Tag: business

Who’s Coming To Sunderland?

By on 8th February 2016in Entertainment

The world’s most famous time travelling police box has taken time off from cruising the galaxies to land in Sunderland’s shopping centre…

A replica of Dr Who’s TARDIS has currently taken up residency at the Bridges, where it will stay until the end of February.

This means that fans of the hit BBC show will get a rare opportunity to visit and take a selfie with one of the most well-known forms of space and time travel.

The city also has a lesser known connection with the box, as the first ever police box in the UK was put in place at  Sunderland’s Kayll Road in 1923.

The replica was commissioned by Sunderland City Council for an event last summer which highlighted the heritage in the west of the city.

“Dr Who is such a massively popular programme with generations of people enjoying it over the years,” said Andy Bradley, Centre Director of the Bridges.

“We’re sure fans of the show will love the opportunity to come and get their picture taken with it. It’s great for this iconic piece of tv history to be getting a second outing and we hope that lots of people will come and see it.”

Top 10 Doctor Who Facts:

  • The character of Doctor Who was inspired by Sherlock Holmes.
  • The distinctive TARDIS sound effect was originally created by rubbing the bass strings of a piano with a key.
  • Doctor Who is BBC Worldwide’s best-selling show.
  • There have been 12 doctors.
  • The TARDIS has a broken “Chameleon circuit” which is supposed to enable it to disguise itself to blend into any environment. However in the first ever episode An Unearthly Child, viewers discover that the circuit is broken and the TARDIS is stuck in the shape of a police box.
  • Dr Who is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest running sci-fi series in the world.
  • TARDIS stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space. It is bigger on the inside than on the outside.
  • The original Daleks were controlled from the inside by small operators who had to manipulate their eyestalks, domes and arms, as well as flashing the lights on their heads in sync with the actor’s voices.
  • Doctor Who is from the planet Gallifrey.
  • The first episode was broadcast in 1963 – 40 years after the first police box was installed in Sunderland.

Task Force Funding Secures Further Jobs For SSI Apprentices

By on 8th February 2016in Local Biz

SSI Task Force Funding has helped more former Tees Valley steel apprentices back into employment…

Cameron Owen and Lewis Mitchell were about to start the first year of their apprenticeships with SSI when the company closed. With help from the SSI Task Force and Middlesbrough-based technical training provider TTE, they have now found new placements where they will go on to complete their training.

A £1.7m Task Force Fund has been created to encourage employers to take on one or more of the 51 ex-SSI apprentices. TTE is coordinating securing placements for the ex-SSI apprentices. The employers are given financial support throughout the period of the young people’s training.

Lewis, 16, of Redcar, is now employed by Chemoxy International Ltd, one of Europe’s largest independent chemical manufacturers, as a Science Industry Maintenance Technician.

Cameron, 17, who lives in Ormesby, has been taken on by Lotte Chemical UK, a subsidiary of KP Chemical Corporation, as a Science Manufacturing Technician.

Both Lewis and Cameron were supported by the Task Force throughout the application process. It also will cover their salaries during their training.

As part of their three-year apprenticeships, Cameron and Lewis will gain practical and theoretical knowledge at TTE, as well as receiving on-the-job training with their sponsor companies.

Lewis said: “When the steelworks closed I was very worried about my future. I am extremely grateful for the amount of support I have received from TTE and the Task Force, and I can’t thank Chemoxy enough for taking me on.

“I now feel positive about my future, and hope to build a successful career at Chemoxy.”

Andrew Purvis, training and development manager at Chemoxy, said: “Lewis is showing lots of enthusiasm, and is proving himself to be a hard-working, diligent individual with a great future ahead of him.”

Cameron said: “I am very thankful to Lotte for taking me on as an apprentice; it will allow me to have practical on-site training while also gaining qualifications.

“It was a very worrying time for all those involved following the closure of the steel works. I am very pleased I’ve been able to find something with great career prospects so quickly thanks to the Task Force funding.”

Jackie Petford, HR Manager at Lotte, stated: “We are delighted to have been able to help Cameron continue with his career path. Cameron has great enthusiasm to learn and build new skills, and we are sure he has a bright future ahead of him.”

TTE has so far placed 25 of the 51 former SSI apprentices on their books. All of the remaining first year apprentices are back in full-time training with the technical training group while it works to secure new placements for them.

Amanda Skelton, Task Force Chair and Chief Executive of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: “I’m pleased that our local businesses have been so supportive and it’s key that more individuals and companies come forward and take advantage of the funds that the SSI Task Force has to offer.”

Steve Grant, Managing Director at TTE, said: “The skills gained at SSI puts the former apprentices in good stead for future employment. Cameron and Lewis will be a real asset to their new employers and have promising careers ahead of them.

“TTE is still working very closely with the Task Force to help its remaining SSI apprentices complete their training and find new jobs.”

Details about all the SSI Funds available for individuals and businesses can be found on the Tees Valley Unlimited website at www.teesvalleyunlimited.gov.uk.

Kevin Keegan Officially Opens Ramside Spa

By on 6th February 2016in Local Biz

One of the North East’s leading venues welcomed Kevin Keegan to mark the official opening of its new state-of-the-art spa…

The former football manager, player and Newcastle United legend unveiled a special plaque at Ramside Hall Hotel’s multi-million pound Spa at Ramside, as part of an official opening ceremony yesterday.

“I’ve been a frequent visitor to Ramside Hall over the years, and it just gets better and better,” said Kevin.

“The spa is absolutely amazing, as good as any I’ve seen anywhere in the world.”

The Spa at Ramside, near Durham, includes a hydrotherapy pool, an outdoor vitality pool, five heat experiences and a 25m swimming pool, along with a balcony infinity pool, which overlooks the hotel grounds.

“We’re absolutely delighted and honoured that Kevin Keegan agreed to officially open our new Spa,” said John Adamson, owner of Ramside Hall Hotel.

“The facilities that our spa offers really are among the best in the region, so it’s great to be able to mark the hotel’s newest addition with the help of such a regional icon.”

The £8m spa is part of Ramside Hall Hotel’s recent £16m extension, which also included a second golf course and a new wing of bedrooms.

Darlington Food Service Wins Major Contract With Grade 1 Listed Acklam Hall

By on 5th February 2016in Local Biz

A Darlington-based foodservice consumables company is celebrating a major contract win with the newly refurbished Acklam Hall…

MAC International Food Service has signed a deal to supply the only Grade 1 listed building in Middlesbrough with its new crockery, glassware and cutlery.

The company – which works with many well-known independent hotels, restaurants and caterers throughout the North of England – will also be supplying Foodservice consumables, disposables and hygiene cleaning systems on a weekly basis to the 17th century building.

MAC Foodservice Director, Paul Thompson, is thrilled with this latest contract and is looking forward to seeing the partnership with Acklam Hall develop.

He said: “Acklam Hall will soon become a well-known venue, recognised for its high class events and fabulous restaurant, making it a perfect fit as a MAC partner customer.

“The businesses complement each other well, as both have high standards and expectations of how a dining experience should be for any customers visiting an establishment.

“We both understand the importance of presentation, from the food being eaten – and what it is being served on – to the overall look.”

Acklam Hall has undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment over the last 18 months and is set to open on 18th February, much to the delight of Adam Anderson, head chef at the majestic venue.

He said: “It has been a pleasure to work with MAC International, because not only are they very professional, but they are also reliable and thorough, and their advice has been invaluable throughout the project.

“Their knowledge proved integral when we began the process of equipping the building, and we were grateful to be guided on style and quality, to ensure the items were befitting for a building of this kind.”

MAC International is also looking to support Acklam Hall in as many ways as it can, and hopes the partnership will continue to blossom.

Paul added: “We pride ourselves on remaining completely professional, and becoming a trusting supply partner to all of our key customers. We become a business supply partner, not just another supplier.”

To find out more about the bespoke foodservice firm, visit macinternationalfoodservice.co.uk or follow on Twitter @MAC_FoodService.

For information on Acklam Hall, visit acklamhall.co.uk.

Couple Recreate Wedding For 40th Anniversary

By on 2nd February 2016in Lifestyle

A North East couple have marked their 40th wedding anniversary at the same ‘plaice’ they celebrated tying the knot…

Alan and Anne Hodgson, who run Hartlepool-based seafood supplier Hodgson Fish, held their wedding reception at the Best Western Plus Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield in 1975.

And they recently returned to the four star venue to mark their ruby anniversary – and were even attended to by the same member of staff.

Hardwick Hall Hotel’s current Restaurant Manager, Jeronimo Martin (known as Martin), was among the team who catered for Alan and Anne’s original wedding, and was delighted to see the duo return.

“I have worked at Hardwick Hall Hotel for 44 years,” he said, “and I always love to see familiar faces coming back time after time. I remember Alan and Anne’s wedding quite clearly, and it was fantastic to be a part of their anniversary celebrations too.”

Alan and Anne, who met as teenagers, were married at St Luke’s Church in Hartlepool before travelling to nearby Hardwick Hall Hotel to celebrate with around 40 guests.

The hotel, part of leading leisure organisation Ramside Estates, was one of Hodgson Fish’s first wholesale customers, so the couple fittingly opted for a shellfish buffet as part of their wedding breakfast.

Fish was also on the menu for the couple’s recent anniversary return, where they were once again joined by close family and friends.

“It was just like old times, being back at Hardwick Hall” said Anne. “While we have worked closely with the venue as fish suppliers for around 50 years, being able to return for such an amazing occasion was an extra special treat, and brought back a lot of great memories.

“I can clearly remember posing for pictures on the lawn on our wedding day, and it was fantastic to be able to recreate that 40 years on.

“I was also amazed to see that our original waiter Martin was still working there, but being able to catch up with him was really the icing on the cake.”

The award-winning Best Western Plus Hardwick Hall Hotel specialises in weddings and private celebrations, with a variety of suites available to cater for anywhere up to 1500 guests.

More information about the venue, including its wide range of packages, can be found by visiting www.hardwickhall.co.uk or calling 01740 620253.

Durham PCC Calls For Local Opinion Over Crime Prevention

By on 2nd February 2016in Have Your Say

The Institute of Directors in the North East is bringing together all three of the region’s Police and Crime Commissioners, to allow the region’s business community to actively participate in the debate on crime prevention and enforcement…

The event, which is open to all business people, will be held in the Durham Centre at Belmont Business Park between 4pm and 7pm on Thursday 25th February. It will include talks by the region’s three PCCs; Vera Baird QC, Ron Hogg, and Barry Coppinger, alongside experts on cyber security, human trafficking, and slavery. The three PCCs will also lead seminars to hear the views of business people from their respective areas.

David Cliff, Vice-Chairman of the IoD in the North East, who is completing a four year study into Police and Crime Commissioners, said: “Businesses in the North East are rightly concerned about crime. On average, one in three are affected by economic crime each year. On top of age old concerns about the security of their premises and employees, there are modern issues like cyber-crime, which costs the UK £27 billion a year, and workplace bullying.

“Good policing provides a stable environment for our businesses to operate in, and is at the heard of cohesive communities, so getting our PCCs and business leaders together is a positive thing for the North East as it can boost both our security and prosperity.

“Ron Hogg, Police and Crime Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington, said: “It is really important that businesses tell us what their priorities are for reducing and preventing crime. The nature of crime is changing, and this will be an excellent opportunity to plan together how to address it. I hope as many business people as possible are able to attend.”

To book tickets for the event, which cost £10 plus VAT and are free to IoD members and their guests, email Sukie Ranken on iod.northeast@iod.com.

Rebel Florist Offers Tips For The Perfect Valentine’s Day

By on 1st February 2016in Lifestyle

A North East florist is helping out northern Romeos with a guide to buying Valentine’s blooms, which are an alternative to roses…

14th February is one of the busiest days of the year for florists, as shoppers splash out on bunches of traditional (and sometimes very expensive) red roses for their loved ones.

However, Susie Griffiths of the Rebel Flower Company at The Village, intu Metrocentre, Gateshead, has devised a number of romantic ways of ‘saying it with flowers’ on Valentine’s Day which offer a contemporary take on the traditional bouquet of roses.

Susie said: “Red roses may have become a firm favourite, but in fact there are many flowers and plants associated with love, whose links with romance go back even further.

“For example, orchids have been linked with love for centuries. Potions made from orchids, once drunk, were said to result in hopeless infatuation and Cymbidium orchids, in particular have an alluring honey fragrance, mythically believed to aid fertility.”

Having managed florists in England and Ireland, Susie started her own floristry business at intu Metrocentre at a stall outside House of Fraser. She was so successful that she was able to move into her very own store in the centre’s Village for independent retailers.

With a wealth of experience and the ambition to help those stuck for inspiration, Susie has come up with five tips for romantics against roses:

  1. Go for fragrance. Pick a bloom that not only looks beautiful, but smells beautiful. Every time your Valentine smells the bouquet, they’ll think of you.
  2. You don’t have to go for the biggest bouquet. Choose three or five flowers (an odd number is always best), and add a few sprigs of lavender or rosemary for fragrance. Tie them with an elastic band and cover the band with a length of ribbon.
  3. As an alternative to a bouquet, try a corsage. It’s a lovely, old-fashioned way to present flowers to your date, and it should be a small spray, consisting of a single flower with maybe some fern or gypsophila that would be attached to clothing or a handbag.
  4. If you’re keen to stick with red, the colour of passion, then opt for a single exotic bloom. Perhaps an amaryllis? Consider a simple bunch of red tulips or spring blooms, tied raffia, and a label asking ‘will you be my Valentine?’
  5. If roses are a must, consider a soft pink, yellow or cream. They’re possibly even more beautiful than the blood red ones, and did you know that pink roses are actually symbolic of elegance and romance, whereas a yellow flower signifies friendship?

“I think the thing to remember is that you can always be creative,” said Susie. “There is so much variety out there, and if you make your blooms stand out then you’ll definitely make the right impression with your Valentine.”

For more information, visit www.rebelflowercompany.co.uk.

Billingham Company Assisting Former SSI Workers Back Into Work

By on 1st February 2016in Local Biz

Harpers Environmental, a Billingham-based waste management company, is helping three former SSI workers back into work as part of the SSI Task Force Jobs and Skills Fund, administered by Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU)…

The £16.5m fund was set up to help local firms employ former SSI workers or their spouses in full-time or part-time jobs for a minimum of three years. It subsidises the cost of employment for positions made available for at least three years with a payment of 50 per cent of the basic salary costs for each new job created in the first two years of employment up to a maximum of £11,000 per employee.

Harpers Environmental, which was established sixty years ago and also has a depot in York, has committed to taking on at least three former SSI workers, and has appointed one so far. Daniel Lowery, who was employed at SSI for seven years, now works as a Vacuum Tanker Driver.

Jim McIver, Depot Manager at Harpers Environmental in Billingham, said: “We wanted to support getting people who’ve lost their jobs back into work as soon as we could. Daniel has lots of skills and experience to help him in his new job, including a Class 1 LGV Category C+E Drivers qualification, which means he can drive heavy goods vehicles.”

Daniel’s new job involves collecting leachate – the liquid that drains or ‘leaches’ from a landfill – from various locations around the North East to the Billingham depot.

Mr McIver added: “Daniel currently drives a 44 tonne lorry and we also are aiming to make him familiar with, and confident to use, all the vehicles in the fleet. The two other SSI recruits will be doing the same type of job.”

Paul Booth, Chairman of Tees Valley Unlimited, the Local Enterprise Partnership for Tees Valley, said:  “This fund is based on a tried and tested methodology that has been highly successful in the past when it secured work for more than 700 people in Tees Valley.

“Daniel’s appointment demonstrates that this scheme has the potential to make a significant impact on individuals looking for alternative employment in the wake of SSI’s demise on Teesside. It also demonstrates how strategically targeted support can deliver results.”

Amanda Skelton, Chair of the SSI Task Force and Chief Executive of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: “It’s a tribute to companies like Harpers Environmental that they are willing to go that extra mile to help people get back on their feet after the closure. It’s a vital part of our drive to rebuild the economy, and I would encourage more companies to come forward and take advantage of the fund.”

Harpers Environmental has a range of services across three dedicated operating divisions: industrial services, waste removal, waste disposal and HSE & support services. Today, Harpers is regarded as a leader in the field of waste management.

For more information on The SSI Task Force Jobs and Skills Fund, visit: www.teesvalleyunlimited.gov.uk or call 01642 524 412.

North East Marketing Agency Expand Into Central London

By on 1st February 2016in Local Biz

A North East design and marketing agency has opened the doors of a brand new office in London, looking to expand on a successful 2015…

Jak Inc has taken up a second residence within a thriving Central London business community, which is the first stage of an extensive business expansion plan created by Managing Director Andrew Knowles.

The Chester-le-Street based company, which last year celebrated its ten-year anniversary, has plans to take their brand further across the UK, and eventually into Europe.

Andrew Knowles said: “Since rebranding our business in 2014, Jak Inc has become a uniquely modern and exciting company, and one that suits the cutting-edge business hub of London perfectly.

“The services we offer are highly sought after across the country, but by being based in the North East, we’re able to provide top quality and efficiency, but without the London price tags.”

Jak Inc’s new office is suitably fresh, with open-plan space for collaborative work, and smaller glass booths for working privately. Volcano Coffee is available on a whim, plus beer on tap for chilled evenings, and table tennis for periods of down time.

 

Andrew said: “The environment is perfect for us, especially as it places us constantly in the midst of other businesses and like-minded creatives. For example, we’re only a stones throw from the likes of Skyscanner and BlaBlaCar.”

The expansion into London follows Andrew’s completion of a three-year Business Growth Plan under the guidance of Goldman Sachs.

As a part of the growth plan, the company is also looking to recruit a Business Development Manager. Enquiries can be sent to a.knowles@jakinc.uk.

Jak Inc is one of the North East’s leading design and marketing agencies, with the unique ability to provide extensive printing solutions as well. To find out more, visit www.jakinc.uk.

Creative Fuse North East Project Set To Spark Economic Growth

By on 31st January 2016in Local Biz

A major new project is being launched to explore how the creative, digital and IT (CDIT) sector in the North East can be developed in order to play a leading role in the region’s economy…

The new £3m ‘Creative Fuse North East’ project will involve all five of the North East’s universities – Northumbria, Newcastle, Durham, Sunderland and Teesside – and is funded jointly by the universities and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

The universities will work with the 12 local authorities in the North East, businesses, artists, cultural organisations and partners to research how the CDIT sector can ensure it has the right skills for a sustainable future. The project will also look at how the skills within the region’s CDIT sector can benefit the wider regional economy, for example by exploring opportunities for placing creative practitioners in businesses in other sectors as a way to increase innovation, along with how to develop more entrepreneurial graduates.

The 30-month project will begin by mapping the creative, digital and commercial landscape of the North East in terms of the mix of skills, knowledge and support available. This will be followed by work to identify opportunities for more effective use of resources and best practice in workforce development as well as highlighting ways in which the region’s universities can support the sector more effectively.

The project will draw on expertise from more than 40 academic and business support staff from across the five institutions, from creative arts, cultural heritage and digital humanities to business schools and cloud computing.

Northumbria University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor George Marston, said: “Creative Fuse represents a real opportunity to sustainably build innovation and growth across the creative, digital and IT sector by bringing together the unique expertise of the North East’s universities, local authorities, businesses, artists and cultural organisations.

“Northumbria’s recent achievements in the Research Excellence Framework 2014 and our reputation for world-class research, design innovation, business engagement and award-winning partnerships, puts us in an excellent position to contribute to this exciting, collaborative project.”

Professor Eric Cross, Dean of Cultural Affairs at Newcastle University and the project’s Principal Investigator, said: “To ensure that the North East’s CDIT sector can realise its full potential, businesses and creative practitioners need to be able to connect with, and benefit from, the best that our universities have to offer in terms of research, training and talent.

“Creative Fuse North East will work hand-in-hand with the CDIT sector to discover and promote best practice, join up support, and drive creativity and innovation across the North East’s economy.

“By bringing businesses, artists and academics together, this project will create value – both in economic and cultural terms – regionally and nationally.”

Creative Fuse North East builds on a similar project in Brighton launched in 2011. A report published in November 2015 highlighted that, as a result of the Brighton Fuse project’s evidence that was used to lever European funding, Brighton and Hove’s digital and creative economy is now worth more than £1 billion to the city each year. Research carried out by Brighton Fuse also showed that ‘fused’ businesses grow three times faster than unfused businesses.

Professor Andrew Thompson, CEO of the Arts and Humanities Research Council said; “Creative Fuse North East combines the research strengths of the region’s five universities with a range of local authorities, cultural, creative and digital sector partners in ways that will facilitate new interactions between researchers and businesses, education and entrepreneurship.

“A multi-disciplinary range of subjects are involved from the initial scoping work, business analysis and networking through to potential platforms for deeper engagement between creativity and economic growth.”

Northumbria offers a range of courses across the arts and humanities. In the Research Excellence Framework 2014, Art and Design was ranked in the UK top 10 for research power while English and History were rated 15th and 20th respectively for the quality of their research publications. To find out more click here.

For more information about Creative Fuse, email info@creativefusene.org.uk.

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