Tag: featured

Findley Academy Looks To Build Roof Over Skills Gap

By on 1st June 2016in Local Biz

A leading North East roofing specialist is launching its own academy to help invest in the region’s youngsters…

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Washington-based Findley Roofing, will take on four to six apprentices at the Findley Academy over the coming months, where they will be trained to acquire the skills needed to become the best in the business.

Each student will be put through an apprenticeship, while at the same time benefitting from hands-on training from the Company, which has over 30 years’ experience in the industry.

The scheme, which will run from centres in Washington and South Tyneside, will include one to one training, regular appraisals and the opportunity for apprentices who are excelling to earn more, through an accelerated programme.

A short supply of skilled tradesmen is the catalyst behind the idea and the Company hopes resolving this issue, will help them become the roofing powerhouse in the North East.

General Manager Chris Dodds said: “There is a skills gap emerging and we need to help close it by investing in young people.

“It’s not easy to find hardworking, loyal people but we believe young people are the future and this is why we are keen to invest our time, money and effort into helping them.

“As there is currently a short supply of tradesmen, now is the perfect time for young people to get into a trade, as they will have the opportunity of a strong career.”

Findley Roofing is a family run company covering the whole of the North East, from Alnwick to North Yorkshire.

Having experienced huge success over the last 12 months, which has seen the team double in size to 38 and a huge increase in turnover, the company is looking towards the future as it plans to maintain this same level of growth over the next five years.

Chris continued: “We want to be ‘first for roofing’, just as it says on our strapline and truly believe the Findley Academy is the way to achieve this.

“We’re looking for young people who are keen, hardworking, have character and want to learn, as there will be opportunities for them to become team leaders in the future.

“We’re also looking for team players, as the dedicated, professional team we currently have, is one of the reasons for our success.”

Ian Wright, from Hebburn, knows just how important the Findley Academy will be to young people across the region and the difference it could make to them. The 25-year-old has been working for Findley Roofing for 18 months and having excelled in his training, will soon be leading a team of roofers.

“The knowledge and confidence I have gained since being taken on by Findley and working alongside my mentor, Mick, is huge,” said Ian.

“I know I wouldn’t be half the person I am today if they hadn’t given me a chance and I would tell any future apprentices to stick at it, as it’s the only way they will learn.

“A lot of young people give up too easily and if they’re not happy just leave, but if you put your faith in the Company and work for them, you will reap the benefits.”

Findley Roofing is one of the only roofing companies to be backed by Barclays Bank, meaning it can offer finance deals to its customers. The Company prides itself on the quality of the service and products it provides, guaranteeing roofing services for 10 years.

To find out more about Findley Roofing and the Findley Academy, visit: http://www.findleyroofing.co.uk/

Twitter: @Findley_Roofing

North East Lettings Agency Lobbying For Change

By on 26th May 2016in Have Your Say

A North East-based lettings agency has launched a national pledge to help challenge the unethical practices that go on in parts of the industry…

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The Ethical Lettings Pledge is the creation of Carla Keegans, who supports the Government’s proposals to tackle rogue criminal agents, but believes much more needs to be done in the wider industry.

With more than two million private landlords currently operating and over 12 million tenants living in the private rented sector, many people turn to lettings agents for help, but are increasingly let down or excluded.

Carla, who in July 2015 set up The Ethical Lettings Agency in Redcar, has been working on the pledge since December, seeking advice and feedback from trusted individuals around her.

She said: “It’s only right landlords expect agents to be properly qualified and experienced to help navigate round the increasingly complex legislation and issues that are now common in the sector.

“Unfortunately, many agents are not and there are numerous examples, backed up by national research, which indicate many landlords feel ripped off by agents.

“This pledge will show landlords and tenants that agents operate to some clear ethical standards, and if agents signed-up to the pledge fail to deliver, then landlords and tenants can challenge them on this.”

Landlords, tenants, and members of the public can also sign a formal petition to lobby for national legislative change, which will shortly be accessible via The Ethical Lettings website.

As a community interest company (CIC), The Ethical Lettings Agency fully understands the impact letting agents can have on local communities too, which will benefit as much from the pledge as tenants and landlords.

The Agency has already created two new jobs in Redcar, a town which has suffered from 1000s of recent job losses; perhaps a reason why the Agency was recently invited to meet Prince Charles.

Political figures have already shown support for the pledge, including Cabinet Member for Housing at RCBC, Cllr Lynn Pallister.

She said: “This social enterprise delivers ethical services and investment into our community and we are proud to support it for the benefit of our residents.”

Saltburn-born Carla, spent several years working in a senior housing role within the City of London Corporation, before returning home to start The Ethical Lettings Agency. Her time spent in the capital inspired her to create the pledge, which she hopes will attract as many signatures as possible, to help create national change.

Carla, a long-standing Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, added: “My experience working for various housing and public sector organisations had already convinced me there was a need in the market for an agency that provides a better service to landlords and tenants, which is why I set up The Ethical Lettings Agency.

“The Ethical Lettings Pledge is simply an extension of my vision and the company’s ethos, which is to shake up an industry which is letting people down time and time again, by making the system fairer.”

The Ethical Lettings Agency is open to all landlords and tenants in the Redcar and Teesside private rented sector. In particular, the Agency works with landlords to help manage their rental properties as a business, to reduce rental risks and save money.

To show your support for the pledge, visit http://theethicallettingspledge.co.uk/ or for more information about The Ethical Lettings Agency, visit http://www.ethicallettingsagency.co.uk/.

Twitter: @EthicalLets

Salon Hits Employment Milestone

By on 18th May 2016in Local Biz

A hair and beauty learning hub has achieved the notable milestone of creating jobs for 26 young students…

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Mosaic, a commercial salon based at Redcar & Cleveland College, enables beauty therapy and hairdressing students to learn their trade under the watch of experienced tutors.

Open to the public, the salon allows students to trade in the same way a business would and hundreds of customers have passed through its doors since its launch in 2013.

In the last year alone, 26 of Mosaic graduates have either found employment or started their own business after completing their studies. Of the 20 beauty therapy students who found work, three are plying the trade in five-star hotels and one is working on board a luxury cruise ship. Other beauty therapy and hairdressing students are employed in Teesside salons or have launched their own ventures.

Twenty year-old Abbie Smith from Redcar is currently the youngest person to start her own business at Mosaic. The former Level 3 beauty therapy student, who completed her course in May 2015, now offers treatments including manicures, massages, facials and waxing within the salon.

She said: “I set up on my own in November 2015 after completing two extra nail courses alongside my Level 3 in Beauty Therapy.

“I’m really grateful that I was given the opportunity to launch my venture at Mosaic as I’ve always wanted to run my own business. I’m still building up my client base and I’ve been getting fantastic support from my former tutors who have always encouraged me to aim high.

“Age is just a number and I’d encourage anybody looking to start their own business to have a go. The first year will be the hardest as you build your client base but it will be worth it in the end!”

Debbie Wilson, beauty therapy course leader at Redcar & Cleveland College, said: “Abbie was always a model student and I’m thrilled she decided to set up within Mosaic.

“She fits in so well with the rest of the team and it’s great to see her build her client base and customer service skills.

“I’m proud that we’ve managed to help so many of our former students gain employment or launch their own business. It’s a significant milestone at Mosaic and one that we’ll look to build on in the future.”

For further information on Redcar & Cleveland College, please call 01642 473 132 or visit http://www.cleveland.ac.uk.

Sensational Sporty Sevens Shine For Red House School

By on 17th May 2016in In & Around

A Teesside school is celebrating a huge sporting achievement which has seen its U12s girls’ teams win six different titles…

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Red House School’s Year 7s competed in a range of different sports against a total of 35 teams from across the region, becoming the first year group in the School’s history to achieve such success in one season.

Made up of just 19 girls, the teams participated in and won the U12 County Hockey Tournament, the U12 A & B District Indoor Hockey Tournament, the U12 A & B District Netball Tournament, the U12 A & B District Netball League, the U12 Invitation Netball Tournament and the U12 District Cross Country Championships Team.

Ranked the number one independent school in the area, Norton-based Red House School prides itself on providing a nurturing environment where children are encouraged to achieve their full potential across a wide range of activities, something which has been highlighted by the recent sporting success of the U12 girls.

Talking about their great achievement, Head of PE, Marie Sweeney, said: “We are extremely proud of the many successes achieved by this particular year group, especially given its size.

“They are a talented group of girls who have adapted their skills to many sporting disciplines throughout their time at Red House, but have also worked hard this season to improve both their individual skills and game play, in lessons and by attending co-curricular clubs in school.

“The girls are proof that as a small school, we definitely punch above our weight compared to some of the larger schools in our area.”

Headmaster, Mr Taylor, added: “This is an astounding achievement from our Year 7 girls and their achievements this season are a true reflection of their hard work and dedication.

“The rapport and ability to work as a team has been paramount to their success, and not forgetting the fantastic teaching, support and guidance from our dedicated Physical Education staff, Marie Sweeney, Marie Ewing and Emma Howell.”

The girls’ medals and trophies were showcased in the School’s weekly achievement assembly, in the hope of encouraging younger pupils to aspire to be successful in sport. The celebrations then continued with a netball tour to Shropshire and the girls are looking forward to going on tour to Holland next season.

To find out more about Red House School, please visit: http://www.redhouseschool.co.uk.

Twitter: @RedHouseSchool

Teesside Schoolgirls Build Homes For Typhoon Victims

By on 16th May 2016in In & Around

The hard work of two charitable Teesside youngsters has come to fruition after they raised enough money to build houses for families in the Philippines left homeless after Typhoon Haiyan hit the country more than two years ago…

Heather Page and Amelia Thomas have taken part in various fundraising activities, including hosting dinner parties for school friends and adults, to raise enough money to complete two family homes. They’re now well on their way towards funding the construction of a third.

Later this month, the two Year 10 Egglescliffe School students will visit Bantayan Island in the Philippines to see for themselves the houses they have helped to build, before handing them over to local families.

The junior philanthropists are also hoping to take hundreds of solar-powered lights with them dependant on the generosity of Teesside businesses.

Heather said: “Many places hit by the typhoon still don’t have mains power after six p.m. and solar lights would be a big help to families. We may take electricity for granted, but it isn’t easy in a country like the Philippines.”

Amelia added: “If any shops in the area that stock solar lights would be willing to donate some to us, we would be extremely grateful. We hope to ‘light up’ dozens of homes in Bantayan Island that have no night-time electricity with simple garden solar lights.”

With the help of their fathers, Boro match day announcer Mark Page, and Icon Plastics boss Gareth Thomas, all of the money raised by the girls has gone directly to the local tradespeople and carpenters who are building the homes.

Gareth said: “Both Mark and I are very proud of the girls. As business people, we are aware of the benefits of corporate social responsibility, but not many young people take it upon themselves to make a positive difference in the world and they’ve worked very hard to get this far.

“We thought it was important that all the money they raise goes directly to the local people who are building these homes, rather than to charities who have other overheads to cover. This way we can be sure that the money goes to the right people, and also helps to revive and stimulate the local economy on Bantayan Island.”

Mark said: “The girls had some great fundraising ideas. Cooking a three course dinner for 14 adults was going some, but it was very successful and in itself paid for one home.”

To donate solar lights please email: gareth@iconplastics.co.uk.

Donations to the project can be made up to 25th May at http://www.youcaring.com/bantayan-island-familes-philippines-519627

Darlington Food Festival Is In Best Possible Taste

By on 13th May 2016in Lifestyle

Foodies will get the chance to sample some of the newest flavours and products in the region this weekend…

One of the biggest events in the culinary calendar, Distinct Darlington’s Distinctly Delicious Darlington Festival of Food, returns to the town on Saturday and Sunday.

And, along with live music, competitions and more than 50 stalls, at High Row and West Row, selling locally produced food, visitors will enjoy two days, of tastings, demonstrations and giveaways.

Among the gourmet goodies on offer will be North Chocolates new, Gardener’s Hour range of chocolates, with flavours including milk geranium and lavender, 70 per cent dark rosemary and lemon sea salt and beetroot and raspberry.

The company, voted Artisan Business of the Year in 2015, will be handing out samples and giving visitors the chance to win a floral three bar box of their Gardener’s Hour chocolates.

Riverford Organics will be offering tastings of their new, tomato, bean and chorizo soup and holding a ‘guess the vegetable’ competition. They will also be offering a free spring and summer cookbook to new customers who sign up for delivery of their award-winning, organic vegetable boxes.

Stateside Treat Emporium will be inviting food lovers to guess the flavour combination on a range of their chocolate bars, while Café Nobia will be offering free tasters of their curried goat dish.

Bella Italia will ask ice cream fans to guess the flavour and will be holding a masterclass for decorating the best gelato cup, while Leaside Cheese will be holding blind tastings throughout the event.

Some of the region’s finest chefs will also be sharing their skills over the course of the weekend, at the town centre’s Pease Monument, starting on Saturday with Steven Chesnutt, from The Crown at Mickleton.

At 11am he will be demonstrating how to make a salad of smoked Teesdale trout with asparagus and a citrus and horseradish dressing and, at 12.30pm, seared fillet of stone bass, with charred spring onions, new potatoes, pickled radish and salsa verde.

Chefs from Darlington’s popular The Keys restaurant will take over the demo kitchen at 1.15pm and then Kendra Fry, of Voodoo Café, will reveal the secrets of her world class chilli at 2pm in the run up to the festival’s chilli eating contest at 2.30pm.

Master mixologist Johnathan Cairns, of Hotel Mercure Darlington, will be giving cocktail masterclasses on Saturday, at noon, 3.30pm and 4.15pm and, on Sunday, at noon and 2.30pm.

Also on Sunday, Aaron Craig, brasserie head chef at Rockliffe Hall Hotel, will return to the stage at 3.30pm, for the third year running, to demonstrate some of his favourite dishes.

Finally, there will be a giveaway of Ringtons tea and cake for everyone following the annual Locomotion Cake Parade, which brings the festival to a close at 2.30pm on Sunday.

Places are still available for the chilli eating contest. To book a place, or for more information, visit www.darlofoodfest.org or contact Simon Preston at simon@graceonline.co.uk.

Durham Hymns Premieres At Cathedral As Part Of BRASS

By on 12th May 2016in Entertainment

A band of brothers – and sisters – will use music and song to commemorate Durham soldiers and their families, as part of BRASS Festival 2016…

Durham Cathedral will provide the spectacular backdrop for the premiere of the Durham Hymns on July 16.

And with just two months to go a community choir and 60-piece brass band are busy preparing to perform the specially written suite, which features new lyrics from poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy.

Cllr Neil Foster, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, arts and culture, said: “Durham has a fantastic military, choral and brass band heritage and the Durham Hymns will bring all of that together in a way that will really connect with people on an emotional level.

“Drawing on Durham County Record Office’s personal letters, memoirs, diary entries and news reports of soldiers and their families during the First World War, this new suite of music will in a new and inspiring way capture what life was like for those who in many cases made the ultimate sacrifice for king and country, and the people they left behind.

“Through both its premiere at Durham Cathedral as part of the BRASS Festival, and its tour of the wider county in the months to come I hope that this will not only bring people to our magnificent World Heritage Site but offer a new way of telling the DLI story, and give it the far greater audience it rightly deserves.”

Durham Hymns is a First World War commemorative project delivered by The Northern Regional Brass Band Trust in partnership with Durham County Council. Additional funding has been provided by Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the PRS Foundation.

The music for the Durham Hymns has been written by composers Orlando Gough and Jessica Curry, with a prelude piece – based on DLI soldier George Butterworth’s The Banks of Green Willow – by Jonathan Bates.

It will be performed by a 60-piece band that brings together some of the county’s top brass musicians, under the direction of conductor Alan Fernie, and a community choir and semi-professional ensemble Voices of Hope, directed by Simon Fidler.

One of the hymns, entitled Oranges, is based on a letter by Major John English to his wife. A piece called Soldier’s Hymn is based on the memoir of DLI Sergeant George Thompson, whose diaries tell of his relationship with his own “War Horse”in the trenches. Meanwhile the hymn Lovely Manhood draws on the memories of Adeline Hodges, of Seaham, written towards the end of her life in 1979.

Producer Alison Lister, of the Northern Regional Brass Band Trust, said: “We were delighted that poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy agreed to write us new lyrics for our suite of hymns commemorating the people of County Durham and their war effort.

“The Hymns are not just about life on the battlefront but the people left behind, the complex lives they led, the sacrifices made and the moral decisions they faced.

“The music has been written by two outstanding contemporary composers and I hope that the Hymns will have a long life and be embraced by the people of the county, not just as it is now, but stretching right across its old ceremonial boundaries, to South Tyneside, Gateshead, Wearside and Hartlepool.”

Tickets for the Durham Hymns premiere at Durham Cathedral cost £20 in the nave (£15 concessions), or £18 by the font (£13 concessions).

To book visit www.galadurham.co.uk, call the Gala box office on 03000 266 600 or visit the theatre, on Millennium Place, in person.

Following their premiere as part of the BRASS festival the hymns will go on to tour venues across the historic boundaries of County Durham from November through until April 2017.

For more information about BRASS Festival 2016, which runs from 14 to 17 July, visit www.brassfestival.co.uk.

Employability Project Is ‘Best In Show For Young Entrepreneurs

By on 4th May 2016in Local Biz

A new canine company has become the latest business start-up to get help from Durham County Council’s partnership approach…

Following a period of unemployment due to ill-health, Caniquest UK founder Matt Greensmith, was finding it difficult to get back into work. However with help from the council’s Employability Project and Generation NE Youth Employment Initiative – as well as the South Durham Enterprise Agency (SDEA) and plenty of determination – Matt now has a thriving new business and career.

An enthusiastic dog agility competitor and former worker in the agricultural sector Matt was inspired to start Caniquest UK which offers a wide range of canine supplies.

After being referred by the job centre, the employability team, SDEA and Generation NE worked together with Matt to provide support and advice for his new business as well as helping him access funding to help get started.

Matt said: “The time I spent unemployed was very frustrating so it’s amazing to be able to say that I’m now the proud owner of my own new business. I have a tremendous amount of gratitude towards everyone who helped me get Caniquest UK off the ground.”

Matt’s isn’t the only success story however as his website was designed by Infranautics, a website and software developing business was also launched thanks the partnership’s work.

Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “Caniquest UK is a brilliant example of both the support the council provides and how we work in partnership with other organisations to help people like Matt not just get back into work but create entirely new businesses.”

As well as mentoring and careers advice to help people get back into work, the council’s Employability Project encourages people to start their own business, helping them develop their ideas and help them create their own career. For more information contact 03000 262 383.

Generation NE is a collaboration between five local authorities, including Newcastle, Durham, Gateshead, North Tyneside and Northumberland, and the North East LEP.

It aims to support over 2,000 young people aged between 17 and 24 years into work over the next three years. For more information call Generation NE on 0191 230 0491 or visit www.generationne.co.uk.

Park Up And Picnic At Katherine Jenkins Concert This Friday

By on 3rd May 2016in Entertainment

Classical music fans are being given the chance to park up and picnic at a special concert taking place next week…

Singing superstar Katherine Jenkins will be performing live in Herrington Country Park, Sunderland on Friday (May 6).

As part of the event, organised by Northern Sessions, fans can now enjoy a luxury, organic picnic platter made up of ethically-produced ingredients from nearby RIVERFORD Farms.

The British-themed platter, which comes complete with biodegradable plates, cutlery and cups, will be available to take away from the Big Green Café Bus, a customised double decker with a fully fitted commercial kitchen.

Each serving will include a mix of carrot and celery sticks, baby tomatoes on the vine, bruschetta biscuits, marinated olives, homemade hummus, baby back ribs in BBQ sauce, salt and pepper honey glazed chicken wings, prawns with a picante dip and strawberries.

Two homemade soups will be available at an additional rate, with a choice of carrot and coriander or broccoli and stilton, both served with French stick slices.

To help cater for those travelling to the concert from around the North East and wider UK, Northern Sessions, part of events company Sunderland Live, have also arranged on-site car parking.

This is priced at £5 per car but must be booked in advance at www.thenorthernsessions.co.uk

“This is a huge event for the North East and we wanted to make it as easy as possible for people from around the region and further afield who are planning to attend,” said Alison McDonough, Chief Executive of Sunderland Live.

“The addition of on-site parking and those amazing, organic picnic platters, will hopefully allow everyone to make the most of their evening watching Katherine, as well as helping to protect the stunning setting of Herrington Country Park.”

A limited number of tickets for Katherine Jenkins, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra and acclaimed violinists Vladimir and Anton, are still available priced at £33 each.

Doors will open at 5.30pm, with live music beginning at 7pm.

Picnic platters, priced at £15 each and soup, priced at £3.50 each, will served throughout the evening at the Big Green Café Bus.

For more information visit www.thenorthernsessions.co.uk, follow @thenorthernsess on Twitter or search The Northern Sessions on Facebook.

School Pupils Lend A Hand In Tudhoe Community Project

By on 2nd May 2016in In & Around

Pupils at Tudhoe Colliery Primary School helped to spruce up their village as part of a community project…

The children, who are in Year 3 at the school, worked with Durham County Council’s neighbourhood services team to make landscape improvements to a seating area in Tudhoe.

The community project used plants leftover from other schemes and includes ornamental sculptures.

The result is a low-maintenance and attractive communal seating area which can be enjoyed by everyone in the village.

Steve Johnson, Durham County Council’s street scene supervisor, said: “This has been a great opportunity to carry out low maintenance yet visually striking improvement in Tudhoe with the help of Tudhoe Colliery Primary School pupils.”

Dan Watson, Year 3 teacher at Tudhoe primary school added: “We really enjoyed our planting session and contributing to the community in general.”

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