worn for around six weeks and thepatient has to take life relatively easily.

Recovery times depend on whether theimplants are above or underneath the muscle.Implants under the muscle mean a longerrecovery time, as it can be four to six weeks beforeyou can comfortably get your hands above yourhead.

Mr Collin said: “We encourage people not todo too much too soon. It takes around three to sixmonths for the implants to settle into apermanent position with silicon. It can take alittle longer to settle with fluid. I almostexclusively use silicon gel for aesthetic reasons.”

Spire Washington Hospital also offers salineimplants for women who particularly want thistype of procedure. Saline became popular in theUS in the 1990s due to unfounded concernsabout the safety of silicon implants.

Emma Talbot-Browne, from Sunderland,had her breasts enlarged by Mr Collin inOctober last year. It was something she spent anumber of years considering before deciding to go

for the procedure.She said: “I had two children and things

weren’t the same. I was quite big busted when Iwas younger, and I wanted my shape back toboost my confidence. I hated not being able towear low cut tops any more. It took me five or sixyears of feeling depressed to make the decision toinvestigate further.

“After the first consultation, Mr Collin told meto go away and think about it. I had just had ababy two months earlier, so he wanted me to takemy time. When I went back he told me about thepros and cons. There was a lot to take in.”

Emma tried different sized implants and, withMr Collin’s agreement, she opted for the biggestones, which has taken her to a size DD to EE.

She said: “I had the operation at 2.30pm onthe Thursday and I was home at 11am the nextmorning. I wasn’t allowed to do very much, myhusband had to do everything because they hurteven just getting up.

“After about a week, I started to feel OK andwithin a couple of weeks, things were back tonormal.

“They look great. I am now much moreconfident and I can’t wait to wear a bikini. Theteam at Spire Washington Hospital was veryprofessional and I received top-rate care. I wouldrecommend it to anyone.”

For more information, visitwww.spirewashington.com

H E A L T H

The right enhancementBreast enlargements are the UK’s most popular cosmetic procedure and Spire Washington Hospital provides

surgeon-led consultations for women interested in finding out more before committing to any surgery.

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The recent coverage of the Ryder cupillustrated the continued popularity of thegame of golf. Over the years, golf haswitnessed several noteworthy developments

in terms of cutting edge technology, but latelythere has been an important acknowledgement ofthe fitness levels required to play good golf.

Being fit for golf allows for a more consistent,improved level of performance, reducedincidence of injury, longer drives and smootherswing mechanics.

A 'bad round' is normally a result ofinconsistency, an inability to maintain mentalfocus for the full 3-4 hours spent on the courseand also a lack of physical fitness. Golf is actuallya highly athletic event. There are significantforces placed upon the joints and particularly thespine, which frequently result in spinal injuries orrepetitive strain injuries. Recently, professionalsand amateurs alike have chosen to address this bydeveloping their golf specific fitness in order toprepare themselves for the demands of the gameand increase club head speed golfers, like TigerWoods and Rory McIlroy, have followed suchexercise programmes with significant success.

"Amateur golfers achieve approximately 90 percent of their peak muscle activity when driving agolf ball. This is the same lifting intensity aspicking up a weight that can only be lifted fourtimes, on average, before total fatigue. Yet, golfersfail to consider that they strike the ball an averageof 30 to 40 times each round with comparableintensity." Paul Chek, Golf BiomechanicsManual 2009

So what is golf fitness?

This month, we address the need for goodpostural alignment, muscle balance and corestability in order to reduce wear and tear on thejoints and create an optimal axis of rotation for aneffortless, consistent golf swing.

Flexibility, mobility and posture

Tight muscles shorten the range of motion ofcertain joints, forcing other joints to compensateand become hyper-mobile. This leads to analtered alignment of the musculoskeletal system(or ‘poor posture’) and, because the forcesinvolved can be so high, inevitably injury. Wecommonly refer to this as ‘muscle imbalance’,where a muscle group on one side of the body isshort and tight when compared to the antagonistmuscle group on the other side of the body,which is often consequently long and weak. Byfirst identifying which muscles are short and tightand then by stretching and releasing these specificmuscle groups, we can begin to restore balance tojoints, the spine and the entire musculoskeletalsystem.

Joint stability, core stability andbalance (controlling your centre ofgravity)

Once we have started to loosen the tightermuscles, we can look to restore the

balance/stability of our joints, spine and core bystrengthening the longer, weaker muscles. Themodern golf swing is about rotation of the spine.Rounded shoulders and a hunched back, forexample, can detrimentally affect the ability torotate. Therefore, golfers with poor posturecommonly experience some form of back injuryor overuse injury of the hips or shoulders. This isdue to over-compensatory recruitment of musclessurrounding these joints, which commonly resultand manifest themselves in knee or elbow pain.

At Bodyguards, we offer personalised GolfConditioning programmes, designed specificallyfor you. They involve a detailed assessment ofyour posture, your flexibility and ranges ofmotion, your muscle strength and, mostimportantly, your core stability. Once thisinformation has been collected, we'll write you acustom made correctional exercise programme,including a bespoke stretching plan to restoreyour posture and musculoskeletal balance andthen, via one to one personal training sessions,we'll guide you through a carefully designedexercise programme, periodically progressed todevelop your fitness from stability/endurance tostrength and then finally power generation.

Next month we'll take a closer look at strengthtraining for golfers…

Duncan Edwards, director, health coach &exercise specialist, Bodyguards Fitness ServiceLtd. For more information, [email protected] or tel: (0191) 239 9000

W E L L - B E I N G

Duncan Edwards, director of Bodyguards Fitness Services Ltd, is a health and fitnesscoach with over 15 years’ experience in the industry. Here, he tells you how to take your

game to a new level, avoid injury and improve fitness levels.

Golf specific conditioning

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Glenn, take me back 25 years to when you were entering the ring witha chance of becoming the North East’s first world boxing champion.How did you feel?

G: To be honest, it was a surreal moment. I remember walking up to the LouisaLeisure Centre in Stanley and seeing all these people and thinking “what'shappening here tonight?!“

Tell me about the fight itself…

G: I'd been written off. My good friend, Colin Hart, declared in the Sun I was agoner. I was prepared to die in the ring. Everyone thought I’d be cautious, asLumumba had sparred with Tyson. I thought, “I'm going to smash him in my town”and tactics went out the window. I nearly knocked him out in the first round! Thefight changed my life - I was off the dole!

Rob what were your recollections of that period? Did you know Glennthen and were you a fan?

R: I was a massive boxing fan and attended all the local fights. I rememberthinking, “this is one of our own”. He's world champion. Not many people get tosay that.

How did it feel to put MTREC’s name as main sponsor to the tributeevening?

R: We were honoured to do it, as it’s long overdue recognition. It's great for theMTREC brand to be aligned with the North East’s first world champion. Glenn isalso a friend of mine, which makes it even better.

Glenn, you achieved your lifetime ambition and became worldchampion. How difficult was it to keep motivating yourself after that?

G: Winning was the best night of my life - I had climbed Everest. However, thefollowing morning was the worst of my life, as I didn't have a dream anymore. I'dnever made a plan.

Looking at the current day, how well is the North East geared up toproduce future world champions?

G: It’s always going to be hard as there is no sustainable force but, as I showed,it’s not impossible.

In the intervening years, you've carved a great name for yourself as abroadcaster with Sky. What has given you the greater satisfaction:boxing or broadcasting?

G: That's a great question and I’m unsure I can answer! My boxing career wasvery, very tough. Sky came along at the right time, though, and has been greatfor me. After 25 years, I've now gone freelance, which has opened new doorsand I've enjoyed that as well.

Finally, what do you hope to achieve in the next 25 years?

G: Boxing will always be number one for me, so more of the same I suppose. I'mnow an old expert! I also hope to bring out a book and do a film next year, of mybrother’s life, called ‘Carrying David’. Cooking is also a passion and I'm hopingto open a little kitchen with Olivier Bernard, so there is plenty to keep me going!

www.glennmccrory.com

I N T E R V I E W

25 years ago, Glenn McCrory became the North East’s first World Boxing Champion.

On the eve of a Variety Club Tribute Dinner, Mike Grahamslaw spoke to Glenn about his

career and Rob Armstrong of event sponsor, MTREC Recruitment.

E V E N T

Glenn McCroryVariety Club

Dinner

Boxing champion, Glenn McCrory, wasrecently honoured on the 25th

anniversary of his world title win, with astar-studded dinner at the Hilton Hotel,sponsored by MTREC Recruitment. Here,the Variety Club presented him with a‘silver heart’ in acknowledgement of hisachievements.

wwww.glennmccrory.com

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M O T O R S

Behindthe wheel

byJessica Laing.

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Offering an unrivalled combination ofpower and fuel efficiency, worldleading safety features and strikinggood looks, the all-new XC90 marks

the beginning of a new chapter in Volvo’s history,capturing its future design direction andincorporating its brand new range of powertraintechnologies. Along with a brand new chassis,front and rear, the all-new XC90 is the first modelto sport Volvo’s ‘new face’, featuring a new, moreprominent, iron mark, together with a T-shaped“Thor’s Hammer” DRL lights. Its large bonnet(boasting new typography), sharpened shouldersand new rear lights, meanwhile, are also newdesign signatures that will be mirrored across therange. Described as ‘the most luxurious interior tohave ever been designed for Volvo’, inside, themodel combines high quality materials, such asthe finest Nappa leather, with handcrafted details,

including a crystal glass gear lever and diamond-cut start/stop and volume controls. Otherhighlights include a tablet-like touch screen

control console, which forms the model’s all-newin-car control system (which includes one of thetop audio systems available in the automotiveworld), and plush, ergonomically shaped seats. Allseats can be reclined (for relaxation), boosted (forchildren) and slided (to create more legroom,especially for third-row passengers), making theXC90 a genuine, family-friendly 7-seater. Last, butcertainly not least, when it comes to drivingdynamics and efficiency, the XC90 certainlydelivers, providing the smooth, solid ride of apremium SUV with sharp handling and responseand a range of two-litre, four-cylinder Drive-Epowertrains - all of which offer outstanding levelsof performance and fuel-efficiency. If that wasn’tenough, the model is also the first car in the worldto offer ‘life-saving’ automatic braking, whichkicks into gear should the driver turn in front ofan oncoming car. From £35,890.

ALL-NEW VOLVO XC90

F.Y.I.Engine capacity – 2,400cc

Power – 340bhpMax torque – 420Nm at 2,000rpm

Top speed – 127mphAcceleration – 0-60mph in 9.7 seconds

Fuel consumption – 34.4mpgCO2 emissions – 215g/km

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Councillor George Pattison isbelieved to be the first mayor in theUK to make a permanent switch toa pure electric official car, trading in

his present petrol-fuelled car, which has beenused by his predecessors for several years.

Used to transport the Lord Mayor to officialengagements by the official chauffeur, theNissan LEAF is fitted with a plaque bearing theLord Mayor’s coat of arms, a city council flagand the city’s oldest number plate, OBB1.

The groundbreaking move is part ofNewcastle’s ongoing commitment tosustainability, the environment and deliveringmaximum value for taxpayers.

The all-electric Nissan LEAF has beensupplied by Benfield Motor Group, the NorthEast’s largest motor retail group, through aunique partnership agreement.

The council will also enjoy significantsavings, thanks to the LEAF’s ultra low running

costs of just two pence per mile. In addition,the LEAF - the world’s bestselling all-electriccar – is built at Nissan’s record-breakingSunderland plant, helping to secure thousandsof jobs across the North East.

Meanwhile, the local authority will furtherboost Newcastle’s credentials as an ‘EVfriendly’ city, with the installation of newelectric car charging points at the Civic Centreand Mansion House, the Lord Mayor’s officialresidence.

Councillor George Pattison, the LordMayor of Newcastle, said: “Trading in theprevious vehicle for the Nissan LEAF is atradition we are happy to break, as we go insearch of savings wherever we can find themand continue efforts to reduce our carbonfootprint. The car has zero emissions and costsvirtually nothing to run, so it’s an excellentaddition to our growing fleet of electricvehicles. And with the flag, crest, and plates

attached to it, it really looks the business too.”Colin Pybus, operation director at Benfield

Nissan, said: “We are delighted to support theLord Mayor and City of Newcastle Council intheir quest for a greener city and environment.Benfield is a family business based here inNewcastle and we are very proud to handingover the keys of this locally built Nissan LEAFto the Lord Mayor of Newcastle.

“We are sure this high-profile partnershipwill heighten the awareness of the NissanLEAF and the many benefits associated withelectric motoring.”

With more than 120,000 sold worldwideand 4,000 sales in the UK, the Nissan LEAF isa true global leader. It can cover 124 miles on asingle charge and can be charged from zero to80 per cent in as little as 30 minutes.

For more information visitwww.about.drivebenfield.com

M O T O R S

Lord Mayor leads the wayin electric limousine thanks

to Benfield NissanThe Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne is blazing a trail for elected officials everywhere after taking

delivery of his new, 100 per cent electric Nissan LEAF mayoral limousine.

General manager atBenfield Nissan, MichaelScott, and the LordMayor of Newcastleupon Tyne

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The Concorde Way franchise, located inStockton, has continuously exceededsales targets, achieved Kia’s Top 100Club on two separate occasions this

year and was the first dealer in the country tointroduce Kia’s new rental service.

Selling the entire range of new Kia models,everything from the Picanto, Rio, Soul, Venga,cee’d, and cee’d Sportswagon to the pro_cee’d,pro_cee’d GT, Optima, Carens, Sportage andSorento is on display and available to test driveat the state-of-the-art dealership.

As a result of exceeding sales targets duringthe registration plate change months of Marchand September, the dealership has placed inKia Motor’s prestigious 100 Club on twoseparate occasions during 2014.

Competing against 179 dealers nationwide,the flagship dealership was one of 30 branchesacross the country that successfully sold inexcess of 100 new car units throughout themonths of March and September.

A major contributing factor in the influx ofsales is the recently revamped urban friendlySportage SUV model, in addition tocustomers being attracted to Kia’s market-leading 7-year peace of mind warrantypackage, which is available on every newmodel in the range.

The latest rental hire side of the business isalso proving to be a huge success, as

customers take advantage of a dedicated fleetof Kia vehicles.

Heading the rental department as rentalmanager is new recruit, 32-year-old ShaunAyre, from Thornaby in Stockton.

Shaun’s past experience and knowledge,having spent more than eight years workingfor another vehicle rental company, made himthe ideal candidate to oversee the newJennings Kia Rental division, which offerscustomers a dedicated fleet of Kia vehicles.

Everything from the manufacturer’scritically acclaimed cee’d, to the brand’sfamily MPV Carens and the hugely popularSportage model, is available to hire atcompetitive daily and weekly rates.

A dedicated fleet of 10 vehicles is currentlyavailable at the Jennings Kia Rentaldepartment, with the dealership aiming toexpand this to 20 in 2015.

As rental manager, Shaun is responsible forproviding the Kia rental service to customersand businesses both locally and nationally, inaddition to liaising with potential customersand arranging vehicles for delivery andcollection.

Shaun said; “This is a fantastic opportunityfor me and I am looking forward to providingthe Kia Rental service to customers, whetherthey are looking for a vehicle for holiday orbusiness purposes.”

Welcoming Shaun on board, Steven Flack,franchise manager at Jennings Kia inStockton, said: “The new Rental divisionmeans we are now a one-stop-shop for ourcustomers and can cater for every motoringneed. In addition to customers being given acompletely new rental experience, the newservice is also giving people the opportunity toexperience a new Kia from the range.

“Shaun’s experience and knowledge in therental business made him the ideal candidateto manage and develop the Kia Rentaldepartment at the dealership.”

Customers can also take advantage of awide range display of quality approved usedvehicles on site at the dealership. In additionto this, an after sales service is available tocustomers via the dealership’s service andMOT departments, where fully approved Kiatechnicians are employed to carry out work onvehicles. There is also a parts department onsite, offering high quality and competitivelypriced Kia parts to retail and trade customers.

For more information about the rangeof products and services available at JenningsKia Rental, contact rental manager, ShaunAyre, on (01642) 2632278, or for moreinformation about the range of products andother services, call 01642 632299 or visitwww.jenningsmotorgroup.co.uk

M O T O R S

Jennings Kia goesfrom strength to strength

Since launching in Teesside more than 15 months ago, Jennings Kia, partof the Jennings Motor Group, is going from strength to strength.

Shaun Ayre has taken over as rental manager at theJennings Kia dealership on Concorde Way in Stockton.

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I N T E R V I E W

When I was growing up, I wanted tobe a helicopter pilot for the RoyalNavy. Having Mr Magoo in charge of a SeaKing isn’t a good thing.

My first job was working in a recordshop. After a couple of Saturday jobs, Ijoined the Merchant Navy straight fromschool. I spent many happy years at sea – Iloved it.

I'd tell my 18-year-old self to believein yourself and surround yourselfwith great people with positiveenergy. I’d also say love what you do, and dowhat you love. Oh, and you’ll begin to like thetaste of cabbage!

I'm inspired by so many things – toomany to single anything out. I did theGreat North Run this year (the first and lasttime, might I add) and got talking to a coupleof the ‘blind runners’, which was truly amazingand humbling.

My greatest achievement has yet tobe achieved. Continuing to be a gooddad, husband and friend is an achievement,though!

When I need a helping hand, I ask.I’m very fortunate to know a lot of fantasticpeople, who are always around when I needsupport. I also go running, as solutions oftenpresent themselves to me while running alongthe coast at South Shields.

One of my favourite novels is TheFirm, by John Grisham. I think I’m acloset lawyer trying to get out! As for films,‘Damned United’ is still my favourite. As aLeeds United fan (don’t tell anyone), this is theonly thing about them I enjoy watching thesedays!

In my spare time, I love to listen toand play music. My band, AzimuthCircle, is playing at our networking event onJanuary 22 at Northern Stage. Running keepsme just about sane, too.

In five years time, I'll be five yearsolder… but not five years wiser.

www.hitachicm.co.uk

Get to know me ...Glen Callander

Strategic developmentpartner at Hitachi.

north east times magazine - december 2014

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