New businesses are invited to nominate themselves for this year’s South Tyneside Business Awards.

Firms which have been operating in the Borough for less than two years are being encouraged to put themselves forward for the Newcomer of the Year Award.

Sean Kilmartin, owner of Tavistock Retro in South Shields and White Lead in Hebburn who clinched the title in 2013, said: “Our customers, especially the regulars, were really supportive when we entered the awards last year.

“Winning the award helped raise the profile of the business; we’ve got the trophy on display in the restaurant and we’re very proud of it.

“It was a real morale boost and testament to the hard work put in by all the staff.“

Sean now employs over 60 staff between the two restaurants.

He added: “I used what we did at the Tavistock as a blueprint for success at the second restaurant.“

The award is open to any business which has been operating for less than two years, as of January 1, 2014.

The judges will consider what sets the business apart from its competitors, its significant achievements, potential for growth and other factors.

Richard Ord, owner of Colman’s, which is sponsoring this year’s Newcomer of the Year award, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in the South Tyneside Business Awards, which are a great way of recognising and celebrating the achievements of businesses in the borough.

“I’d like to wish all this year’s entrants the best of luck.“

Image source: Waponi

A scheme to generate ideas that could help to combat youth unemployment in County Durham has been launched by two regional business groups.

The Federation of Small Business (FSB) in the North East and the County Durham Economic Partnership (CDEP) are looking to crowdsource ideas from businesses, young people, families and the public sector, on how youth unemployment in the area can be tackled.

The two organisations are using the Simpl platform to source ideas from across the community, until the end of September.

Voting on the ideas will then take place and those selected as the best will be developed into a plan at an event in October.

The FSB has looked at statistics which show the number of unemployed young people in County Durham stands at 3,415 (March 2014).

Of particular concern are the 1014 (March) young people that have been unemployed for over 12 months with a further 845 young people who are considered NEET.

Ted Salmon, FSB North East regional chairman, said: "Youth unemployment is a huge issue that the North East needs to get a grip on. Our challenge to everyone in the North East is to help us tackle this and help our fantastic young people get a real chance to fulfil their aspirations.

“The area needs to move beyond just the tried and tested and the usual suspects to find new ways of tackling this problem. We’d love to see ideas being submitted from businesses, parents, grandparents, families basically anyone that has an interest in this.

"This is why we’re using the Simpl platform to gather these ideas from anywhere in the world to help us tackle youth unemployment.

“By working with the County Durham Economic Partnership and others we can start to make a dent into the numbers to help more young people achieve their aspirations.“

Brian Tanner, chair of the County Durham Economic Partnership, said: “Employment, and particularly youth employment, is the top priority of the Partnership. County Durham faces very special difficulties due to its geography and population distribution.

"Hopefully the Simpl Challenge will inject fresh ideas that can be exploited to make a real difference to our objective of bringing down the present high level of youth unemployment.“

Those interested in submitting an idea should visit the project’s Simpl page here.

Image source: HelenCobain

The proportion of people in employment in the North East has reached a record high of 69.0%, the latest ONS statistics have revealed.

Some 15,000 people joined the workforce over the last quarter, bringing the North East employment rate closer to the national rate of 73.1%.

The proportion of inactive people, or those not looking for a job, has steadily declined to levels below where they were 20 years ago.

Meanwhile unemployment rose by 5,000 over the quarter, bringing the North East unemployment rate to 9.8%.

Reductions in the inactivity rate and rise in employment have led North East LEP chief economist Mauricio Armellini to suggest the statistics point towards underlying cultural change in the region.

He said: “The increase in employment is great news for the North East, because employment is what really drives an economy. Our rise was higher than any other region in the country. We’re more than doubling the speed at which the national employment rate is increasing.

“The inactivity figures suggest this is not a blip, but is more structured growth that is here to stay. Inactivity measures the behaviour of people - it shows who is looking for a job or not.

“It’s falling so sharply that it makes me think we are witnessing structural societal change, and people are moving into the labour market. I think its about the breakdown of that cycle of discouragement from looking for work. 

“In every quarter I’ve been quite cautious and pessimistic about the statistics, but I’ve been proved wrong and we continue to have excellent performances.“

  Graph showing North East inactivity against UK inactivity, compiled by Mauricio Armellini using ONS data

NECC policy and research manager, Mark Stephenson, said: “Currently, we have more people in employment in the North East than we’ve ever had, which is great news.

“Improvement in the North East employment rate has consistently been among the fastest in the UK, while the reduction in the inactivity rate is the highest in the UK – with most of these people moving into employment.

“The unemployment rate has decreased which is welcome, although given the fluctuations in in recent months we will monitor what happens in the coming months before we draw any firm conclusions.

“Redressing the jobless figures in the North East remains one of the key challenges for policy makers. Nevertheless, the continued rise of employment in our region is welcomed, especially taken alongside the reduction in the claimant count.

“National figures continue to improve.  It is startling that over 800,000 more people are in work nationally compared to twelve months ago and taken alongside our Quarterly Economic Survey these figures point to a continued, if not guaranteed recovery looking ahead.“

Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) Ltd.  has handed over the Mono supercar which spectators watched being built on their stand throughout the International Festival for Business 2014.

The proud owner – Brazilian advertising entrepreneur, Alexandre Gama – will be presented with the keys on the BAC stand by the President of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Lord Derby. Brazil is the latest country to join the export list for BAC, taking the total to 14 countries, across 4 continents.

BAC Director Neill Briggs said: “We are delighted to welcome Alex and his family to Liverpool to present him with his Mono. It is a proud day for all concerned.“

“The International Festival of Business has been a great success and it is fantastic news that it will be returning to the city in 2016. We have sold cars and made significant new commercial and business contacts from around the world. Our participation really typifies the importance of the festival and how it can act as a catalyst to future growth.

“Building the car over the course of the festival has given visitors a terrific insight into what we do. In addition to the business being done at IFB 2014, it has been an invaluable opportunity for us to engage with the public, and we hope to have inspired a few more people to become the designers and engineers of the future.“

Chair of IFB 2014, Max Steinberg, added: “This sale neatly captures the essence of the festival: taking the very best of British and exporting it to the world. The BAC engineers have enthralled onlookers at the IFB Hub with their diligent work over the past few weeks and I’m sure they will be very proud to watch their efforts come to fruition.

“The festival has given a large number of companies the opportunity to follow BAC’s lead and supercharge their own export strategies.“

Image source: Robert S. Donovan

One in three workers (32%) in Yorkshire & Humberside admits to having pulled a ‘sickie’ according to new research by PwC.

Among the most popular reasons for why people pulled a ‘sickie’ in the region are having a hangover (25%), family responsibilities (30%), interview for another job (27%), bored at work (27%) and watching a sporting event (9%).

Illness is by far the most common reason given with 69% in the region using it as an excuse.

PwC’s research shows that sick days are costing organisations in the UK over £23bn a year, but a large proportion of the sick bill is preventable as people lying or exaggerating to take time off work is costing £9bn a year.

Rupert Hutton, director in PwC’s human resource services team in Yorkshire, said: “The combination of better weather and major sporting events may mean that the temptation to lie to take time off work to watch sport is too much for some.

"Organisations could easily reduce the knock-on impact on their workers’ productivity levels by offering flexible working or allowing them to watch key matches in the office.

“Our research shows that when it comes to reducing absence levels, carrot rather than stick is the best approach. Having a flexible working culture can go a long way to breaking the cycle of people feeling that they are entitled to days off outside of their holiday allowance and encouraging better engagement.

"The change in law that means anyone now has the right to request flexible working should help more people achieve the work/life balance they need without impacting on organisations’ productivity.”

In Yorkshire & Humberside, most people (20%) said a flexible working approach is the measure that would most likely put them off from pulling a ‘sickie’, with 8% saying schemes such as health and wellbeing initiatives, would put them off pulling a sickie. .

PwC analysis of over 2,500 global companies shows that the UK’s overall sickness bill (including genuine and made-up illness) has fallen to £23 billion from £29 billion a year ago.

But despite this positive trend, UK workers still take nearly triple the amount of sick days as their global counterparts in Asia Pacific (4.8 days) and nearly double the US (3.8 days).

Central and Eastern Europe has the highest level of sick days at an average of 8.3 a year. Sick days still account for the majority of absence and make up 87% of the overall absence bill to organisations in the UK.

Representatives of four leading private sector organisations have joined forces with Liverpool Vision to plan the city’s strategy for the 2015 edition of MIPIM: the annual real estate trade show in Cannes, France.

MIPIM – Le marché international des professionnels de l’immobilie (marketplace for International property professionals) – takes place on France’s Côte d’Azur between March 10 and 13 next spring.

The property sector movers and shakers which form the MIPIM steering group are representatives of developer Peel Holdings, professional services company Deloitte, law firm Brabners and commercial property company Bruntwood. 

Ian Pollitt, development investment surveyor at Peel Holdings said: “MIPIM is the principal international showcase for development opportunities and we are beginning our planning early to ensure the city region makes the most of the opportunity.

“We’re working closely with Liverpool Vision to organise the city’s presence and aim to make MIPIM 2015 the most valuable ever.”

Chris Brown, Director Marketing Liverpool said: “Liverpool had a very strong presence at MIPIM in 2014 and through the work of the steering group we are sure that at MIPIM 2015 we will have an even stronger programme supported by an increased number of private sector partners.

"These are exciting times for the city with the announcement of the International Festival for Business returning in 2016 and several major projects coming forward.”   

The four parties are:

                Colin Sinclair, Bruntwood

                Jeff Gillbanks, Brabners

                Sean Beech, Deloitte

                Ian Pollitt, Peel Holdings

The four parties will meet regularly over the coming months to direct a private sector led approach before refining the city’s attendance plan in partnership with Liverpool Vision and Marketing Liverpool.

Already 17 partners have signed up to support Liverpool’s presence at MIPIM Cannes 2015 including: Peel, Deloitte, Bruntwood, Brabners, Grosvenor, Countryside, Harcourt, Castlewood, Liverpool BID, Chester Falconer Hall and Innov8 with further announcements to be made in September.

A panel of expert speakers from business and government are meeting at the IFB Hub in Liverpool to highlight the local implications of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations currently underway.

A successful free trade agreement between the US and the EU would break down trade barriers, saving exporters millions of pounds, generate new jobs, and create a massive new marketplace representing 47% of the world’s output.

A successful deal is projected to add £10 billion to the UK economy every year. This will also mean consumers and businesses in Liverpool stand to gain from lower prices and increased choice.

Speakers include Jeffries Briginshaw, Managing Director, BritishAmerican Business; Clive Drinkwater, Director, UKTI North West Richard Currie, Director Public Affairs, UPS; Paul Griffiths, Deputy Head Transatlantic & International Unit  at the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills; Larry Stone, President, Group Public and Government Affairs, BT Group, and a US Embassy Representative.

Max Steinberg, Chair of IFB 2014, said: “As a city, Liverpool has always enjoyed close links with the US, culturally and economically. You only need to look at how important the American market is to our visitor economy to see that the cultural links are as strong as ever, and I believe that TTIP can be a catalyst in developing closer trade relationships.

“As we come to the end of the successful International Festival for Business, there is no better time for Liverpool businesses to look to the US.“

Jeffries Briginshaw, Managing Director of BritishAmerican Business in London, said: “Through our road show process we have been able to test some of the high level policy rhetoric surrounding TTIP and find out what’s really happening at the grass roots – what will TTIP do to improve the SME experience of exporting to the US for example?

“We are shining a torch and looking for local, specific and tangible benefits that an agreement could have for everyday business - benefits often overlooked by the professional campaigns paid to the negotiations.“

The Lakeside Country Park farm shop, based in Ellerton, North Yorkshire, has diversified its business with the introduction of a dedicated sports service that supports cyclists and triathletes.

The Lakeside Country Park, which is based in Ellerton, North Yorkshire, has agreed to lease an area of space to Triology Multisport Solutions, which specialises in professional advice and services for cyclists, triathletes and swimmers, as well as selling and repairing bicycles.

Neil Stevenson of Latimer Hinks, the Darlington-based firm, negotiated and completed the lease agreement for the space, which is located on the first floor of the farm shop and café.

Graeme Thompson, owner of the Lakeside, has seen his business expand from a shop and café, which his wife, Sarah, operates, to a country park and garden shop.

The use of the lake and designated cycle route close by also attracts triathletes and cyclists, as well as sporting events.

Graeme said: “I am delighted to have completed this latest expansion of the business, and it is pleasing to see the infrastructure all come together.

"With increased participation in cycling following the Olympics two years ago together with the visit of the Tour De France in Yorkshire this year, the addition of Triology Multisport Solutions is exciting and fits in well with the facilities and activities here.

“I have known Neil for many years as he has acted on my behalf previously. As always, he was very helpful and approachable and his vast amount of knowledge allowed for a very smooth process.“

Neil Stevenson, a partner in the commercial property department at Latimer Hinks, said: “With its prime location and increased sporting presence, the addition of such an innovative facility to Lakeside fits in well with the business that Graeme has created.

"I would like to wish Graeme all the best with his business, and I am delighted to have been involved with the deal of this exciting new venture.“

Leeds-based pre-stressed concrete solutions business CCL’s Danish subsidiary Skandinavisk Spændbeton has acquired a 55% in Thilt Holdings AS, a specialist engineering company based in Aalesund, Norway.

The new company, to be known as CCL Buildings, will become a subsidiary of Spændbeton, and will service the Norwegian construction market in the design, supply and installation of CCL post-tensioned concrete slabs.

Founded in 1935, CCL’s headquarters and manufacturing base is on Millennium Way, off Dewsbury Road, and it is now one of the world’s leading pre-stressed concrete engineering specialists employing around 430 people worldwide.

The company ‘pioneered’ the use of post-tensioned slabs within buildings, and it is the largest provider of pre-stressing solutions in building structures.

CCL Buildings will work in close coordination with existing CCL engineering companies.

The exchange of knowledge, information and technical expertise will also promote the continued development of post-tensioning within Norway.

Guy Tabet, CEO of CCL, said: "We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Thilt Holdings to the CCL Group and look forward to a successful future together.

"This exciting venture will provide a dedicated and enhanced service to the Norwegian market."

Well-known projects that CCL has been involved with in the UK include the award-winning Strata SE1 building in London’s Elephant & Castle; St George Wharf Tower, Vauxhall, London; the redevelopment of the British Museum; the tractable roof at Wimbledon’s Centre Court and Heathrow Terminal 5.

Spændbeton was founded in 1947 and deals with horizontal and vertical post-tensioned structures employing around 50 people.

Mixing business with pleasure can be a challenge for some but not for David Grey and his wife Julie.

The couple, who are based in Newton Aycliffe, have set up a greetings card company with a difference.

The greeting cards they produce, transform into beautiful boats which actually float – hence the company name Float a Boat.

The husband and wife team decided to set up a company, based on their shared passion for creative card crafting and they are looking to grow their business to make waves into the corporate market – offering a range of cards for cruise liners, ferries and special events.

David, who is the firm’s managing director said: “It was actually the Olympic Games in 2012 that inspired us to create these unique cards. 

"Ben Ainslie had just clinched his fourth straight gold medal and it was summer, the weather was warm and the children were playing in the paddling pool.

“We decided to have our own Olympic sailing race with paper sailing boats but after trawling the internet without much luck - I decided to design my own paper boats and this gave us the idea to turn these boats into greetings cards.

“Julie and I spent many months trying out new designs, researching and sampling coatings to get the cards to float and looking at ways to package the cards.  We have done everything from start to finish and after a lot of hard work; we are finally ready to go to market.

“We wanted to create something that had the wow factor – something unique which was much more than a card. We wanted it to be memorable and fun and wanted to create something that would be treasured after the big day."  

Julie added: “So many people receive cards and then bin them or pop them in a drawer when the big day has gone.  We wanted our cards to double up as toys so children could have fun transforming their birthday cards into boats and watching them sail. In this age of computer games and technology, it is so nice to sit down with your child and make something.

“We’ve trialled our cards at craft fairs and other events and people love them so we are hoping they will really take off."

Image source: Diana Parkhouse

The North East Chamber of Commerce and national law firm Watson Burton are asking businesses for views on the region’s housing market as they build the case for greater levels of development in the North East.

Last month NECC and the law firm launched a task group with businesses across the region to assess demand for housing development in the North East and the associated economic effects.

The survey is open to businesses with interests in the housing sector or supply chain and canvasses opinion on regional housing market performance, the importance of the sector to the economy, identifying barriers to development; and the region’s role within the wider housing agenda.

Task Group Chair, Tracy Hall, partner and group head for Real Estate at Watson Burton, said: “The North East is home to some of the major players in the UK construction industry. Our housing sector supports thousands of jobs and attracts skilled workers to the region, but are we maximising the opportunities available for housing to satisfy market demand?

“This is something that we would like to assess. By launching our survey we think we will gain an objective picture of current approaches and constraints on further development and are inviting anyone with an interest in the region’s housing sector to take part.

“It should only take a few minutes and will provide us with an ideal platform for analysis and debate on the key issues at the forefront of the political agenda.“

NECC policy adviser, Rachel Travis, said: “The findings will provide invaluable data that will both inform future NECC policy and offer a clear indication of how North East businesses feel about how we can capitalise on our region’s potential for development.

“We want to the build the case for development in appropriate areas and influence the decision makers that this is not only good for the regional economy, but for local economies too.

NECC and Watson Burton are working in partnership with a supply chain task group - representing a wide range of businesses from retail and education, to infrastructure and property - with a view to identifying current approaches and constraints on further development.

The Task Group will aim to demonstrate how house building links to wider economic and business benefits; and will ultimately seek to influence policy decisions through a report published in the autumn later this year.

North East digital marketing agency Silverbean has recruited seven new members of staff to join its Hoult’s Yard headquarters.

The latest recruits include Eva Flammensbeck as affiliate marketing manager, who joined the team all the way from Berlin; Lauren Archer as marketing manager for the agency itself; Jeff Lyall as search marketing consultant; Helen Keighley as affiliate marketing executive; Sam Barnes and Tom Etherington as search marketing executives and Chris McConville as business development executive.

Lauren Archer said: “This is a really exciting time to join Silverbean so I’m thrilled to have been selected as marketing manager, assisting the agency’s growth both regionally and nationwide.

"I’ve always considered Silverbean to be the leading digital agency in our region, and our growing team and exciting client base is testament to that." 

Affiliate marketing executive Helen Keighley also told us; “What I’ve really enjoyed about joining Silverbean is the responsibility given to me so early and the freedom to develop and shape my role.

"I applied for the position after a digital marketing internship at DDB in Prague following my degree, keen to begin my career in digital marketing at a well-respected agency. The team are great too, which helps!“

Silverbean are looking to to fill an additional three roles. Interested candidates are advised to email a CV and covering letter to work@silverbean.com

St James’ Park has welcomed a new signing – in the sales team rather than the soccer squad.

Sodexo Prestige, which works in partnership with NUFC to provide match day catering, hospitality and banqueting at the Newcastle United FC ground, has appointed business graduate Lucy Haresnape to the position of sales co-ordinator.

The former Newcastle University student joins the Sodexo Prestige team having spent six years marketing and managing events at some of the region’s leading hotels.

She will be tasked with promoting the world famous stadium to corporate clients and event organisers looking for a unique venue to cater for all types of events from small meetings and large conferences to banqueting dinners and weddings.

Lucy, from Newcastle: “I am incredibly excited to be working at a venue which really does offer something special and unique as a venue for meetings and events.

“St James’ Park is one of the UK’s most well-known sporting venues and, not only is its Bamburgh Suite possibly the largest function room in the North East, it also has a range of smaller rooms, so there really is something to suit every requirement."

Probate specialist Ingrid Forshaw has joined Newcastle law firm Sintons. 

Ingrid, who is a is STEP qualified solicitor with 10 years experience, has established a strong reputation during her career for her work in her specialism, and is a key addition to the Personal and Family department at Sintons. 

She is the latest in a series of new appointments at Sintons, which employs over 200 people and has taken on 23 new members of staff already during 2014.

Ingrid said: “Sintons has a very strong reputation for the quality of its work and its personal service, and is highly regarded throughout the North East and beyond.

"Its Personal and Family department has an unrivalled reputation, and I can genuinely say I have always wanted to work here.

"I am really pleased to join the team, and am looking forward to helping to continue to grow and develop this department and the wider firm."

Morley-based printed envelope supplier GNE has invested £500k in new plant and machinery over the last 12 months that has the potential to grow turnover from £18 million to over £20 million. 

Originally part of the Adare Group, the company was acquired by its current management team following a management buyout supported by Yorkshire Fund Managers in 2005.

Now wholly owned after a secondary MBO in 2011, the firm is run by managing director Warren Shermer who believes there is scope within the business to grow turnover by a further £3 million: 

He said: “The market for direct and transactional mail has stabilised and although it is still fiercely competitive, there is capacity within the business to consolidate our market share and grow the company further.”

“It used to be the case that demand in our industry broadly followed trends in GDP but the emergence of internet banking and utilities from 2000 onwards saw a decline in mail volumes, which some commentators saw as terminal.”

“At the end of the day, we all have pretty much the same machinery. What makes the difference is our flexibility and our people – having a ‘can do’ culture and building relationships with our customers.”

“Online also tends to be seen as carbon neutral but that’s not the case. Email marketing is now also far more intrusive – and therefore less effective – than traditional direct mail.”

“Growth is going to come from investment in infrastructure so that we can run more machines more often but we have to be a service company as well as a manufacturer."

The firm’s key customers are in the financial services sector, charities and mail order. Like the rest of the industry GNE faced difficult times when the recession hit in 2008 and the UK market place shrank by 12%, compounding the effects of the widening ‘technology gap’ as client and consumers moved towards online banking.

GNE currently employs a workforce of 136, operating from its 78,000 sq ft plant in Morley, with the operation running 24 hours a day, six and a half days a week.

Shackleton PR, Kate Dixon

Leeds-based Shackleton PR has appointed Kate Dixon as client services director, as the agency gears up for the next stage of its ambitious growth strategy.

Kate joins from leading Manchester PR agency, Tangerine, where she was deputy managing director of the agency’s corporate and business-to- business division.

Commenting on her appointment, Kate said: “Shackleton PR offers a completely unique proposition to clients, delivering real integration between digital, social and traditional communications channels in a truly creative way. This is a really exciting time for the industry and it’s exciting to be part of an agency that’s genuinely leading the way.“

Robin Skidmore, CEO of Shackleton PR, commented: “Recruiting a senior team member of Kate’s calibre is a measure of how far Shackleton has grown in the last 18 months.

"She adds big brand experience and proven strategic expertise to our credentials and will ensure we’re able to meet the increasing demand for our creative and results-driven approach to social media and public relations.“

Kate will be joined on the board of Shackleton PR by Chris Hughes who has been promoted to commercial director, having previously held the role of head of PR and social at the agency since its inception.

Robin concluded: “Chris has been an instrumental part of our success story to date. Together with Kate, I’m confident that we now have a senior team that can deliver our vision of providing clients with a new means of targeting audiences and delivering truly measurable results.“

Clarion, Andrew McAulay

Andrew McAulay, who trained with Clarion and heads its costs and litigation funding team, has been promoted to partner.

Andrew has worked in legal costs claims for 13 years having joined Clarion as a trainee law costs draftsman in 2001.  In 2008 he became head of costs and litigation funding at the firm, leading its six-strong team on a portfolio of nationwide clients.  

Mark Burns, managing partner at Clarion said: “Over the last five years, Andrew has taken an internal non-profit making team and turned it into one of the most profitable teams in the practice and he has ambitious plans for its continued growth."

“Andrew has helped to establish a reputation for the practice as one of the best in the region; as well as his impressive technical knowledge, he is relied on by clients to always provide honest and commercial advice. 

"His promotion is a well-deserved recognition of the huge contribution he has made to our success and the outstanding service his team provides in this niche area. “

S Harrison, Steve McManaman

Steve McManaman has joined York-based property and development company S Harrison to further strengthen its development delivery team.

The company posted excellent results for 2013 and has seen a significant upturn in business in 2014.  It recently announced its first site acquisition in Scotland and is scheduled to bring forward major new schemes in York, Leeds, Stratford and Whitby later this year.

Steve joins Harrison from Miller Construction where he was area director for the Yorkshire region.  During his career he has been responsible for over £350 million of construction projects across all sectors including, health, education, retail, rail and leisure.

S Harrison MD Ann Scott said: “Steve is a hugely respected figure in the Yorkshire construction industry and he is no stranger to Harrison, having worked with us on a number of major schemes in recent years. 

"The complementary skills that he brings to our already strong professional team will ensure that we continue to enhance our reputation for high quality, on time, on budget delivery of development schemes across the UK.“

Clough & Company

West Yorkshire based chartered accountancy firm Clough & Company has made five high profile promotions across its audit and taxation departments.

Ann Brown has been promoted from to director of Clough & Company and former senior tax manager, Dean Pearson is now director of Clough Taxation Solutions.  

In addition Lucy Foxall is now assistant tax manager, Claire Robinson is assistant audit manager and Neil Baldwin has been promoted to audit manager and is now responsible for overseeing audits in schools, academies and not for profit organisations. 

Nigel Bullas, managing Partner at Clough & Company, explains: “Ann and Dean are vastly experienced with superb track-records in their respective departments and continually receive glowing testimonials from clients across all industries.

“Both Claire and Lucy joined our graduate training scheme in 2010 and are now integral members of our team, with extremely promising careers ahead of them. Neil is quickly establishing an enviable reputation for his work with education establishments and not for profit organisations so all of these promotions are thoroughly deserved.“ 

Benenden Group, Jason Hogan

York-based not-for-profit healthcare provider, Benenden Group, has announced the appointment of a new Group Head of Strategy, Jason Hogan.

Jason will assist in the development and implementation of strategy across the business, with a particular focus on bringing consistency, coherence and granularity to the Benenden strategic vision of becoming the leading health and wellbeing mutual community in the UK.

Commenting on his appointment Jason said: “It’s a very exciting time to join the Benenden Group as the organisation looks set to expand over the next few years and diversify its offering.

“We have ambitious plans for the business and I’m looking forward to working closely with the wider management team on developing these plans and looking at how we can implement the vision and goals for the organisation.“

LCF Law (Bradford), Andrew Langton

Debt recovery specialist Andrew Langton has been appointed as the new head of debt collection at LCF Law in Bradford. He will lead the firm’s existing debt recovery team acting for a wide range of clients across the North of England.

Recruited from Fieldfisher (formerly Heatons) in Manchester, Andrew has previously worked for and led teams at law firms DLA, Hammonds, Drydens and Lupton Fawcett.

LCF Law provides a bespoke service tailored to clients’ needs. Clients range from PLCs to individuals. LCF Law deals with the total debt recovery process from initial claim to all related insolvency issues.

Charles Abraham, head of disputes at LCF Law, says: “We are delighted to welcome Andrew, who brings with him a wealth of experience, as well as an extensive client following.

"Cash management is the lifeblood of all businesses, and if our clients are owed money, they want to recover it quickly.

"Having Andrew and the LCF Law team on their side will no doubt increase our clients’ chances of a 100% recovery.“

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is top of the agenda at the International Festival for Business as speakers from across the UK gather to encourage business owners to improve their social thinking.

Held at The IFB Hub at No.1 Mann Island, Time for Plan C: Doing Business Differently Together aims to encourage companies to broaden their social conscience.

It will provide guests with the chance to learn more about more effective use of CSR budgets, and create new opportunities for supply chains for the private sector.

Hosted by the Social Enterprise Network, it will also look to improve business’s social values, grow the economy of social enterprise across the region, and raise the profile of social enterprise and CSR.

It will explore three key themes including Creating, to provide insight into setting up a social business; Committing, a guide to working with social businesses; and Collaboration, a guide to franchising.

Due to popular demand, it is the second time the event has been held as part of IFB 2014’s programme.

It will comprise a selection of leading guest speakers including David Skews, CEO at EDP, Tony Cahill, Managing Director at Vivark and Stuart Fitzgerald, CEO Liverpool Plus Savers.

David Skews, of leading St Helens-based health and safety, sustainability and CSR consultants EDP, said: “CSR engagement really does benefit the bottom line. Implementing a strategy for positive impact on relationships with customers, employees, suppliers and the wider community has resulted in dramatically increased profits for our business.“

“We had tremendous feedback to the first event and are delighted to be bringing it back for a second time. We want to help businesses better understand the big differences that can be made by making small changes, and the International Festival for Business has provided the ideal platform for us to do so. We look forward to meeting with guests again at the second instalment.“

Liverpool and Sefton Chamber of Commerce saw 350 delegates turn out for its two day conference at the Rum Warehouse in Stanley Dock. 

One of the highlights of the International Festival for Business (IFB), the event ended with a Gala Dinner at Liverpool’s newest venue. 

The Power of the Chamber Global Network conference brought together exporters and potential exporters who discovered more about global high growth markets from Latin America to South East Asia, Middle East to Central Europe.

Delegates met Chamber of Commerce representatives from 32 countries, and heard from companies with track records of success in exporting.

The conference was hosted by BBC 5 live presenter Declan Curry, who led discussion, debate and a Q&A session.

Key speakers included John Longworth, Director General of British Chamber of Commerce, and Peter Mihok, President of the World Chambers Federation.

On the second day, delegates had one-to-one meetings with overseas representatives from 32 countries and attended sessions on the premises of prominent firms partnering with Liverpool Chamber for the event: Hill Dickinson, Warrant Group, Halewood International, Health@work and Barclays, who all looked at practical issues and gave advice for small-medium businesses.

John Longworth, Director General of British Chamber of Commerce says: “The International Festival for Business (IFB) has been a fantastic platform for UK businesses to develop professional overseas partnerships.

“The  Power of the Chamber Global Network event which was a huge success. We have connected UK businesses with more than 30 overseas representatives and hopefully helped them to create tangible, long-lasting relationships.”

Andy Snell, Director of international Trade at Liverpool and Sefton Chamber of Commerce said: "Now delegates have met their global network, they must use it, it is the follow ups that count, which we would urge people to do, continue to work with us now to access international trade advice, training and subsidised trade missions .”

The conference ended on a high with a fantastic gala dinner which saw over 350 guests turn out to enjoy the event at the Rum Warehouse.

The theme of the evening was how the Chamber Global Network is working strategically with partners that enjoy an international profile - such as Liverpool Fc and Everton FC, Aintree racecourse and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic - to promote the city region abroad and create new relationships for businesses overseas.

Man of the guests took the opportunity to have pictures taken of themselves with the Barclays Premier League, Grand National and the Champions League trophies. They then enjoyed live entertainment from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, enjoyed an interactive re-run of the Grand National, and watched a Beatles tribute band perform the Fab Four’s hits. 

Solutions Recruitment is celebrating its 30th year of success business by opening a new Middlesbrough office thanks to continued success.

The firm, which is currently based in Newcastle city centre, has seen rapid growth thanks to several prestigious client wins and secured investment.

Branch manager Matthew Telling said: “I’m delighted to have joined Solutions, and to be given the opportunity to lead the Solutions expansion into Teesside, County Durham, and North Yorkshire.

Solutions are a well established and respected North-East business with a very strong and recognisable brand, and an outstanding reputation for providing the highest quality of customer service.

We will be offering a multi-disciplinary recruitment service, from junior to executive level, and we have a range of exceptionally talented and experienced consultants to service our clients’ needs.”

The company has been operating since 1984 and is a long-standing member of our professional industry lead body, the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC).

The company has stated that the move to Teesside is an obvious progression for the company which is hoping to continue to grow.

Fanbooster, a Doncaster-based social media platform which helps leading companies and organisations connect with customers online is going from strength to strength after receiving support from Finance For Enterprise.

Fanbooster is a UK franchise, run by Doncaster couple John and Lisa Smith, which provides niche platforms for marketers and companies to use social media more effectively.

John had originally approached his bank to lend him the money to invest in his four-year-old business but an arrangement wasn’t possible.

Consequently, John contacted Doncaster-based Finance for Enterprise and in just five weeks the funds were in his account.

The £15,000 funds were used to improve the Fanbooster platform which is now being rolled out to brand leaders such as BUPA and William Hill.

John said: “We could have stood still and not pushed for the funds, but we didn’t want to stay small and think small.”

“It’s fantastic that organisations like Finance for Enterprise exist to help businesses when other, more traditional, sources of finance aren’t available. We could draw down the money in under five weeks and we didn’t have to jump through hoops.

“The rates were competitive and we’re now ideally positioned to take Fanbooster forward. We’re already seeing a boost in business from exhibiting at Social Media World Forum.”

Arthur Foreman, managing director of Finance For Enterprise said: “There’s no shortage of ambitious, talented business people in our area but sometimes funding barriers can stop them from achieving all they’re capable of.

“It’s hugely rewarding to work with companies like Fanbooster and help them access the funds to push their businesses to the next level.”

Finance For Enterprise has loaned £8 million to 600 businesses since 2008 and supported 50 businesses with a total investment of £1.1 million in the first quarter of 2014. The organisation’s median loan value is £27,000 over a typical 36 month term.

Finance For Enterprise is a not for profit company limited by guarantee.

Image source: Brett Jordan

The UKTI has reported that foreign investment projects this year have created the highest number of new UK jobs since 2001, and the UK has attracted the most inward investment projects since records began in the 1980s.

Annual investment figures from UK Trade & Investment for 2013/14 show that the UK attracted 14% more projects than last year.

This is supported by external independent sources, such as EY, who have confirmed that the UK remains the number one destination in Europe for foreign direct investment projects.

The UKTI report also shows 66,390 new jobs were created, the highest since 2001. In total 1,773 investment projects were set up by foreign businesses in the UK during the 2013/14 financial year. In Scotland, there were 122 projects creating or safeguarding 10,556 jobs.

Since 2010, UKTI has recorded 6,172 inward investment projects which are estimated to have created over 220,000 jobs. Over the same period UKTI has recorded 412 projects in Scotland creating 44,552 jobs.

The announcement was made ahead of the Commonwealth Games Business Conference in Glasgow this Tuesday and Wednesday which will showcase to the world’s business and political leaders all that the UK has to offer.

Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the announcement. He said: “Part of our long-term economic plan for the UK is about promoting every part of our country to the world and Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games will give us another fantastic platform to do this.

“I promise this Government will continue to work on behalf of every hardworking business in the UK to drum up trade, encourage investment and pave the way for growth so we can generate jobs, pay our way in the world, and create stability, security and a brighter future for our country.”

The report shows that the benefits are spread throughout the UK with England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London all recording increases in the number of investment projects landing and new jobs created.

Northern Ireland in particular recorded a significant increase in investment projects compared to 2012/13 – 32% – while Wales registered an 18% increase in the number of investments and Scotland received a 10% boost.

Individual investments in Wales and Scotland, on average, had the largest impact in terms of creation or safeguarding of jobs (132 and 87 jobs per project respectively).

Each investment in Northern Ireland is associated with 77 jobs, while projects landing in London are estimated to have created or safeguarded on average 44 jobs per project.

The number of investment projects landing in England (excluding London) also increased by 11%, reaching 840 projects.

Trade Minister Lord Livingston said: “It’s been an exceptional year for foreign investment with record project numbers creating the highest number of new UK jobs since 2001.

“This excellent performance demonstrates the effectiveness of the Government’s plans to deliver growth.

“It shows that our strategy to attract investors to the UK by creating one of the most business-friendly environments in the world is the right one and it is proof that foreign investors have confidence in the UK as the best place to do business.”

The UK continues to attract high quality investment from around the globe both from our established economic partners in Europe, North America and Japan but also from key growing markets such as India and China.

The USA led the way as the largest source of FDI projects for the UK, generating 501 projects, up 27%. The top Commonwealth country for FDI is Canada. Canadian investment reached new heights in 2013/14, with 89 projects, up an encouraging 41%.

European companies also demonstrated increased interest in the UK. The two largest European contributors were France and Germany, both delivering over 100 projects, representing rises of 18% and 31% respectively.

Through the Industrial Strategy the Government is working in partnership with industry to set out and deliver long-term plans to secure jobs and growth.

The highest numbers of projects were in sectors central to the Industrial Strategy including the Advanced Manufacturing industry group with 418 projects creating a total of 37,204 jobs.

A high-level seven-strong delegation from the Jiading district of Shanghai has visited Peel Holding’s Liverpool Waters marketing suite at Princes Dock to listen to and understand the development opportunities offered by this waterfront site.

Building on relationships established during the city’s attendance and Peel’s sponsorship of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, Peel welcomed the delegation which included three senior directors and the chief of the general office from the Jiading district.

Jiading, one of the 18 districts which make up the city, is located to the northwest of Shanghai. It covers an area of 180 square miles, has a population of around 1.5 million and is home to Shanghai’s university and international motor racing circuit.

On the visit, Peel’s Development Director Lindsey Ashworth who gave a detailed presentation said: “The visit is the culmination of a number of months of planning. The festival has been excellent for us and enabled us to attract international delegations such as this one.

“Since planning consent for Liverpool Waters was secured at the end of last year, it has been no secret that we have been courting investors and partners from China to help us deliver the next phases of this development.

“It’s early days but the visit went extremely well so we are very optimistic about continuing discussions over the coming weeks and months.

“As a direct result of this meeting, we have been invited to visit Jiading to meet with other government officials and businesses based there who have an interest in investing and expanding into the UK.”

Chair of IFB2014, Max Steinberg said: “Peel’s investment in its marketing facilities really makes a fantastic impression on visitors. It’s encouraging news that they have welcomed this delegation and the response was very positive.

“We are constantly working on strengthening our relationships with China and seeking common ground in sector excellence.

“Liverpool Waters obviously has enormous significance for the future of the city and we look forward to hearing more about the next steps.”