Tag: small business

Conservative Party First To Enter North East Mayoral Election

By on 26th February 2016in Local Biz

Self-made North East businessman and philanthropist, Jeremy Middleton, is the first politician to declare his intention to run in the North East mayoral election, which is expected to take place in May 2017…

Speaking to journalists and supporters at Durham County Cricket Club, Jeremy announced his intention to seek the Conservative Party nomination for the North East Region; which includes the Newcastle, Durham, Northumberland, Sunderland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Gateshead local authority areas.

Mr Middleton, who sits on the North East Local Economic Partnership board and chairs its investment fund, outlined his priorities for the region; including support for the NHS, investment in schools and work experience to create more opportunities for young people, and a billion pound jobs and investment fund to tackle unemployment and create good jobs. He also called for a fairer funding settlement for the region and more investment in transport infrastructure.

Jeremy said: “I want to be Mayor because I am passionate about making sure we invest more in skills, apprenticeships and jobs here in the North East. I want our young people to have the same life chances here as they do everywhere else in our country. I’m frustrated that the North East gets a raw deal.

“The old model of trying to run everything in our country from the centre of London is broken. We must not settle for what we are given. There should be no limit our ambition.

“The mayor must be able to stand up to vested interests, both from within our region and from outside it. That is why we need a mayor with a strong independent voice and not a career politician. I am a member of the Conservative Party, however they may or may not endorse me, and whatever the outcome, I do not and will not hesitate to criticise the Government it if it fails to deliver.”

Careers Service Spearheads Campaign Against Gender Stereotypes

By on 24th February 2016in Local Biz

The National Careers Service in the North East is spearheading a campaign to challenge gender stereotypes in the workplace…

As part of the campaign, the National Careers Service is helping careers advice professionals educate students across the region on the diverse range of opportunities open to them in the North East, regardless of gender. This has included attending careers briefings at colleges and schools in the region.

Labour market research by the National Careers Service in the North East reveals:

  • 21% of the science, engineering and manufacturing workforce is female.
  • Women make up only 9% of the UK’s engineering professionals.
  • 16% of IT specialists working in the North East are female.
  • 12% of applicants to computing degree courses are female.
  • Men make up less than 16% of the nursing care home workforce.
  • Men make up less than 20% of the social care workforce.
  • 67% of the Crown Prosecution Service workforce is female.
  • About 74% of the 20,000 members of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives are women.

The National Careers Service in the North East is employing the latest technology to showcase its findings. The App – Challenging Occupational Gender Stereotyping (COGS) – funded through the Equality and Diversity Innovation Fund was designed to help address gender discrepancies in a range of professions including IT, healthcare and engineering.

Carly Hinds, Partnership Manager for the National Careers Service in the North East, said: “The App can be used to help open up the minds of young men and women in the region to the wider spectrum of careers opportunities available.

“We want to debunk the misconception that some sectors are the domain of mainly males or females.

“We are employing the latest technology through the creation of an app which challenges the gender disparities within some industries across the region, such as engineering and healthcare.”

The App featured prominently in a recent event at Stockton Riverside College’s Bede Sixth Form. Alice Atkinson, Careers Coordinator for Bede Sixth Form, said: “I felt it was important for the National Careers Service to attend our Respect Festival, as many young people do not realise key sectors in the North East offer great opportunities for both men and women, and that employers welcome diversity.

“It is important for young people across the North East to not feel held back by their gender when pursuing a career they feel passionate about. Our work with the National Careers Service in the North East is there to encourage our students to challenge gender stereotypes within the workplace.”

The National Careers Service in the North East is behind the Supporting Inspiration project, which helps young people develop an appreciation of the world of work, local labour markets, the skills needs for different business sectors and career opportunities open to them.

It has established a Supporting Inspiration portal, which aims to transform the way employers contribute to making young people in the region work-ready.

The service, which is part of the Government’s Inspiration agenda, uses the portal to match up employers willing to inform students about the world of work, with schools and colleges across the region.

It connects with employers in Durham, Northumberland, Tees Valley, Tyneside and Wearside, who can offer a range of careers education support such as providing work experience placements, mentoring students face-to-face and online, and attending careers fairs.

Durham Ice Cream Man Caught Selling Cigarettes To Kids

By on 24th February 2016in In & Around

A court has heard that an Ice Cream Man sold cigarettes from his van to children as young as 8…

Angelo Fella, from Catchgate near Stanley, was caught out when an off duty Police Sergeant queueing at his van witnessed him selling cigarettes to an 8 year old.

Surveillance then revealed the 54 year old selling cigarettes to children aged 11 and 13.

Fella has now pleaded guilty to three charges brought by Durham County Council, and has been ordered to pay out over £1,000.

At Peterlee Magistrates Court on Tuesday, it was outlined how the off-duty Sergeant was queueing for an ice cream at Fella’s van while it was visiting Catchgate, near the village’s primary school, in July 2015. The policeman watched as the defendant, who trades as Roma Ices and lives at Anthony Court, sold cigarettes to the child.

The same day, Fella sold cigarettes to a child aged 13, again at Catchgate. The Sergeant complained to Durham County Council’s consumer protection team, which obtained court authorisation to carry out surveillance on Fella’s van.

Days later, video evidence was captured of Fella handing two packets of cigarettes to a girl in school uniform at Catchgate. The girl was later confirmed to be 11.

Fella was interviewed by Consumer Protection Officers, and initially denied selling cigarettes to children. However, photographic evidence was put to him and he admitted doing so.

Fella pleaded guilty to the three charges of selling tobacco products to a child under the age of 18.

The court heard the defendant – the third generation of his family to own the ice cream business – claim he only sold cigarettes to children who were known to him in the expectation they were buying them for family members over the age of 18.

Magistrates were also told Fella lost his Council Street Traders licence after the offences came to light, although it has since been reinstated on appeal with a condition that he is not allowed to sell products including cigarettes on which there is a lower age limit.

The defendant was further said to have suffered financial loss as a result of the episode, while his marriage has also broken down.

Fella was fined £100 for each offence and ordered to pay £200 legal costs, £553.69 investigation costs, and a £20 victim surcharge, a total of £1,053.69.

Speaking after the case, Joanne Waller, Durham County Council’s Head of Environment, Health and Consumer Protection, said: “It is against the law to sell cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18, and yet Fella knowingly did so to children up to ten years below the legal age limit.

“His actions were highly irresponsible, and our consumer protection team will not tolerate such activity.

“The financial penalty imposed on Fella should serve as a warning to anyone thinking of making a fast buck by breaking the law.”

Festival Of Thrift Relocates To Redcar For 2016

By on 24th February 2016in Lifestyle

Plans are afoot to take the fourth annual Festival of Thrift to the stunning location of Kirkleatham in Redcar on 24th and 25th September 2016…

The award-winning, free family festival shows people how to save money – and the planet – by being creative.

Heading out of its birthplace in Darlington for the first time since the inaugural Festival in 2013, the team wants to show how the event can inspire and support the economic future of communities throughout the Tees Valley.

The festival will return regularly to Darlington in future years.

A ten year plan is currently being drawn together for future festival locations, working towards 2025, the 200th anniversary of the world’s first passenger steam railway (which journeyed between Darlington and Stockton), and the year for which Tees Valley is bidding to be UK Region of Culture.

A proposal detailing the festival’s aims, values and programme will be presented at the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Cabinet Meeting at the Leisure and Community Heart on 1st March, where councillors will give the final decision as to the 2016 Festival taking place at Kirkleatham. HRH The Prince of Wales visited the estate last week as part of a wider visit to the borough, as The Prince’s Foundation is working with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to develop plans for its regeneration.

The proposal also follows the recent visit to Tees Valley by Lord Heseltine to discuss plans to drive forward investment opportunities to the region. Lord Heseltine has been appointed chair of the Tees Valley Inward Investment Initiative, with a specific remit to boost the region’s international profile.

The Festival of Thrift is the UK’s National Celebration of sustainable living. It brings together international and emerging artists, superscrimpers, makers and designers, as well as stallholders selling all manner of homemade, home-grown, upcycled, recycled and thrifty produce. The festival brings people together to share skills through workshops, talks, films and a whole lot of hands-on joining-in and making.

This year, the festival will concentrate on sustainable business development. If the move to Kirkleatham is agreed, the programme will also include locally grown produce, food and drink inspired by the kitchen gardens and traditions at Kirkleatham.

Stella Hall, festival director, said: “I’d be delighted to head out to Redcar this year. Redcar received such a huge blow in 2015 with the demise of the steel works, which coincided with last year’s festival.

“We hope to show how each of us has skills and creativity we can contribute to create a sustainable community. The Festival of Thrift is dedicated to shining a light on the Tees Valley, celebrating the area’s individuality and the strength of its people.

“We will be heading back to Darlington for 2017, but the opportunity of holding the festival at Kirkleatham this year was too good an opportunity to miss.

“The site is the epitome of great regeneration. Kirkleatham has a fascinating museum collection, a stunning church and mausoleum, almshouses, railway cottages, park and woodland within walking distance.

“Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will be sensitively developing the stables on site, with an eye to business startups. Together with the new adventure playground, it’s a complete gem of a festival location.”

Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Councillor Sue Jeffrey said: “The festival organisers and Darlington Borough Council have worked extremely hard to make the festival a huge success, and we would work closely with them to replicate that in Redcar.

“We would be delighted to welcome the festival in 2016, particularly to such a special site which perfectly suits the festival’s values. It would be a real boost to our communities to host such a fantastic event.”

Councillor Bill Dixon, Leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “Darlington’s ingenuity gave birth to the festival, and we are delighted to see those ideas developed and explored in other settings and places, but look forward to welcoming the festival back home.”

The festival has continued to grow in size as well as reputation. In 2015 the festival welcomed 45,000 visitors throughout the weekend at its first home at Lingfield Point, Darlington, and scooped the Observer Ethical Award for Arts and Culture – a national coup for a home grown festival. In the same year, it won the North East Tourism Event of the Year.

This year’s festival will invite the UK’s thriftiest and most sustainable stallholders to build on some of the great programmes from previous years, including Alternative Village Fete with its mix of wandering performance and music stages, Oxglam recycled fashion shows, Bistros du Vin with local and amateur chefs, and Fix It Café, helping to save waste by fixing everything from a child’s music box to a broken computer. Workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions, The Big Talks and Peoples’ Encyclopaedia will all be about sharing skills, and showing how each of us has something special to offer. The most exciting elements will emerge from the history and heritage of the site itself, and will be announced in the coming months.

For more information, visit festivalofthrift.co.uk and sign up to receive email newsletters, keeping you up to date as the festival programme develops over the next few months.

Yarm Health Clinic Expands Following Major Rebrand

By on 24th February 2016in Local Biz

A leading health clinic has expanded its services and team following a major rebrand…

HealthHub Clinics, formerly known as Yarm Osteopaths and Physiotherapy Clinic, consists of 13 associate practitioners, who are experts in delivering first class health services and treatments.

Based on Yarm High Street, the clinic has built up an outstanding reputation as one of the North East’s leading providers for musculo-skeletal pain reduction and maintenance programmes.

Following the rebrand, which has also seen the clinic invest in a new website, HealthHub Clinics now offers a full range of physical, mental and social wellbeing services including Pilates, Yoga and Tai Chi, Nutrition and Naturopathy, Counselling, Mindfulness and Mediation, among others.

Established in 2000, the clinic has treated over 6000 patients across the Tees Valley and beyond, and it was a change of focus on wellbeing and demand for its services which led to the rebrand.

Osteopath Julian Crossley said: “Since we started 16 years ago, we have been known for our musculo-skeletal services, such as osteopathy and physiotherapy, and have built up a fantastic reputation for our work in these areas.

“However, over recent years there has been a huge increase in other health related therapies and wellbeing, which we are developing and expanding.

“We realised that now, more than ever, was the perfect time for us to add to what we already offer.”

The leadership team and its associates chose the name HealthHub Clinics as they believe it explains perfectly – yet simply – what clients can expect from the clinic.

Julian continued: “We decided on the name HealthHub Clinics as it encompasses all the various treatments and wellbeing services that are trending with people and current health awareness.

“We wanted to make sure that while the new brand made people aware of the extra services we now offer, they realise they will still receive the same excellent standards they have since we first opened.”

2016 looks set to continue a year of growth in both services and staff appointments for HealthHub Clinics, as the next few months will see the clinic welcome to its team, some of the region’s most reputable figures in the fields of health and wellbeing.

To find out more about HealthHub Clinics, visit www.healthhubclinics.co.uk. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Multi-Million Pound Data Centre Launches In Teesside

By on 22nd February 2016in Local Biz

A North East ICT firm has launched a multi-million pound data centre in Teesside…

Agile Group – which uses tailored products and solutions to make IT and Communications work better for businesses – hopes the centre will help to establish itself as the leading ICT provider in the North East and beyond.

The 4,000 square foot data centre will allow businesses to store equipment and data in a safe and secured undisclosed location, with services available including data backup, co-location of server equipment and email hosting.

Head quartered in Stockton, Agile Group offers a wide range of solutions such as IT support and equipment, telecoms, internet connections solutions and network infrastructure services. The company has taken this step towards offering data centre solutions after recognising significant changes in the ever evolving IT industry.

Gavin Scotchbrook, chief operations officer at Agile Group, said: “In an industry that is constantly evolving, Cloud Computing is the next best thing. To be able to offer our own data centre facility and solutions means we can deliver effective cloud solutions before our competitors, and add value to businesses.

“Our customer base is constantly growing, and their ICT needs are evolving and changing. We want to give our customers quicker access to markets, and by launching our own data centre, we’re able to offer the more streamlined and efficient solutions that will help businesses do that.”

Paul Jones, chief technical officer of Agile Group, added: “Our new data centre facility is a massive leap forward for us as a business.

“We can now provide our customers with products where we can guarantee their end to end reliability. This is because we now directly control the back end cloud infrastructure where they are delivered from.”

To help with the launch of the data centre, Agile Group obtained the help of Psyche Managing Director Steve Cochrane, and multiple charity founder and Venture Capitalist Andy Preston.

Psyche has been a customer of Agile Group for more than 18 months, using the company for IT support services and equipment, therefore understanding the benefits of having data backed up and located in a secure location.

Steve said: “We have been working with Agile Group for a while now, and the staff are brilliant at understanding our needs and delivering a solution towards that.

“Straight away I saw the benefit of the data centre, and I feel comfortable knowing where my data is and how it is being managed.”

Considered one of the leading figures within the local community, Andy Preston, added: “It’s great to see what the team at Agile Group is doing and the investment it is putting into its business.

“It is exciting to hear a Tees Valley company with such ambitious plans, and it all makes for a great offering for customers.”

This year has already seen Agile Group – which employs 35 staff – add staff members to its sales, finance and technical departments, and the company is currently recruiting for more sales and technical staff, with the intention of employing an additional 50 staff in the near future.

The company’s existing headquarters will not facilitate this number of staffing levels, so a new premises move is also on the agenda for 2016.

For more information, visit www.agile.uk.com or follow @AgileGroupLtd on Twitter.

5 Teesside Kids Represent England At Kickboxing Championships

By on 22nd February 2016in In & Around

Boro Taxis has kick-started a fundraising campaign to support five talented Teesside youngsters who have been selected to represent England at the World Kickboxing Championships…

The children, aged 6 to 12, are all members of the M.A-X Training Academy in Middlesbrough, and have been crowned national or European titleholders to qualify for the World Championships.

Heading for the prestigious October competition in Portugal are Adam Ullah and his sister Angeli, Warren Green, Holly Underwood, and Saran Hill.

The achievements of the young kickboxers were brought to Boro Taxis’ attention as Adam and Angeli are the children of one of their taxi drivers, Ashik Ullah.

In preparation for the tournament, each of the five-strong team is dedicating six days a week to training, putting in at least an hour a day.

Mohammed Bashir, founder of Boro Taxis, one of the largest firms of its kind in the North East, said: “It is fantastic that five local youngsters have qualified for the World Kickboxing Championships. It really is a proud moment for Teesside, as well as for M.A-X Training Academy and all its members.

“When we heard from Ashik about his children’s success, and the fact their club needed financial help to pay for the accommodation, flights and other expenses to get them to Portugal, we were only too happy to help.

“These youngsters are a credit to the area, and they are working so hard to achieve their dreams. We wish them well at the World Championships, and are sure they will do Teesside proud.”

Samantha Johnson, M.A-X Training Academy Manager, said: “We have never had so many members qualify for the World Kickboxing Championships at one time, and they are all an inspiration to the whole club.

“We are extremely proud of Adam, Angeli, Holly, Saran and Warren, whose dedication is second to none. Attending the World Championships will be a brilliant experience for them.

“It will cost about £6,000 for the six days that the team will be in Portugal, and we are very grateful to Boro Taxis for getting our fundraising efforts off to such a good start with its generous donation of £1,000.”

During the last few years, the youngsters have all notched up a number of significant victories on their journey to being selected for the World Championships.

At the age of 7, Saran became the youngest kick boxing black belt in the North East, attaining the highest A+ grading. She has achieved Silver and Gold at national level, and won Bronze and Silver medals in the European Championships.

Angeli has won Silver at the Europeans, and Bronze at the FSK Grand Championship. Both she and her brother Adam took Gold in this year’s English National Championships.

Warren has been Gold and Bronze medallist at national, and a Silver medallist at European level.

Holly’s achievements comprise Gold and Silver in the English Championships, and Gold and Silver in the Europeans.

Samantha added that learning martial arts was a great way of helping people to not only get fit, but also to help with their dexterity, including eye and hand co-ordination. It also has emotional and mental wellbeing benefits, such as boosting self-esteem and confidence.

M.A-X Training Academy, based in Bright Street, Middlesbrough, has been in existence 16 years, and has almost 200 members aged from 4 to 60+.

Tyneside Restaurants Offer Mother’s Day Prizes

By on 22nd February 2016in Lifestyle

Restaurants across Tyneside are serving up a special surprise for mums…

In honour of Mothering Sunday, four of the most popular venues are giving mums the chance to win a hamper of goodies.

Competition entry is open to all mums who dine at either The Sand Piper (at Cullercoats), The Runhead (Holburn Lane), Ryton or Scalini’s (at Osborne Road, Jesmond and Great North Road, Gosforth), on Sunday 6th March.

And the winners, picked at random from each venue, will enjoy a bottle of Prosecco, chocolates, sweets, a rose plant, bath salts and a voucher to dine at any venue owned by Newcastle-based Malhotra Group PLC.

To tempt mums to take part, each venue has also prepared a special Mother’s Day menu, offering a choice of starters, desserts and main courses, including their popular Sunday carveries and roasts.

At The Runhead, starters include chilli beef nachos and potato skins with cheese and bacon, followed by meats from the carvery, while The Sand Piper’s coastal-inspired menu includes North Sea fishcakes and fish and chips.

At Scalini’s, Jesmond, the menu features ham hock terrine and French onion soup starters, and rich desserts such as chocolate and orange truffle bar and strawberry Pavlova, while the Gosforth branch will lure diners with crab and rarebit toasties and coconut curried steamed mussels.

The Runhead and The Sand Piper are charging £10.95 for two courses and £12.95 for three.

At Scalini’s, customers can enjoy one course for £9.95, two for £13.45 and three for £15.95.

The Mothering Sunday menus are available throughout the day at each venue, and further information can be found at www.scalinisrestaurant.co.uk, www.therunhead.co.uk and www.thesandpiperbar.co.uk.

The hamper winners will be notified on Friday 11th March.

Tees Valley Supply Chain Briefed On Rail Project Contract Opportunities

By on 21st February 2016in Local Biz

Representatives from 200 supply chain companies in Tees Valley have been given the inside track on contract opportunities that will be generated by two of the UK’s most significant rail projects…

They attended an executive briefing, where presentations were given by key executives connected with the high speed rail project, HS2 and Crossrail, the 100 kilometre railway line under construction in London and surrounding areas.

The breakfast event was hosted by Tees Valley Unlimited in partnership with Teesside Engineering Network (TEN).

The keynote speakers comprised:

  • Joanna Sloane, HS2 Supply Chain Manager, who presented a project overview including the contract opportunities, tendering timetables, and how potential suppliers can identify business opportunities.
  • Mark Lomas, HS2 Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) outlined its approach to EDI and what this means for suppliers.
  • Simon Pain, Crossrail Principal Programme Supply Chain Manager, covered the many remaining opportunities that will be generated by the mechanical, electrical and station fit-out elements. Crossrail’s main contractors need to recruit a range of specialists to enable the creation of a functional railway ready for Crossrail’s opening from 2017.

Delegates also were able to speak directly to the speakers during a Q&A session.

Joanna Sloane said: “We want to engage as many businesses as possible from across the UK to put them in the best position possible to compete for the opportunities offered by HS2 as part of a fair, transparent and open procurement process.”

She added: “The high volume of sign-ups to this event shows that businesses are taking the right approach towards the procurement opportunities of HS2.

Simon Pain said: “It has always been important for Crossrail to engage with potential supply chain members, especially SMEs, in order to highlight the opportunities that are available in huge programmes like Crossrail. Working with bodies like Tees Valley Unlimited gives us exactly that opportunity.”

He added: “We want as many competent suppliers as possible to know about Crossrail contracts and have the opportunity to go for them. It’s good for Crossrail and good for UK Plc to have a healthy mix of companies of various sizes and from different regions. This is part of our work towards promoting greater economic sustainability.”

The briefing was told that Crossrail’s contractors still have mechanical and electrical equipment to procure.

Cllr Bill Dixon, Leader of Darlington Council and Leadership Board member at Tees Valley Unlimited, the Local Enterprise Partnership for Tees Valley, said: “The well-attended executive briefing provided the ideal platform for Tees Valley businesses to learn directly about the substantial contract opportunities associated with two of the UK’s biggest transport infrastructure investments.

“There are companies in Tees Valley that have the skills and ability to contribute to the delivery of HS2 and Crossrail, and it is important for them to be made aware of the business potential and how they can bid for contracts.”

Rob Johnson, Director of Axiom Engineering Associates Ltd, one of the TEN founders, said: “The briefing was a fantastic forum for delegates to learn directly from and engage with executives associated with two major rail projects.

“One of TEN’s aims is to provide an arena where larger companies can showcase their vision and present their supply chain needs to let Tees Valley firms know how they can win work from large scale regeneration and infrastructure development schemes.”

SSI Task Force Assists Ex-Steelworker Launch New Business

By on 19th February 2016in In & Around

A former Steelworker who was made redundant following the collapse of SSI UK has set up his own sport coaching business, having secured funding through the SSI Task Force…

Andy Baker, 42, from Middlesbrough, was left devastated when SSI UK was liquidated in October last year, ending what he thought was a job for life.

Hearing of the various Task Force Funds available in the media, Andy contacted his local Job Centre Plus to find out more information. He very quickly saw the closure as an opportunity to fulfil a dream of setting up Velocity Sports Coaching.

Over the last eight years, he has volunteered as a football coach at Nunthorpe Athletic, and has always had a passionate for coaching.

Andy said: “I thought it would be great to make a career out of a hobby. I will be working in local schools to deliver coaching for children aged between 5-11, and my wife Claire is planning to get involved to help grow the business.

“Applying for the SSI Task Force Business Advice Start Up Fund was brilliant. It was very easy, and I felt very supported by my mentor who helped me to develop my business plan. From submitting the plan to receiving the grant, it only took a week. I was amazed at how quickly it all worked. I’d certainly recommend the scheme to anyone. It was first class.”

Amanda Skelton, Chair of the SSI Task Force, added: “It’s not unusual for someone to decide that they want a complete change of career after being made redundant, and I am pleased that Task Force funding has been able to support Andy to do something that he is passionate about. The funds are there to support both individuals and businesses, and I would encourage people to get in touch to see how we can help.”

Jonathan Armitage, Andy’s Business Adviser, added: “This fund has been amazing in its flexibility. It has been great to be able to work with and offer former SSI workers advice on starting their own business. The grant scheme, which could provide a start-up grant of up to £10,000 to help make a business a real opportunity, has been invaluable in helping lots of people affected by the SSI closure work towards and actually start their own business.”

The Business Advice Start Up Fund administered by NEEAL has already proven extremely popular, with more than 200 people receiving advice and guidance, and nearly £300,000 of funding awarded to 46 people starting their own businesses.

Anyone interested in the scheme and looking for further information should contact NEEAL on 0191 516 6093, or visit www.teesbusinesscompass.co.uk.

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