North East Times Magazine - July 2014

J U L Y 2 0 1 4

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C O N T E N T S

July 2014

BUSINESS NEWS – 10

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

NORTH EAST VIEW POINTS – 14Thoughts from the region’s business community.

10 QUESTIONS FOR... – 18Ross Grieve, Seaham Hall hotel.

ON THE MOVE – 20New executive appointments.

THE LONG GAME – 56Michael Leather, Leathers LLP.

STATE OF THE ART – 72

COVER STORY – 82Mike Lynch, Mike Lynch Advertising.

BUSINESS LUNCH – 104Antico, Jesmond.

INTERVIEW – 110Nadine Shah.

MOTORS – 114

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: Alison Cowie

Sales: Luccia Graham, Isa Dawson

Editorial: Jessica Laing, Elise Rana Hopper, Beth Shailer

Senior designer: John Haxon

Feature photography: Chris Owens

Photography: Kay Donnelly

Front cover: Mike Lynch, by Chris Owens.

Office: Quayside - i4, Albion Row, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1LL. | t: (0191) 265 7050

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9

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

World Cup fallout

With England fans still reelingfrom the shock of the teambeing knocked out of theWorld Cup in the group

stage for the first time since 1958, businessrescue and recovery specialist BegbiesTraynor has been analysing the economicimpact of the country’s early exit.

It is estimated that failure to reach thequarter final will cost the UK economy £1.2billion with each England fan expected tohave spent an additional £56 had theteam been successful.

Figures show that each England goalwas worth almost £200 million to theeconomy.

Among the worst World Cup losers are•:

Pubs and bars which account for 50per cent of the loss; Brits were sinking 37mpints a day during England’s short-livedstay in Brazil and this is now expected todrop to 24m. Spending on all alcohol isforecast to drop from £114m per day to£38m

Sports clothing firms face a potentialshortfall of £300m due to over stocking offootball-themed items such as shirts andflags.

Fast food outlets: takeaway firmDomino’s estimate they would havedelivered an extra 12 million pizzas.

Bookmakers: the surge in betting activitywhen England qualify for the latter stageswill now be quashed meaning bookies will

see around a 35 per cent drop in placedbets

Supermarkets: economists predict theywill miss out on a footballing feel-goodwindfall through reduced sales in food,alcohol and barbecue promotions

Television and advertising: ITV andadvertising agencies will miss out on a 5-10per cent boost in advertising spend

However, on the positive side, somebusinesses will benefit from England’sdefeat. DIY stores, garden centres, travelagents and cinemas are all likely to see anupsurge as football fans abandon their TVsin favour of other leisure activities.

*Sources: The Guardian; The Sunday Times; The FT.

What England’s early exit means for UK businesses.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

10

Reachingthe peak

Jenny Peng Gillender has created PeakBoutique, an online fashion store

offering a range of carefully selectedwomen’s clothing and accessories from arange of affordable brands. New productsare added to the site daily.

Sundayfor Sammy

The 2014 DVD of Sunday for Sammyhas just been released and has been

judged to be the best yet and features astellar cast of North Eastern favourites,including Hebburn’s Jason Cook andChris Ramsay.

From Sage tocake pops

Aformer marketing manager of a FTSE 100company has opened one of UK’s first

cake pop shops. The newly opened DreamPop Bakery in Monkseaton, North Tyneside, isthe brainchild of Michelle Gibson, formermarketing manager at Sage UK.

BRIC markets uncovered

The region’s SMEs have attended aunique one-day event created to

shed light on doing business in BRICinternational markets, held by the ERDFfunded NECC Access Programme. The freeevent, which took place recently atGateshead’s Marriot Hotel, offered NorthEast businesses the opportunity to consultexperts on specific international tradeissues regarding Brazil, Russia, India andChina.

£14K ForAlzheimer’s Society

Staff from Newcastle Building Society hashanded over almost £14,000 to the UK’s

leading charity for people with dementia.Having chosen to support five different

charities in the previous five years,employees at the building society’s headoffices and branches voted to adoptAlzheimer’s Society as the dedicated charityfor 2013/14.

Exclusive five-starcorporate use

Business guests looking for space andprivacy are being offered the

exclusive use of one of the North East’smost prestigious hotels.

Seaham Hall hotel has recentlyextended its appeal to corporate clients byoffering them sole and exclusive use of itsfunction rooms, lounge, restaurant andsuites for the duration of their visit.

ElringKlinger boostsworkforce

Teesside automotive partsmanufacturer, ElringKlinger (GB), has

welcomed a further 17 new recruits in thesecond wave of its recruitment drive thisyear. The appointments add to thecompany’s 190-strong workforce.

Cyclefestival

The Virgin Money Cyclone Festival ofCycling took place in the region

last month. Set over four days, thefestival attracted cyclists of all abilities,including a number of professionalriders.

Employers warned overholiday pay

Newcastle-based accountants RobsonLaidler LLP are warning employers to

ensure they are calculating holiday paycorrectly and that internal policies are inplace following a number of recent legalchallenges.

11

D I A R Y

Save thedate

Charity balls, business dinnersand seminars.

RESHORING: OPPORTUNITY FOR THENORTH EAST

HSBC Team Valley HQ, GatesheadTel: 0300 303 6322

Web: www.necc.co.uk/events-and-newsPrice: Free

This seminar will look at the opportunity tobring work back to the North East that haspreviously been delivered overseas. As well as aQ&A panel, it will provide information forbusinesses considering reshoring and willinclude presentations from local companieswho have successfully reshored their operations.Guests will also hear about Reshore UK – a newservice to help bring business back to the UK.

MAZDA DRIVER EVENT

Jennings Mazda MiddlesbroughTel: 01642 256655

Web: www.jenningsmotorgroup.co.uk Price: Free

July2

July19&20

Aimed at driving enthusiasts andprospective customers, this two-dayspecialist driver event, organised byJennings Mazda, part of the MotorGroup, will give customers theopportunity to experience tailor-made,one-hour test drives with one ofMazda’s experienced drivers, in aMazda model of their choice. Placesfor the event, which is scheduled totake place on July 19 between 9am-5pm and July 20 between 10.30am-4pm, are strictly limited. In attendancewill be franchise manager of JenningsMazda Middlesbrough, JamesChorlton, pictured with the all-newMazda3 model, which will beavailable to test drive at the event.

LADIES LUNCH WITH ANGELA BEECROFT

5Rockliffe Hall, County Durham

Tel: 01325 729999Web: www.rockliffehall.com/whats-on

Email: [email protected]: £24.50 per person

Guest speaker and clinical nutritionist, AngelaBeecroft, will be hosting this helpful ladieslunch, where she will be sharing advice andtips on how to choose healthier food, makebetter diet choices and improve eating habits.Set in the hotel’s Orangery restaurant, theevent includes a sparkling reception, a two-course lunch and refreshments.

July7

OPEN EVENT WITH JAMES AKRIGG

5Northern Design Centre, Gateshead

Tel: (0191) 500 7780Web: www.entrepreneursforum.net

Price: Free (members) £15+VAT(members’ guests) £50+VAT (non-

members)

This open event includes a talk fromMicrosoft’s head of technology for partners,James Akrigg, who will be helping guests get abetter understanding of Microsoft’stechnologies and how they will inspire the nextgeneration of technology-enabled businesses.Includes demonstrations of some of Microsoft’sfuture innovations that will benefit small andmedium sized businesses.

July10

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING FOR BUSINESS

5St James’ Park, Newcastle

Tel: (0191) 277 1625Web:

www.godigitalnewcastle.co.uk/business-users/events

Email: [email protected]: Free

The aim of this full-day masterclass is to educatecompanies about using social media to gainmore lead and win new business. Attendees willlearn how to get the most out of social mediaplatforms, such as Twitter and LinkedIn andunderstand media jargon and how and when touse it. Includes talks about time management,monitoring social media presence and how tocreate compelling content.

July17

SPANISH NIGHT

5Jesmond Dene House, Jesmond

Tel: (0191) 212 3000Web: www.jesmonddenehouse.co.ukEmail: [email protected]

Price: £55 per person

Jesmond Dene House’s head chef, MichaelPenaluna, has teamed up with Granada winery,Nestares Rincon, and Enrique Avencio, theman behind Kaltur Olive Oil, to bring a taste ofSpain to Newcastle. Guests will enjoy anevening of Spanish wine and authentic cuisine,including paella, manchego cheese and aselection of traditional desserts.

July20

[email protected]

with your events

LINKING BUSINESS WITH EDUCATION

5Framwellgate School, Durham

Tel: 0300 303 6322Web: www.necc.co.uk/events-and-news

Price: Free

This open event, open to all NECC membersoperating in the education sector and thoseoperating in business, with an interest ininfluencing the education sector, aims to facilitateleaders from both sectors in the North East tonetwork and make sustainable partnerships to,ultimately, deliver higher quality career guidancefor students. Includes refreshments, a Q&A panel,workshops and guest speakers.

July15

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E V E N T

HTA Real Estatelaunch party

The specialist property consultancycelebrates a successful start.

New niche industrial propertyconsultancy HTA Real Estate

celebrated its official launch at the BridgeTavern in Newcastle last month.

The company has been formed byRussell Taylor, Nick Atkinson and Simon Hill –who have extensive experience in theproperty industry.

HTA Real Estate hosted the party, whichwas attended by 100 guests, to officiallylaunch the business, and as a thank you toall their clients who have supported themover the first successful six months oftrading.

Left to right: Paul McAteer (Sixty Six Estates), Nick McCormick(Santander) and Edward Spier (Landteam)

Nick Sladen (Sladen Estates) andDavid Charlton (Officers Club)

Left to right: Tom Deevey (BastionSecurity), Adam Serfontein (Hanro)and Caroline Deevey (Santander)

Left to right: Russell Taylor (HTA RealEstate), Simon Hill (HTA Real Estate) and

Adrian Hill (Highbridge Properties)

Left to right: Andrew Creighton (Gladman),Adam Heather (DWF Solicitors) and Barry

Nelson (Whittle Jones)Left to right: Nick Atkinson (HTA Real Estate),Mark Thompson (Ryder Architects) andPaul Stiller (Stiller Transport)

Lisa Hunter (UK Land Estates) and ShirleySimpson (UK Land Estates)

Russell Taylor (HTA Real Estate)

13

O P I N I O N

Local businessmen and women share

their thoughts …

ROBYN WILSONOWNER WILSON BARBERSHOP CO

I'll be revisiting a favouriteset of books of mine this

summer. Northern Lights, SubtleKnife and Amber Spyglass is a trilogy by PhilipPullman that I read years ago, and I lovecoming back to them. They're easy to read butit's also easy to get sucked into the story of Lyraand her dæmon Pantalaimon's journey, as theywander through a series of parallel universes –perfect for sitting by the pool. All I have todecide now is where my summer holiday willtake place!

What will

be your

summer

holiday

read?

NYNZI MAUNGACCESS PROGRAMMELEADERNECC

I love books – buying,collecting, borrowing – but I’m a

rotten reader, except on holiday, where I canspend hours immersed uninterrupted.I borrowed Lasting Damage by SophieHannah from a friend ages ago. The first tenpages immediately drew me in and scared me.I’m a wuss and even more so on cold winternights. So I’ve saved it for my holidays; hot andsunny days on the beach surrounded byhumanity – where I won’t be scared as I readon to find out who or what done it!

North East view pointsDOMINIC BOWSER

PERSONAL TRAINER SOUND MIND AND BODY

I’m not a massive fan ofcarrying round lots of bookswhen I go away, so when I’m onholiday I love listening to TED Talks on the

internet (www.ted.com). The short, powerful’talks’ last around 18 minutes or less and cancover any topic like sports or science, so it’s agreat way to take in new information without

impacting too much on the holiday. There areplaylists that run through popular talks andthemes, making it easy to find my favourite

topics or to try something different.

DAVID BROOKBANKSDIRECTOR

LUDLOW STREET

One book I’ll read thissummer is #BrandVandals by

Steve Earl and StephenWaddington (the first book ever to have a

hashtag in the title). The purpose is to getorganisations to consider how they can protect

their corporate reputations online, nowanyone and everyone can have a voice

through the rise of social media. Engagementis key and this is a bible on how to do it

right so it will be good to have the space toread it in depth.

SARAH HALLMANAGING DIRECTOR

SARAH HALL CONSULTINGLTD:

I never really switch off so mysummer read will be a book by

social media thought leader Brian Solis called,The Complete Guide for Brands and

Businesses to Build, Cultivate and MeasureSuccess in the New Web. It’s kind of self-

explanatory but effectively, the book looks athow businesses need to engage customers in

meaningful conversations and empower them toengage with marketing efforts. It has a foreword

by Ashton Kutcher – what’s not to love?

NICKY JOLLEYFOUNDER HR2DAY

In running an HRconsultancy we advise clients

to try and create an environmentwhere staff have a good work-life balance. Weknow holidays and down time are important forwell being and productivity. That said, for methe first few days on holiday are really difficult –switching off doesn’t come naturally. It’s vital Ihave some vampire romances like Twilight,thrillers and James Herbert novels to read –they’re a real escape and give me the headspacewhere I can then formulate the best strategicdecisions for the business.

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Industry reports suggest that more and morecompanies are looking to become evenleaner and more focused on core areas oftheir business operations while outsourcing

the sales function to external suppliers whocan provide highly specialised expertise thatdelivers added value.

This may seem an odd thing to do in acommercial world driven by sales, shareholderreturn and bottom line performances as themeasure of success, but increasing numbers ofthose responsible for the sales function nowsee the real value of turning to outsourcing tobetter ‘sweat’ their assets.

The rationale behind this is simple: today’ssales manager is far more savvy and betterinformed about business processes andincreasingly receptive to new ways of doingbusiness to drive growth and secure thecustomer base.

For some, there’s also the fear that a largeand expensive to maintain sales team doesn’tperform as hoped, failing to deliver therequired return on investment.

Also, the dynamics of recruiting andrunning sales teams are rapidly changing.Managing and motivating sales-minded peoplehas increasingly become a full-time job in

itself for those trying to build a business,particularly for small to medium sizedenterprises whose owners and managers haveto deal with a myriad number of businessissues and face huge constraints on their time.

It will be particularly prevalent among thoseworking for companies where the salesfunction is limited or completely non-existent– for instance, small nimble footed IT firmswho might have plateaued and need to findnew markets and outlets for their services inorder to move to the next phase of growth butdon’t want to invest in in-house sales. Ownersand managers of these businesses valueoutsourcing as an accountable route to growth,producing a demonstrable and quantifiablereturn on investment through better qualitysales lead generation.

We are also seeing those at the top of thecorporate ladder embracing the benefits ofoutsourcing as senior management throws offthe shackles of the old traditional ways toengage in new business techniques – they seethe value and are better prepared to sanctionits use to galvanise people and resources formaximum effect and return.

Outsourcing the sales process to experts whocan add real value in the supply chain will

only continue to make huge strides in the nextfew years – a vital cog in the engine ofeconomic development and creating newbusiness growth for clients looking for highquality sales leads rather than relying on theendless rounds of scheduled appointmentsbefore trusting to luck when it comes toconverting these into profit.

durhamlane is a sales performance specialistwhich helps companies become morecommercial by improving the performance oftheir people and by managing outsourced salescampaigns on their behalf – creating newbusiness opportunities. It delivers a measurabledifference through consultancy, training andcoaching sales and non-sales people andembedding best practices through technology,delivering outsourced sales and businessdevelopment services that increase thefootprint and success of clients. Its provenSelling at a Higher Level methodology sits atthe heart of everything its services, improvingperformance regardless of where a client is inthe lifecycle of its business.

For more information on durhamlane call(0191) 481 3800 or visitwww.durhamlane.co.uk

B U S I N E S S

Outsourcing sales:adding value to growth

Contracting out the sales function – or outsourcing – is on the risesays Richard Lane, partner at Newcastle-based sales consultancy,

training and coaching services firm durhamlane.

16

Lee Durham and Richard Lane.

What was your first breakin business?

My working career started atthe Ritz in London. This wasduring a huge period ofinvestment which meant itwas a fascinating time. Istarted as a trainee and turnedmy hand to the kitchen,restaurant, the famous PalmCourt where the AfternoonTea is served and cellar work –ultimately being promoted toassistant Palm Court manager.

What attracted you toyour current role?

Having enjoyed 10 yearsbeing responsible for the day-to-day running of The ChesterGrosvenor, I was ready for anew challenge.I toyed with returning toLondon to work somewhereiconic, a brand new buildproject or a project to rebuilda reputation. I opted forSeaham which needed itsreputation restored withinvestment and TLC from acustomer service andstandards point of view. It hasbeen a labour of love restoringit to its former glories. Wenow have our five-star statusrestored and we won SmallHotel of the Year in 2013.

What has been yourcareer highlight?

It’s difficult to choose as therehave been a few! I reallyenjoyed my three years inMustique in the Caribbean,which was a different way oflife. I’m also enjoying drivingSeaham Hall forward. I’vebeen very fortunate to be partof hotels that have deliveredand consistently achieved.

And your careerlowlight?

None, really. I took the wrongjob on one occasion but thesilver lining was that I metone of my industry mentors.

What do you enjoy mostabout your role?

Every day is different.Obviously, I run coremeetings and set the strategyof the business but after that,something will always comeup that you didn’t foresee.

I N T E R V I E W

10 questions for ...

Ross Grieve After working in some of the

most prestigious hotels around theworld, Ross Grieve joined Seaham

Hall as general manger lastyear, tasked with revitalising the

luxury hotel, restaurant andspa‘s fortunes.

18

What's your biggestchallenge?

Undoubtedly, my currentrole. Seaham has struggled inrecent years and we have hadto take time to reposition theproperty and restore itsreputation. More than £2million has been spent onrefurbishment so far. This yearwe are looking to achieve 45per cent growth in thebusiness and I feel we havemade a great start.

Who are your heroes, inand out of business?

In business, Willy Bauer, theformer MD of The Savoy inLondon. His drive forattention to detail andcustomer service was secondto none, as was his desire toget the team to deliver theresults.Out of business, Sir AlexFerguson who wasuncompromising in his desireto get the job done.

What is the best piece ofbusiness advice anyone

has ever given you?

Have passion for what you doand strive for 100 per cent atall times.

What does the future holdfor Seaham Hall?

The future is very bright. Weare looking to build on therecent refurbishmentprogramme which hasincluded improvements inour ballroom, meeting roomsas well as the Byron Bar andGrill. We also have a newsports lounge, with a 9ftAmerican pool table, tablefootball and 80-inch plasmatelevision. The Serenity Spahas also seen considerableinvestment, which ensures itremains at the top of its game.It was also recently voted inthe top 100 spas worldwide.

What do you doto relax?

Spend time with my verycaring and supportive wifeand two lovely children. Alsoan occasional game of golf,reading and followingDundee United.

www.seaham-hall.co.uk

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

On the MoveYour monthly guide to

appointments and promotions.

AVRIL LEACH

HR2day, a Darlington-based companyspecialising in helping small and mediumbusinesses understand where they are failing tocomply with legislation, has appointed AvrilLeach as business development manager. Avriljoins the 18-month-old company with 28 years’experience in liaising with and helping withthe needs of clients in Manchester, Leeds andthe North East.

CHARLOTTE TIMSON

International development charity, Traidcraft,based in Gateshead, has appointed CharlotteTimson as director of internationaldevelopment and policy. Charlotte, who hasworked in the global policy and programmessector for the last 10 years, brings a wealth ofexperience to the role. Her previous rolesinclude leading global programmes initiativeon behalf of the Fairtrade Foundation andcountry director in Malawi for Christian Aid.

OLIVER HEBDON

North East law firm, BHP Law, has appointedOliver Hebdon as an employment law solicitor.Oliver, who studied law at NorthumbriaUniversity and trained in St Albans andLondon, will travel to clients across the regionfrom the firm’s offices in Newcastle, Stockton,Durham and Darlington. The 26-year-old willadvise on a range of legal and practical issuesfor both individuals and businesses across avariety of industries.

PAUL WALKER

Matfen Hall and Spa, Northumberland, hasappointed Paul Walker as operationsmanager. Paul, who has previously heldsenior management positions at hotels acrossNorth Yorkshire, joins from Rockliffe Hall,Country Durham, where he spent three yearsas food and beverage manager. In his newrole, he will be tasked with maintaining andraising standards across all areas of theoperation.

KIRSTEN MEANEY

Marketing company Horizonworks hasappointed Kirsten Meaney as client marketingmanager. Kirsten will be responsible forsupporting the company’s regional and nationalclients in the delivery of their PR and marketingstrategies.Prior to joining Horizonworks, Kirsten workedfor construction specialist Carillion where shecreated and implemented marketing campaignswithin the energy and education sectors.

ROB RUDD

Hartlepool-based building company, GusRobinson, has appointed Rob Rudd asconstruction manager. Rob, who joins fromhouse builder, Yuill Homes, brings more than25 years’ experience to his new role, which willsee him oversee the firm’s housing projects andmajor new build construction sites across theNorth East and monitor production efficienciesand health and safety across all constructionsites.

20

Guests were invited to the latest Entrepreneurs’ Forum’s round table eventto share their ideas and practices to show how innovation manifests inentrepreneurial organisations, to gain a better understanding of how

entrepreneurs link growth with innovation and to help identify opportunities andchallenges that innovation may bring.

Chaired by the forum’s business development manager, Gillian Marshall,the event was held at AYO Digital’s headquarters at the Northern Design Centrein Gateshead.

Expert opinion was offered by Professor Roy Sandbach, innovation strategylead for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, a former research fellowwith Procter & Gamble and last year’s David Goldman Visiting Professor ofInnovation and Enterprise at Newcastle University.

Joining them around the table were Jane McCarthy, of Lansdowne Clinic;Graham Sleep, of Improvement Architecture; Steve Hale, of Shutter Media;Mark Ions, of Exclusive HR and Recruitment; Katherine Hay-Heddle, of WardHadaway; Mike Wilmot, of Parkdean Holidays; Nigel Begg, of AspireTechnology Solutions and Steve Purvis, of SGP Consulting.

Is innovation a key element of your overall company growthstrategy and if not where does innovation sit within yourorganisation?

Nigel Begg: As a business I think we are quite innovative. It's in our DNAbut we don't have it as an agenda item. I feel our products and services arevery different because we are always striving to do something better. It's partof how we operate.

Roy Sandbach: To me innovation is all about matching what's needed withwhat's possible. The idea of a general examination of opportunity is notsomething businesses can necessarily afford relative to their assets and businessstrategy. You only do innovation with a purpose. It can be anywhere: inproducts or services, in your business model, in marketing or sales. What'simplicit is a dialogue and a definition of what you want; innovation requires asearch for what you want.

Gillian Marshall: Innovation isn't necessarily that lightbulb moment, it mightbe about general improvements or bringing costs down, because ultimately ithas to hit the bottom line. If someone has an idea that's about doing thingsdifferently it can give you that cutting edge.

Jane McCarthy: I'd like to raise the concept of disruptive innovation, thatnotion that as a business you are looking to please your customers but if youcarry on that path you are likely to be taken over by smaller, more flexiblebusinesses.

Graham Sleep: What's needed is step change. Through the tough economictimes the companies that are coming to the fore now are the ones that keptinvesting and developing during downturn. I think it has to be continual.

Mark Ions: The size of the business makes a huge difference. As a smallbusiness you can be more nimble; you’re constantly looking to streamline yourprocesses and at how you can use technology better. As a small business itallows us to stay ahead of some of the bigger corporates.

B U S I N E S S

Growth andinnovation

The third event in the Entrepreneurs’ Forum’s series of Round Table discussions ontopical business issues focuses on growth and innovation.

22

Mike Wilmot: We realised we could improve profitability by improving ourproduct to our customers and by improving our people by investing in training.There's risk in that because if it doesn't work you've increased your cost base.We've always tried to be innovative – for instance, we were one of the firstoperators to include central heating and double-glazing in our caravan hirefleet. Last year we changed our operations so that all customers had their bedsmade in their accommodation for their arrival – previously we provided linenpacks. This was a significant cost to us but it is paying back in increased repeatbusiness. We asked ourselves how are we going to grow earnings and we putprofit improvement plans in place. It was all about allocating who wasresponsible for doing what and when and this is now paying off with earningsgrowth. It's not serendipity.

How do you get people to come up with ideas, to beentrepreneurial and innovative?

Roy: You must try to bring into the culture a sense of taking things on but alwaysensure a relatively managed framework with boundary conditions. Focus onyour core competency - what is it that you're really, really good at? Start-upsare driving their business through sales but in middle size companies it's aquestion of looking at what you are really good at and seeing where thoseassets can be used innovatively to drive broader revenues that can run parallelwith the core business so overall the business is de-risked.

Graham: For me it's about the board and senior managers being on board.As the business grows their role to sponsor any of this becomes critical. It'sthose people who need to buy-in first. It's definitely the greatest barrier and it'sabout influencing them.

Steve Purvis: As you grow you benefit from economies of scale but you carrya higher cost base so you are at risk from innovation from below. Asentrepreneurs and true innovators you mustn't care about money. Take Google- they took a long term view on the basis that the money would come if theproduct was genuinely good and new. We say go and do it; 90 per cent of itwill be rubbish but the one per cent that gets through will be commercialised.It's a big hopper at the top to get the golden gem at the bottom.

Katherine Hay-Heddle: Leighton Group has a culture that enablesemployees to take that risk. I'm sure they see a lot that wouldn’t be viable butthen up comes SaleCycle, a great business that's growing really quickly. It cameout of one guy coming up with an idea and asking 'can I do it as part of myjob?'.

Steve Hale: Our idea for roller shutters happened because we realised therewas space people were walking past that could be utilised. That led us into

stores and areas of high footfall such as where people come off escalators sowe developed floor graphics for that which has led us into other areas. Wehad an existing client base and at the same time spent six months developinga new 3D product, which we took to the Watch and Jewellery Show to showpeople what they could do in their shops.

Roy: And that's de-risking your business incredibly. That's innovation.

What systems, regimes, criteria, incentives and rewards do youhave to get innovation in your business?

Graham: Part of it is unfreezing your organisation to be creative. The simplethings like profit share work best because everyone has a stake then, but therehas to be rules around it. Small businesses are good at disruptive innovationbut not necessarily continuous improvement.

Steve P: When you’re growing you worry about keeping an eye on the corebusiness so you put processes in place that stifle innovation. It’s only when youget bigger that you can encourage innovation again.

Conclusions …

Roy: First, sustaining innovation in the core of a mature business requiressomething different. Consider the simple, little delighters that will take thatexisting business and make people think “they really understand me!”. If youcan identify what these delighters are, then you can do it again and again.

Second, culture plays a big part. Without those at the top saying ‘we aregoing to innovate and make our product or service better’ the organisation willnot respond. And you have to consider some kind of reward scheme.

Third, you may have special “serial innovators”. There is some great workbeing done in universities in the context of identifying who those people areand how to stroke them.

Finally, getting to the innovation boundaries gives you the best bang for yourbuck. The challenge is to get your organisation to the boundary and let themthink “I can spend time there”. You don’t know what you don’t know until youget there ... and you might turn up something discontinuous for your business.

Gillian: As a region we punch above our weight in terms of innovation. In theForum, we visit lots of businesses on industrial estates and business parks acrossthe region and innovation is everywhere. We meet some fantasticentrepreneurial and innovative businesses every day, which should encourageus all.

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

23

Sport England issued figures last monththat showed that the number of people inEngland participating in sport once aweek had significantly increased.

The overall record breaking number was 15.6million over-16s, which was an increase of180,000 since October 2013.

Sport England measures sport participationthrough an Active People Survey, whichtelephones over 160,000 people each year tocalculate national and local figures.

The figures help inform the investment of£300 million a year of lottery and governmentfunding into grassroots sport.

These figures are good news for the nationand are also positive for individuals andbusinesses. Your organisation can help promotethem within your workforce to maximize thosebenefits.

Individual benefits

There have been many studies, which haveshown the benefits of regular exercise for anindividual. It would be surprising if people werenot aware of the most obvious.

Whatever your age, there's strong scientificevidence that being physically active can helppeople lead a healthier and even happier life. Itreduces weight and can reduce the risks of majorillnesses and of early death.

Exercise helps with emotional health andpeople also feel better about themselves whenthey exercise regularly, which can boostconfidence and improve self-esteem. Regularphysical activity can also improve musclestrength and boost endurance, giving peoplemore energy at work and at home.

Further, regular physical activity can help yourstaff fall asleep faster and deepen their sleep,which can help energy and mood levels. You

might not spend time thinking about your team’ssleep but the more they have, the better it islikely to be for you.

What could you do to help?

There are many initiatives that your firm couldadopt to help your staff to exercise and to bemore healthy. One of the sports to increaseparticipation the most is cycling and this willhave been helped by the Bike to Work Scheme.If you don’t offer this already then it is a simpleprocess and can make buying a bike much moreaffordable.

Most businesses can’t afford to pay foreveryone’s gym membership, but what you cando is call your local gym and ask them if you canget a corporate discount. You might also make iteasier for staff to exercise around the work day.Often, when someone is asked why they don’texercise the response is, “I don’t have enoughtime”.

You could help by allowing flexible time withlonger lunch breaks or by introducing a showerin the office to allow people to run or cycle towork.

There are many other suggestions such asstarting a company sports team. Many companies

have football, netball, rounders or other sportsteams, which help health but also boost teamspirit. Events like the Sunshine Run inNewcastle generally have a good corporateuptake, which might be something your staffwould like to do together.

It is also important to recognise that anorganisation has a responsibility to protect thehealth of its workforce while in employment.The common law and statutory requirements donot go as far as requiring exercise programmesbut incorporating them into your workforcestrategy demonstrates a concern for staff. If youhave a staff canteen or vending machine youmight also offer your employees healthy mealand snack options.

The benefits to business

The benefits for the individual above sound likethe sort of thing most businesses would wanttheir employees to enjoy. Not just for altruisticreasons but because healthy staff are likely to takeless time off work and may be more productive inthe office – employees may be more alert.

Most employees would feel better about theirjob if you express an interest in their health.

Employees are more likely to be attracted to,remain with, and value a company that obviouslyvalues them. It’s also important to consider theeffect of healthy employees on your company’simage and influence in the community.

By supporting the health of your employees,your organisation is demonstrating a certaindegree of social responsibility, which will buildyour reputation as an organization that supportsits workforce.

Your company can help promote the health ofits workforce and next time the Active Peoplefigures are published you can feel that you haveplayed a small part in the overall numbers.

B U S I N E S S

The benefits ofa healthyworkforce?

By Rod Findlay, consultant atYour Sport Consulting.

EXPERT VIEWRod Findlay Consultant

Your Sport ConsultingEmail:

[email protected] on @rodfindlay

24

B U S I N E S S

Family-run business Coquet Cottages seeks supportfrom Oxford Innovation.

The mother and daughter behindNorthumberland-based luxury holidayletting agency, Coquet Cottages, arelooking to add to their unique property

portfolio after completing a business growthsupport programme.

Julie and Stephanie Ringland alreadymanage 55 holiday homes in the county butafter receiving specialist coaching under theBusiness Northumberland High GrowthProgramme the pair are well set for expansion.

Northumberland-born Julie, who establishedCoquet Cottages in 1998, said: “Demand forour properties has never been greater so it wasimportant we prepare ourselves and thebusiness for expansion, that’s why I turned tothe Business Northumberland High Growthprogramme for support.

“Thanks to the programme we’ve attendedfree courses to improve our understanding ofsocial media and to develop our sales andmarketing techniques and we’ve had thesupport of a dedicated business coach who haspositively challenged our entire approach tohow we run the business.”

The programme forms part of BusinessNorthumberland, which offers established andstart-up businesses in the county fully-fundedsupport to maximise their growth potential.

Oxford Innovation, the UK’s leadingcoaching company, is delivering the highgrowth programme on behalf of Arch, TheNorthumberland Development Company andNorthumberland County Council. The£1.35m programme is funded by the European

Regional Development Fund (ERDF).Oxford Innovation business coach Matt

Hindhaugh worked alongside Julie andStephanie and he is confident about the futureof their business: “Coquet Cottages is set totake its place at the forefront of theNorthumberland tourism sector with itsportfolio of stunning holiday homes and bysupporting the employment of so many peoplein the service, hospitality and retail sectors.

“Julie and Stephanie really embraced theconcept of coaching so my role wasn’t to tellthem how to manage what was already asuccessful property portfolio, it was to supportthem in introducing innovative techniques toowning and running a high growth business.”

As Coquet Cottages are available throughoutthe year, the company provides work to morethan 60 local cleaners, housekeepers, buildersand other support staff. Northumberland’sshops, restaurants and bars also benefit fromthe firm’s all-year-round traffic of high-spendingguests, over half of whom are repeat visitors.

All Coquet Cottages’ properties that havebeen assessed by the national tourism authority,VisitEngland, have been awarded four or fivestars and the firm has the highest proportion ofGold Award-winning cottages of any holidayletting agency in the country.

Julie is delighted with the support she hasreceived from the Business NorthumberlandHigh Growth Programme, commenting:“We’re very much a family business that enjoysexcellent relationships with our clients. It’staken a lot of hard work to get to where we are

but Matt has shown us how we can grow thebusiness while retaining our core values andniche offering.”

Since the launch of the Northumberlandprogramme in April 2013, 55 client companieshave been supported by Oxford Innovation’steam of expert coaches, recording betweenthem a £5.3 million increase in turnover andmore than 60 jobs created or protected.

Mike Jobson leads the programme on behalfof Oxford Innovation. He said: “CoquetCottages is the latest in a line ofNorthumberland businesses to see the benefitsof coaching. Our programme is provided toclients at no charge and I would urge any firmwith growth potential in the county to contactus for an initial chat about their business andabout how coaching could potentially supporttheir growth strategy.”

Oxford Innovation’s methods have alsoproved successful elsewhere in the UK, wherethe organisation has worked with over 2500high growth businesses. And despite thechallenging economic circumstances of recentyears, Oxford Innovation has helped its clientsacross the UK access over £100 million offunding, creating or safeguarding more than2000 jobs.

Anyone wishing to find out more about theBusiness Northumberland High GrowthProgramme and how Oxford Innovation canpotentially support their business should call(01670) 528403, [email protected] or visit www.oxin-northumberland.com.

Room to grow

Left to right: Stephanie Ringland,Matt Hindhaugh (Oxford Innovation)and Julie Ringland.

26

WWhen trying to find somebody theperfect job, I spend a lot of timeoffering support and advice oneverything from salary expectation

to CV style, market advice to interviewtechnique.

There are many variables that affect thesuccess of a job search, but in terms of the jobseeker, the most important ingredient isundoubtedly the interview.

It’s the moment when you discover if thechemistry is right; you find out whether you fitwith an organisation in terms of job demands,expectations, aspiration, attitude, personalityand organisational culture.

Your mood, nerves and the level of pressureyou place upon yourself will play a huge role inhow you perform on the day, but there are anumber of simple ‘sins’ you can avoid todramatically increase your chances of success:

Spontaneity

Great in life, but in a job interview it’s the oldadage ‘if you don't prepare, prepare to fail’ thatrings true. I know it’s obvious, but evenorganising your travel in advance will help keepstress levels down and allow you to be yourself.If there's a presentation, rehearse it. If there’s acompetency test, think about the likelyquestions and work out what you want to getacross and how you will structure your answers.The more you plan, the more comfortable andrelaxed you’ll feel on the day.

Slovenly

First impressions are crucial and if you’re notdressed appropriately it will have a big bearingon the outcome. Do some research and get a

feel for the working environment. If it’scorporate, you require a suit. If it’s less formal,perhaps you don’t need a jacket or tie; what iscertain is that if you don’t know, make sure yougo overdressed rather than under!

Negativity

Prospective employers avoid those who drainenergy and cause disharmony. Without wantingto sound patronising, your aim is to show thatyou’re exactly the opposite. Arrive with anoptimistic outlook. Talking as if your glass ishalf-full combined with strong and positivebody language will show you are someone whois both confident and sees opportunities.

Arrogance

Your interview is the chance to sell yourself,but try not to come across as too confident;arrogance is not a trait many employers lookfor. You want to demonstrate that you not onlyhave the ability to do the job, but will add valueto their existing team. Although it’s sometimesa fine line, by simply being courteous and

polite, not interrupting or taking yourself tooseriously, you can still show confidence butwith humility.

Ignorance

There’s a temptation to squeeze in everythingyou want to get across, regardless of thequestions – resist it. To be successful you needto listen carefully to what it is you are beingasked. Too often people regret the way theyrushed in to a question or brief. If you don’t getthe opportunity to share key points don’t panic.You can offer them at the end and, providedthey’re relevant, they will show you are right forthe role and understand its requirements.

Diffidence

Job interviews are particularly difficult for thosewho suffer from shyness, but being timidportrays a lack of confidence and will restrictyou from achieving your potential. Preparationis again key. Focus on your strengths and bypreparing responses to typical interviewquestions and having some pre-preparedquestions to ask of your own, you will be able toovercome it.

Apathy

Interviews are a two-way process. You bothneed to decide whether or not you think youhave a future together, so even if you’re not yetpassionate about the business, show you’repassionate about what you do. Following anyinterview you should make sure you getfeedback as, like everything in life, if you don'tevaluate what happened, you will neverimprove.

B U S I N E S S

Seven deadlysins of interviews

Bryony Gibson, managing director of Bryony GibsonConsulting, offers advice on the mistakes to avoid when

attending a job interview.

EXPERT VIEWBryony Gibson

Managing directorBryony Gibson Consulting

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

Twitter: @bryonygibson

28

E V E N T

Managed Printevent

Concept Group share its solutionswith clients …

There’s no substitute for getting out andabout, meeting people, and making

connections as Concept Group found outat their Managed Print event on TuesdayJune 17 at St. James Park.

Clients experienced firsthand, the uniqueproducts that Concept can offer whichsupport businesses in our ever-changingworkplace. Managing print output,creating adaptable documents, electronicstorage and retrieval systems and mobileprint were a few of the solutions shared.

Contact Concept Group on (0191) 2738111 for further details, or visitwww.concept-group.co.uk

29

Professional services firms, whetherthey work in law or finance, are oftenlong established, and part of thefabric of their local business

communities. In other cases, they are thenew kids on the block, offering what they

perceive to be a fresh approach.However, they all face a similar challenge

when it comes to marketing, in that theydon’t offer a ‘product’ in the traditionalsense. ‘Hot shot’ legal advice or guidance ontax affairs can’t be packaged in glitzy

wrapping paper. Nor can it be bought off asupermarket shelf.

What they do offer is the expertise of theirstaff, the concept that whatever your issues orproblems – be they financial or legal,domestic or commercial – you and your

M E D I A

Reputationmatters

Professional services firms face anumber of key challenges when it comes to

developing and implementing their marketingstrategies. Horizonworks’ Samantha explains

how these can be met head-on.

30

business are in safe hands.So any marketing strategy for a

professional services firm must focus onengendering a sense of trust in the firmamong its clients and prospective clients –and both affirming and building itsreputation in its target market sectors.

This can be achieved through a range ofmethods, but evidence is an importantcomponent: testimonials and case studies, forinstance can be used to illustrate how a firm’sservices can benefit clients.

Partners and key staff are often respectedauthorities in their fields – whether that’s taxlaw, succession planning, divorce or assetmanagement.

Promoting them as experts, via regionaland national consumer press, and tradepublications, builds both their profile andtrust in their professional standing.

At Horizonworks we have worked with anumber of professional services firms,creating strategies tailored to them and usingtactics appropriate to their markets.

Take David Gray Solicitors LLP forinstance. The North East-based full servicelaw firm has, over its 30 years, built up aformidable reputation within the legalservices market, with a top tier classificationin the Chambers UK Directory and the Legal500. The company wanted to promote itselfas a leading law firm in its fields and target itskey markets of Newcastle and South Shields.

We developed a refreshed brand DavidGray Solicitors, which was designed tocapture the company’s values and relate toboth private and business clients, and thisactivity was integrated with a long-term

promotional campaign, using advertorialsand news articles, to raise its profile viaspecific regional media channels.

Another example of our work in theprofessional services field is our on-goingcampaign for bespoke discretionaryinvestment management practice VertemAsset Management.

The firm, which is headquartered inNewcastle, employed Horizonworks to

develop and implement its PR andmarketing strategy and to raise its profileregionally and nationally – we’ve achievedthis through a number of methods, includingsecuring advice articles, authored by itsinvestment managers in leading North Eastnewspapers and business publications,creating and managing advertisingcampaigns, and producing e-marketingmaterial for the firm.

For firms who have gone under a largercorporate umbrella, it can be a challenge topresent themselves as a local companyoffering a personal service – even if they haveretained their long-standing clients and havea loyal customer base.

Obviously, being part of a larger, nationalgroup can have its advantages, but it can alsodilute the brand and de-emphasise the valuesof well-established firms.

Recently Horizonworks undertook a re-branding exercise for South Shields-basedPGS Law (formerly Patterson Glenton andStracey) to coincide with its move away fromthe Quality Solicitors franchise.

Our work focused on positioning PGS Lawas a leading independent North East law firm,with strong roots in the region (the companydates back more than 135 years) but with acontemporary outlook.

The results of this rebrand – which includea new website (www.pgslaw.co.uk) capture aconfident firm proud of its past and lookingforward to a bright future.

These are just some of the examples of howHorizonworks can take professional servicesfirms from strategy to delivery, reinforcingtheir already hard-won reputations, andproviding the architecture for future growth.

We are experts in building trust – and thecompanies we’ve worked with have trusted usto do just that.

Samantha Davidson is managing director ofHorizonworks. For more information, tel:08450 759955, email:[email protected] or visitwww.horizonworks.co.uk

31

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

Epic mining deal

Mincoffs appointscommercial property solicitor

Newcastle Law Firm Mincoffs hasappointed solicitor Chris Elliott to its

Commercial Property team.Chris has more than 12 years of

experience in commercial property lawand has acted in a wide variety of propertytransactions from multi-million poundacquisitions and disposals to leases of highstreet units and acting for a wide range ofdifferent clients.

Chris said: “I am delighted to joinMincoffs and am already enjoying workingin such a respected commercial law firmwhich has a great client base. The firm iswell placed to go from strength to strengthin commercial property.”

Local law firmcelebrates

Health and social care solicitors,Hempsons, has been named Legal

Advisor of The Year at the Health InvestorAwards, in the Public Transaction categoryfor our work for the NHS Trust Development.

The law firm, which has offices in ForthBanks, Newcastle, took the lead advisoryrole on the dissolution of the trust under thefirst Trust Special Administration – the mostsignificant transaction in the publichealthcare sector in 2013.

Hempsons’ partner Christian Dingwallsaid: “We are delighted to have won thisaward as recognition of our expertise andthe results we achieve day in, day out, forour clients.”

Walker Morriswins tender

Teesside law firm, Walker Morris hasbeen appointed to the Legal Service

Panel for the Centre for Process Innovation(CPI) following a successful tender.Established a decade ago, CPI is a not–or-profit organisation, funded by the EU andUK government. Its role is to help the UKmanufacturing sector be competitive in theglobal environment by accelerating theprocess of innovation from the ideas stageto delivery to the commercial market. Theappointment, which will last for two years,will see Walker Morris and the other legalpanel members work with the in-houseteam to provide additional legal supportand expertise as required.

Ward Hadaway advises on a £14.7m private equity deal.

Whitehaven area.The WCCP is a 200 sq km area located

adjacent to the south of, and contiguouswith, the Haig Colliery in Whitehaven, fromwhich millions of tonnes of high qualitycoking coals were extracted from 1914 untilit closed in 1986.

West Cumbria Mining wants to create alarge scale underground coking coaloperation at the site extending offshore,with access via onshore drifts.

Gavin Maddison (pictured), corporatepartner at Ward Hadaway, led the law firm'steam advising West Cumbria Mining on the

investment, with support from corporateassociate Catherine Hinchliffe.

Gavin said: "We are delighted to haveassisted West Cumbria Mining on thissignificant investment in the company froma leading player in this specialist sector.

"Our experience and track record ofadvising on private equity transactions,including those with an internationalelement, and our ability to call on theexpertise of specialists from within WardHadaway ensured that we were able tohelp West Cumbria Mining complete thefinancing successfully.

Law firm Ward Hadaway hasadvised on a £14.7 million privateequity investment in the miningsector.

The UK Top 75 firm provided legal adviceto West Cumbria Mining on the multi-milioninvestment in the company by Australian-managed private equity fund EMR CapitalResources Fund 1, LP.

West Cumbria Mining will use thefunding to support the next stage ofdevelopment at its Whitehaven CokingCoal Project (WCCP), which aims to createa large-scale mining operation in the

32

With many Alternative InvestmentMarket (AIM) shares qualifying forBusiness Property Relief (BPR)and, since the ISA rules were

changed, also able be held in an ISA, thismeans that ISAs with the right shares under thebonnet can now offer inheritance tax (IHT)exemption, as well as tax-free income andgrowth.

With the nil rate band frozen at £325,000and, according to figures from the Halifax andthe Nationwide, house prices continuing torise, more and more people are finding thatBPR can give them a way to reduce oreliminate the inheritance tax bill their familiesare going to face on their estate.

First introduced in 1976, BPR was designedto provide business owners with the opportunityto transfer a business or an interest in a businessand receive up to 100 perfect IHT relief on thattransfer.

As such it was a means to ensure that familybusinesses could be passed down fromgeneration to generation without being sold orbroken up to pay tax.

However, the relief is not restricted tobusiness owners and over the past decade, byinvesting in BPR-qualifying investments run byprofessional fund managers, and using pooledinvestment such as Enterprise InvestmentSchemes (EIS), a wider range of investors havebeen able to take advantage of the options BPRoffers when it comes to managing their IHTliabilities.

The general principle of BPR has been that‘relevant business property’ will receive fullrelief from inheritance tax (IHT). The types ofbusiness property that may attract the reliefinclude:

• A trading business, or an interest in one –such as a partnership

• Unquoted shares in a trading business, evena minority holding

• Shares in some companies listed on AIM

A prime advantage BPR offers is that assetsqualify for IHT exemption once they havebeen held for just two years, rather than theseven years that is needed for most gifting andtrust arrangements.

In addition, BPR investment will allowholders to retain full access to their capitaland control over it. This is a distinctadvantage over traditional types of estateplanning, where the settler has to give awaytheir property, either directly or into trust, andthen does not have the option of taking itback if their circumstances change.

However, BPR-qualifying investments willonly be exempt from IHT if they are stillowned by them at the time of their death.

However, this does not mean the money isstuck in the one investment once made.HMRC’s replacement property rule allows forthe sale of a BPR-qualifying asset andreinvestment of the proceeds of the sale in anew BPR investment within three years whilequalifying immediately for the relief.

Also, if the holder dies before they havehad their BPR investment for two years, theycan leave it to their husband or wife and thesame time frame remains, i.e. the survivingspouse doesn’t have to start over again andwait another two years.

Investors wanting to take advantage of BPRthrough their ISA need to bear in mind thatthe AIM-listed shares must be held directly inthe ISA, rather than through a unit trust ormutual fund. Also they may not be able to selltheir BPR investments as quickly as theywould like to, since shares listed on AIM cantake longer to sell than shares listed on themain stock exchange.

It is important to point out that the relief isgranted on a case-by-case basis and HMRCwill only decide if it is going to grant therelief after the shareholder has died. For thisreason, it is essential to consult anIndependent Financial Adviser who isexperienced in using BPR in relation to IHTmitigation and who can give advice on its useas part of an overall estate planning strategythat might also include trusts, gifts and lifeinsurance.

Used appropriately, for the right people,BPR is just one solution than can be aneffective part of an overall strategy that servesto ensure more of your hard earned assets goto your loved ones rather than thegovernment.

L A W & F I N A N C E

Business PropertyRelief

Ian Lowes, managing directorof Lowes Financial Managementlooks at a possible way to reduce

your inheritance tax bill.

EXPERT VIEWIan Lowes

Managing directorLowes Financial Management

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

Web: www.lowes.co.uk

34

TThe North East is one of the mostcharitable regions in the UK, accordingto recent research from Barclays, with 59per cent of high net worth individuals in

the area planning to give to charity duringtheir lifetime. This is higher than any otherregion.

While this indicates that the North East is ahub of charitable activity, for those who wantto become involved in giving, the biggestchallenge can often be getting started.

With so much information out there, it’soften difficult for would-be donors to knowwhere to begin.

Having recently developed a comprehensiveguide for our clients on the subject, entitledPhilanthropy: Your Guide to Giving, Barclaysknew there was a demand for practical, step-by-step advice on the complete philanthropicjourney, from choosing a charitable cause, tocreating a lasting legacy.

The most common – and perhaps the mostcrucial – question we hear among our localclients, and the one I would like to answer inthis article is: ‘I want to do something, butwhere do I begin?’

It is a perfectly legitimate question. Yet, toanswer it we need to consider more questions.

For instance, what would you like to achieveor change? How hands-on do you want to be?How much do you want to give, and whatother resources and skills beyond money doyou bring, or have access to, that could be ofinterest to charitable causes?

Reflecting on questions like these will helpto clarify your thinking and to set some broadparameters for the journey ahead. Once theseparameters have been set, the natural next stepwould be to think about the kind of cause youwant to support.

For some this decision may be entirelyobvious because of a long-held personalpassion or concern. But for many it willinvolve a complex set of choices, and workingout where to focus early on can seem asomewhat overwhelming or confusing task.

In our view there are a few factors toconsider around your potential choice, whichmay help you to narrow things down at theoutset.

Perhaps one of the most vital of these is thatthe cause you ultimately adopt is one that youcare deeply about, and that inspires somepassion in you.

What have you always cared or worriedabout? What makes you angry or frustrated

when you learn about it or see it? What social,environmental, or health problem, forexample, inspires you to want to find a solutionor to contribute to its prevention?

Similarly, are you interested in a particulargroup of people, community or demographic?Whatever it is, it needs to be able to retainyour interest over time, and that means that itwill probably be built upon some foundationstone of emotion or connection that ismeaningful to you personally.

Of course you may wish to support morethan one cause. If this is the case, you mayneed to reflect on the amount of money andtime you have to devote to your giving andconsider what level of change can be achievedif your efforts and funding are stretched in thisway. Will your impact be diluted for example?

Many philanthropists say that this type ofrigorous assessment done in the early phase ofyour journey will save you considerable timein the future. By addressing these questionssquarely and practically, my hope is to bringdown some of the barriers to giving that weface.

Embarking on your own philanthropicjourney can be a hugely rewarding, excitingand enjoyable experience and the aim is toopen this up to a much wider audiencethrough the new guide.

If there are those who are a bit stuck on theedge of the pool, then I hope this introductionwill take them to the shallow end so that theycan enjoy the water.


Navigating thephilanthropy journey

By Emma Turner, head of ClientPhilanthropy at Barclays Wealth and

Investment Management.

Barclays offers wealth and investment management products and services to its clients through Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiary companies.Barclays Bank PLC is registered in England and authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct

Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered No. 1026167. Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.

EXPERT VIEWEmma Turner

Head of Client Philanthropy Barclays Wealth and Investment

ManagementWeb: www.barclays.com/wealth

36

The North East is continuing to buildon past successes in internationalmarkets, with a broad and skilledworkforce alongside strong

infrastructure. North East businesses areequipped to have a global reach if they cantake advantage of opportunities to distributeand promote their goods and services to theinternational marketplace.

However, many businesses in the region –and further afield – face difficulty in realisingtheir ambitions to trade overseas due to a lackof working capital, preventing them fromgenerating and fulfilling orders.

British products and services are in greatdemand, from paint and packing foamthrough to valves and chemicals, but somebusinesses struggle to obtain the necessarysupport to expand and transactinternationally with confidence.

There is support available for businessesconsidering international trade, either for thefirst time, or those wishing to expand theirtrading horizons.

Bibby Financial Services offers two TradeFinance products, the detail of which can betailored depending on the circumstances ofthe business.

Export Factoring

For companies looking to export productsand services, Export Factoring provides astraightforward finance solution.

It releases cash tied-up in outstandinginvoices within 24 hours, be these fromdomestic or overseas customers. Crucially –unlike traditional forms of finance – fundinggrows as a business’s order book grows.

We have an international network ofoffices allowing us to work in different timezones, in addition to a multi-lingual teambased in the UK.

Importantly, our team understand thecultural differences of diverse tradingmarkets, regardless of where this is in theworld.

The team works with debtors in over 100countries, including emerging markets suchas BRIC and MINT nations, and we look forways to provide funding earlier in the tradingcycle releasing cash sooner to clients – allconfidentially, if desired. Furthermore, wecan provide bad debt protection to give ourclients the confidence they need to work inoverseas markets, protecting against customerinsolvency and inability to pay.

Purchase Funding with InvoiceFinance

In this case, we pay suppliers in full at the pointgoods are shipped. We can also fundtransportation, VAT and duty, providing steadycashflow and enabling larger onward contractsto be fulfilled. At the point of their customersinvoicing, we can provide our clients with apercentage of the value to help with cashflow.Alternatively, we can fund the initial paymentof suppliers only, without the invoice financecomponent, which is referred to as PurchaseFunding.

Of paramount importance to our team isthe service provided to our clients. For clientsthat have not exported or imported before, orthose looking to increase their internationaltrade capabilities, finding the right fundingand the best local knowledge can be daunting.This is why we build our solutions around ourclients by providing a dedicated clientmanager.

Bibby Financial Services Trade Financecontinues to go from strength-to-strength withnew client turnover exceeding £150 million in2013.

To find out more about Trade Finance orother products and services, contact PeterCromarty, head of Sales, Bibby FinancialServices North East on 07590 355147 or byemail:[email protected]


Expandinghorizons

Peter Cromarty revealshow Bibby Financial Services is

helping UK importers andexporters trade overseas with

confidence.

40

Having grown and sold your ownaccountancy practice in the past,how has this experience enhancedyour work at Rowlands?

Before I joined Rowlands I had a small practiceproviding general accountancy, tax andbookkeeping services to a wide range of owner-managed businesses.

The nature of the business began to changewith the introduction of self-assessment, therelaxation of the requirement for auditedaccounts and the introduction of fixed penaltiesfor late filings. I foresaw that this was going tolead to a reduction in work as most companieswould not want audited accounts if notmandatory, and that work would peak aroundfiling deadlines. Coupled with the fact that thevarious accountancy bodies were introducingadditional regulatory measures, I felt that thedays of the small accountancy practice werenumbered.

How has this experience enhancedthe service we are able to offer?

I have seen at first-hand the escalation ofadministrative tasks that small businesses haveto manage and I have also experienced thegrowing pains that come with the territory.

This has helped me realise that clients notonly need someone to fill in the entries on their

tax return but they also need a trusted adviserwho is there to help guide them at times and tostand by and support at others.

You advise on numerous companyacquisitions and sales. How is thismarket faring and what do youexpect the next six to 12 months tobring?

In my client bank there are certainly moresellers than buyers right now. There hasdefinitely been an increase in optimism and Ihave noticed a number of clients at the smallerend of the market looking to sell, although salesvalues still seem depressed. I think this willcontinue for a good 12 months and values willimprove only when the client can demonstratesustainable profits at a reasonable level.

Additionally I don’t see many clients lookingto buy at the moment and there certainly seemsto be little appetite for taking on additionalborrowings to finance acquisitions and adefinite lack of finance available for anymanagement buy-out opportunities.

What makes Rowlands Accountantsdifferent to other regional practices?

We are one of a handful of medium-sizedregional practices delivering a first-class,comprehensive service to SMEs in the North

East. Our big differentiator is that we have anetwork of offices from which we can offersupport throughout the full business lifecycle.What’s more, we can match the specialistexpertise of the international firms, without theaccompanying price tag.

You are a Freeman of the City ofNewcastle – how did that comeabout?

Unfortunately I have been unable to find out!It is more likely that my ancestor was anapprentice to a middle-class tradesman andupon completion of his apprenticeship he wasgranted Freeman status enabling him to tradewithin the city boundaries. It’s an honour thattoday mostly passes through inheritance.

What does the future hold for NorthEast SMEs?

I think there may be uncertain times ahead forNorth East SMEs. The upturn in the economyseems to be more prevalent in the south andconcerns have already been voiced about thepossible adverse effect of Scotland devolvingfrom the UK. My advice would be to embracetechnology and look outside the North East fornew market opportunities.

For more information on Rowlands, visitwww.rowlandsaccountants.co.uk


David’s viewDavid Waugh is a partner at Rowlands Accountants, providing specialist

support to SMEs. Here, he looks at the economic climate and how the practiceis well placed to help those looking to grow.

42

Newcastle and Chester le Street-based Gordon Brown Law Firm hasseen its commercial propertydepartment expand once again

with the second appointment in just twomonths.

Gwen Jones took up her new role in Mayas commercial property solicitor.

The 32-year old – who is originally fromSwansea but now lives in County Durham –joins recent recruit Paul Crawley in thecommercial property team, which is headedup by Gordon Brown himself.

Gwen began her legal career with WardHadaway where she started out as acommercial property paralegal in 2007, andshortly after qualified as a commercialproperty solicitor in 2011 with MincoffsSolicitors.

Gwen said: “Since I first caught thecommercial property bug, I’ve really enjoyedthe variation that the role brings. I’ve been

fortunate that I have already gained a widerange of experience in the sector, having dealtwith commercial property matters foreverything from individuals and localbusinesses to high street retail chains andfinancial institutions, and even public sectorbodies and charities.

“I love getting to meet new people andworking directly with individuals – somethingGordon Brown will allow me to continue on amore personal level. The firm’s ambition issomething that resonates with my own and Ithink I’ll be able to learn a lot from the othersin what is a close-knit team.

“I feel that my experience has given me arobust, commercially-focused grounding,which I’m looking forward to applying as weseek to grow the team further and look tofirmly establish ourselves as one of the bighitters in the North East within thecommercial property market.”

Gwen will be specialising in landlord and

tenant matters, including lease renewals,assignments, the acquisition and disposal ofleasehold and freehold property and allaccompanying property finance matters,alongside the team of six that make up thecommercial property department at GordonBrown Law Firm.

Gordon Brown, head of commercialproperty, said: “Having Gwen join us so soonafter we welcomed Paul into the team isanother great boost to our service – it’s areally positive sign that we’re attracting theindustry’s talented professionals.

“It’s an exciting time for the business inNewcastle where we’re dealing with more ofthe city’s bigger clients. We have also gained astrong holding from our offering in Chester leStreet so we’re covering quite a significantarea, which our new faces will be invaluablein supporting over the coming months.”

For further information visit www.gblf.co.uk


Team buildingGordon Brown

adds to its commercialproperty department.

Left to right: Paul Crawley, Gwen Jones, Gordon Brown, Joy Heron and Richard Brown

44


A gift fromthe taxman?

David Wilson, adviser and owner of NE Moneycelebrates six years in business, and looks at how business

owners can get something more from insurance.

As business owners, we all want ourmoney to work that little bit harderfor us. That could mean getting themost out of employees or ensuring

that financial decisions are to our advantage.Regardless of the reasons, we all recognise theimportance of good money management.

This month we’re celebrating our sixth yearin business, which is a great milestone andone which many North East businesses havefar surpassed.

A businesses ability to survive and thrive isoften a mix of hard work, determination andinnovation. In an age of technologyinnovations we sometimes overlook the factthat many firms are still around becausethey’ve seen opportunity in different ways, notnecessarily involving technology.

In recent years one financial innovationwhich has been utilised by many businessowners has been the introduction of relevantlife plans (RLP).

These are life insurance plans set up by abusiness but insuring a relevant life withinthe business. The benefits are self-explanatoryand here are our six reasons why they mightbe good for your business.

• Life policies set up on a relevant life basishave the advantage of not being treated as abenefit in kind - this means that they're notincluded in any income tax assessments.For higher income earners (or those payingadditional rate tax) currently paying out forlife insurance from personal accounts thiscan provide a significant saving.

• Larger employers often have Group Lifeschemes for employees and the benefits ofthis can form part of a person’s lifetimepension allowance. Relevant life plans donot form part of this and premiums don'tform part of your annual pensionallowance.

• Payments to relevant life plans can beclassed as an allowable expense for acompany in calculating their tax liability(always ensure this meets the requirementsof your local inspector of taxes; or speak toyour tax adviser).

• Relevant life plan payments are made bythe business not the person who's covered -this means national insurance contributions

and income tax isn’t paid but the benefits ofcorporation tax relief still remain. Based ona £100 per month premium the differencein net costs between ordinary life cover anda relevant life plan could be up to £76 permonth.

• Provide cost effective and valuable additionsto an employee’s benefits package. And, ifthe employee leaves employment they cansimply elect to take the cover with themwithout the need for new health questions,underwriting or loss of cover.

• The plans can be set up in a trust whichthen brings the added benefit of any planbenefit being paid free of inheritance tax.

Relevant life plans are a great option for highearning directors and employees who don'twish for their lifetime pension allowances tobe affected by cover. In addition relevant lifecan be used by smaller employers whootherwise wouldn't qualify for a group lifescheme but want to provide employees anddirectors with a tax efficient death in servicebenefit.

EXPERT VIEWDavid Wilson

Managing directorNE Money

Tel: (0191) 236 1042Web: www.nemoneyifa.co.uk

45

The football World Cup is special. Even ifyou don’t follow the game or care aboutthe results, the competition captureshuge attention and generates a massive

amount of passion. Things haven’t quite worked out for England

in Rio but with fond memories of Sir BobbyRobson dancing down the touch line in Italia‘90 and sketchy videos of success in 1966, I livein eternal hope for my national team at futurecompetitions.

I recently read a report put together by USinvestment banking giant, Goldman Sachs,which questioned if this global interest has anyimpact on stock markets. They concluded thatit does – at least for a brief period.

History shows that there is a clear pattern ofoutperformance by the winning team’s stockmarket in the weeks after the World Cup Final.

On average, the successful nationoutperforms the global market by 3.5 per centin the first month, only to see theoutperformance fade significantly after threemonths. All of the winners since 1974 (for

which stock market data is available) have seentheir stock markets outperform in the post-Finalmonth, with only one exception – Brazil in2002.

In this instance a deep recession in thecountry and a currency crisis overshadowed thevictory on the football field. This means thatonly one of the last 10 winning nations’ stockmarkets did not outperform in the month postvictory. It might therefore be reasonable toexpect that, in the absence of a severeeconomic crisis, the winning nation’s stockmarket enjoys the successes achieved on thefootball pitch, for a brief period at least.

Let’s imagine England had climbed out ofthe group phase and glided through to the final(I know, stay with me). It’s a penalty shoot-outwith Germany. Judging by the research, successfrom the penalty spot will lead to UK stockmarket outperformance, but what are theimplications for hitting the woodwork or seeingthe goalkeeper dive the right way?

Supporters are naturally disappointed atlosing in a final and interestingly stock markets

don’t tend to react well either. Aside from the Argentina stock market in

1990, seven out of the nine other runners-upsaw their stock markets underperform over thefirst month post defeat, with an averageunderperformance of 1.4 per cent.

The underperformance doesn’t stop there.The majority of World Cup runners-up haveseen their stock markets continue tounderperform, with an average relative fall of5.6 per cent over the first three months.

You would therefore be forgiven for thinkingthat the UK market surged after the 1966 WorldCup win.

As it happens, the year was one of relativeunderperformance for the economy, withsluggish growth and rising unemployment.

Statistics are all very good and interestingbut, as with investments, past performance isnot a guide to future returns.

One thing is for certain, the direction of theFTSE 100 would be the last thing on Roy’sboys’ minds as they placed the ball down on thepenalty spot.


World Cup equitymarkets

How football’s greatestcompetition effects the stock

markets, by Brewin’s GaryWelford.

EXPERT VIEWGary Welford

Assistant investment manager Brewin Dolphin

Email: [email protected]: www.brewin.com

46


Continuity of business adviceAndrew Cawkwell on the importance of using a

trusted and consistent adviser.

It's logical to think that receiving fragmentedbusiness advice over many years is lesseffective than benefitting from streamlinedand more consistent advice. So why do so

many business people follow for formerapproach?

No businesses stand still, so havingconsistent advisers working alongside theirleaders over many years helps to develop acorporate memory that better informs decisionmaking.

Strong, long-term relationships benefitbusinesses and I always suggest longevity bringsconsiderable benefits.

This is especially relevant if those advisershave taken the business through a period ofchange. This continuity of support and theresulting development of knowledge meanstrusted advisers can anticipate and plan for allbusiness needs together.

For example, a company that had been inbusiness for 30 years called us in to help themundergo a change management project sevenyears ago.

Due to the owner’s previous strategy, the

business had stagnated for many years.Although sales were stable, they didn’t promotesustainable growth.

We were able to introduce him to corporatefinance investors to inject capital to helpstrengthen the firm’s management team.

A new entrepreneur was recruited to focuson growth that helped to release the ownerfrom day-to-day activities, enabling him tobecome more strategic.

The business put a strategy in place to growfrom £1.5m to £5m with energy andenthusiasm. They've secured a better futureand then we worked together to prepare for theowner’s eventual exit from the business –understanding his aspirations has enabled us toanticipate and plan.

We developed a successful and long-lastingrelationship that survives to this day.

Succession planning and introducing you tocontacts are just a couple of the benefits thatcome from a relationship with us.

So let’s start a conversation – the first step tomaking a connection and building a long-lasting and trusted relationship.

EXPERT VIEWAndrew Cawkwell

Partner and Certified TurnaroundProfessional

Banking and Restructuring Team Muckle LLP

Email: [email protected]: @CompanyRescue

47

Premier League chief executive RichardScudamore’s recent problems with,‘sexist and inappropriate language’ inemails to friends demonstrated that in

the digital age there are no closed doors. Covert audio recordings are an increasingly

common feature of workplace disputes. It isall too easy for employees to make discreet,high quality recordings of conversations withphones or devices with many employeesconsidering it, ’fair’ to secretly recordmeetings with managers. However, contextand nuance are often missing.

In a recent case, an employee’s secretrecordings of her grievance and disciplinarymeetings were not blocked by an employmenttribunal, even though they included privatecomments made by her managers when shewas out of the room.

The employer tried to block use of thesecret recording, but it was allowed becausethe judge said the discriminatory comments

were not part of the decision makers’legitimate deliberations in relation to thegrievance and disciplinary hearings.

This case reaffirms the position thatemployers should always be alert to thepossibility that an employee may be covertlyrecording conversations and meetings.Although employment judges have said theyfind covert recordings ‘distasteful’ and‘discreditable’, employers should not assumethat the way in which the recordings havebeen obtained will prevent them from beingused as evidence.

Top five tips for employee meetings:

Focus on the facts: Avoid making statementsthat suggest a pre-determined decision hasbeen made and think twice about making anycomments you would not be prepared tomake in front of an employment tribunaljudge

Set ground rules: Make sure your disciplinaryand grievance policies include an express banon employees recording hearings.

Ask employees to switch off their phones: Atthe start of any hearing and also ask them todeclare that they are not making anyrecording (make sure this is noted). Anybreach of this rule may be actionableseparately.

Keep comprehensive and accurate notes ormake your own recording: of any meeting orhearing and ask the employee to sign them toconfirm agreement with the record of whathas been said.

Consider taking minutes of privatediscussions: these would not be disclosed tothe employee and could be helpful inrefuting any future allegations ofdiscrimination.


Who’slistening?

Neil Dwyer, partner and head of Employment atHay & Kilner, advises on your rights if an employee

covertly records your conversation.

EXPERT VIEWNeil Dwyer

PartnerHay & Kilner

Tel: (0191) 232 8345Email: [email protected]

Web: www.hay-kilner.co.uk

48

Radical changes to pensions and ISAshave reopened the debate on the bestplace to save for retirement. Withrestrictions lifted on what can be taken

from a private pension – just like an ISA – andthe maximum savings into each moving closer,the two are now more comparable as long-termsavings vehicles. But when it comes to savingfor retirement, which is better?

From April 2015:

Pensions• Anyone has complete freedom to take as

much (or as little) from their private pensionsavings as they choose from age 55.

• 25 per cent will still be tax free with thebalance taxed as income in the year it's taken.

ISAs• The annual ISA allowance is now £15,000 –

an increase of over 30 per cent on last year.• There is no cap on how much of this

allowance can be invested in cash.

Our view

My preference is for pension saving as theprimary source of retirement funding,especially for higher-rate taxpayers who mightbecome basic-rate taxpayers in retirement.

But those I think are best prepared havebroadly equal pots of pension and other assetssuch as ISAs, providing greater flexibility inretirement. The bottom line is: however you goabout it, just make sure you are saving.

Why choose Bestinvest?

We were voted Wealth Manager of the Year bythe FT in 2013 and what makes us stand outfrom others in the North East is that we offercombined planning, where our highly qualifiedNewcastle-based financial planners willformulate a plan to help you attain yourlifetime goals, while our investment managersinvest your monies using one of our sought-after investment solutions. This local service issupported by an impressive nationalinfrastructure – Bestinvest has 39 offices acrossthe UK.

For more information call Bestinveston (0191) 269 9970 or [email protected]


Pension or ISA?David Smith, wealth management director at Bestinvest, on which is better.

The value of investments, and the income derived from them, can go down as well as up and you can get back less than youoriginally invested. Prevailing tax rates and reliefs are dependent on your individual circumstances and are subject to change. Any projected

returns shown are for illustrative purposes only, and cannot be guaranteed. Bestinvest Wealth Management (National) is a trading nameof HW Financial Services Limited and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

50

E V E N T

Newcastle UnitedGolf Club

Sponsors’ DayThe club hosts a charity

day of golf.

Aday of golf at Newcastle United GolfClub, in aid of The Percy Hedley

Foundation Challenge 500, took place lastmonth.

Congratulations goes to the winningteams: Newcastle United Club team (first),LA Taxis (second) and ITPS (third).

On the day the heavens opened, but itdid not dampen morale. All players puttheir hands in their pockets and donated£500 to the #Challenge500 fund raisingeffort from ITPS and its customers’ support.

Thanks to organisers Michael Joplingand Janice Harvey, from ITPS, and LiamMcNulty.

51

Three Counties was established in 1989 byPeter West, whose aim was to offer trulyindependent, high quality, whole-of-market financial advice.

The Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) wasone of the first to introduce a fee-based structureto help transparency for clients (and which manyin the financial industry are rushing to adopt)and now offer a range of exclusive ‘lifestylefinancial planning’ packages to suit clients’individual requirements.

Many highly experienced financial expertshave been attracted to Three Counties (locatedat the Lambton Park Estate in County Durham)and Peter’s vision for quality and clarity. TheIFA’s most recent recruit is Jonathan Bray as headof Corporate Services. Here, he reflects on hisappointment …

What has been your career to date?

I studied Electrical and Electronic Engineeringat Sunderland Polytechnic and then held atemporary position with the local authority

before an opportunity came up to join thePrudential. My uncle was a branch manager forthe company and guided me through what thejob entailed. That guidance and a head forfigures made me confident that a career infinancial services was for me. I spent three yearsat the Prudential before moving to FriendsProvident where I stayed a year. That role helpedme decide that I wanted to be an independentfinancial advisor rather than working for onecompany.

Why the change of heart?

I felt that the independent market was far betterat providing advice and solutions for the clientrather than being tied to the products of onefirm. Since becoming an independent financialadvisor, over 15 years ago, I have worked for anumber of companies in the North East, gainingknowledge and experience. My previousappointment was a company based in Newcastlefor over 10 years, which sees me with a total of 19years in the industry.

What has attracted you to ThreeCounties?

Three Counties is a very progressive companythat aims to provide an advice-driven service forclients. It’s far more focused on establishing long-term relationships and providing an outstandingquality of service for clients rather than sellingproducts that may or may not be suitable.

We have a real focus on ensuring that theinvestment solution is right for the individualclient and then providing the most tax efficientroute for this investment. It’s about tailoring thesolution to the individual and then monitoringthis on a regular basis to ensure it always meetswith the clients requirements.

What will be your main duties atThree Counties?

As the head of Corporate Services, I amresponsible for all aspects of corporate financialplanning, concentrating on Auto Enrolmentpensions. In addition to that role, I will continue


Three Counties’new recruit

The County Durham-based IndependentFinancial Advisers has appointed JonathanBray as head of Corporate Services. With 19

years experience in the financial sector,Jonathan will be working with both privateand commercial clients – with particularfocus on guiding companies through the

complex world of Automatic Enrolment andworkplace pensions.

52

to provide advice to private clients, using myskills and knowledge in pensions and taxplanning to the clients’ advantage.

Why Auto Enrolment?

Auto Enrolment was introduced by theGovernment, commencing in Autumn 2012. It isthe requirement for every employer to offerworkplace access to a company pension schemeand contribute to it.

The requirement to offer a pension schemeand enrol employees started with companies withthe highest number of employees and nowapplies to businesses with around 100 employees.It will apply to employers with 50 employees orless by April, 2015.

What would you say to businessowners who haven’t looked into AutoEnrolment yet?

They need to act fast. The market will soon reachcapacity and there will be issues with the

availability of quality product providers andadvisers. I would definitely encourage people tostart the process as soon as possible.

So what can you offer at ThreeCounties in terms of Auto Enrolment?

We can do everything from providing advice onthe options available to installing the pensionscheme and ensuring that a company is adheringto all of the legislation. One of the bonuses withThree Counties is that it offers a monthly serviceto clients which means that we can continuallyhelp clients through the process; not just set thepensions up and leave them to get on with it. Inaddition, the team and I will also be presentingseminars about Auto Enrolment.

Tell me about the seminars …

We will be holding seminars to help engagepeople and educate them about Auto Enrolmentand what they have to do.

I think there are a lot of company owners who

are putting their heads in the sand but it’ssomething that they are going to have to face atsome point.

There are also companies who have addressedAuto Enrolment but have ended up getting itwrong – which can lead to fines.

Auto Enrolment is a complex area and youneed guidance to get it right.

What are your aspirations at ThreeCounties?

I will be looking to help the company grow theircorporate client base and increase its exposurethrough the seminars. If employers trust ThreeCounties to provide the pension scheme thenhopefully they will then look to us for other areassuch as employee benefit packages and long-termfinancial planning for the key individuals withinthat organisation.

For more information on Three Counties, visitwww.three-counties.co.uk or call (0191) 2303034.

53


It ain’t over tillit’s over

Joanne Major on making financialclaims after divorce.

There is a common misconception thatonce you are divorced, that draws aline under everything, legallyspeaking.

Many people believe that once theirdivorce has been finalised, that also finalisesany outstanding financial issues and preventseither party from making any future claimsagainst the other.

In reality, the decree absolute serves onlyto legally end the marriage; it does not, initself, resolve or conclude any issues orclaims in relation to the parties’ respectivefinancial circumstances arising out of themarriage.

A case of extreme circumstances hasrecently demonstrated this point:

The parties to the case had married in1981 and separated in 1984. They had onechild, and had also treated the wife's childfrom an earlier relationship as a child of thefamily. During the relationship the parties,"chose the New Age or Traveller creed andlifestyle" and had no assets of significance.

In the early 1990s there were divorce

proceedings. The wife entered into a newrelationship in 1995 and had two furtherchildren by her new partner. In 1995 thehusband began a wind power business whichbecame very successful and grew into acompany worth "many millions". Thehusband remarried in 2006 and had a sonwith his new wife.

It was not until May 2011 that the wifemade a claim for financial remedies from herformer husband and also looked to the courtto award her a costs allowance of £125,000 tofinance her claim.

The husband sought to strike out of thewife's application. Initially, his applicationfailed, but he appealed to the Court ofAppeal, who supported his application.Ultimately, the matter will go to the SupremeCourt at the end of this year for a finaldetermination as to whether the wife isentitled to make a claim on the husband’sassets at this stage.

The Court of Appeal took the view that,although there was no limitation period inrespect of applications for financial remedies

following divorce, the court should not alloweither party to a former marriage to beharassed by claims for financial relief whichare both issued many years after the divorceand have no real prospect of success.

In the meantime, the case so far has beenrunning for more than three years, with theassociated costs of pursuing it through theappellate courts. Whatever the ultimatedecision, those costs will not be recovered.Had the parties obtained a Consent Order aspart of the divorce proceedings ending allfinancial claims against the other, this wholesituation would have been avoided.

Even where there are no real assets fromthe marriage to be shared, parties who aredivorcing should have a formal orderendorsed by the Court acknowledging thatand severing all financial ties permanently.Failing to do so can leave those parties opento the risk of financial claims long after eachhas moved on with their lives.

However unlikely, if you believe you couldbe in a similar position, you should seek earlyclarification from a family law specialist.

EXPERT VIEWJoanne Major

Principal Major Family Law

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

Twitter: @majorfamilylaw

54

I N T E R V I E W

The long game

PASTLike a scene from A Christmas Carol,

accountancy and taxation have always beenabout understanding the numbers, but mostimportantly communicating them remains thekey to success.

In 1983, when I first started my charteredaccountancy training programme, worldwideinter-company balances were confirmed bytelex, computer printouts were checked andre-added by a comptometer operator and wehad neither fax machines or mobile phones.As a consequence, one had to learn the art ofconversation and communication, whereasnowadays conversation seems to mean sendingan email.

We also didn’t have income tax selfassessment; we had an Inland Revenue that wecould engage in meaningful dialogue with.We didn’t always agree; the ‘Big Eight’accountancy firms believed they ruled theroost and that it was simply ‘crumbs’ for solepractitioners.

FUTUREIt’s simple:

1. Communicate.

2. Understand the numbers.

3. Re-establish some basics in taxation beforethe successful entrepreneurs move theirhome (and their personal affairs)elsewhere.

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

1980s: Durham University, Price Waterhouse 1990: Established Leather & Co on Old Elvet, Durham

1996: Moved office to Newcastle2013: Established Leather Matthews Restructuring LLP

2014: Opened second Leathers LLP office on Old Elvet, Durham

TIMELINE

PRESENTWhen I am old and decrepit, I will still be

arguing that the key to successfulaccountancy is communication and personalinteraction. Businesses are made up of peopleand run by individuals – even within corporatemonoliths, it is about individuals.

We have the most fantastic range ofelectronic computers, tablets, mobiles andsmartphones; we have software programmes thatwill tell us everything but unless we understandthe numbers and communicate them we may aswell be a character in a Dickens novel.

As to taxation, I have to say that the currentHMRC approach of, ‘manipulating the press’(my words) is ingenious, divisive and saddening.

The proposals to gain access to individualbank accounts has no apparent checks andbalances, and with a management system thatallows money to be re-paid ‘willy-nilly’ to tax-payers, is frightening.

But an approach that made front line newsof avoidance while burying the tax collectionpoint in small print, should have everyaccountant up in arms ... we won’t (or we will)as HMRC’s ability to create mischief is toowide spread.

Finally, we still have the Big Four firms butsmaller niche practices are gaining a great dealmore recognition.

Michael LeatherManaging partner, Leathers LLP.

56

57

If you are a company director and you needto arrange some life cover to protect yourfamily, did you realise you could get the taxman to help with the cost? You should look

at relevant life plans.

What are relevant life plans?

Relevant life policies suit higher paid directors,business owners and other employees who wanthigh levels of life cover, with the tax and otherbenefits that normally only apply to large groupschemes. They are life insurance policies,written under a trust for a nominatedbeneficiary, usually a spouse. Although yourcompany makes the payments, they’re nottreated as a benefit in kind, so they wouldn’t beincluded in your income tax assessments. Thiscan be a significant saving, particularly for ahigher rate taxpayer.

Background

The majority of company directors have somepersonal life insurance. Nearly all of them arepaying for their life insurance either personally,through pre-taxed income, or through theircompany and getting a P11D benefit-in-kindpenalty for this. Up until recently, getting thelimited company to pay for personal lifeinsurance was only possible for companies thattook group life insurance, generally forcompanies wishing to insure 10 or moreemployees.

However, things changed following thelaunch of policies which took advantage ofpension legislation from A Day in 2006.

Think of them as group life insurancepolicies for one person. Because of the way thelife insurance is set up under trust, and becausethe limited company pays for the policy, nobenefit-in-kind issues should affect theemployee or director.

Most company directors and evenaccountants have never heard of the relevant

life plan. Therefore the uptake of the policy isvery small compared with the number ofpeople who could benefit and save money.

Levels of cover

The amount of life insurance is linked to ageand income. Most insurers will reduce the levelof cover they offer as you get older. At youngerages they will typically look at cover of 20 timesincome, reducing to 10 times at older ages.Income can include salary, benefits-in-kind andregular dividend, with a maximum cover of £10million.

Benefits

Company directors paying 45 per cent

personal income tax could save up to 53 percent on their life insurance premiums (up to a36 per cent saving for those on a 20 per centtax rate) when compared with having personallife cover in place. For example, if thepremium is £1000 per year, which thecompany pays, the net cost, assuming 20 percent corporation tax rate, is £800. The cost isallowable against profits.

Using the same example, if you pay thesame £1000 premium, but this time from taxedincome, and assuming a personal tax rate of 45per cent, the cost, net of all taxes and N.I.,jumps to a whopping £1717.75.

The insurance cover is exactly the same.The premium collected by the insurancecompany is still £1000. The cost, however, is£917.75 more expensive per year, or a huge£18355 if the cover lasts for 20 years.

Premiums are not taxed on the employee as aP11D:

1. Premiums can be offset as a businessexpense as long as the local inspector oftaxes accepts they are made ‘wholly andexclusively for the purpose of trade’.

2. Benefits paid through a discretionary trustare paid free of income tax.

3. Benefits are normally paid free ofinheritance tax, (although periodic and exitcharges can arise in exceptionalcircumstances).

4. Premiums do not count towards the annualpension allowance.

5. Benefits do not form part of the lifetimepension allowance.

Relevant life plans are not available wherethere isn’t an employer-to-employeerelationship. For example: sole traders, equitypartners of a partnership or equity members ofa Limited Liability Partnership. All companydirectors, however, should look to use relevantlife plans if they can.


A tax breakto die for?

Paul McAtominey ofUniversal Tax Strategieson the advantages ofa relevant life policy.

EXPERT VIEWPaul McAtominey

Pension consultantUniversal Tax Strategies

Tel: (0191) 374 0333Web: www.utsllp.co.uk

58


Lucky 13UNW and Square One secure the sale of Filebase in less than two weeks.

Dealmakers at business advisers UNWand law firm Square One workedround the clock last month to sell afamily-run information management

business to its AIM-listed buyer in record time.It took the Newcastle teams just 13 working

days to secure the sale of Filebase Ltd, whichoperates out of two sites in Washington, toLondon-based Restore PLC.

The acquisition of Filebase also comes lessthan a month after Restore bought up MagnumSecure Ltd, with operations in Spennymoor,County Durham, for £4.6 million.

Long-established Filebase specialises indocument management, tape management,archiving, shredding and scanning.

UNW corporate finance senior managerJohn Healey, who worked on the disposalalongside corporate finance executive LeonCassidy and tax partner Steve Lant, said:“Filebase is a long standing client of UNW's,having handled its tax and accounting affairsfor some time.

“The fact that the deal was concluded soquickly demonstrates how aggressive strategic

buyers are at the moment to conclude on theacquisition of high quality businesses beforethey are snapped up by competitors.

“We are increasingly being approached bystrategic trade acquirers and private equityhouses looking to invest in the region. This

competition to deploy capital is driving strongpricing for high quality businesses. Now is agood time for those considering a full or partialchange of ownership to take stock of theiroptions.

“This was a classic example of what can beachieved by running a tight sales process with ahigh quality business in today’s buoyantmergers and acquisitions market.

“Everyone here and at Square One workedhard to bring this over the line and we wishRestore well as it becomes an even moresignificant player in this sector and increases itsNorth-East foothold.”

Filebase director David Sanderson added: “Iam very pleased that Filebase has become partof Restore Plc, and welcome the opportunitiesthis presents for the business and its staff.

“The process was incredibly smooth and wellmanaged, which minimised distraction anddisruption to the business whilst also deliveringa fantastic result for all concerned.”

For more information on UNW visitwww.unw.co.uk

John Healey

59

One of the region’s leading leisuregroups has revealed plans toquadruple its number of brew-tapvenues across the North East, as

well as investing a ‘significant’ sum inrevamping one of its newly-acquired hotels.

Tavistock Hospitality has recently added theRoker Hotel in Sunderland and Grand Hotelin Hartlepool to its portfolio, which bothoperate under the Best Western brand – alongwith two restaurants, in South Shields andBirtley – taking the total number of venues inits portfolio to ten.

The business now plans to invest heavily inthe Roker Hotel, refurbishing it completely tobecome a high-end boutique venue.

As the first step in the revamp of the hotel, acakery and tea room – Let There Be Crumbs -has been opened for visitors to Sunderland’ssea front.

And Tavistock Hospitality, which hasgained national recognition for its Sonnet 43brewery, is also planning to increase itsnumber of hugely popular brew-tap venuesfrom three to 12 over the next year.

Mark Hird, managing director of TavistockHospitality, has revealed that he is alreadylooking at several new potential sites for brewtap venues, in addition to the three it currentlyoperates in Coxhoe (which adjoins the

brewery), Hebburn and Chester-le-Street. The hotels and restaurants, which are both

Tavistock Italia venues, have been purchasedfrom Durham Estates, a property businessowned by Russell Foster, who is also Mark’sfather-in-law.

The deal was overseen by Newcastle lawfirm Sintons.

Durham Estates has supported theexpansion of Tavistock Hospitality throughbuying the freeholds of many of its sites forsubsequent development, including severalthat have since been sold.

Mark Hird, who runs the business with wifeNicola, said he plans to take TavistockHospitality, “back to basics” with its next fewmoves, with a focus on quality and investingin excellence.

He said: “We have some really big plans forthe next few months – I plan to put my ownpersonal stamp on the Roker Hotel, by fullyrefurbishing it and taking it from what it is atthe moment to become a much more high-end boutique hotel.

“I also want to roll out our brew-tap venuesfrom three to 12. Since opening 18 monthsago, Sonnet 43 has done brilliantly, and it’ssomething that has really been embraced. Ourbrew-tap venues have been very popular andwe want to bring them to more locations

across the North East in the very near future. “When we established Tavistock

Hospitality with our first venue, 11 TavistockPlace in Sunderland, we planned that everyone of our venues would be of the higheststandards. With the recession, we have had toscale back slightly and be more mindful ofour pricing and costs, but now we are able toreturn to the traditional values we startedwith. These are exciting times for thebusiness.”

Sintons partner Matt Collen and consultantAlan Harkness, together with solicitors SueHennessey and Emma Pern, handled all of thelegal work on the transaction.

Alan Harkness, who has acted for TavistockHospitality for a number of years, said:“Tavistock Hospitality has built up a well-deserved reputation as one of the North-East’sleading leisure operators, and these latestacquisitions will strengthen that further. TheSonnet 43 brewery has become a success storyin its own right, and the expansion of its brewtap venues will help to broaden its reach andreputation across the North East and beyond.

“We wish Mark and Nicola the very best ofluck with this latest exciting phase forTavistock Hospitality.”

For more information visit www.sintons.co.uk


Tapping inTavistock plans further expansion across the

North East, with the help of Sintons.

Left to right: Matt Collen(Sintons), Nicola Hird (TavistockHospitality), Jonathan Graham

(Tavistock Hospitality), MarkHird (Tavistock Hospitality) and

Alan Harkness (Sintons)

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Family law arbitration Katharine Lowthian, partner and head of

Family Law at Sintons LLP, discusses an alternative tosettling a family dispute in court.

What is family law arbitration?

Court proceedings should be a last resort andmany people find the idea of going to courtfrightening. Arbitration is an alternative tocourt proceedings, and can be used infinancial and property disputes arising fromthe breakdown of marriages, civilpartnerships, cohabiting couples and thosewanting to agree the arrangements for thechildren.

What is the procedure?

The parties decide on the boundaries of theirdispute, and choose their arbitrator from anapproved list. The list can consist of retiredjudges and senior barristers.

What are the advantages?

There are many advantages. You can chooseyour arbitrator – you cannot choose a judge.You can choose your timescale and venue.You are not confined to court hours and can

deal with this in the evening. You retain yourown lawyer throughout and retain control ofthe procedure. It is much quicker thanwaiting for a court hearing date.

Are arbitration proceedingsconfidential?

Yes – unlike the future for court proceedings.

How does arbitration differ frommediation?

Mediation is designed to assist the parties toreach their own agreement. An agreementreached at arbitration will be made into acourt order, or an order will be imposed bythe arbitrator if the parties cannot agree.

Do I need a lawyer?

I would strongly suggest that each party takeslegal advice before entering into thearbitration process to fully understand theimplications and their legal position. Whiledifferent court proceedings being representedby a lawyer may still be the most effective wayto present a case to the arbitrator.

For more information contactKatharine Lowthian on(0191) 226 7911 or email:[email protected]

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Business is boomingat Bonbar

One of the North East’s most talked-about venues has hailed its firstmonth in business as a big success,with its food offering proving

particularly popular. Bonbar, the £1 million new destination

venue within Newcastle’s historic AssemblyRooms, opened last month, and has alreadyseen thousands of diners and revellers flockingto the Grade II listed building.

The venue – which opens at lunchtime andserves food throughout the day, beforebecoming a cocktail lounge in the evening –has been totally redesigned in a dramaticcontrast from its previous traditional look aspart of the Assembly Rooms.

The Assembly Rooms remains open, andcontinues to offer conferences and events.Further investment in the venue is planned forthe coming months.

The creation of Bonbar was overseenby the specialist leisure team at Newcastle-

based Sintons. Partners Christopher Welch, Sarah Smith

and Alok Loomba worked with owner AntonyMichaelides throughout the duration of theproject to oversee all of the commercial,licensing and property work.

Antony Michaelides said: “We are growingday by day. Our food in general, andparticularly our Sunday lunches, have beenvery well received. This is the first time we haveever been open to the general public, as werepreviously only a function and event venue,and it’s a move we are pleased to have made.

Commercial partner Christopher Welch,who has worked with the Michaelides familyfor over 20 years, added: “The transformation ofpart of the Assembly Rooms into Bonbar is afantastic achievement for Antony and his team,and positions this historic location to stand thetest of time for future generations.”

Alok Loomba,Antony Michaelides and

Christopher Welch


The price and value of investments and income derived from them can go down as well as up. You may not get back the amount you originally invested. Pastperformance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Authorised and regulated by Financial Market Supervisory Authority in Switzerland. In the United Kingdom,

UBS AG is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and is subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by thePrudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from us on request.

Scotland votes on independence onSeptember 18, 2014. Our base case isthat independence will be rejected butwith the Yes side winning a share of over

40 per cent. This will support further, more radical

devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliamentover time.

Social attitudes suggest some scepticism aboutthe economic benefits of independence andconcern about taxation. However, given its openeconomy, education levels, flexible markets andoil resources, Scotland could prove a viable,independent economic entity. The risks lie inthe transition from a highly successful 300-year-old economic and financial union. Significantchallenges would arise in terms of its fiscalsustainability as oil reserves decline and thepopulation ages markedly. The large size of itsbanking sector is yet another element in thisdebate.

The market is anticipating a rejection, so thisoutcome would see a modestly positive reactionin sterling, gilts and equities after September,with the focus moving to the campaign ahead ofthe May 2015 UK general election. We expect

the pound sterling to continue gaining againstthe euro and Swiss franc as domestic recovery issustained and a rate hike approaches in Q12015.

In the event of victory for the independencecampaign, we can expect significant volatility toensue, given the enormous uncertainties aroundthe outcome of subsequent politicalnegotiations. Sterling would attract a higher riskpremium due to erosion of business confidenceas well as higher cross-border transaction costs.

The post-independence relationship withsterling remains the key call. We assume thatsome manner of formal currency union wouldemerge in the event of independence. Themarket impact would hinge on the commitmentto a strong set of checks and balances. Under aformal currency union, a Scottish governmentbond is estimated to yield 72 to 165 basis pointsover the equivalent UK gilt (source: NationalInstitute of Economic and Social Research).Outside a formal union, the spread would belinked to its credit rating. Within equities, thefinancial, energy and utility sectors are thosemost exposed to Scotland and therefore mostlikely to be affected.

Scottish independenceAndrew Elliot on why, economically, separation is favoured over divorce.

EXPERT VIEWAndrew Elliot

Executive directorUBS Wealth Management.

Tel: (0191) 211 1000. Email: [email protected]

Web: www.ubs.com/uk

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Until now, splitting pensionarrangements in divorceproceedings has been a complicatedtask. This has made pension sharing

orders and similar arrangements lesscommon, with spouses often trading offother assets rather than going to the effortand expense of sharing a pension pot.

This may all be about to change. TheGovernment recently announced some trulyrevolutionary changes to pensions law,coming into force in April 2015.

Discussing the implications with head ofPensions at Ward Hadaway, Tristan Mander,we believe the changes will mean thatinstead of having to use defined contributionpension pots (also known as money purchasepots) to buy annuities or complicated draw-down facilities, retirees will be able to do asthey please with their pension pot from theage of 55. As is the case now, 25 per cent ofthe pot will be tax-free. The rest will betreated as income and taxed at the retiree'smarginal rate.

Effectively, retirees could choose to take

hold of the whole lot in one go, withoutpunitive tax penalties.

This does not apply to defined benefitarrangements (also known as final salary,career average or cash balance arrangements),but any member of a defined benefitarrangement can transfer a ‘cash equivalenttransfer value’ to another arrangement, suchas a money purchase pot, and access the cash.

To prevent a stampede, the Government is

considering restrictions on transfers frompublic sector schemes and may restricttransfers from private sector defined benefitarrangements.

The changes mean pension assets will bemuch more easily split in divorce proceedingsif viewed as cash sums available from the ageof 55.

A pension is likely to be the second mostvaluable asset in any marriage after the familyhome. As divorces often happen in periods offinancial stress, the pension asset may be allthe more valuable.

These changes will impact any financialsettlements from now on, as both spouses arelikely to have built up a pension pot and thiswill influence their assessment of theirresources and requirements.

Specialist legal advice will be required toconduct any negotiations to put in placearrangements to best suit the financialrequirements of the parties.

For more information visitwww.wardhadaway.com


Revolutionary changesPartner at Ward Hadaway, Teresa Davidson, reflects on imminent changes to

pensions law with head of pensions Tristan Mander,

Teresa Davidson

63

You moved offices in April 2014,relocating from Newcastle’s RoyalHouse to Hood Street. Why did youdecide to move?

We moved offices due to the firm’scontinuing expansion. We had simplyoutgrown our previous office space in MarketStreet, part of the Theatre Royal building,and so a move was in order. The business hasenjoyed steady growth over the last few yearsdue to client loyalty, referrals from contactsand existing clients and seeing focusedmarketing of our skills paying dividend. Thus,we needed to find larger premises toaccommodate our growing team.

Tell us about the new premises…

We looked around at other offices inNewcastle, such as Grey Street and theQuayside, but the spacious open-plan HoodStreet office really stood out from the crowd.It is 7,000 square foot – double the size of ourold office – and set over two floors, with greatviews overlooking Hood Street, Grey Street

and Grey’s Monument. Despite its busylocation, it is surprisingly peaceful and wasfully refurbished before we moved in. Wenow have more meeting rooms available forclients visiting the offices.

In what ways does the new officebetter accommodate business?

Being central is key for us – we are now theonly commercial law firm in Newcastle CityCentre. We are in the heart of the action!Everybody is impressed with the office’s newentrance and we are really noticing thebenefit of having the extra meeting rooms.Given our new location, the rooms provideconvenience and flexibility for clients whocall in without an appointment.

How will the move help improvebusiness in the future?

It will be a key marketing feature and, as weexpand our local offering, clients will be ableto find us quickly and easily. We have hadgreat feedback from them so far, despite a few

who have asked if we are increasing our feesto pay for the move – which we won’t be!

In what ways is the firm looking toexpand?

We will be continuing to expand ourdepartments to meet our clients’ needs andwill be recruiting more staff. We’re lookingfor new, experienced individuals, who will beexcited to join a renowned business that ispreparing to invest for the future. Organicgrowth is important to us: we want the firm toflourish and continue its success.

What are your hopes for the newoffice?

We aim to continue to build on ourreputation as a well-respected, capable andapproachable practice. The premises providea modern and efficient working environment,filled with facilities that meet the needs of ourclients and our staff. We hope clients willthink of us as ‘the’ City Centre law firm inNewcastle.


Theright

moveJessica Laing talksnew offices and

expansion plans withGillian Bassett,

partner at Newcastlecommercial law firm,

Clarke Mairs LLP.

64

65

E V E N T

South NorthCricket Club Beer

FestivalRMT Accountants go into bat

as sponsors of the local cricket club’sbeer festival.

Gosforth-based firm, RMT, has raised aglass to South Northumberland

Cricket Club's 150th anniversary bysigning up as the sponsor of its inauguralbeer festival.

RMT Accountants & Business Advisorsbacked the three-day event in June andmore than 500 people turned up to jointhem in enjoying the festivities.

A selection of over 45 beers, ciders andwines was available over the weekend, witha range of food and entertainment also onoffer, as well as a full calendar of cricket forvisitors to watch on Friday evening andduring the day on Saturday and Sunday.

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67

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

Andy’s ‘tech-town’ ambition

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Entrepreneur Andy Preston says heis determined to transformMiddlesbrough into the UK’s ‘techtown’ after carrying out an

ambassadorial role for Teesside at aBuckingham Palace reception.

Andy who runs several businesses andcharities in Middlesbrough’s Boho Zone fordigital start-ups, took up an invitation to beTeesside’s only representative at a Palacereception for the UK technology industry.

Joining other influential technologyfigures from across the UK, he attended ameeting and networking event at thePalace, where he was formally introducedto the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Andy said: “I’m on a mission to makeMiddlesbrough into the UK’s tech town. Weare building on our existing strengths of theuniversity and emerging digital sectortogether with the passion of local people todo great things. We are uniquely positionedto do something really special here.”

Local entrepreneur and Teesside ambassador is invited to Buckingham Palace.

SITS boosts numbers

Aleading North East cloud consultancyhas increased its workforce by 25 per

cent after winning several major contracts.Cramlington-based SITS Group

specialises in all areas of cloud computing,from virtual desktop and serverconsolidation to cloud management anddisaster recovery solutions for clientsincluding port authorities, legal practices,car manufacturers and public sectororganisations.

Now, having won contracts with anumber of firms including Cumbria-basedJames Fisher and Sons plc –which servicesthe marine, Defence, Nuclear and oil andgas industries – the company has recruitedfive new employees across all sectors of itsoperation in a variety of roles.

Gateshead’s IT firm wins newschools contract

Advantex Network Solutions Ltd has wona £750,000 contract to provide new

technology and managed services toschools across the North East.

The contract covers work at OxcloseCommunity Academy, Red HouseAcademy, Farringdon Academy,Sunderland PRU, New Penshaw Academy,Plains Farm Academy and Ryhope InfantsSchool and Durham 6th Form College aswell as existing sites including ongoingsupport and projects for Green Lane inMiddlesbrough, Holy Trinity in South Shieldsand Parkhead Primary in Gateshead

The contract is the latest success forAdvantex and is expected to boost thecurrent turnover of £4 million by 20 per cent.

IT company’s trainingawarded

TSG has been recognised with a majoraward for developing people.

More than 300 people who work for theIT solutions specialists attended 112technical courses amassing a total of 650days' training between them in the lastfinancial year.

The investment contributed to TSG beingawarded the Excellence in DevelopingPeople accolade at The Chartered Instituteof Personnel & Development’s North EastAwards ceremony held at theNewcastleGateshead Hilton Hotel.

TSG fought off stiff global competition inits category including the underwritingbranch of Tesco and IHC EngineeringBusiness Ltd.

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As a business with 14 years of year-on-year growth behind us, we at ITPSbelieve that rather than simply makingsales, the real key to success lies in

building strong partnerships. Nurturing client partnerships is one of our key

strengths, but good relationships with highcalibre partners are equally vital in supportingour business and strengthening our client supplychain.

We choose to work only with the best, and oneof our partners is independent business servicesand business intelligence (BI) experts BE Group,based in County Durham.

They are working with us to look at how wecan develop our systems and processes to supportthe business as we enter the next phase of ourgrowth and development.

One of BE Group’s tools is QlikView, apowerful platform that delivers self-servicebusiness intelligence to empower business usersand drive innovative decision-making.

BE Group used QlikView to great effect whendouble glazing and home improvement providerEverest Home Improvements wanted tomodernise and improve its customer servicesystems.

BE Group director Gary Slater explains: “Theexisting operational software was difficult for staffto access and operate and customer servicereporting meant dealing with large amounts ofinformation – a process that could take days.

The resulting work would then join a queuefor executive management review and decision-making, with the entire process lasting betweensix months and a year. The cumulative effectprompted the directors to recognise the need tomodernise business intelligence.

To modernise data access and reporting, RalphYarwood-Smith, head of Service Delivery atEverest, implemented the QlikView BusinessDiscovery platform, appointing BE Group asimplementation partner.

Our experts helped to scope and implementQlikView applications against the projectobjectives, delivering a complete BI strategyacross the business within nine months.

The first QlikView application deliveredinsight into service engineer productivity and the

volume of incoming service calls, going on toanalyse customer service processes with customeractivity and call statistics.

Impressing the management team with itsclick-driven, visually interactive interface,QlikView gave Everest instant access to top-levelmetrics and record-level details, revealinginsights previously hidden in operational systems.With QlikView in place, Everest can now extractcustomer service information within half a day,slashing previous access times.

Ralph Yarwood-Smith says: ‘This opened thecompany’s eyes to what was possible by way ofbusiness discovery.

These projects built up to a point where thebusiness found itself completely engaged with itscustomer base.

The QlikView Business Discovery platformnow allows Everest to measure, monitor, andtrack the performance of key customerprocesses.

The time, cost, and resource savings withQlikView are nothing short of staggering. Thecompany built a completely new BI strategyusing QlikView and delivered it within nine

months. Crucial to the success though was notjust the product but our chosen partner BEGroup.

They have a number of key strengths thatstand them apart from the competition:

Flexibility: unlike many IT providers BE take anevolutionary stance with regards to what isneeded. Having provided the specification for anumber of pieces of work they have appreciatedthat sometimes other requirements becomeapparent. They have always worked with us tofind the solution.

Timeliness: With BE there is no lengthy wait.On a number of key projects the initial outputhas been available for review within days. Otherproviders have taken months to deliver half theoutput.

Part of the team: BE have embedded themselvesas part of the operational team which againprovides the link to acting fast to changing needs.

Understanding the business: for the best ITresults it is essential to understand the businessbeing programmed for. BE have understood thebusiness framework and infrastructure well,which has made it easier to develop therequirements and for them to add value.

Friendly and open approach: they do what theysay they’re going to do and tell you if what isneeded is problematic or needing of furtherinformation. They are dogmatic in wanting toprovide us, the client, with excellent customerservice.

I would have no hesitation in recommendingBE to any organisation wanting to develop theirmanagement information capabilities.’

Gary Slater adds: “We were delighted withthis outcome, which demonstrates the power ofstrong partnerships throughout the supply chain.

“Not only does it deliver results, it turnsclients into ambassadors and in a world whereeveryone is looking for more value, it impactswhere every business wants to see it – on thebottom line.”

T E C H N O L O G Y

Workingtogether

Garry Sheriff, managingdirector of IT solutions specialist ITPS,highlights partnerships as crucial to

business success.

EXPERT VIEWGarry Sheriff

Managing directorITPS

Web: www.itps.co.uk

70

E V E N T

ITPS CharityGolf Day

The technology company hosts itsannual sporting event.

ITPS hosted its Charity Golf Day atRamside Hall Golf Club, in aid of The

Percy Hedley Foundation Challenge 500.Congratulations went to the overall

winning team from SK Chilled Foods, Azlanand Grainger Plc. It was a beautiful sunnyday filled with lots of good golf and teamspirit.

The event raised £1100 which added tothe #Challenge500 fund raising effort fromITPS and its customers’ support.

71

T E C H N O L O G Y

Beth Shailer looks at what’snew in the world of technology

and gadgets.

State of the Art

The LG G3 is a new lightweightsmartphone with a premium design ofmetallic skin and equipped withfeatures such as a 5.5inch Quad HD

display with a pixel density of 538ppi, a

13MP OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation)camera and a Laser Auto Focus, the first of itskind in the industry, enabling you tocaptivate clearer and sharper images. Anotheraccessory is the LG G3’s smart keyboard; it is

size adjustable and helps reduce inputmistakes by 75 percent, making it easier andfaster to type.

www.lg.com/uk

LG G3 PHONE

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LENOVO THINKPAD 10

The Lenovo ThinkPad 10 is a multimodetablet perfect for on the go. Users have four

versatile modes to choose from and combinedwith its premium aluminum lightweightdesign, is fantastic no matter the workingenvironment. Features include Windows 8.1Pro 64-bit support and up to 4GB of memoryand 128GB of storage. Its 10.1inch full HDgraphics and wide-view display delivers asuperior experience and the ThinkPad 10 alsoprovides up to ten hours of battery life.

www.shop.lenovo.com

OLYMPUS E-M10

Olympus’ all-new EM10 Limited Editioncompact camera offers an

interchangeable 14-42mm pancake zoom lens,3-axis image stabilisation and ultra fast autofocus system, making the most out of hand heldphotography. Its connectivity via WIFI andOlympus OI Share app also allows you tocontrol certain settings, filters and functionsneeded for image capture from yoursmartphone. RRP £749

www.olympus.co.uk

TED BAKER FASTNETBLUETOOTH SPEAKER

With a unique folding design, this stunningaluminum speaker with leather cover by

Ted Baker lets you stream and control yourfavourite tunes wirelessly (up to six hours),while an integrated microphone lets you makehands-free calls. Available exclusively from TedBaker and John Lewis stores for £199.95, it isthe ultimate portable accessory for fashion-conscious music lovers this summer.

www.johnlewis.com

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At Perfect Image, we really do take aconsultative approach to working withour clients. We take the time to get toknow them, their aims and objectives, so

we can tailor an IT solution that perfectly meetstheir business needs.

During these conversations – particularly withnew clients – I’m often surprised by how manybelieve the myriad of myths around cloudcomputing.

Many believe that because they can’t see theirserver, their IT solution must be in ‘the cloud’, butthis rarely is the case.

Think of true cloud computing as you would autility in your own home. On a cold evening youcan turn the heating up; when the warmerweather comes you can turn the heating down.

Your energy use is scalable to meet your needsand you only pay for the amount of gas orelectricity you use. The same can be said of truecloud solutions through Amazon Web Services.

Using Amazon Web Services (AWS) makessense if you are looking for a truly cost-effective ITsolution for your business.

With AWS it is pay-as-you-go, meaning you willonly ever be billed for the service and capacity thatyou use. True cloud computing services like AWSmeans there are no contracts, no up-frontpayments and no hidden costs.

At Perfect Image, we are always transparent

with our customers and firmly believe that honestyis the best policy, so there will never be any nastysurprises along the way.

This means that AWS is one of the most cost-effective solutions we offer our customers –whatever the size and scale of your requirement,you only ever pay for what you use. It’s as simple asthat.

With Amazon Web Services your requirementscan be easily scaled up or down to meet yourevolving business needs without having to amendany contracts and at extremely short notice.

Our Managed AWS team can upscale yourresources at a moment’s notice to cope with spikesin business demand as and when they happen.

This flexibility means you can react to businesscycles, seasonality and to new projects – bothquickly and without risk – allowing you tomaximise your flexibility without adding to youroverheads.

Keeping your operations safe from harm iseasier with Perfect Image’s Managed AmazonWeb Services.

The AWS virtual infrastructure has beendesigned to provide optimum availability whileensuring complete customer privacy andsegregation, making it a safe and reliableenvironment for your cloud platform. OurManaged AWS team is expert in devising anddelivering the most secure AWS platforms for your

business, allowing you to have peace of mindknowing that your data is safely held in the cloud.Whether you need secure access, data encryption,private subnets or multi-factor authentication, ourteam can do it all.

Durable, high availability platforms meanAmazon Web Services are available whenever youneed them. Whether it’s 9-5 or 24/7, you’ll neverbe left without access when you need it.

Our Managed AWS team will work with you todeliver the best solution for your business, whetheryou need extra network redundancy to ensure 100per cent up-time or if you’re looking for a directAmazon connection to reduce latency andincrease data transfer speeds – leave it to us.

Even if you aren’t sure what you need, ourteam will work with you to build the best solutionfor your business. With true cloud, anything ispossible.

In summary, with Amazon Web Services wecan deliver you a highly secure cloud solutiongiving you total peace of mind. Being flexible,reliable and secure, our cost effective service isperfect for your business, keeping your operationssafe from harm.

If you’d like to find out more about true cloudwith Perfect Image and how it can benefit yourbusiness, watch a short informational video atblog: http://bit.ly/truecloudPI

T E C H N O L O G Y

What is truecloud?

Andrew Robson, CEO ofPerfect Image, dispels some of the

myths about cloud computing.

EXPERT VIEWAndrew Robson

CEOPerfect Image

Web: www.perfect-image.co.uk

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Northstar Ventures is a North EastVenture Capital firm dedicated tohelping regional SMEs. It invests instart-ups across a range of sectors,

including Software as a Service (SaaS),healthcare, biotech and digital.

Currently, Northstar Ventures manages fivefunds, with two actively investing Finance forBusiness North East (FBNE) Funds – The£25m Accelerator and £15m Proof of ConceptFunds.

It has a breadth of investments in its portfolio,a few of which are highlighted below.

i-Spy Digital – Accelerator Fund

i-Spy Digital, based on Newcastle’s Quayside,first received investment from the AcceleratorFund in 2013, and has now received two roundstotalling £500,000.

i-Spy Digital has developed a system, CareMessenger, which delivers personalisedmessages directly to individual users’ TV screensoverlaying programmes until closed by theviewer using their TV remote control.

Care Messenger is ideal for, but not restrictedto, the elderly - who are not always confidentwith computers, smart phones and tablets, butgenerally spend more time than any otherdemographic in front of their television.

i-Spy’s CEO, Paul Slaughter, says: “Now theolder generation, the housebound and thedisabled can be more connected to loved ones,

receiving messages and pictures on their familiartelevision. Their children and grandchildrencan, for the first time, start simply messaginggran from their Smart phone, tablet or from aweb browser from anywhere in the world.

“Once the family has downloaded the appand bought the Care Messenger set top box, anynumber of relatives and supporters can sendunlimited messages, all for a small fixed monthlycharge.”

Rebecca Roberts, investment manager atNorthstar Ventures, adds: “The investment thati-Spy has received is really going to help it grow– it is going to create new jobs and will nowreally be able to focus on marketing andadvertising.”

Affinity Systems (Affinity) – Proof ofConcept (POC) Fund

Sunderland-based Affinity received £100,000POC investment in 2013. The company, whichwas set up in 2010 by Al Yong, is an ITinstallation specialist, which includes BT andCisco as some of its partners. The fundingreceived was used to create a new strand to thebusiness – a remotely provided IT service to endusers and other IT companies – ‘Rymote’.

For a significant number of IT services, thereis no longer a need for an IT engineer to bephysically present at a customer’s site. Theconcept of remote working has developed overtime and is now a mature characteristic of the IT

sector but it remains underutilised. Al Yong says: “We recognised that there is a

demand in the global market for accessibleCisco engineering skills and this is where theidea for Rymote stemmed from.

“After receiving a significant investment fromNorthstar and backing from local partners, I feelreally positive about our ground breakingservice. This service means that we can workwith customers located anywhere from ourSunderland base. Affinity will be workingclosely with the University of Sunderland andcreating skilled jobs in the local area. With awealth of experience from the existing businesswe are position to introduce exciting newpossibilities and make a huge difference to theIT industry.”

These are just two of many companies NorthstarVentures has invested in. It also includesEutechnyx – a video games developer; AppliedGraphene Materials – a company that hasdeveloped a process for manufacturinggraphene, which has recently floated on theAlternative Investment Market; and Palringo – agroup messaging platform, in its portfolio.

For more information about NorthstarVentures or to view its full portfolio, pleasevisit www.northstarventures.co.ukThe FBNE Funds are backed by theEuropean Regional Development Fund andthe European Investment Bank.

B U S I N E S S

Reaching for the starsVenture Capitalist, Northstar Venutures, showcases its

investments across a wide range of sectors.

Paul Slaughter (i-Spy)and Rebecca Roberts(Northstar Ventures)

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Why are you holding this one-offsale?

We are selling two major collections that areboth from local vendors. One is a lady who hasbuilt up a lovely selection of pieces and theother is from a very wealthy art collector who isthinning out his collection because he hasdecided he wants to be more specific in terms ofwhat he owns.

We also have some very interestingcontributions from deceased estates, peoplewho just walk in to the front office and fromhouse clearances. There are 80 or 90 vendors inall.

We are finding there is a lot of marketdemand for modern and contemporary art atthe moment.

What is the difference betweencontemporary and modern art?

The main feature of the sale is contemporary art– art that is being created today. We are now inthe post-modern period, so we needed a newword for it.

Modern art is a term art critics have beenusing for nearly 100 years, to describe virtuallyeverything from the Impressionists onwards.Some of these pictures are 100 years old so theyare technically antiques, but the term modernart was used so much in early part of the 20thcentury that you can’t take it away from them.

What are the highlights?

What is quite special is the size of some of these

objects. Lot 86 is a gigantic relief of the city ofNewcastle that is 15ft across. It wascommissioned by Newcastle City Council in1977 to mark the Queens Silver Jubilee and hervisit to the city.

We have four Ray Lonsdale sculptures, one ofwhich is a life-sized figure of a man skewered ongigantic metal pointed stake that is quitespectacular. Lonsdale is extremely well known,most recently having hit the headlines with hissculpture of a nine foot five inches tall WorldWar One soldier, which has been installed atSeaham for three months.

Lot 95 is a signed poster for Visual Aid,which was linked to Band Aid. More than 100contemporary artists including David Hockney,Bruce McLean, Richard Hamilton and PeterBake each did a small design printed on onelarge sheet of paper that was produced as alimited edition print.

Based on recent sales results, we would hopeto achieve around £2000. Our vendor won theposter in a charity raffle for Band Aid.

We also have a lot of decorativecontemporary prints including several bySalvador Dali, and one by the jazz trumpeterMiles Davis.

Will there be much to interestcollectors specifically interested inNorth East art?

There are a number of items associated with theStone Gallery in Newcastle, which wasresponsible for promoting many importantartists including Lowry, and spotting valuableVictorian artists such as the pre-Raphaelites. It

was very much a pathfinder in the 1960s. We’ve got some very good examples of the

great Northern painter Norman Cornish, whoseagent in the 1960s was the Stone Gallery.

There are some Cornishes straight fromSpennymoor, commissioned or gifted byNorman, including a portrait of a little girl,Fiona Coia, who is now selling it. Cornish washer father’s friend.

What else will be going under thehammer aside from paintings andsculpture?

There are a lot of 3D items, furniture and thingsto decorate a contemporary home. The first 80lots are objects that straddle sculpture and art.

There is also contemporary furniture and avery collectible set of four framed silk scarves bythe Paris couturier Hermes.

Who do you think the sale willparticularly appeal to?

We have noticed an increasing number ofyounger buyers but it is surprising how many ofour older regular clients are selling theirVictorian paintings to finance their new taste forcontemporary art. Nostalgia is an importantelement. Younger customers are discovering20th Century décor as retro and vintage butthose of us who can remember it from first timearound are tickled it’s fashionable again.

The auction takes place July 8. For moreinformation visitwww.andersonandgarland.com

F E A T U R E

Sale of thecentury

This month, Anderson & Garland is hosting a one-off auction ofstunning contemporary and modern art. Here, Anderson & Garland’s

art expert, John Anderson, looks at some of the highlights.

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E V E N T

Family Fun Day Best Western Derwent Manor Hotel

hosts an inaugural event.

Hundreds of people attended the firstFamily Fun Day at Best Western

Derwent Manor Hotel on Monday, May 26,hosted by the new owners.

Supported by the local YMCA, activitiesincluded a climbing wall, zorbes, archeryand paint balling. There were also self-defence demonstrations, face paintingand children’s rides.

Live music from Quick Return, MitchLaddie Band and Slow Moving Targetsentertained the crowds across theafternoon and an indoor market featuredlocal stall holders selling a variety of goods.

Everyone enjoyed sitting at the outdoorbar and barbecue area soaking up theatmosphere and most surprisingly for aBank Holiday - the sun.

Visit Derwent Manor Hotel’s Facebookpage for details of the next date, to beannounced shortly.

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M E D I A N E W S

Generating help and support

After gaining a national reputation formusic development, Generator,based in the Ouseburn Valley, has

unveiled a new website and a responsivenetwork of support giving the region'screative sector the tools, practical adviceand experience it needs to flourish withinthis expanding market.

Having identified a significant gap in the

business support framework, Generator isnow offering organisations operating in thefilm, photography, digital media and designindustries all the support they need and haspledged it will develop talent and drivesignificant business and growth in theregion.

Generator CEO, Jim Mawdsley,explained: “Through our latest ERDF

programme we have the resources andremit to put this expansion into practice andwe have already been working with around80 businesses in the wider sector,”

As part of the new expansion, businesseswill benefit from business coaching andbespoke one-to-one advice as well as a fullprogramme of creative business events andtraining to drive new business and profits.

Offers for NET readers!Ads Direct is offering NET readers two

exclusive offers. Firstly, four weeks hire for the price of two at

its Coast Road Billboard site, in Jesmond. TheBillboard faces thousands of slow moving

commuters every day at the busiesteast/west bound arterial route in and out ofNewcastle City Centre.

Secondly, half price window vinyl posters.Choose between the three busiest Metro/Bus

Interchanges in Tyne and Wear (Gateshead,Four Lane Ends and Park Lane).

Campaigns can be booked or reserved inJuly for any dates throughout the remainderof 2014. Call 0203 3185193 for more.

Newcastle-based business support organisation Generator has announced itwill expand further into the North East's creative sector.

Sarah Hall celebrates …

The Chartered Institute of PublicRelations (CIPR) has recognised North

East PR consultant Sarah Hall with one ofthe highest industry honours.

The managing director of Sarah HallConsulting Ltd and board member of theCIPR, Sarah has been presented with theStephen Tallents Medal, which is awarded

at the discretion of the president torecognise exceptional achievement inpublic relations practice by a CIPRmember.

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E V E N T

Percy Hedley Cup

Golf event raises thousandsfor charity.

Following on from last year’s inauguralPercy Hedley Cup, 144 golfers from all

over the UK converged on the fantasticLakes Course at Longhirst Golf Club.

The golfers were treated to a great day ofgolf, food, music, drink and entertainmentfrom the fantastic Trick Shot Boys.

Organisers Simon Bibby (MinsterCleaning) and Richard Atthey (RR Golfventures) were once again overwhelmedby the generosity of the guests who helpedraise well over £10,000 for the Percy HedleyCollege, for the second year in a row.

The funds raised from last year’s eventhelped pay for a fantastic new sensoryroom which was opened this year.

Guests

Event organisers, Simon Bibby(minster cleaning) and RichardAtthey (RR Golf Ventures)

Graham Chambers (Longhirst Golf Club)and Steve Harmison

Trick shot boys, Kevin Carpenter and Geoff Swain

Longhorns BBQ

Guests

Victoria Norris (Minster Cleaning), Val Gray(Percy Hedley College) and Lindsay Bibby

Carl Nicholls, Longhirst club pro

81

C O V E R S T O R Y

It has been 18 years since Mike Lynch started hiseponymous advertising agency. Since then, he and histeam (many of whom have been with Mike since thebeginning) have grown the business into an establishedand well-known brand in the North East, offering a

range of media planning and buying services to clients suchas Newcastle NE1, Tecaz, Mill Volvo, Port of Tyne, EasternAirways and Metro Radio Arena.

Asked how he feels about his company reaching‘adulthood’, Mike reflects: “The company definitely has amature feel about it. We went through the growing pains inthe early years but now we feel very much established,especially with the client base that we have.”

While some business owners may see the landmarkanniversary as an opportunity to sit back and relax, Mikehas instead implemented a new business developmentstrategy to attract new clients.

Over the past 12 months, the agency has begun workingwith leisure companies Whitworth Hall Hotel and Bonbar(located in the iconic Assembly Rooms), local enterprisepartnership Tees Valley Unlimited, new eco-efficient windowsand doors manufacturer Green Kite and offshore trainingcompany Falck.

The agency has also won two Newcastle City Counciltenders, working alongside creative agency Cool Blue: GoDigital Newcastle, a campaign to get local businesses andhomes connected to the Internet using superfast broadbandand Go Smarter, which encourages people to make smartertravel choices around the region.

Mike Lynch Advertising has always prided itself on beingat the forefront of media innovation, and as such, for the pasttwo years – driven largely by Head of Digital, James Lynch– the agency has begun offering clients digital services suchas Search Engine Optimisation and Pay Per Click marketing.

“SEO and PPC have become key for us,” explains James,“and we now have a number of clients on board.”

He continues: “Everybody understands the importance ofGoogle in today’s market. The world of search marketing iscomplex and continually evolving with Google makingconstant changes to its algorithm with updates virtually everyother month. It is essential to stay ahead of these changes.”

In addition, over the past 12 months, the agency hasbecome heavily involved in social media, initially to promote

the agency itself and latterly for the benefit of clients.Using online marketing tool Fanbooster (which the agency

has an exclusive North East partnership with), Mike LynchAdvertising has created a number of successful Facebookcampaigns for its new and existing clients in 2013-14.

The move into digital services, however, has not been tothe detriment of traditional media, such as television, pressand radio.

Instead, Mike Lynch Advertising is keen to promote astrategy combining both digital and traditional media –something the agency has termed, ‘joined-up thinking’.

Media Manager, Julie Purvis, explains: “It’s important thatclients don’t see digital in isolation to traditional media.”

“Social media and search marketing should be part of themedia plan strategy instead of a separate entity. Digital feedsinto the traditional media and makes it more effective.”

Julie continues: “What we want from a media strategy isthat from the minute a target market wakes up to the minutethey switch off at night, they see or hear the client’smessage.”

“This might mean hearing a radio advert when their alarmgoes off in the morning, to accessing a social mediacampaign when they check their Facebook account atlunchtime, to seeing poster advertising on the Metro whenthey’re going home.”

This ‘joined-up’ strategy has recently successfully beenused for Falck, who were looking for a recruitment campaignaimed at men, aged 20-40.

Adopting a combined strategy of radio, press and socialmedia advertising, devised by Mike Lynch Advertising, theoffshore training company has seen referral rates rise in theNorth East.

Going forward, Mike and his team will continue with thebusiness development strategy, while also keeping an eyeon innovations in the media.

“We’ll always continue to evolve what we do to keepahead of the game,” says Mike. “We’re a reactive agencybut also a proactive one, too. It’s important for us and forour clients who we want to see moving forward, alongsideus.”

For more information on Mike Lynch Advertisingvisit www.mikelynchadvertising.co.uk

AS MIKE LYNCH ADVERTISING REACHES A LANDMARK

ANNIVERSARY, ITS OWNER TALKS TO ALISON COWIE ABOUT

A NEW BUSINESS STRATEGY AND WHY THE AGENCY USES

‘JOINED-UP THINKING’ TO ACHIEVE THE ADVERTISING

OBJECTIVES OF ITS CLIENTS.

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Your website is one of your mostpowerful marketing tools, so withthis in mind, it makes sense toensure it is working as hard as it can

for you. One of the fastest ways to do this is

through by using an analytics tool andGoogle offers one that is completely free touse. They call it ‘one of the most powerfuldigital analytics solutions available’ – I’mcertainly not going to argue.

Whether you want to find out whichmarketing initiatives are most effective,where customers are coming from, what theyare doing on your site and for how long,Google Analytics can tell you all of this. Thesystem accurately maps the patterns andtrends of your visitors and helps you topinpoint which customer segments are themost profitable to your business.

By analysing the information, you can seewhat’s working and what’s not for yourwebsite. Google Analytics shows you whichkeywords, online adverts or marketingcampaigns are attracting customers and youcan use that data to improve your onlinepresence to pull in more people. If you’vestarted an SEO campaign, for instance, youcan quickly find out whether it is payingdividends and identify the words that aregenerating the most traffic.

Of course, it’s not just about getting more

visitors; converting them into clients is key.By using the Google tools available as part ofthe analytics package, you can pinpoint thecommon factors that transform someonefrom a browser into someone who interactswith your business and becomes a customer.

This clever system might be free, but it’sdefinitely not a cheapskate option. Forinstance, if you have more than one site youcan track and view them all from oneaccount. That means you can easily compareand contrast your traffic figures in one place,gaining valuable insights into yourcustomers’ behaviour, helping to generateideas that will improve your marketingefforts.

You may already have an analytics optionsinstalled as part of your website that you useto assess the effectiveness of your marketingcampaigns. This doesn’t prevent yourunning Google Analytics alongside thiswithout any problem, adding to your arsenalof tools.

It doesn’t take an IT expert to installeither.

One of the beauties of the Google systemis the DIY ethic that opens up thetechnology to people who don’t necessarilyhave a degree in computer coding – andthat’s probably most of us!

The analytics tool uses a snippet of codeplaced on your website to activate the

tracking and send the information to yourGoogle Analytics account.

The only fly in the ointment is thatGoogle Analytics isn’t always compatiblewith social media pages.

This means if you want to track thesuccess of your Facebook marketing efforts,you’ll need to look for a third-party widgetthat lets you install the analytics packagewithout it fighting with Facebook’s pagetemplate. Plus, you won’t be able to counthow many of your pages are loaded via RSSor atom readers, because they don’t workwith JavaScript, which is essential forGoogle Analytics’ tracking to work.

That appears to be the maininconvenience with the system, but its prosdefinitely outweigh the cons.

The fact it’s a free application is obviouslya major point in its favour, but unlike manyfree offers, Google Analytics does what itsays on the tin and doesn’t leave you wishingyou’d forked out for the expensive option inthe first place.

For more PR and marketing related newsand articles, please visithttp://blog.sarahhallconsulting.co.uk. Contact Sarah on 07702 162 704, [email protected], Twitter@hallmeister or visitwww.sarahhallconsulting.co.uk

M E D I A

What GoogleAnalytics can tell

you ... for freeSarah Hall, managingdirector of Sarah Hall

Consulting Ltd, the PR andmarketing consultancy,

looks at some of thepowerful insights thatmarketers can derive

from Google’s freeanalytics tool.

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Q: A significant percentage of mymarketing budget goes on leafletprinting and distribution, now thatdigital marketing is so prolific, is thisnow old fashioned and less effective?Should I still be spending this muchor should I focus more on digital?

Digital media provides a range of opportunitiesfor marketing campaigns. Using PR as anexample; news releases can be reduced to PDFformat and emailed directly to your contacts,where they can feature in external onlinepublications and reach new consumers byassociation, and if there is an option to share thestory digitally say, for example, by email or via asocial network, the material has the potential tobecome viral and reach an infinite number ofconsumers. Furthermore, with internet enabledmobile technology such as mobile phones,tablets and laptops becoming increasinglypopular, the likelihood of your targetdemographic hearing your message is high andby engaging with customers via several platformsyou can ensure the reach of your message issignificantly higher than by using traditionalmethods alone.

However, traditional marketing materials andmethods such as leaflets - in particular direct

mail - remain popular and there are a number ofreasons why, probably the most important ofwhich is because they work.

Direct marketing can be a very effective wayof delivering a targeted message. If you investtime in maintaining a comprehensiveclient/customer database you’ll then be able todefine the groups of people you’d like tocommunicate specific information to. So say, forexample, you have information that’s relevant toyour customer base in one specific geographiclocation, targeted direct-mail will communicatethis information to the right people withminimal waste.

On the flip side, if you take a mass marketingapproach and send out huge volumes of directmail without any knowledge of the recipients,you’ll find that you’re spending a lot of moneywith no real way of measuring the impact of theactivity. It might work to some extent but it’s anexpensive approach to a method that will work alot more effectively if it’s tailored to meet theobjectives of your business and to a demographicmore likely to respond.

Leaflets have a multitude of uses that canhave a very positive impact on your marketingand business overall. They are an extremelyadaptable medium that can be used to introducenew services, establish your businesses presencein a specific area, they can work as discount

vouchers, and they can provide importantinformation about your business to existing andpotential customers.

As with all marketing collateral, design is akey factor to achieving success. Distributingleaflets is an ideal way to capture the attention ofcustomer who prefers a more tactile approach tomarketing – if you produce attractive marketingmaterials, these customers are likely to keepthem for future reference, and chances arethey’ll display them somewhere like the fridgedoor or a pin board, which means they’ll beconstantly reminded of your brand too.

So, to directly answer your question, oldfashioned or traditional methods of marketingsuch as leafleting, are by no means less effectivedue to the introduction of newer technologies.Indeed, the advent of digital technology hasexpanded the horizons of communication but ithasn’t replaced or eclipsed the old ways. Myadvice would be to always research yourclientele and create tailored marketingcampaigns to meet their requirements andengage with them via the most appropriateplatforms available, new and old.

Email your questions anonymously to SilverBullet at [email protected] orTweet (not so anonymously) @SilverBulletPR#AskSB

M E D I A

Ask Silver Bullet …Kerry Tudor of Silver Bullet Marketing answers your marketing queries.

86

Hi again, I’m back this month to talkto you about the ways in which ourteam at JAM go the extra mile forevery one of our clients and how we

feel that going the extra distance is not anexcess but a bare minimum.

Over the years, we have worked inassociation with numerous organisations andcharities, alongside the opportunities wepresent to students and graduates looking totake the leap into the real world of marketing.

But unfortunately we can’t offerplacements to everyone; otherwise I’d inviteevery single budding marketeer to join us (Ithink the office would be a little cramped).So, here goes, from my personal book oftricks; get your pen at the ready.

One of the first things we look for in any

client we begin working for is a defined brandpersonality, something that sets you apartfrom your competitors, a little quirk perhaps.

It’s often overlooked how much your brandcolours and aesthetics reflect your goals, butjust think of it this way, consider a little bluebird, an apple with a bite out and the goldenarches – what brands do you think of?

Although we’re a full service creativeagency, focusing on PR, marketing and eventsmanagement, strategy and businessdevelopment is something we alwaysconsider, whether the client is new orestablished.

By doing our research into both theindustry news and trend predictions we knowthat we are going to offer the most currentand connected service, because at the end of

the day we’re all aware that a lot of businessowners and the public alike are cautious ofimmoral marketing ploys.

It’s not about pulling the wool over theconsumer’s eye anymore; it’s about engagingtheir vision and matching it with yours.

This being the exact reason JAM ispromoted as a personal and transparent B2Bcompany, because we want our current andprospective clients to join us in a partnershipto better their business and not feel baffled bymarketing techniques and collateral. Justleave that to us ...

So there are a couple of tips from me toyou and I just want to say good luck to all ofyou working towards a career in themarketing and PR sector. Just remember; weall start somewhere.

M E D I A

Do yourresearch ...

Tips for buddingmarketeers, by JAM’s

Jackie Marston.

EXPERT VIEWJackie Marston

Managing directorJAM Marketing Limited

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

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S T Y L E

Accessorize,£25

Debenhams,£50

New Look,£27.99

River Island,£40

Office,£65

Next,£12.50

Get the lookFashion and accessories for women.

By Jessica Laing.

Black: it may not be typically associatedwith summer attire, but that doesn’tmean it isn’t stepping out of the shadeduring the warmer months. The classic,

goes-with-everything hue is predicted to be oneof this season’s biggest go-to colours – whetheryou’re creating your ‘holiday clothes’ collectionor looking to update your summer workwardrobe. What we love most about black is itsability to complement other on-trend coloursand make them stand out, such as crisp whiteand dusty pastels. Monochrome is always a safebet for the workplace, so if that’s more yourstyle, why not team a black pencil skirt (leatheris proving popular a fabric this summer) withwhite outerwear, such as a figure-flatteringblazer? For those longing for a more colourfullook, pastel pink is another great shade tocomplement with black – opt for a watery pinkcoat or a baby pink satchel to add a touch offemininity to your workday look.

MODEL ATTIRELimited Edition Dungaree, £59Limited Edition Waist Coat, £59

Autograph Shoes, £99Bangle, £15

All from Marks & Spencer’sSS14 Collection

88

WORKSPACE & CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Work begins in Cleadon

T he start of 16 luxury four andfive bedroom homes wasofficially marked with a sod-cutting by local Councillors,

Margaret Meling and Joan Atkinson whoshowed their support for thedevelopment.

Social business, Gentoo is developingthe site in Cleaden, South Tyneside – to beknown as Hawksley Rise – which sits on theland once occupied by Oakleigh GardensSchool.

The development has been eagerlyawaited since Gentoo purchased the landfrom South Tyneside Council last October.

Councillor Meling said: “This prestigiousnew development is a welcome addition tothe range of quality homes in CleadonVillage. Even viewing the proposals from theplan the 16 homes look fantastic and areset in a lovely location. I look forward to thecompletion of the development and towelcoming the new residents.”

Phase one, a selection of six homes, oneof each house type which will be built on

Construction starts on 16 luxury homesin South Tyneside.

Welcome newsThe Construction Industry Training

Board (CITB) has welcomed the latestconstruction figures from the Office forNational Statistics (ONS), which show year-on-year growth in the sector of almost fiveper cent between April 2013 and April2014, as good news for Newcastle. Thefigures also show that construction output

in April 2014 rose by 1.2 per cent(£113million) compared with March 2014.

The figures come in light of data fromCITB’s 2013 Construction Skills Networkreport which showed that, in the North East,it is estimated that around 2680 newconstruction recruits are required annuallyfrom 2014-18. To help achieve this, it is likely

that the industry will need to recruit in theregion of 1900 apprentices every year forthe next five years.

Housing is set to dominateconstruction growth in the North East,boosted by Newcastle City Council’splans to spend around £130m building1200 new homes.

Survey investment for Owen PughNorth East construction firm The

Owen Pugh Group is improvingefficiencies within its contracts teamfollowing an £80k investment in leading-edge surveying equipment.

The full service civil engineeringcontractor, which employs more than

370 staff across five regional sites –including its head office in Dudley,Northumberland,– has purchased fivenew Trimble Universal Total Stations (UTS)from surveying suppliers Korec, which areused to take site measurements.

The upgraded equipment will enable

the work of the division to be carried outmore quickly and effectively and withreduced downtime due to lower batteryusage. It will also provide additionalcapability to trim large three-dimensional areas to millimetreaccuracies.

the site, are now released for sale. Hawksley Rise is to be created with

something that Gentoo call the ‘art of living’

in mind. They understand that a home isnot just about the house that you live in, butthe lifestyle it provides.

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P R O P E R T Y

Renaissance of the local traderBy Neil Hart, director at Bradley Hall.

While Newcastle city centre is ahive of activity, it’s easy tooverlook the contribution of thecity’s suburbs to the region’s

commercial property market revival.Places such as Heaton and Gosforth are

thriving hubs that have witnessed plenty ofrecent activity in the industrial and retailsectors.

This activity has led to the return of thelocal independent trader to the city’s suburbs.When I walk around these places I see somany quirky cafes and boutique gift and craftshops that weren’t there a couple of years ago,when the shadow of recession loomed largeover the region.

Many large city centre-based retailers arestill struggling to recover from the recession,therefore opportunities have arisen forsmaller, more agile independent companiesto open up in strategically well placed but lesscluttered suburban areas.

Earlier this year, Bradley Hall acquired amixed-use parade of shops on CanterburyWay in Wideopen. Every single unit –including a small tea room, a butcher’s shop,bakery, hair salon and vets – has now been let

to a local operator. Other areas are benefiting, too. Chillingham

Road, the main commercial road in Heaton, isbuzzing with activity while there are highoccupancy rates in business units in nearbyGosforth.

The picture in city centre locations issomewhat different. Larger retailers arereducing space requirements in shoppingarcades where many traditional high street

shopping units have vanished to be replaced byonline portals.

Supermarket giant Tesco saw like-for-likesales fall 3.7 per cent in the three months toMay 25 – its worst performance for more than20 years. I have no doubt that some of this isdown to the rise of the neighbourhood butcher,baker and cake maker.

Although many businesses in centralNewcastle are doing well and increasing sales, akey trend is the emergence of smallerindependent traders in the suburbs. It is easy tosee why; Heaton, Gosforth and Wideopen areall situated near main transport routes includingthe A1, A19, the Tyne & Wear Metro networkand Newcastle International Airport. They arealso close to densely populated residential areas,which provide a good source of custom.

Being based in Newcastle city centre has itsadvantages – but the revival of the local traderin suburban areas cannot be ignored. It has hada positive impact on the local economy andwill continue to do so for the foreseeablefuture.

For more information visitwww.bradleyhall.co.uk

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P R O P E R T Y

Making the right move overseas

Moving overseas – whetheremigrating or for employmentpurposes – is an exciting time,but it can also be a time of

enormous stress and worry, If you’re planning amove abroad you will already appreciate howmuch there is to think about and organise.

Doree Bonner is a highly experience andrespected removal company that has helpedfamilies move around the world includingCanada, New Zealand and Australia.

The company took part in a successfulemigration expo, Down Under Live, held inNewcastle in May in which enquires soared forthose looking to move internationally.

Here, the company shares some simplerules to help take the stress and worry out ofmoving:

Choose your removal companycarefully

The company should be members of the BAR(British Association of Removers) and shouldalso hold the FAIM. accreditation (FIDIAccredited International Mover). This willhelp you to guarantee the quality of thecompany coming to perform your removal.

Pick a local company

By choosing a local removal company thatmeets the above criteria, not only will youreceive the benefit of dealing with someonewho understands the unique nature of movingin your area, but also you will not be chargedadditional costs for lots of unnecessary mileage.(The costs of getting a truck from thecompany’s yard to your property is all built intothe) Using a local company like Doree Bonneralso means that you will get professionallytrained and qualified staff to pack and load theyour container – nothing is subcontracted.

Insist on a home visit

Doree Bonner offers a comprehensive pricingtool on its website (www.doreebonner.co.uk)here you are able to calculate the space yourequire for shipment, calculate a price, pay forit and even book your removal date!

However, we understand this may not be foreveryone, invite your chosen companies toyour property. Once you’ve drawn up yourshort list, a removal company should want tovisit you at home. This is a really importantpart of the process as the removal cost iscalculated based on the actual volume ofgoods you’d like to take with you. Don’t accepta telephone quote – it’s unlikely to be accurateand you could easily find yourself facing heftyadditional charges.

Know what you want to take

During the home visit, do take the opportunityto fully discuss your requirements, making surethey – and you – know exactly what you’d liketo take with you. Once the survey has takenplace, the representative should sit with you

and discuss all the options available, giving youtheir opinion on the best way to transport yourbelongings having taken both your time scaleand budget into account. They should also behappy to provide a number of different quotesbased on different options such as the bestmethod of transporting your worldly goods –sole or shared use container? And best mode oftransport – by air or sea?

Check your quote details

Once surveyed, Doree Bonner will alwaysquickly follow up the home survey with adetailed written quotation covering everythingdiscussed with our representative. This willinclude a comprehensive list of the goods forshipment, how your goods will be packed andshipped, the services included at destinationand the name and full details of our overseaspartners - once again, you should ensure thatyour removal companies overseas partners arealso FAIM accredited, as this will guaranteethe services provided to you when you arrive.And remember; tempting though it is to gowith the cheapest quote - and of course acompetitive quote is important – don’t fall intothe trap of making cost the only criteria.

Following these simple guidelines willensure a smooth and successful move to yourexciting new life overseas. Doree Bonnerbelieves it offer the best possible service at themost competitive price possible and would bemore than happy to demonstrate that to you.Our highly trained, courteous and professionalstaff are available to assist you so give them acall.

For further information on Doree Bonnercall David Robson on (0191) 268 638, email:[email protected] or visitwww.doreebonner.co.uk

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E V E N T

Hotel du VinAl Fresco menu

launchAn event welcomes the addition

of new seasonal drinking and diningoptions at the hotel.

Just in time for the warmer, and longerdays, Hotel du Vin Newcastle has

launched a new Al Fresco menu thatboasts the best tastes of summer.

Fresh, seasonal ingredients – plus asignature wine list, new colourful cocktailsand punch bowls and a great selection oflocal and craft beers – can be enjoyed ona sunny day in our beautiful revampedoutdoor courtyard and terrace.

General manager, Rob Tait, said: “Ourstaff are very excited about this menu. It’svibrant, fresh and different. Chilled redwines, sharing cocktails and healthyoutdoor dining – all out on our brand newterrace and courtyard.”

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Spa victory

Seaham Hall’s award-winning SerenitySpa has become the only spa in the

North East to be included in the Top Sante100 Best Spas list – placing it alongsideworld famous venues such as BabingtonHouse in Somerset and the renowned TheAshram in California. The spa, which waslisted in Top Sante’s Country Escapecategory, extends over three floors andboasts a range of luxury facilities, includinggarden view therapy rooms and a blackgranite steam room.

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

Highlyrecommended hotel

Doxford Hall, Northumberland, has beenawarded ‘Highly Recommended’

status by members of GunsOnPegs – thelargest online shooting community in the UK– and readers of Fieldsports Magazine, inthe Good Shoot Hotel Awards 2014. Thehotel was praised for ‘its excellent serviceand exceptional ability to anticipate andsurpass shooting guests’ requirements’ andits new, bespoke gun room.

Four-starhospitality

Northumberland boutique countryhouse, Eshott Hotel, has been

awarded AA four stars. The 11-bedroomhotel, which has already earned two AArosettes for its restaurant, was praised for itswell-appointed public areas, its dining,which is open to both residents and non-residents, the professionalism of its staff andtheir ability to respond to residents’requests.

N ewcastle Falcons has wontwo prestigious awards at the2014 Stadium Events &Hospitality Awards, fighting off

competition from the likes of WiganWarriors, Cardiff City FC and NewcastleUnited. Headed by director of

conferences and events, Jane Shepstone,the Kingston Park hospitality teamclaimed awards for the overall bestmatch-day hospitality experience andthe same award in the stadium of up to30,000 seats category. Commenting onthe win, Jane Shepstone said: “I’m

absolutely thrilled that our hospitalityprogramme has taken these accolades.It’s our first year of entering, so to win notonly our category, but also our overallaward, is amazing. We believe that weoffer a great experience and to have thatconfirmed is hugely rewarding.”

The Kingston Park hospitalityteam celebrates.

Double winfor Newcastle Falcons

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Sunderland’s Stadium of Light is one ofthe North East’s most iconic venues,renowned as much for its businesscapabilities as its standing in the

Barclays Premier League.Sunderland AFC has a long tradition when

it comes to their football heritage with theStadium of Light drawing crowds of over40,000 for home games.

Since its launch in 1997, the Stadium ofLight has evolved from a standing sportingstadium to an award-winning venue that affordsthe perfect combination of superb facilities,first class service and top flight football.

In this modern day era of football, thestadium provides much more than just football.It is the focus of the community, bringingtogether entertainment, fine cuisine and sport.

The state-of-the-art stadium has all thefacilities you could ask for includingrestaurants, bars, enormous conferencefacilities and the ability to hold anything from arock concert to a multi-faceted exhibition.

With so much to offer, Sunderland’sStadium of Light is in a league of its own, itsstrengths lie not only in its facilities but also inits desire to ensure that every single person that

comes through the doors has a trulymemorable experience.

Leading the kitchen brigade at the Stadiumof Light is Patrick Lesca. The executive headchef from the Basque region in the south ofFrance transferred to the stadium in 1998 andhas seen football catering come a long wayfrom the days of a meat pie and mushy peas, ora hotdog and warm beer.

Patrick’s philosophy on food has always beenand remains to be that good food should betasty but not too overly complex.

He says: “I keep things simply cooked andwell cooked. I do a lot of beef with vegetables.We have slow cooked rump, lamb fillet and seabass. We source as many of our ingredients aswe can locally, from farms within 30 to 40miles of Sunderland.”

Patrick makes it his business to be the best –and the source of the food supplied at theStadium of Light is at the heart of what hedoes, with menus created to deliver some of thefinest and eclectic cuisine, you are sure to havea culinary experience like no other at the homeof Sunderland AFC.

Whether you want to relax in the luxuriousJames Herriot Suite or soak up the lively,

vibrant atmosphere of the Black Cats Bar andQuinn’s Sports Bar, the Stadium of Light has amatchday hospitality option to suit your needs.

Gary Hutchinson, commercial director atSunderland AFC, said: “The matchdayhospitality packages have been designed tocater for a wide range of tastes and budgets andhave helped boost our regular matchdayattendance by attracting new audiences andenhancing the visitor experiences.

“A number of elements have been added tothe packages in recent years including pre-match stadium tours, special guest appearancesfrom former SAFC players and post-game Manof the Match awards.”

Providing excellent value for money,business development and networkingopportunities - matchday hospitality at theStadium of Light guarantees some of the bestseats in the house.

For more information about matchdayhospitality at the Stadium of Light visitwww.safc.com/hospitality or to book your seatin one of the stadium’s many suites, call 0871911 1555 or email [email protected].

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

Matchdayswith style

Enjoy premier hospitality at theStadium of Light.

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Throughout its former life from tea roomsto its current incarnation as a stylish bar,Newcastle’s City Tavern, located onNorthumberland Road at the top of the

city’s busy Northumberland Street, has alwaysbeen a place to meet.

Now, thanks to David King, the man behindCity Tavern’s recent transformation and hismulti-cultural, talented team of managers andbar and waiting staff, it’s possible not only towhile away the hours over beautifully prepared,locally sourced food and great beers, it is also agreat venue for partying, whatever the occasion.

Since re-opening, such is the appeal of CityTavern, it has played host to a variety of privatefunctions including informal drinks receptionsfor some of the region’s leading businesses, aswell as Newcastle University’s Fine Art Degreestudents, who liked the venue’s chic urbaninterior so much they chose it for their end ofcourse party.

It is also becoming a wedding venue ofchoice for couples marrying at the nearby CivicCentre, who want an intimate venue where they

can kick-back and enjoy their wedding day. This month, acclaimed fashion designer and

costumier Paul Shriek will use City Tavern asthe back-drop for his Haute CoutureWomenswear Autumn/Winter 14 collection.Paul is currently designing the new collectionin collaboration with artistic associate Matt Fox– together they are Fox and Shriek.

Setting high standards

Further to hosting exclusive events, whichrecently included the launch of local band, LifeAfter Alice’s much anticipated EP, anotherfeather in City Tavern’s cap is its five-starhygiene rating which it gained only a few weeksafter opening.

Speaking about the great response the bar hasreceived since opening, David King said: “A lotof hard work went into transforming CityTavern at the outset because it was importantthat we got the look and feel of the place right.

“I’m delighted to say I think we havesucceeded and now attract an eclectic mix of

customers from businessmen and women, whowant somewhere they can grab a coffee orlunch, to the creative crowd who are looking forsomewhere to chill when their creative juicesneed diluting.

“It is also popular with theatre-goers whowant to grab a bite to eat before they head off fora performance and shoppers who wantsomewhere to recharge their batteries. And let’snot forget the guy or girl who just wants to havea great beer, craft ale or glass of wine, whilereading the papers, or one of the many books wehave in the Library.”

“In fact, as we are proving so popular withcouples wanting to hold their weddingreceptions with us we have decided to apply forour own wedding licence so that we can providea full wedding package.”

“And now that the summer is here lighterstyle casks ales are available, along with thepub’s own locally brewed City Tavern Ale.”

For more information visitwww.citytavern.co.uk


Talk of the townCity Tavern has become

a stylish and popular newaddition to Newcastle’s

social scene.

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The Orangery

The Orangery has come a long way in the last 12months. Executive chef Paul O’Hara has workedhard to build the right team and put together newmenus. Gone are the tasting menus and instead avaried a la carte menu with a ‘Signature Menu’ ison offer along with a relaxed ambience.

Indeed, The Orangery has undergonesomething of a transformation and, whilstretaining the 18th Century Old Hall charm, themenu and experience reflect the changingrestaurant landscape where local produce andregional dishes simply served in livelysurroundings are the order of the day.

Paul O’Hara says: “The menu changes withthe seasons, but highlights include the likes oflobster thermidor, dover sole, Chateaubriand andrack of lamb-carved theatrically at your table – aswell as vegetarian delights, desserts with a twistand ‘Signature Menu’ if you want an exhilaratingfoodie experience of seven ‘tasting’ dishes.”

And then there’s the famous Cocktail Bar (withcocktails designed by in-house mixologists), sunnyterrace (weather permitting!) and walk-in wineservery (not to be missed, enjoy a guided tour!),which mean dining in The Orangery is alwaysdifferent, always memorable.

Enjoy afternoon tea or a light lunch by daylightor take dinner and drinks by moonlight, allensconced in the beauty of The Orangery, wherefun and food are the dishes of the day!

The Spa Brasserie

The Spa Brasserie is something different and isnow open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinneras well as drinks all day long, whether you’relooking for a post-workout health kick or a glass of

wine with friends after work on the balconyoverlooking Rockliffe Hall’s 365-acre estate.

This new restaurant concept is part of RockliffeHall’s on-going development plans, alwaysevolving and responding to customers’ needs.

The Spa Brasserie has replaced The Brasserieand offers informal grazing platters, sharingboards and small seasonal plates, as well asfavourites such as wraps, sandwiches andhomemade burgers and a daily ‘dish of the day’.

There’s also a newly-created cocktail selection– exclusive to The Spa Brasserie – and specially-designed wine lists as well as smoothies andjuices.

In addition, the restaurant serves brunch from8.30-11.30am daily, offering dishes such ashomemade granola, a choice of muffins andomelettes, as well as pastries.

Dishes on the all-day menu, designed by thenewly-appointed head chef of the Spa Brasserie,Aaron Craig, is served from noon until late everyday, include highlights such as grilled king

prawns, a special ‘spa salad’, roast salmon couscous, a ‘posh parmo’ and a Mediterranean burger.

In addition, sharing plates include a marketfish platter, dips and flatbreads and cured meatswith focaccia. The menu also features homemadedesserts and ‘mini’ desserts.

The Spa Brasserie is open all day from 8.30amto residents and non-residents, whether on a spaday or not.

The Clubhouse

Grills, salads and light bites are the order of theday in The Clubhouse. Think gastro-pub with amodern twist. Not forgetting the ever-popularSunday lunches. And while you’re here, drink inthe view across the sprawling golf course – youmight even spot a famous face or two!

Classic dishes are served from 7am everydaywhether you fancy smoked salmon and scrambledeggs or a full English before tee-ing off, alunchtime toasty, ploughman’s or Black SheepAle and steak pie or dinner delights such as steaksand chops from the grill, a burger (veggie orotherwise), a variety of fish dishes and, of course, aselection of traditional ‘afters’.

Whatever you fancy

Wining and dining at Rockliffe Hall- there reallyis something for everyone, whether a gastronomeor not. There’s also a host of private diningoptions- for special occasions, business events orintimate gatherings- and the ever-popularAfternoon Tea, not to be missed if you want a realflavour of five-star gastronomic glamour!

For more information visitwww.rockliffehall.com


Food glorious foodRockliffe Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa has become synonymous with tasty

food with three very different dining options available ...

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For more than 60 years the Holiday Innbrand has grown, not only in awareness,but in international trust; with theNewcastle, Gosforth Park hotel catering

for a mass of loyal clientele from across theUK.

The hotel is situated in a rural settingsurrounded by 16 acres of countrysideproviding a relaxing and comfortingenvironment for all of its guests.

Inviting families, couples and individuals toenjoy the facilities provided, whetherindulging in a weekend away sounds appealingor simply a night of pure relaxation away fromhome; the Holiday Inn Newcastle GosforthPark is a true escape from reality.

The hotel is approximately ten miles fromNewcastle city centre and six miles from thecity borders and has a total of 154 rooms, 13conference rooms; one of which canaccommodate up to 300 guests and a gymwith accompanying pool, sauna and steamroom.

Employing around 90 staff in total, you’resure to always get a warm, friendly andprofessional welcome at every visit.

The objectives of the Holiday Inn,Newcastle Gosforth Park are to be known asthe most family friendly, value for money andexcellent quality Sunday lunch venue in theregion.

This being the exact reason the companyhave invested a huge sum in the refurbishmentof the restaurant/lounge for guests to get themost out of their stay and the facilitiesavailable.

Norrie Oswald, general manager, explains:“Long term, we hope to see the hotel becomerecognised for its food and restaurant.

“Thanks to the new menu and therefurbishments which are set to be completedin July this year, we’re already well on our wayto achieving this.”

The company is also currently in theprocess of refurbishing the bedrooms, startingwith an initial 40, which will be completed byAugust 2014.

The aim of these renovations is to strip themback to the shell of rooms and from there usethem as a blank canvas to create an entirelynew space for guests to rest and unwind. Allrooms are to be updated with work expected to

be completed by the end of 2015.The hotel also offers guests and customers a

multitude of reward opportunities, introducedby parent company IHG, the InterContinentalHotels Group, including a point schemewhich can be redeemed in any of their 4600hotels as well as exclusive member benefitswhen you join the IHG Rewards Club.

So not only do guests experience aguaranteed, luxury stay but they can also startearning points towards their next.

The hotel also fully endorses the GreenEngage campaign, whereby the hotel strives tolower its C02 emissions for which it has won asilver award for green tourism.

The Holiday Inn, Newcastle – GosforthPark always puts customers’ needs first, asNorrie explains: “By being known for itscomfort levels, added with the logo on thedoor and the recent refurbishments, customerswill hopefully return and be reassured of thequality of the hotel.”

The Holiday Inn, Newcastle Gosforth Park islocated on Great North Road, Seaton Burn.Contact the hotel on (0191) 201 9988.

A D V E R T I S E R ’ S A N N O U C E M E N T

Introducing thenew-look Holiday Inn

The Newcastle Gosforth Park hotel gets a revamp.

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There’s pretty much an Italian restauranton every high street in the UK, with theMediterranean cuisine most people’s go-to choice when eating out; there’s always

something to satisfy even the pickiest of eaterson an Italian-influenced menu.

However, it is often questionable just howauthentic an Italian experience you are gettingfrom a lot of these places.

Authenticity, however, is something you getin abundance at Antico.

Described as ‘passionate about food, serviceand quality’ on its website, the restaurant –located on Osborne Road in Jesmond – offerswhat it terms The Antico Experience.Translated, this means incredible food thatdoesn’t deserve to be rushed.

My two colleagues and I ventured toJesmond one day last month to try the

experience out. And a bonus was the glorioussunny weather meant we could take advantageof the restaurant’s substantial outdoor seatingarea.

The menu at Antico is, like most Italianrestaurants, a plethora of choice with a vastrange of starters, pastas, pizzas and meat, fishand vegetable dishes.

We, however, were more than happy to letour friendly and knowledgeable waiter chooseour dishes for us.

What my dining party and I experienced overthe next two hours was a master class of howtruly excellent Italian cooking should be cookedand served.

Every dish was wonderfully presented and thequality of the ingredients shone throughout.Highlights were the beautifully-cooked kingsprawns cooked in garlic and chilli, the

delightful ravioli served simply in a tomato andbasil sauce, and the heavenly tiramisu – withoutdoubt the best version I had ever tasted.

Maybe it was the sunny weather (who doesn’tlove eating lunch with their sunglasses on) orthe glass of Prosecco, but for one afternoon,Jesmond suddenly looked felt like a busyRoman thoroughfare.

Ok, so this restaurant may not be somewhereto head if you’re limited to a 30-minute lunchbreak, but that’s exactly the point.

Antico offers Italian dining, the Italian way:simple, top quality cooking to enjoy at aleisurely pace.

There’s no need to rush at Antico, and, quitefrankly, you wont want to.

For more information at bookings call (0191)281 2990 or visit www.anticorestaurant.com


Business lunch

Antico RestaurantAlison Cowie enjoys someauthentic Italian cuisine in

Jesmond.

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Grilled aubergine, courgettesand peppers topped with pecorino

cheese shavings.

£6.75

Pasta with a medley of shellfish in atomato and garlic sauce.

£8.95

Tiramisu

£4.95

Warm mozzarella wrapped inParma ham.

£6.95

Lamb ragout made with Antico’sown secret recipe.

£9.95

King prawns cooked ingarlic and chilli.

£8.50

Asparagus and ricotta-filled fresh ravioliin a tomato and basil sauce.

£9.95

Strawberry and ricotta cheesecake.

£4.95

Lemon profiterole

£ 4.95

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W I N E & D I N E

Recipe of the month:

Grilled cedar plank salmonwith a California salad

Try this summery dish from the StablesRestaurant & Brewery at Best WesternBeamish Hall Country House Hotel.

INGREDIENTS

Salmon 1 portion of salmon1 cedar plank

Marinade2 tbsp sesame oil6 tbsp Light Soy sauce1 fresh chilli, diced1 garlic glove1cm fresh ginger root, grated3 tbsp maple syrup1 lime, zest & juice1 spring onion, sliced

California salad10g sunflower seeds

10g pinenuts – toasted10g pumpkin seeds10g dried cranberries5g poppy seeds70g diced goats cheese6g large, quartered strawberries3x cherry tomatoes, halved½ small, red onion, thinly sliced into ringsCandy pecan nuts (we home-roast ours but bestto buy)Mixed green leaves (peashoot /frizzy lettuce)

Salad dressing4tbsp maple syrup1 lime, zest & juice1tbsp poppy seeds100ml olive pomice oil

METHOD

Mix all marinade ingredients well, coversalmon, place in air-tight container in fridge for

a minimum of 30 minutes.

Soak the Cedar plank in lukewarm water for 10minutes and pre-heat fan assisted oven to 180degrees.

Place soaked Cedar plank onto a hot griddle,lightly brush with small amount of veg oil.Once plank is smoking and fragrant (not onfire!), add marinated salmon onto plank andremove from griddle, place into oven and cookfor 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix all the salad dressingingredients except the olive oil. Slowly mix inthe oil.

Combine all the salad ingredients and add thedressing.

Plate everything up and enjoy.

www.beamish-hall.co.uk

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E V E N T

PGA Pro-Amgolf event

Newcastle’s Harrys Bar partners upwith the national golf championship

for the North East leg.

Harrys Bar welcomed golfers at theNorth East/North West inaugural PGA

Pro Am with its signature Rossini cocktails.It was a fabulous day at Close House

with professional golfers from all around thenorth attending.

Fifty teams took part in the largest eventthis year, sponsored by The A- Belco groupthe Ashington based engineeringcompany.

In attendance were local businesses andsports stars from the region, includingNewcastle United legend Alan Shearer.

Harrys Bar is open daily from 10am until2am serving breakfast lunch and dinnerwww.harrysbarnewcastle.com

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I N T E R V I E W

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WHAT WAS YOUR EARLY MUSICAL LIFE LIKE?

It wasn't a particularly musical household. My mum can't hold a tune to saveher life but my dad has a brilliant singing voice, he'd sing a lot round the house.I'm sure they'd have preferred I was more academic at school but they've beengreat and very encouraging with my music.

FIRST RECORD YOU BOUGHT?

Blur’s Parklife … or Pinky and Perky!

WHEN DID YOU REALISE THAT MUSIC WAS WHAT YOU WANTEDTO DO PROFESSIONALLY?

Since a very young age, but I think I imagined it all quite differently. There werea lot more dance routines, sparkles and Grammy awards in my original plan.

WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF LIFE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?

The main pro for me is that you are gifted the luxury of adolescence for a whilelonger.The biggest con … budget hotels.

WHO/WHAT INSPIRES YOU AS A WRITER AND PERFORMER?

Nina Simone, Scott Walker, Newcastle, Sunderland, London, gin, whiskey,vodka, red wine and white wine.

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST ARTISTIC INFLUENCE?

Probably Scott Walker. To this day he is still making brilliant innovative musicand putting many younger bands and artists to shame.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE TO COMPARED TO THE LIKES OF NICKCAVE AND PJ HARVEY?

Sometimes daunting but mainly flattering. Honestly though I'm certain it's justan aesthetic comparison - I have scraped back hair and a big nose so I looklike the love child of the two.

FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT THE NORTH EAST:

The Tyneside Cinema was always my favourite haunt, it still is. It's a beautifulcinema and they show great films. Also it's just a really nice place to hangout. You can get some good people watching done in that alley. I'm a hugefan of documentary photography and The Side Gallery is probably the thingI miss most about Newcastle, I've met so many great people there and theshows have inspired a lot of my work. I love the fact that I can go out alonein town but always bump into a good friend – that doesn't happen so muchin London.

WHAT DOES THE NORTH EAST MUSIC SCENE DO WELL?WHAT COULD IT DO BETTER?

We've got an abundance of great bands like Retriever, Nateley's Whore'sKid Sister and Symphonic Pictures. There was a point a few years back wherelots of great music venues starting shutting down. But I've noticed recently,when I've been back to visit, there's all these new venues springing up. They'renot just the upstairs of pubs either – they’re much more creative and excitingplaces, big warehouse spaces, pop up shops, disused buildings. I really hopethat that's going to influence the sound that comes out of the North East.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE PROUDEST MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

Just the completion of the first album. The reviews were wonderful but the mostimportant and proudest moment was the final realisation of years of writing.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST ADVICE YOU'VE RECEIVED - CAREEROR OTHERWISE?

Get a trade.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

Finishing album two and getting back on the road again.

Nadine Shah plays Whitley Bay Playhouse (0844 248 1588;www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk) on July 9 as part of the Mouth of TyneFestival. Her debut album Love Your Dum and Mad is out now.

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FOR HER DEBUT ALBUM OF BROODINGLY BEAUTIFUL, DARKLY ATMOSPHERIC TALESOF LOVE AND LOSS, WHITBURN-BORN SINGER SONGWRITER NADINE SHAH TALKS TO ELISE RANA HOPPER

ABOUT HER INSPIRATIONS, INFLUENCES AND HOPES FOR THE NORTH EAST MUSIC SCENE.

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E V E N T

Mill Volvo takescentre stage

The motor dealershiponce again supports a local

arts venue.

Mill Volvo is a leading player in theNorth East’s motoring scene but

more recently the company has beenattracting attention for its extra-curricularactivities within the community. The latestmove sees the motor dealership teamingup with the iconic Theatre Royal as theysign up to sponsor summer seasons at thetheatre for two consecutive years,commencing in 2014 from April through toAugust.

Mill Volvo started off the summer seasonby parking a bright pink Dirty Dancingbranded Volvo V40 on the theatre terracefor the duration of the show.

112

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M O T O R S

Behind the wheelby

Jessica Laing.

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Featuring all-new structure, suspensionand steering, a revised engine andseven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, theLamborghini Hurácan LP 610-4 sets a

new benchmark in the super sports segment– though remains surprisingly well suited toeveryday use. Externally, through the four-wheel drive model’s all-new hybrid chassis,the Italian manufacturer’s innovativelightweight concept is brought to life. Thesculpted body – made from aluminium andcarbon fibre – weighs less than 200kilograms and boasts a shapely form, due toits hexagonal side windows, arrow-shapednose and Y-shaped contours. Its bulkhead

also offers excellent crash safety in the eventof a side impact, thanks to its stiff fibres,which are laid out in the exact direction ofload travel. All external lights, meanwhile,beam in LED technology, providingexcellent road illumination. Offering morespace for long-distance driving and bettervisibility than its predecessor – the hugelysuccessful Lamborghini Gallardo – themodel’s interior highlights include low,contoured seats with integrated back rests, a12.3-inch TFT screen with high resolutionpixels and a virtual cockpit that presents allcritical information in razor-sharp 3Dgraphics.

LAMBORGHINIHURACÁN LP 610-4

F.Y.I.Max power: 449kWMax torque: 560Nm

Combined CO2 emissions: 290g/kmTop speed: 202mph

Acceleration: 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds

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The new £7 million flagship Audidevelopment officially opened its doorslast month on Scotswood Road inNewcastle.

The landmark 35,000 sq ft development, setin an 4.5 acre site, is one of the largest Audidealership in the North of England and the firstin the region demonstrating the latest Audibrand concept.

Family-owned Benfield are proud to be

bringing such a prestigious development to theregion.

Mark Squires, Benfield’s chief executive,said, "I am enormously proud of our new Audidevelopment. With its stunning moderndesign, beautiful showroom and unrivalledcustomer service and aftersales facilities, Ibelieve it is the most impressive motor retailingsite in the North of England.”

The new development replaces the present

Audi dealership on Scotswood Road and thenew state-of-the-art show room has space for 19car display area and there is a used car displayarea with space for more than 80 vehicles.

The overall development also includes a fullaftersales facility, a 19-bay workshop withadvanced diagnostic equipment, dedicatedcustomer car parking, a private lounge area toconfigure you perfect Audi and a ‘QuattroLounge’ with free Wifi and refreshments.

M O T O R S

New £7m Audi dealershipThere’s ‘smiling faces gawn alang the Scotwood Road’

as Benfield opens a new showroom.

The motor group has won a nationalconsumer award as the overall winners ofthe Best Desktop Website in the motorindustry Autotrader Awards.

Based on independent consumer research,Benfield won the top award in the NationalMotor Dealer Group category, and the award isseen as a strong vote of confidence byconsumers in the group’s digital online

marketing strategy.Group digital sales and marketing manager,

Mark King, said: “As leading regional brand weare delighted to win this prestigious nationalaward.

“We have worked very hard to keep pacewith the digital world and online consumerdemand and this award is testimony to the in-house website team at Benfield.”

Benfield ‘clicks’ with award

Mark King

Mark Squires

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The car I had the real pleasure in drivingthis month is the new Cooper S, courtesyof Cooper Mini Sunderland. I have neverowned the original Mini but watching the

original Italian Job I had a soft spot for this iconiccar.

When BMW bought the rights to the Minibrand and they started making the all-new MINII just had to buy one! This car was just so coolwith its funky, new, cute look and BMWengineering the car became a salesphenomenon.

When fellow Mini drivers saw another newMini they would flash their headlights. As youcan imagine if Mini drivers did this now theywould wear out there headlights in a day…

I loved the car so much I went on to buy theCooper S, Convertible and the diesel. The firstCooper S gave the car a much-needed boost inperformance that the Cooper lacked. Apart fromthe performance boost it required, the car alsogot a sporty three spoke steering wheel which wasnever available on the Cooper.

The unique wail of the supercharger put asmile on your face every time you started theengine or just whenever you put your foot down.

When you park a new Mini next to theprevious model you will notice the new car is98mm longer, 44mm wider and 7mm taller thanthe previous model. The other thing todistinguish the new car from its predecessor is thefunky looking LED running lights and the rearnow looks much chunkier. The usual Cooper Straits are all still there from the front bonnetscoop to the chunky lower bumper which nowincludes brake cooling vents. The roof spoilerand double exhaust are also still there to help you

distinguish this car and lesser Minis.The Cooper S has been fitted with a 2.0lt

BMW engine. This engine produces 192bhp andit has diesel like torque, the car gets to 62mph in6.8 seconds.

The car now emits 133g/km, which is verygood considering its pocket rocket performance.In the right hands the car should return 49mpgbut with my heavy right foot we managed toreturn a respectable 30mpg.

The engine is not supercharged orturbocharged but believe me when I say it has tobe the best engine that has ever been fitted to aMini. When driven hard this engine soundsamazing with crackles and pop you wouldnormally associate with either a Porsche or aJaguar and definitely not an 18 grand Mini!

The six-speed gearbox is ideally suited to thecar and most drivers will feel like a rally pro asheel to toe changes can be done by amateurdrivers. The car handles like a sports car; the

chassis inspires confidence and the front end isreally grippy even when pushed to the car’slimits.

Once you get inside the car you will noticeboth the speedometer and the rev counter arenow behind the steering wheel rather than beingin the centre of the dash. The car now has a realpremium feel from the buttons to the toggles- thecar just exudes quality. The dashboard interiorcan now be matched with any five exteriorcolours; headlining colour can be changed so it’svery unlikely you will see two MINI’s looking thesame.

Pressing the sport button and the centre dialbecomes a fully functioning LED rev counterwith red line, which is really cool.

An illuminated strip rings the big circle, I amsure someone who likes vintage jukeboxesdesigned this. The neon strip changes colourevery time you change a feature.

Turning up the radio and more of it lights upas the volume goes up. The front doors are biggerthan before and the seats are a little lower,therefore its now easier to get inside. It is stillcramped inside the rear for two adults but on theupside the boot is 30 per cent than before. TheClio and Fiesta are still more practical but theMini will outsell them as its just such a great car.

The Cooper S is also now fitted with ActivePedestrian Protection, this Auto-brakes when itspots someone stepping in the path of the car. Iam sure with the extra safety features fitted to thiscar it will get a 5 star NCAP rating.

Being a fan of the new Mini with all therecent changes this car has become a real forceto be reckoned with and I honestly think the carhas regained its best in class crown.

M O T O R S

The best things come in Mini packages Bob Arora test-drives the new Mini Cooper S.

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Customers visiting Jennings Mazda, partof the Jennings Motor Group, aretaking advantage of the latest fuel-saving SKYACTIV technology sixth

generation models currently available at thegroup’s dealership in Middlesbrough.

The beginning of 2014 saw the official launchof the latest sixth generation all-new Mazda3model which joined the other two previouslylaunched sixth generation CX-5 and Mazda6models in the range.

On display and available to test drive atJennings Mazda’s Cargo Fleet Lane dealership inMiddlesbrough, the 36 model all-new Mazda3line-up, available in hatchback and saloon form,is priced from £16,995 on-the-road.

James Chorlton, franchise manager at JenningsMazda in Middlesbrough, said: “To date, all ofthe sixth generation models, which incorporateMazda’s innovative fuel-saving SKYACTIVtechnology, are proving exceptionally popularwith both retail and business customers.

“The all-new Mazda3, which is the latestmodel to be launched, has contributed towardsan increase in sales at the dealership, thanks to itsstate-of-the-art SKYACTIV technology, drivingdemand for class-leading performance, fueleconomy, low CO2 emissions, exciting drivingexperience, in addition to a stunning exteriordesign and generous equipment levels.”

Each version of the latest model features themanufacturer’s innovative fuel-saving SKYACTIVtechnology, available in three SKYACTIV-Gpetrol engines, together with the award-winning

2.2-litre 150ps SKYACTIV-D turbo diesel.Customers who opt for the all-new Mazda3

can choose between five high specificationmodels including SE, SE Nav, SE-L, SE-L Navand the range topping Sport Nav.

Class-leading levels of equipment are fitted asstandard, including Smart City Brake Support onevery model and internet connectivity through asmartphone, providing access to online radioservices and social media such as Twitter andFacebook.

Retail and business customers takingadvantage of the sixth generation Mazda6 modelhave a choice between 36 saloon and tourermodels with three equipment levels includingSE, SE-L and Sport (with or without SatelliteNavigation) and four high-efficiency SKYACTIVdiesel and petrol powertrains with prices rangingfrom £19,595 to £28,295 on-the-road.

James added; “The Mazda6 has always been apopular car for both private and business usersand following improvements made to fueleconomy and C02 emissions, which wereintroduced last year, in addition to its five-starsafety rating, the model has become even moreappealing to customers seeking economy,coupled with good performance and safety.”

Meanwhile, the range of sixth generationMazda CX-5 compact SUV models has also givena welcome sales boost at the dealership.

The 20-strong line-up of CX-5 models comesin a 165ps petrol or 150/175ps diesel engines, six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, threespecification levels including SE-L, SE-L Lux and

Sport, with or without Sat Nav, in addition to achoice of two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive –depending on the model.

Customers wanting to test drive the sixthgeneration range and other models can do so atthe Mazda Specialist Driver Event, which isscheduled to take place at the Cargo Fleet Lanedealership on July 19-20. Places for the test driveevent are strictly limited, so if you are interested inbooking a place contact the dealership on(01642) 256655.

In addition to achieving outstandingperformance in 2013, Jennings Mazda has alsorecently been presented with a Dealer PartnerAward for achieving more than a decade ofsuccessful business in Teesside.

The dealership is responsible for selling theentire new Mazda model line-up including theMazda2, all-new Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda6, CX-5 and MX-5 soft top, MX-5 roadster coupe,Mazda2 Colour Limited Edition and the MX-5Sport Venture range, which are on display andavailable to test drive at the Middlesbroughdealership.In addition to selling new and quality approvedused cars, customers can also take advantage of anafter sales service, with a service, MOT, accidentrepair centre and parts department on site.

For more information about the range ofproducts and services available at JenningsMazda, customers can call into the Cargo FleetLane dealership, contact (01642) 256655, orvisit www.jenningsmotorgroup.co.uk

M O T O R S

Next generation Customers take advantage of sixth generation models

available at Jennings Mazda.

James Chorlton with the all-new Mazda3.

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Offering dramatic new styling,including a down force-generatingrear spoiler, thrilling drivingperformance and unbeatable safety

features, the all-new Subaru WRX STIguarantees a focused and invigorating driveeverytime – making it a fine choice for bothmotorsport fans and speed enthusiasts.Internally, the model is adorned with crispelectroluminescent gauges, including a 3.5-inch LDC display that can be customised toproject vital driving information in your directfield of view. You’ll also find a new D-shapedsteering wheel, which offers linear responseand convenient controls, and front seats thatfeature deep bolsters. Under the aluminiumbonnet lies a 2.5-litre turbocharged SubaruBoxer engine – the culprit behind its

electrifying acceleration – while at its core liesa one-of-a-kind Symmetrical All-Wheel Drivesystem. To modify and harness performance,drivers can use SI-Drive, which allows you toselect three different levels of response – Sport,Intelligent and Sport Sharp – at a press of abutton and make use of the model’s quick-shifting 6-speed transmission. Safety featuresinclude the ultimate name in high-performance breaking – Brembo brakes – andring-shaped reinforcement frames, whichstrengthen the entire passenger cabin and helpdivert impact energy away from occupantsshould a collision occur.

The Subaru WRX STI is priced at £28,995OTR. Visit www.subaru.co.uk for moreinformation

M O T O R S

Subaru WRX STI

F.Y.I.Fuel Economy

Combined - 27.2mpg | Extra Urban - 33.6 mpg | Urban - 20.2 mpg | Fuel tank Capacity - 60 litres | Co2 (g/km) - 242

Torque & Top SpeedMax speed - 159mph | Max torque - 407 @ 4,000 | Max power - 300 @ 6,000

Power0.62 in 5.2 seconds

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F E A T U R E

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Most of us shudder at the thought of a team-building day withvisions of endless trust exercises, falling back into each other’sarms, or navigating a blindfolded colleague around an

obstacle course.But pick the right activity and it could have endless benefits:

cementing colleagues’ relationships and motivating them when backin the office.

Karting North East offers something new when it comes to corporatedays, thanks to a hefty injection of cash from its owner, British PeugeotUK IRC rally driver Guy Wilks.

Describing itself as having ‘adrenaline for hire’, it offers go karting,Rage rallying, 4X4 off-roading, paintballing, archery and tomahawkthrowing.

Invited to sample the ‘adrenaline’ for myself, I made my way to thecentre, just off the A690 near Houghton le Spring, with somecolleagues last month.

The excitement along with raging competitive spirit grew amongmy all-male workmates, with much talk of racing lines and weightadvantage.

I, on the other hand, was feeling morenervous than excited as the day drew nearer(although, admittedly, I did harbour a desire toshow the boys up on the track).

When we arrived at the site, a largecar park and welcoming, well-equippedreception area, with VIP area overlookingthe go kart track, greeted us.

After filling out the necessary safety forms(and more ultra-competitive discussion) wewere ready for our first activity – 4x4 off-roading.

The four of us climbed into a batteredlooking Landrover Defender which, we were told byour instructor, was ex-military; so definitely no air-conditioning, radio or electric windows!

We were driven to the purpose-built 4x4 coursewhere all the safety information was relayed to us.

Our instructor then drove us around the dramatic terrain, talking usthrough all the steering and breaking techniques and demonstratingthe vehicle’s capabilities. Then it was our turn.

I really loved my 4x4 experience. I was surprised how confident Ifelt behind the wheel going up and down steep gradients and throughdeep water channels – thanks largely to the clear instruction comingfrom our expert in the passenger seat.

I could have easily spent the whole afternoon at the 4x4 course,attempted more difficult routes but alas, it was on to the next activity –the Rage buggies.

A new addition to the centre this year, the Rage Buggy Storm (R40T)is the fasted corporate buggy available in the UK.

Driven on another purpose-built course, the buggies can either bedriven individually against the clock or against another buggy.

As there weren’t many of us, we were advised to go one at a timeand have our times recorded.

I volunteered to go first and gingerly climbed into the buggy – withKohler V-Twin petrol engine, giving 998cc capacity – next to theinstructor.

We were allowed one ‘sighting lap’ before it was against the clock.I found the stop-and-go two-pedal system simple to master, and

although fast, I felt in control racing around the course as my partylooked on from a safe distance.

There was plenty of fun to be had maneuvering the tight corners,bridge and muddy puddles – you will get wet but overalls, in additionto the safety equipment, are provided.

I even managed not to come last! That accolade went to another –albeit because he managed to incur three 20-second penalties by‘overcooking’ it.

While we waited for the go karts, we were asked if we wanted totry the tomahawk throwing

Not an activity I had much urge to try, I gamely joined the othersand found throwing the primitive North American Indian weapon at a

wooden target strangely addictive.Archery is also available at the centre, as is

paintballing – another new addition this year – withits own hillside arena and World War II set-up ready

to host the battle.But for us, our next activity was the one that

the majority of us had been looking forwardto the most – the go karts.

Karting North East has one of the largestoutdoor tracks in the UK and there are a

number of corporate options to choosefrom including Grand Prix, endurance or

sprint races. Before we got to try out the karts, we were

shown a safety film and fitted out with our highquality racing garb: suit, helmet and gloves.Then it was onto the track. Those in our party

who had driven go karts before zoomed confidently outof the pits and while it took me more time to gain my

confidence, I was soon speeding around the track myself.Alas though, I was not to teach the boys a lesson (most of whom

lapped me multiple times). A female Lewis Hamilton in the making, Iam not. But my first experience on a race track had been exhilarating.

Adrenaline was pumping through all our veins as our action-packedafternoon came to an end. The last-place Rage Buggy driver alsoredeemed himself my walking away with the much- coveted go kartingtrophy – now sitting proudly on the windowsill in the office.

While some may dismiss go karting as an activity for stag and henparties, Karting North East is so much more than that with activities tosuit everyone.

There are a number of corporate packages available. Staff are alsomore than happy to create a bespoke day that works for yourcompany. So why not give Karting North East a try the next time yourstaff need some out-of-office entertainment.

For more information visit www.kartingnortheast.com

ON THERIGHT TRACK

ALISON COWIE VISITS KARTING NORTH EAST FOR ANADRENALINE-FILLED CORPORATE DAY BEHIND THE WHEEL …

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E D U C A T I O N

Recent achievements at the independent school.

News fromDame Allan’s Schools

On song

Pamelina Oubinova from Dame Allan’s JuniorSchool and Nursery has won an AvisonEnsemble Young Musicians’ Award.

This annual music award, which was set up in2006, is open to young musicians across theNorth East, who have to perform two pieces ofmusic, one of which must be by an 18th centurycomposer of their choice.

The judges included Gordon Dixon,executive director of the Avison ensemble andeminent musicians and educators. Everyonetaking part receives some tuition and guidanceand finalists are assessed for their talents for liveperformance.

Pamelina won the grades four to six categoryfor her singing and was presented with her awardby the Mayor of Gateshead at the AvisonEnsemble’s annual family concert.

Pamelina is following in the footsteps of LauraArmstrong who won two Avison awards in 2012and Anjali Joseph who won in 2009.

Young Enterprise win again

Following their success at the Young EnterpriseNorth East Trade Fair in February, the DameAllan’s company Creative Solutions Publishinghas gone on to win Best Overall Company at theYoung Enterprise Area Finals.

Over 35 companies from schools anduniversities in the region took part in the TradeFair at the Intu Metrocentre. The YoungEnterprise competition, which is open tostudents between 15 and 24, challenges

companies to set up and run their own businessfor one academic year. The Creative Solutionscompany has designed and produced a cookerybook aimed at students heading off to universityand people cooking on a budget.

Creative Solutions’ publishing prowessimpressed the judges once again at the Areafinals held at Beamish Hall Hotel, to take themthrough to the regional finals.

The company is led by managing directorAdam Coombs with James Moffat, Joe McGurk,Anna Nieuwkoop, Hannah Elliot and JasonDougenis completing the board.

New dimensions

The school dance company Vizavis has beenselected to perform in New Dimensions, part ofU.dance 2014, Youth Dance England’s flagshipevent.

This is a truly outstanding achievement. New Dimensions is a new strand, first

introduced last year, which stipulates groupsmust produce 'work of an exceptional standardthat pushes the boundaries of youth dance'. Theperformance is expected to be of a semi-professional standard and only six to eight worksfrom around the country are selected. Vizaviswill now take part in the National Festival inNottingham, performing Psycho, which waschoreographed by dance teacher Mrs Waters.

Meanwhile the junior dance group, Jeune,was selected to represent Newcastle in theregional final, which once again is a remarkableachievement and shows the consistently highstandard of dance within the Schools.

The taste of famine

While fellow pupils were preparing a sumptuousmeal for the fundraising Hell’s Kitchen event,teenagers in the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools had avery different experience.

They lived through the experiences offamilies in the third world during a daydedicated to food, famine and feasting.

Their teachers had divided the school dayinto three workshops, exploring trading, foodshortages and finally feasts.

The highlight - or perhaps nadir - was thevivid recreation of the life of a family living in anarea of food shortages and poverty. The pupilsforaged around the Schools' grounds forfirewood, wondering how to cope with depletingsupplies, and walked nearly a mile with leakybuckets to collect water which they could not besure was clean.

Back at their 'home', they lit a small fire andcooked a meal for their 'family' of five using yamand lentils.

The harsh realities of life in the Darfourrefugee camp or in Kibera, Africa's largest slum,quickly became apparent during the tradingworkshop, but some of their entrepreneurialskills came to the fore, too, when they realisedthe importance of trading every scrap theypossessed.

The feast of a vegetable curry was a welcomerelief, although the ingredients were far fromlavish by western standards.

For more information visitwww.dameallans.co.uk

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D I R E C T O R Y

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D I R E C T O R Y

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How can sun exposure damage ourskin?

Sun damage occurs when unprotected skin isexposed to the ultraviolet light emitted by thesun. UVB rays cause sunburn but UVA, foundin all daylight, is the radiation that ages skin.Some 95 per cent of the rays to hit our skin areUVA, so it’s important to use high sunprotection factor (SPF) of at least 15 every day.

Environmental factors, including sunexposure, cigarette smoking, sun beds anddehydration, contribute to aging skin. Sundamage can lead to fine lines and wrinkles andpigmentation is caused by the over-activity oftanning cells, leaving sun spots and darkpatches.

The sun can also change the tone, textureand elasticity of the skin, especially on the backof the hands.

We need to beware of skin cancer too. TheSkin Cancer Foundation says around 65 percent of melanoma cases can be directlyattributed to UV radiation. Before anycosmetic work, we thoroughly check for signsof skin cancer because any malignancy mustbe treated first. This is one of the reasons it’simportant to check a plastic surgeon’scredentials online to ensure they areaccredited with the General Medical Councilas they will ensure you get the treatment thatyou need and not just want.

What kind of non-surgicaltreatments are available?

There are all kinds of non-surgical treatmentsavailable and these include de-pigmentation,lotions, chemical peels and line and wrinklefillers. Injectable fillers work best for staticwrinkles, which don’t move with the muscles,while anti-wrinkle injections to paralyse themuscles are best around the eyes and selectivelyaround the mouth.

We can use bleaching agents on pigmentedskin, and both fillers and deep facial peels andtreatments with a fractionated CO2 laser can beused in lip rejuvenation, especially to reduce‘smoker’s lines’ around the lips.

After a facial laser, it’s especially important towear a high SPF every day. I always advise patientsto wear a hat with a brim if they’re out in the sun.After lasering, moisturising is very important.

I carry out light peels in outpatients and deeppeels in theatre. They range from 15 per centstrength to 40 per cent when they are used tospot peel deeply pigmented areas.

What are the surgical options?

Facelifts start with the mini lift, which takesaround 45 minutes under local anaesthetic, andcan be combined with a full-face lasertreatment. The next step up is the Endotinefacelift, using dissolving strips of material thathold deep tissue in place. A popular treatment

among women in their 40s and 50s is theMACS lift, which can be combined withlasering. We also carry out full face and necklifts - a much bigger type of operation.Smaller options can really make a differencehowever. For instance, baggy eyes can betreated with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).

What can be done for sun damageto the body?

One of the big give aways of age can be thebacks of the hands, so it’s no surprise that handrejuvenation is becoming popular. Treatmentsinclude injecting fillers or the patient’s own fatto fill dents between tendons. We can laserresurface the skin on the back of the hand andmake prominent veins smaller with injectionslike those used for varicose veins. Excess skin onthe back of the hand can be removed as well.

While cosmetic treatments can deliver someexcellent results, none should ever be takenlightly which is why we are here to answerquestions and talk honestly about the risks.

If you’d like to know more, why not book intoone of our pop up events at Sunderland’sStadium of Light on July 12 or St James’ Parkon July 26 – we’d love to see you there.

For more information or to book your freeplace at one of the pop-up events, visitwww.spirewashington.com or call (0191) 4188687.

H E A L T H

Limit the sun damageAssociate professor Neil McLean talks through the comprehensive range of solutions for

skin damage caused by sun exposure available at Spire Washington Hospital.

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You are pioneering the use ofNeurofeedback here in the NorthEast. Tell us about the treatment.

Neurofeedback can be used to treat almost anycondition relating to the nervous system ororiginating in the brain, from autism anddementia to cerebral palsy. Dementia symptomscan be relieved for up to five years, if caught earlyenough. The way it works is by using mild radiowaves to read the brain via sensors attached to theears and certain points around the head. Thewaves can then ‘nudge’ the brain to lessen thesymptoms over a number of sessions.

Who is Neurowave most suited to?

Neurowave is suited to anyone who wants toimprove their functioning in cognitive ability.This might be someone who has had a knock onthe head to someone who is in early stages ofAlzheimer’s/dementia, early stages of Parkinson’s,or people with issues such as migraines, anxiety,depression, OCD, explosive anger etc.

Neurofeedback has also been shown to helpfunctioning in people with Asperger’s Syndrome,hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, traumaticbrain injury and fibromyalgia. What type of results can you expectand how many sessions does itusually take?

Treatments of Neurofeedback take about 30

minutes – some of this time will include applyingthe electrodes as the actual feedback andstimulation may only last a few seconds at thespecified sites. The person doesn’t have to doanything, just sit and close there eyes. There areno drugs, no needles, just some sensors attachedto the head.

Most of the time, you don’t even knowanything has happened until after the sessionwhen your symptoms might start decreasingimmediately, but for some, improvements maynot be noted until after a few sessions.

For some disorders, substantial symptomreduction may be seen within 10 to 20 sessions.For a degenerative illness like dementia,although symptoms can be delayed for up to fiveyears (if caught early), regular continuingtreatments are necessary, albeit infrequently. Forcomplex issues like Autistic spectrum, you couldexceed 50 sessions, but with small symptomimprovement seen regularly. The length oftreatment very much depends on how sensitiveyou are as a person, as well as what you aresuffering from.

Neurofeedback is widespread inother countries. Which ones andwhy?

Neurofeedback is available in mostcountries, albeit it is more widespread in some,such as Germany and the USA, where thereare healthcare innovators who havedeveloped and popularised their own

Neurofeedback methodologies.

What are your next plans for thebusiness?

Our long-term plans are to introduce ‘PeakPerformance’ clinics. Neurowave has not onlybrought the first Neurofeedback availability toTyneside, but also HeartMath, a coherentbreathing technique for an optimal state of mind,stress reduction and optimal performance. Whencombined with Neurofeedback, it can bringbalance to the hormonal, immune and nervoussystems aiding the body’s ability to self-regulateand process information. Our aim is to connectwith the public sector, sports clubs, residentialcare homes and education providers tocommunicate the benefits and make both serviceswidely available to those in need.

What is your advice for potentialpatients or friends and family lookingfor treatment for loved ones?

We are happy to hold informal informationmeetings with small groups of interested peopleor organisations to give demonstrations and offerintroductory free taster sessions so please get intouch.

For more information about aboutNeurofeedback or HeartMath call (0191)6030880, email: [email protected] or visitwww.neurowave.co.uk

H E A L T H

Ash’s brainwaveNorth East business man Ash Nehmet has recently launched Neurowave, a pioneering

neurofeedback treatment used to tackle the symptoms of a wide range of conditions includingautism, dementia and Parkinson’s Disease. Adopted widely in Europe and the US, here he talks

about bringing it to the North East and the benefits it can have.

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Most people hear the word cholesteroland panic. Somehow people thinkthat if theirs is high they aresomehow very unhealthy and at risk

of coronary heart disease, this is all down to thefact that laypeople have been bombarded bymisinformation about cholesterol (as well as fat)and it could not be further from the truth.

Now here is something you won’t have heardtoo many times, cholesterol is an essentialmolecule without which there would be no life, soimportant in fact that every cell in the body iscapable of synthesizing it.

It’s a basic raw material made by your liver,brain and almost every cell in the body.

Among its other duties cholesterol is a majorstructural molecule, a framework on which othercritical substances are made, the body cannotsurvive without it.

We need it for bile acids (digesting andabsorbing), vitamin D production, steroidhormones including sex hormones (progesterone,testosterone, estrogen), stress hormones (cortisol).

It makes up a major part of the membranessurrounding cells and the structures within them.

If all that is not enough to convince you thatcholesterol is your friend it also plays a big role inhelping fight bacteria and infections.

The brain is particularly rich in cholesterol andaccounts for around a quarter of all the cholesterolwe have in our bodies.

The fatty myelin sheath that coats every nervecell and fiber is about one fifth cholesterol,therefore neuronal communication depends on it,no surprise then that among the many side effectsof cholesterol lowering drugs is poor cognitiveperformance and potential memory loss!

As I’ve just touched on a particular point aboutcholesterol lowering drugs (statins) here is another(not so minor) fact proven by cardiologists aroundthe globe. Statins deplete the body of coenzymeQ10! What’s this you ask?

Coenzyme Q10 is a vital nutrient made inevery cell in the body and is a major chemicalparticipant in the production of cellular energy aswell as, wait for it, it’s critically important for thestrong pumping action of the heart!

Why would you want to take a drug thatactually deprives the heart of the fuel its needs toperform properly?

If that’s not enough to help to reconsider asecond opinion (or doctor), other possible sideeffects of statins include, muscle pain, weakness,fatigue, memory and cognition problems,depression and inhibits sexual drive.

I believe cholesterol is a minor player in thedevelopment of heart disease and that whatevergood statin drugs accomplish has very little to dowith their cholesterol – lowering ability.

Statin drugs are indeed anti-inflammatory (asare anti-oxidants from fruits and veggies) and theirpower to reduce inflammation is much moreimportant than their ability to lower cholesterol.

As just mentioned we do have the ability tolower inflammation (and the risk of heart disease)with natural supplements, a better diet andlifestyle changes.

Best thing about these changes is you won’texperience any side effects apart from increasedenergy levels, fat loss, feeling better and lookingbetter but I’m sure you won’t complain aboutthat.

For more information call Be-Fit on(0191) 213 5300.

W E L L - B E I N G

Asks Will St Leger from Be-Fit.

What is cholesterol?

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When we’re naked, it’s not just ourbodies that are on exhibit – it’s ourdiscipline (or lack thereof) and allthose itty bitty flaws that clothes

usually hide. Everyone has seen themselves in the mirror

and felt something other than spectacular butfollow these fitness rules and you will looksexier, live healthier and feel more confident.

Watch your portion size

You can easily do that and still consumeenough food to keep healthy and satisfied if youeat at least five to six times a day. Eating thisnumber of times requires advanced planningand some preparation on your part, but it is byno means an impossible obstacle.

Eat clean and avoid junk food

Everyone knows this rule, and it’s simple. Thedifficult part is to commit and be consistent.Use your personal trainer or nutritionist to help

you keep on the straight and narrow withregular contact and re-assessments.

Exercise regularly

If you are after great results, then bedetermined and 100 per cent consistent and donot skip your workouts. Consistency is vital toreaching your fitness goals and reducing yourwobbly bits. Make the choice to invest time andmoney every single day to work on your body.This alone will have a massive positive effecton your body shape. Remember you needconsistent effort.

Drink plenty of water

Drinking enough water is essential not onlyfor fat loss, but for your over all health andappearance of your skin. Don’t drink anythingless than two liters of water a day. Thatdoesn’t include coffee, tea or other beverages.This will also help with cellulite and skinhealth.

Get enough rest

Your health depends on three things: diet,exercise and rest. All of them have to be inbalance in order to stay healthy and fit, so makesure that you get enough sleep.

These rules will have you well on the way tolooking great in or out of your clothes!For more realistic health and lifestyle advicecontact Bodyguards Fitness Service ltd. YourPersonal Trainer will develop your bespoketraining plan. Your trainer will guide youthrough your entire programme of health andfitness development, which includes yourtraining inside and outside of the gym, yourdiet, your lifestyle and all support services toensure that you are in full health. We aim tomake you feel like yourself again, only better!

For more information contact BodyguardsFitness Service Ltd on (0191) 239 9000,email: [email protected] or visitwww.bodyguardapt.com

W E L L - B E I N G

How working out can get you thebody you want, by Tony Douglass of

Bodyguards Fitness Service Ltd.

Bareall this summer

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There’s never a dull day for local swingand acoustic music talent, GlenRoughead, whose diary is full of eventsand performances, with one particular

gig heads-and-shoulders above the rest.Towards the end of the year, Glen has

planned a special event in aid of a cause thatlies very close to his heart.

Swing for Parkinson’s will take place atNewcastle City Hall on November 19, 2014

The show is Glen’s brainchild due to hisdad suffering from Parkinson’s, with the aimthat the concert will raise the charities localawareness whilst also raising vital funds,which will contribute to the charities maingoals; to change attitudes and find a cure.

Glen reflects: “It’s difficult for anyone tosee a loved one suffer from a progressivedisease such as Parkinson’s, which is exactlythe reason for this concert because it’s soimportant to have as many hands and voiceson board, shouting, or in this case singing,about the significance of finding a cure.”

Tickets for the event range from £20 to£25 and are available directly through theCity Hall’s website

(www.newcastlecityhall.org) or at venue’s boxoffice.

After selling out Sage Gateshead back inMarch, Glen continues to grow in his fieldwith recognition for his work becoming wellknown across the region.

If waiting for November to come aroundseems like a lifetime, Glen is also making a

return to Sage Gateshead, supported by thePaul James Band for a performance titled, AnEvening of Swing, on July 9, commencing at7pm with tickets costing a minimal £10.

Throughout his short career Glen has builtup an unrivalled reputation for bringing hisinfectious personality and talent to acountless number of private and corporateevents. Whether you’re planning a wedding,celebrating a special occasion or planning acorporate dinner, Glen and his band are sureto be able to create a tailor made package tomeet your exact needs.

To discuss pricing and check availabilitycontact Glen on 07847 950 052 or [email protected].

To listen to examples of music fromGlen’s catalogue of favourites visitwww.glenrswing.co.uk or log on to Glen’sSoundcloud channel by searching Glen-Roughead at www.soundcloud.com. Stay up to date with forthcoming gigsand events like Glen R Swing onFacebook or follow @glenroughead onTwitter.


Swing for Parkinson’sGlen Roughead prepares for a very

personal performance.

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Afour-star holiday home developmenthas been given the go-ahead withwork due to take place in early July,2014.

Northumbrian Hills will be situated onBurgham Park estate near Felton betweenMorpeth and Alnwick and offers an opportunityfor those wanting a holiday home in ruralNorthumberland, yet close to the coast.

This will be a multi-staged resortdevelopment with plans also approved for apavilion including restaurants, bars, leisurefacilities plus a golf academy.

Developer William Kiely, who also ownsBurgham Park Golf Club, said: “We’redelighted to finally be given the green light forthe development. This has been years in themaking so to see our first customer’s homes

getting built in the near future will be fantastic.“The first stage is to build 50 three-bedroom

stone holiday cottages, each cottage will be 107square metres in size, spread over two floorsand come with a balcony as standard.

“We are also very aware of our carbonfootprint so have put measures in place toensure we are doing our best to care for theenvironment. We have air source heat pumpsfor the under floor heating which can reduceenergy consumption by 50 per cent. We alsooffer buyers the option to have solar power fortheir property.

“The site itself offers breathtaking views ofthe Northumberland countryside and it sitsclose to the championship golf course,clubhouse and restaurant so there’s plenty to doon your doorstep as well as exploring the

Northumberland coastline and countryside.This development will hopefully boost tourismand show people from around the country oreven further afield just what our region has tooffer.

“Once the first 50 plots have been sold, thenext phase, is to start working on the two-storeypavilion which will provide homeowners with aspa, swimming pool, bars, restaurants andmuch more to really get you into that relaxedframe of mind. The final stage will be thecreation of a world-class golf academy withteaching bays and a driving range along withother sports facilities.”

House prices start from £235,000, if youwould like any further information visitwww.northumbrianhills.com

F E A T U R E

Luxury holidayaccommodation with

breathtaking viewsWork begins on

Northumbrian Hills,an exclusive holidayhome development

situated betweenMorpeth and

Alnwick.

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William Kiely,managing director

at NorthumbrianHills.

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For the past three and a half years, FastTrack Reclaim has grown to be arecognisable brand known for its workwithin both the finance and customer

service sectors. The company is based in the North East

across two sites, the first being an AdminCentre in Stockton and the second a CustomerContact Centre in Billingham, collectivelyemploying around 170 staff.

Established in September 2010, thebusiness, set up by childhood friends ColinHartness and Duncan Crocker, has seen rapidexpansion over just a few years, thanks totelevision and radio promotions.

Fast Track started with no monetaryinvestment but instead both company directorsdevoted an undisputable amount of time to thebusiness’ success, which to this date has seenan exceptional return.

Fast Track has successfully reclaimed over£50 million for customers, with added millionsbeing reclaimed each month.

The company’s no-win no-fee stance meansthat fees are only applicable for successfulclaims.

It’s very easy when you contact Fast Track tomake a claim, as in most cases, all you need is

the name of the bank or lender, the address youlived in at the time and your full name; it reallyis that simple. Customers will also find outupfront if they are due a PPI refund which addsto the simplicity of the process. You could beentitled to thousands of pounds and retrieve itwith minimal hassle.

The company are passionate aboutestablishing a local workforce and say that theyouth of the area are integral to the future ofFast Track Reclaim.

There is also great opportunity foradvancement within the business, with many ofthe apprentices taking up the challenge withthe hope of progression.

Over the three-and-a-half-years Fast Trackhas been in business, it has given more than 50apprentices the chance to get their careersstarted.

Apprentices are also given the chance toundertake NVQ qualifications in businessadministration, allowing them to learn whilethey earn.

Extensive training is given to all new starterswithin a specific area of the claims process,which ensures that they are fully prepared andknowledgeable in their field before enteringinto customer interactions. Areas of training

include how to efficiently and correctly dealwith customers, providing great customerservice as well as dealing with data protectionwhile also being informed about importantrules and regulations to follow.

Fast Track Reclaim prides itself on being aNorth East-based company ensuring all of theircustomers, no matter where in the country, aregreeted by a friendly accent; something whichhelps customers feel more confident andreassured during their claim.

Enforcing a no cold-calling policy hashelped to build trust with customers andprovide a personal service. As a company, FastTrack are proud to say that they care about theircustomers and believe that they should be welllooked after, promoting that they are always onthe clients’ side.

The company has also been awarded a ratingof 4.5 out of a possible 5 on independentreview site eKomi, to date, with over 600customer reviews, meaning the company havebeen awarded the ‘silver seal of approval’ fromthe site.

You can contact a member of the team bycalling 08000 699 121 or visitwww.fasttrackreclaim.com


Reclaim what’srightfully yours

How Fast Track Reclaim can help you.

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I N T E R V I E W

When I was growing up, I wanted tobe a journalist, which I was for seven years.Being a reporter is a great job that teaches you arange of skills. I value that grounding andwould certainly encourage anyone with thesame ambition to pursue it. I didn’t expect toleave newspapers as early as I did, but thechance I was offered at NECC is something Ihaven’t looked back from.

My first job was handing out flyers inChester city centre when I was 14, fora shop my brother was running at the time. Ithink he paid me about £2 an hour. He’s gotanother shop now, so I could probably get aSaturday job again if I start running low oncash – I think there’s been a bit of inflationsince then, though.

I’d tell my 18-year-old self to travelmore. I kick myself a bit for going straightfrom school to university and straight fromuniversity to a career, when a lot of otherpeople took the chance to do somethingcompletely different. I think I was a bit tooimpatient. Also, I’d tell myself not to attemptthat manoeuvre when I crashed my dad’s car!

I’m inspired by several of my friendswho have come through muchmore difficult situations than I’ve everhad to. I spend time with people who havefaced some horrible things and yet don’t showany signs of bitterness about it. It definitely putsmy problems into perspective.

My greatest achievements are thetimes when we’ve helped changeconditions for business in the NorthEast for the better. They include gettingreductions to business taxes, upgrades on theA1, or overcoming planning problems to getnew factories built. That’s ultimately what we’rehere for and it’s what gets us excited. Butthey’re always a result of teamwork involvingcolleagues, NECC members, and often othergroups besides ourselves, so I certainly don’tclaim them as my achievements alone.

When I need a helping hand, I pray.I’m a Christian and I believe that there is a Godwho is genuinely interested in the detail of ourlives, including the little problems. Some peoplemay consider that daft, but I’m sure that they areanswered, even if not always how I expect.

My favourite album is High LandHard Rain by Aztec Camera, and hasbeen since I was five years old. I was fortunateto have a dad and older brother whointroduced me to good music almost frombirth, and we all went to see the gig to mark the30th anniversary of this record in Manchesterlast year. It made me feel quite old, but at leastI was the youngest out of the three of us.

In my spare time, I love to get outwith my wife and four-year-old twins.Living in the North East is brilliant because wecan get to the beach, the countryside, or loadsof fantastic attractions within a matter ofminutes.

In five years time, I’ll be still living andworking in the North East. Although I’mnot originally from here, I’ve grown to love thisregion and to love doing a job where I canmake a small contribution to making it evenbetter. If in five years I’m still doing that with ahappy, healthy family, I’ll be very satisfied.Beyond that, it’s hard to say, as I’ve never beensomeone to plan things too far ahead – I’ll justhave to wait and see.

Get to know me ...

Ross Smith Director of Policy

for North East Chamberof Commerce.

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North East Times Magazine - July 2014

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