Tag: business

Durham Fashion Shop Wins Retailer Of The Year Award

By on 29th December 2015in Local Biz

A North East designer menswear store is celebrating in style – after being named Retailer of the Decade…

Woven, at The Gates Shopping Centre, Durham, took the accolade at the city’s retail awards along with two other awards on the night –  Independent Retailer of the Year and Retail Person of the Year.

And for owner Chris Hayes, there was an added bonus in the latter award – as it went to his son, Oliver.

This is the latest in a long line of successes for the independent menswear store, which launched in Durham five years ago.

Chris, originally from Teesside, launched Woven after decades in the clothing trade, having launched top designer store Van Mildert in 1995 with two friends.

Struggling initially to get anyone to finance the plan, Chris and his colleagues eventually got a loan from Durham Miners’ Pension Fund for £25,000, and created a business which – at its height – had a £7m turnover.

The company was sold in 2010, and Chris decided to concentrate on opening a dedicated menswear store.

“It’s a fantastic honour to have been given this award,” he said.

“Everyone at Woven is dedicated to providing great levels of service and offering our customers the best in men’s designer wear, and it’s very gratifying to see this recognised in this way.”

7 Big Mistakes Businesses Make Online

By on 29th December 2015in Local Biz

Chester-le-Street based Design & Marketing Agency Jak Inc share their insight into making the most of your online presence…

 

As veteran website designers and experts in mobile optimisation, we often get to see behind the scenes of some of the best and worst web presences.

In doing so, we’ve identified five of the biggest mistakes that businesses are making online. Read on to find out what they are…

1. Websites aren’t mobile-friendly.

Let’s start with a biggie. On average in the UK, we each spend nearly two hours per day browsing the internet on our mobile devices, and in the last few years, mobile shopping has surpassed desktop shopping.

The trouble is, users are still being turned away by sites that aren’t optimised for mobile screens. If a site isn’t intuitive to use on the devices that are now becoming the standard, potential customers are inclined to go elsewhere.

Mobile-optimisation isn’t an option or a recommendation anymore. It’s a necessity.

Plus, Google has recently begun penalising non-mobile-friendly websites by moving them further down in search results. It’s a big price to pay for failing to keep up with digital trends.

2. Web and social media is rarely updated.

The internet is a fast-paced environment, and users are always hungry for new content.

The really successful web presences are the ones that are never short of an update or two, and the ones that are well-practiced in delivering fresh, exciting, entertaining, and original content. As you’d expect, it keeps audiences coming back for more.

Unfortunately, however, keeping content moving is a time-consuming process, and is difficult to keep consistent. If you haven’t already lost your audience thanks to your non-mobile-friendly site, chances are your lack of updates will do it, so make sure you set aside some amount of time every day to update your presence.

3. Imagery isn’t utilised where necessary.

They say a picture can say a thousand words, and the phrase has never been truer than in the context of the internet and social media.

These days, users have neither the time nor inclination to read more than they have to. The web is endlessly scrollable, and nothing can make a viewer click the ‘next’ button faster than a wall of text. Images, however, are far more effective at grabbing attention and communicating a message.

Don’t take your audience’s attention for granted.

A great place to utilise imagery is Twitter. Thanks to the platform’s 140 character limit, a well-chosen photograph or graphic can help get across a message that wouldn’t otherwise have fit!

4. Websites aren’t user-friendly.

When somebody visits your website, there are usually only a handful of things they’re really looking for. In most cases, they want to know who you are, what you do, and how they can obtain your services.

This is the information that should be immediately available to your visitors, and not buried behind a slew of pages and hyperlinks. If it takes more than five to ten seconds to have their questions answered, you may have lost their interest for good.

Assess exactly what your own visitor’s objectives will be, and ensure you meet them. Check out our guide to a great homepage for more tips.

5. Call-to-actions are vague or non-existent.

Let’s assume that you’ve successfully lured visitors to your website or social media pages. Now what? What exactly do you want them to do?

Your call-to-action will depend on your business, but it could be that you want visitors to book an appointment, buy a product, or download something. Too often, visitors have no immediate indication of how to do any of that.

Let’s say you want visitors to fill in an appointment form. That form needs to take centre-stage on your website homepage, right next to a brief explanation of who you are, and why anyone should fill in this form.

6. Download speeds are unnecessarily slow.

This one is a classic.

Designing your first/new website can be exciting, and there’s often the urge to fill it with as many fancy images, videos, and widgets as possible. All of those things are great, but are they really worth slowing your website down?

Simplicity is often key with website design. Implement what you need to implement. Slow loading times caused by extra content can very quickly put a visitor off returning.

7. Stuck in the past.

If you’ve made it this far into this article, chances are that this one doesn’t apply to you, or that it doesn’t apply to you anymore. By now, you’re already considering whether or not your own website is ticking the right boxes, and wondering how you can use our advice to improve it.

But despite the now considerable age of the internet, there are still a lot of business owners out there who write it off as a luxury. The truth is, however, that an online presence is now critical to success, and ignoring that fact can be a big mistake.

If you aren’t already doing so, keep on top of the ever-changing digital landscape. It’s a business owner’s best friend.

Not sure how to avoid these mistakes? Want to find out exactly how to best utilise your digital presence?

At Jak Inc, we’re putting the #DigitalRevolution into motion. Book a consultation to find out how you can become a part of it, and how we can reinvigorate your online marketing.

Gateshead IT Company Expand Team Following Rebrand

By on 27th December 2015in Local Biz

A North East business has added four new team members as it continues to grow its client base and services…

Aero Networks – which specialises in cloud computing and IT services – has taken on Ben Curry, Lewis Jopling and Chris Nichol as IT support engineers, and Shanice Morgan as a Business Development Associate.

The talented quartet begin their employment in what is an exciting period for the Gateshead-based company, which has seen the recent launch of a new website as part of a major rebrand.

Managing Director Paul Curry believes his new employees compliment his existing team and help to highlight the ethos of Aero Networks.

He said: “Employing young people adds a new level of diversity and enthusiasm to the business. They are all positive thinkers, full of fresh ideas, all focused on delivering a high level of service to our clients.

“I think companies are sometimes put off taking on young people, but not Aero. The level and speed at which the team can adapt to new technologies and concepts has been outstanding since day one.

“First impressions go a long way with myself, and while I originally only wanted to take on one apprentice, Lewis and Chris impressed, so I hired them both.”

A move to Aero has been a huge change of career for Shanice – who previously worked as an air hostess – but she is certainly enjoying her new role.

She said: “It’s an amazing opportunity to be working for Aero Networks, particularly during the time of this rebrand, and on a personal note, it’s been nice coming to work and seeing the same people every day.

“We have a great team here. Everyone is enthusiastic and friendly, and it’s been fun getting to grips with all the cloud computing and IT language.”

For Ben, working at Aero Networks means more than just landing his first job after finishing his A Levels, as he has seen his father, Paul, build the company from a standing start.

He said: “Working for Aero makes me feel proud, as it is the family business my dad started up.

“Having the opportunity to work for Aero is also exciting, especially at this time, when we are making positive changes to the business.

“I am excited about the future for Aero. There is a great buzz around the company, and the team morale is high as always. I get the feeling that everyone is on board with the direction the company is going in.”

Established in May 2006, Aero Networks has worked with companies all over the country, and due to its belief that the future of business is in the cloud, makes use of the latest cloud technologies.

It is this forward thinking, modern approach which first attracted Chris to the company – which saw the first stage of expansion plans made last year, with a move into a larger office premises.

He said: “Since working at Aero, I have enjoyed myself more and more, and really believe in the ethos of the company, as does everyone who works here.

“It is a leading-edge company, and it’s great to be part of such a friendly and professional team, who can offer such a specialist service.”

Lewis added: “More and more people are starting to see the benefits of cloud computing for their business, so to be working for a company which has been delivering this service for nearly 10 years – and is one of the best in the region when it comes to it – makes me proud.”

With cloud services becoming increasingly more popular with businesses on a daily basis, the sky really is the limit for Aero Networks, and Paul, who plans to strengthen the team in 2016, and who maintains the company’s success is down to his staff and the relationships they build and maintain with clients.

He said: “No matter how big or small the company is we are working with, we are always able to adapt our style and approach to suit its needs.

“This is down to the professionalism, experience and knowledge of all of the staff, as well as the fact it’s rare to find a family IT business, which is friendly and knows how to look after clients’ needs – no matter what the job entails.”

For more information about Aero Networks and its services, visit www.aero.net, or keep up to date by following @aeronetworks on Twitter.

A Little Progress Every Day: The Jak Inc Story

By on 27th December 2015in Local Biz

Now in their 10th year, Chester-le-Street Design & Marketing Agency Jak Inc are pushing forward, but not forgetting their roots…

 

Back in 2004, father and son John and Andy Knowles found themselves in the enviable position of possessing a great idea, and having the means to put it into motion.

Keen to showcase the diversity of North East business, they founded JAK Publications, and published the first issues of the In & Around magazine. Despite operating out of a humble spare bedroom, the magazine was an instant success, and the foundations of a great business were laid.

Fast-forward to 2009, and JAK Publications had become JAK Print, now offering great value print and design to the North East. The team had bolstered its ranks with some of the region’s finest Graphic Designers, and moved into larger premises in Chester-le-Street and Darlington.

Crucially, JAK also purchased wholesale print website Full Colour Cards, which took the business from local to national. With the introduction of the Print Partner Affiliate Scheme, www.fullcolourcards.com became one of the UK’s leading online print suppliers.

In 2014, JAK closed the doors of their Darlington office, and consolidated the team under one roof in Unit 4 Station Road, Chester-le-Street, rebranding the business as Jak Inc Ltd. Now comprising a print and design agency, a print wholesaler, a marketing agency, and an online caricature website, a portfolio business was finally nearing completion.

Notably, Jak’s Station Road premises overlooked the site of the famous Horner’s Sweet Factory. The Jak team immediately identified with the fabled creativity and passion with which Horner’s had approached their work. In homage to the shared work ethic, Unit 4 was dubbed ‘The Sweet Factory’.

Today, Jak Inc continue to undergo extensive growth and continued success, forever looking to the future, but never forgetting the spare bedroom in which everything started. As they say, “a little progress every day adds up to big results.”

To find out more about Jak Inc, or to discover how they can revolutionise your business, visit www.jakinc.uk.

Bishop Auckland Continues Local Improvements

By on 26th December 2015in In & Around

New signs have been installed to help the expected increase in visitors explore everything that Bishop Auckland has to offer…

 

With the ongoing improvements and additions to Auckland Castle, among many other exciting plans for the town, and the open-air, live action attraction Kynren due to open in 2016, Bishop Auckland is expecting large numbers of visitors from next year.

Funded and installed by Durham County Council, the signs will help people find their way around town, as well as pointing them in the direction of transport links and local attractions. The signs also include the estimated walking times to key locations to help people unfamiliar with Bishop Auckland.

The new network of signs includes five street maps, two notice boards – one advertising upcoming events, the other providing tourist information – and a finger post sign. These new contemporary signs have been designed to stand out from the other street furniture, and are consistently branded so people can spot them more easily than the ad hoc out of date signs they replaced.

Cllr Neil Foster, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economic regeneration and culture, said: “The coming year promises a real step-change in the future of Bishop Auckland, and a massive boost for the town in both jobs and the local economy. By installing these new signs, we hope to help make sure that the local businesses and residents of Bishop Auckland are first in line to feel the benefit of the increased tourism we’re sure these changes will bring.”

The design of the signs was decided upon following input from the Auckland Castle Trust, Newgate Shopping Centre, Bishop Auckland Town Council, and local members.

St James’ Park Scores Awards Hat Trick

By on 24th December 2015in Local Biz

Staff at one of the sporting world’s most popular stadia have won a further prestigious award – making a hat trick of wins for 2015…

The Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events team, which manages conferencing and events at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park stadium, scooped the Better Tomorrow Plan award at the annual Star Awards, organised by Sodexo.

The Star Awards ceremony is the highlight of the Sodexo calendar, and recognises the most outstanding of its 34,000 employees across 23 categories.

The award recognises the team’s commitment to building on the stadium’s success as a conference and event venue, and was presented to general manager Frankie Angus and his team by comedian and television personality Patrick Kielty at London’s Westminster Park Plaza Hotel.

Neil Murray, regional chairman, Sodexo UK and Ireland, said: “The Star Awards is the pinnacle of our year because it gives us, as an organisation, the opportunity to truly recognise and thank our people for their hard work and dedication.

“Every day should be about making our employees feel valued and involved in the organisation’s progress. As a services company we truly rely on our people to deliver quality services to our customers and clients.”

The Star award win follows the Sodexo team’s gold award in the Access for All category at the prestigious North East Tourism Awards 2015.

The awards were set up to highlight the regional visitor economy, which is worth an estimated £3.9bn and employs more than 55,000 people in the North East, and the stadium was recognised for the quality and range of facilities it provides for elderly and disabled visitors.

And, earlier this year, Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events at St James’ Park won the Operations Team of the Year category at The Stadium Events and Hospitality Awards 2015.

The awards celebrate the hard work and dedication that make stadia events and hospitality run seamlessly, and the Newcastle team’s award was one of several won on the night by Sodexo Prestige.

For further information about Sodexo Sport and Leisure and its conference and banqueting facilities at Newcastle United, call 0191 201 8525 or e-mail candb@nufc.co.uk.

Middlesbrough Youngster Wins Miller Homes Christmas Competition

By on 23rd December 2015in Local Biz

Christmas has come early for one Middlesbrough schoolboy, who is helping Miller Homes celebrate the holiday season…

Shaun Cheall, aged 10, beat tough competition by impressing the leading housebuilder with his Christmassy drawing of a winter wonderland scene.

Shaun’s winning design has been incorporated into Miller Homes North East’s 2015 Christmas card, which will be given to friends and partners of the leading housebuilder and homeowners moving into their new Miller home in the region this month.

Shaun also received his very own pack of the Christmas cards to hand out to his friends and family, as well as £50 worth of Toys R Us gift vouchers. His festive design is also on display in the sales centre of Clairville Grange in Middlesbrough, Shaun’s local Miller Homes development.

Shaun said: “When my mam told me I had been chosen as the winner of the competition with Miller Homes, I couldn’t believe it. I love drawing and colouring in, and really enjoyed designing my entry.

“It feels great that Miller Homes will be wishing people a Merry Christmas by giving them one of the cards I designed, and I can’t wait to give them out to my friends and family this Christmas.”

As part of the competition, Miller Homes asked children across the region to design a colourful picture for the front of a Christmas card, portraying what Christmas means to them, and what they love most about the festive season.

Andrew Somerville, Miller Homes North East’s regional sales manager, said: “This year we wanted to give the region’s youngsters the chance to be part of Miller Homes’ festive celebrations and add a personal touch to our Christmas well wishes.

“We received a great response to the competition, and were overwhelmed by the fantastic artistic talent which we have right here in the region. Shaun’s entry really stood out to the judges, as it is festive, colourful and very well drawn – well done Shaun!”

Committed to creating sustainable communities that cater for a wide range of buyers, Miller Homes has developments located across the North East. With prices starting from £129,950, homebuyers can choose from Clairville Grange in Middlesbrough, Acklam Woods in Acklam, Wheatlands Chase in Redcar, The Meadows in Framwellgate Moor, Park View in Gateshead, Wheatfields in Seaton Delaval, The Acres in Bedlington, and Portland Wynd in Blyth.

For more information on Miller Homes in the North East, call 0808 250 6426 or visit www.millerhomes.co.uk/locations/north-east-of-england.

Welding Talent Pool Generated For Future Generation

By on 22nd December 2015in Local Biz

Ten North East youngsters are on track to their dream careers after securing apprenticeships with Infinite Learning and Development and Caterpillar Articulated Trucks, with a helping hand from Generation NE…

Youth employment advisors and business advisors from the landmark programme have been working alongside Infinite Learning and Development and Caterpillar to appoint the apprentice welders as the industry works to bridge its skills gap.

Amongst the new recruits who are employed by Zenith People are Blane Raw, James Almond, Jamie Morrison, Jason Anderson, Jason Davison, Lauren Piercy, Shaun Whittle, Levi Watson, Daniel Hilton and Stephen Brook, all from Durham and the surrounding areas.

The trainee welders, who are aged between 18 and 22 years, will spend their initial four months at The Welding Academy completing practical training and their VRQ qualification, before moving on to the shop floor at Caterpillar Peterlee, where they will complete the NVQ element of their City & Guilds Engineering Level 2.

To help with the recruitment of the new starters, Generation NE, which connects businesses in the region with the next generation of employees to future-proof their workforces and enhance their business offering, provided tailor-made support and advice, whilst County Durham Housing Group assisted with securing employability funding for a number of the apprentices who are tenants.

Keith Corbett, operations director at Infinite Learning and Development, said: “Generation NE was extremely supportive throughout the entire process. We work across a specialist industry, however the team put a huge amount of faith in us and have helped to recruit a fantastic team of future welders, including the academy’s first female welder, who I am confident will all go far in the industry.”

Claire Maddison, employability and skills officer at County Durham Housing Group, added: “We are delighted to be able to provide additional financial support for schemes such as these, especially when we’re helping people to carve their future career path.”

The Welding Academy was set up in partnership with Infinite Learning and Development, Caterpillar and New College Durham in 2012 to address a regional shortage of skilled MIG welders experienced by Caterpillar and its supply chain. Since its launch, the academy has now trained 57 junior welders, and the programme and partners were recognised by SEMTA in February 2015, after they were named as finalists for the National Training Partner of the Year Awards in London.

Helen Hopper, employee services manager at Caterpillar Articulated Trucks, said: “Approximately four years ago, we were looking into the market to try and recruit experienced welders, but found that in the North East there was a shortage of these skilled welders.

“Since we partnered with Infinite Learning and Development and developed this bespoke Welding Level 2 apprenticeship programme, we have seen the retention rate for welding staff stabilise with approximately 90% of these ‘Junior Welders’ retained on completion of the programme, and the majority moving on to start their Level 3 qualifications.

“The standard of welder produced proves that the training programme is working, and it’s in Caterpillar’s best interests to keep the programme and the success story going.”

The youth employment programme, Generation NE, is a collaboration between five local authorities, including Durham County Council, and the NELEP, which is working with local businesses to support up to 2,000 young people aged between 17 and 24 years into sustainable employment over the next three years.

Cllr Neil Foster, cabinet member for regeneration and economic development at Durham County Council, said: “This is another great example of how the Generation NE programme is helping to link companies which have vacancies with potential candidates.

“As well as helping employers to find new recruits, the scheme also offers tailored support to young people to help them gain the skills and qualifications they need. I wish all of these apprentices every success in their future career.”

For more information on Generation NE, visit www.GenerationNE.co.uk or call 0191 230 0491.

Rent A Cop Christmas Special Clips Released

By on 18th December 2015in Entertainment, Film & TV

The final episode of the Rent A Cop series may have aired last night, but there’s still more to come…

Fans of the show will be pleased to hear that the Rent A Cop Christmas Special will be aired on Tuesday 22nd December.

The festive episode is set to see the return of faithful Sparta sidekick Luke ‘Pembow’ Pemberton, and the debut appearance of ‘Sparta Claus’.

Ahead of the episode’s first airing, BBC Three have released two exclusive clips as a taster. See the clips below…

Sparta frontman Francis Jones is also reported to be stepping back into the boxing ring, where he’ll be living up to his nickname ‘Fearless’. Secretary Rachel will be taking on the role of drill instructor as Francis works to shed the pounds before his comeback charity match.

Word on the street in Darlo is that the Sparta gang have had their Christmas tree up since early November, so the episode should be full to the brim with festive cheer and – hopefully – some wintery justice… Francis Jones style.

Have you seen Sparta’s Christmas tree? Are you looking forward to the Christmas Special? Leave a comment below!

Lakes Single Malt Whisky One Year On And Maturing Well

By on 17th December 2015in Local Biz

England’s largest whisky distillery raises a glass, as the country’s newest single malt whisky reaches a major milestone in its maturation…

The Lakes Distillery started production of its Lakes Single Malt in December 2014, the same month it officially opened its doors to visitors.

The spirit, which will officially become whisky after three years maturing in oak casks, will be ready for drinking from spring 2018. Early feedback from the distillery’s team, which includes some of the UK’s foremost whisky experts, is that the Lakes Single Malt is on track to be one of the finest.

“After only one year maturing, already it is smooth and sweet and very drinkable” says Distillery Manager John Drake. “It is quite outstanding.”

In just 12 months, The Lakes Distillery has also become one of Cumbria’s leading tourist attractions, welcoming more than 70,000 visitors through its doors. Meanwhile, the acclaimed Bistro at The Lakes Distillery has built up a tremendous reputation, being popular with tourists and locals, thanks to head chef Andrew Beaton with renowned chef Terry Laybourne overseeing the bistro.

The Lakes Distillery has also been named as a ‘Top 50 Cumbrian Icon’ in only its first year.

Founder and Managing Director of The Lakes Distillery, Paul Currie, who founded and ran the award-winning Isle of Arran Distillers in Scotland before opening England’s largest distillery, said: “This has been a phenomenal year for the business. The reaction from the drinks industry, the public and the local businesses in the North West has been fantastic.

“We feel honoured to have been awarded a string of accolades from different industry bodies in our first year. Our spirits have picked up awards at the IWSC and International Spirits Challenge (ISC), while the Bistro at The Distillery has been listed in the Michelin Good Food Guide 2016 and picked up Open Table Diner’s Choice Awards several months in a row.”

In 2016 Paul will not be resting on his laurels, and already has big plans for the distillery’s second year of business – including a series of talks and events at the venue.

He continued: “We’ve run a couple of events this year, including one with former Olympian Jonathan Edwards, an ambassador of our whisky, a gin themed evening with Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott, and a night of fine dining with Michelin-starred chef Nigel Haworth. All the events have been very successful, and we’re planning an exciting schedule for next year.

“We are situated in one of the most stunning places in the world, which we think gives us a real edge, and that, combined with the unique spirits we are producing, makes us a strong contender in this industry. Our aim is to ensure The Lakes Malt is recognised as one of the finest malt whiskies in the world, making us a challenger to Scotland.”

Already the creators of artisan spirits The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Vodka, The Lakes Distillery offers a blended British Isles whisky called The ONE, which is currently available in a limited edition sherry cask finished bottle, marking the distillery’s first birthday.

For more information on The Lakes Distillery, visit www.lakesdistillery.com or for further details on The Bistro at The Lakes Distillery, visit www.bistroatthedistillery.com.

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