A serial entrepreneur whose latest venture aims to revolutionise the golf retail market has secured financial backing from two former executive colleagues at one of the UK’s leading companies.

Rob Mullen has set up Break90, which offers a unique and modern means of selecting and buying golf merchandise, and is targeting national roll-out within three years. It has already taken on four people, and is looking to create at least 20 more jobs in the near future.

The business has created an automated retail pod which allows players to select the most appropriate products for them, and also provides screens for manufacturers to advertise their products.

Break90 - run by Rob and fellow director Fiona Lutz, a sales and marketing specialist - has also struck a deal with Costa Coffee to sell their drinks from their machines.

Former Carrs Milling executive Rob – whose previous ventures include Sweetspot, the internationally-acclaimed range of snacks for golfers – has now secured financial backing from two of his fellow former directors at the Carlisle-based international food, agriculture and engineering giant.

Chris Holmes, chairman of Carrs Milling, and former financial director Ron Wood, have both invested in Break90, which has recently opened a showroom at its head office near Stocksfield, in Northumberland.

Rob, who also previously founded the NewLeaf Food Group, is now eyeing expansion for his latest venture, which he believes will support golf clubs by driving players back into the club shops to buy merchandise and also to use their other facilities.

He said: “The reaction we have had to Break90 has been phenomenal, and we are certain this is the way to revolutionise the golf retail market and to drive players back into the club shop.

Clubs constantly have to battle against falling member and player numbers, and falling revenues as a consequence, but by creating a new and exciting retail experience, we are providing a reason for them to visit and buy from their local golf club instead of from one of the many national sports retailers.

“On a personal note, I am delighted to have the support of Chris and Ron, two business people who I respect massively and I have been fortunate enough to work alongside and learn from. Their endorsement is a huge boost to Break90 as we put our plans into action to be operating throughout the UK by 2017.“

Chris Holmes, chairman of Break90, said: “I am delighted to be the Chairman of a business at the forefront of innovation and technology in the world of golf. Break90 reflects the trends shaping the industry and secures the future of this wonderful game. It provides a profitable solution to golf clubs in these difficult economic times, ensuring that profitability, popularity and sustainability go hand in hand in one of the world’s oldest and fastest growing sports business.“

Break90 was established with legal support from Newcastle law firm Sintons, and financial advice from Tait Walker corporate finance.  

Adrian Dye, Partner in the Company and Commercial team at Sintons, who has worked with Rob Mullen for a number of years, said: “Break90 has rightly attracted high praise from the golfing world for addressing one of its big challenges and devising an innovative solution. I have no doubt Break90 machines will become a staple of many golf clubs within the next few years.“

Michael Smith, Partner at Tait Walker, said: “Break90’s management and financial backers have very ambitious plans for the business. We are delighted to help them at this stage of the business and look forward to helping them with their future strategies.“

A primary school teacher has launch a new startup offering workshops to a range of participants in the North East.

Sarah Sutton, from Whitley Bay, is turning her own hobby into an innovative enterprise. “Boom!“ offers a range of workshops to the likes of after school clubs and community groups as well as working alongside Age UK.

Sarah discovered her love of drumming after attending Big Noise, a drumming and percussion workshop group established last year by the Whitley Bay Big Local Partnership.

Thanks to support from Whitley Bay Big Local Partnership as well as mentoring advice from Nik Alevroyiannis of Big Noise drumming group, she was able to set up her own venture offering sessions to groups and individuals around North Tyneside.

Sarah said; “I started to attend the Big Noise workshops last summer just as they were setting up and as word spread I saw more and more people come along each week to join us.  

I very quickly realised that the workshops were a huge amount of fun and great way to meet people from my local area but not only that, when I did further research I discovered that activities such as this can have a very positive impact on a person’s well-being.

“Having been a teacher for many years, I was keen to utilise my skills and to continue and expand my work in the community.  There are number of great organisations doing very important work with various groups to support vulnerable people and the elderly in our area.  

Through seeing and experiencing for myself the benefits that an activity like drumming can bring, it seemed like an ideal opportunity to combine my new-found passion with the chance to work for myself with the launch of Boom!“

For more information on Boom! or to enquire about sessions in your area please contact Sarah on boomdrums@yahoo.co.uk

Northumberland-based research experts who work with the likes of Sky, Tesco and O2 have turned to leading growth experts to help expand their business.

Hexham firm Dipsticks Research is already highly regarded in the competitive market research sector, working with high street clients including Tesco, O2, National Express and Red Bull as well as local authorities, the NHS, ITV and Sky.

They keep their clients in tune with audience and customer feedback on how their products and services are currently being perceived.

Now Dipsticks founder and director Fiona Raglan has turned to growth experts Oxford Innovation to provide business development support to her team of 50 employees.

“I’d previously taken the view that if business support is free it might not add any significant value,” explained Fiona.

“But it soon became very clear that this wasn’t the case with Oxford Innovation, and now we’re ideally placed to grow the business.

“We’ve previously divided the business into stand-alone divisions according to whether the client was in the private or public sector and what their precise requirement was.

“However, we grew at such a rate that our people were highly skilled in their own area but there was little or no opportunity for them to contribute to the overall business development and growth strategy.”

In addition to the Hexham-based staff, Dipsticks retain more than 215,000 panel members across the UK, in its consumer panel brand, ‘Panelbase’, as a source of audience and customer feedback.

Mike Jobson, Oxford Innovation’s Business Northumberland High Growth programme manager, has previously worked with big brand names including Guinness, Colgate Palmolive and Alcan.

He said: “This is very clearly a highly impressive business that is in great demand from clients.

“But the organisation structure and even the culture within the team where lots of people were all working in small silos, were not conducive to the business maximising its full growth potential.

“We had to break down the barriers and introduce an account management-style of operation.

“Once the team recognised what was holding them back they fully embraced the concept of coaching and what we were trying to achieve together.”

Oxford Innovation delivers The Business Northumberland High Growth programme on behalf of Arch, The Northumberland Development Company and Northumberland County Council, as part of a programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Anyone wishing to find out more about the Business Northumberland High Growth Programme and how Oxford Innovation can potentially support their business should call 01670 528403, email northumberland@oxin.co.uk or visit www.businessnorthumberland.co.uk

North West firms are being encouraged to do business in Africa by government minister MP Mark Simmonds.

Mr Simmonds, Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, met 30 delegates at a conference at UKTI’s Trafford Park branch in Manchester, where he showcased the ‘growing African market’ and hailed the continent as the economic landscape of the future.

Representatives from the Department for International Development, UK Export Finance as well as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office also attended the event at  Warren Bruce Court.

Mr Simmonds said: “If you are an active, ambitious business, do consider looking at Africa as a potential new export market for your goods and services. This is not just oil and gas, it’s education, agriculture, chemicals, retail. And it is all part of the journey of Africa and it’s people becoming more affluent.

“There’s a growing ambition of people in Africa to have a lifestyle that we all accept as normal here.”

He added: “We provide support to businesses who want to access most African countries’ markets.

“But there are five high level prosperity partnerships, which are Tanzania, Mozambique, Ivory Coast, Angola and Ghana, where we are providing support through all government departments to UK businesses.”

The event in Trafford was hosted by Barclays, PwC and DLA Piper.

The panel said that Sub-Saharan Africa has shown resilient growth during the financial crisis, and is expected to grow by 6 per cent per year over the next four years with Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and others expected to achieve growth rates of seven per cent or more this year.

High commissioner for Ghana Victor Hugo said during the discussion: “The priorities in Ghana are infrastructure and agriculture.

"They are the big ones. There are other smaller to medium type priorities but the government in Ghana needs help from British business in infrastructure, transport and agriculture.”

A start-up that is developing a new all-in-one device for pregnancy and fertility testing has received a £2.3 million early-stage funding boost.

York-based women’s health diagnostic firm Concepta received the investment from Finance Yorkshire’s Seedcorn Fund, Diagnostic Capital and Angel CoFund.

The company, founded by a group of former scientists at Unipath, is responsible for creating leading digital fertility and pregnancy tests such as Clearblue, as well as other women’s health diagnostics.

Concepta will now develop and market a diagnostic device that can accurately and simultaneously test for fertility and pregnancy, as well as monitor early stage pregnancy health.

The firm has also just announced several new appointments with former CEO of Axis-Shield Dr Ian Gilham joining as Chairman, and lead equity investor David Evans joining as a board director.

Funding was led by a consortium of clients at Diagnostic Capital, led by David,  with investment from the Angel CoFund and significant follow-on investment from Finance Yorkshire, who have supported the management team from inception.

Finance Yorkshire investment director Mark Wyatt said: “We have worked closely with the Concepta team for some time, and have been impressed with their combined expertise and knowledge of this sector. 

“This is a significant early stage fundraising, and I look forward to continuing to work with the company as it brings its exciting products to market.“

Tim Mills, investment director at Angel CoFund, said: “At the Angel CoFund we seek to support great and innovative British businesses, and Concepta certainly hits that note.

“We have been particularly impressed by the knowledge and experience of the Concepta team. The expertise Ian Gilham and David Evans bring to the table is invaluable and will be a real asset to Concepta.“

Alex Clarkson, CEP of Diagnostic Capital, said: “We are very pleased to have helped Concepta secure this £2.3m equity investment which can now combine with grants being applied for, to provide enough capital to see the plan through to full commercialisation."

Finance Yorkshire provides seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments, ranging from £15,000 to £2 million to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to meet their funding requirements for growth and development.

To date Finance Yorkshire has made 601 investments totalling more than £75 million.

Trafford Park-based Transline Group has opened an office in the Polish city of Poznan as it seeks to capitalise on an under-serviced Eastern European market.

Transline’s research valued the Polish recruitment market at £1 billion, with year-on-year growth of 15%.

A permanent office space has been established in the Old Market Square in the heart of Poznan. Six permanent employees operate from the site.

Jon Taylor, joint CEO at Transline Group, said: “We view our expansion into Poland as a key milestone in the growth of our international business. There is a real hunger for our services amongst key sectors in Poland.

“Establishing a team on the ground will allow us to capitalise on a growing market and service clients in Eastern Europe in a genuine way as we understand their market.“

Transline provides innovative and high end service delivery throughout the temporary recruitment and supply chain staffing industry.

Paul Beasley, joint CEO at Transline Group, commented: “This is a tremendously exciting time for Transline. Our international business has grown significantly in the past few years.

"It is a strategic priority that we not only expand across borders, but maintain our service levels for every business that engages Transline regardless of location or sector.“ 

Transline saw a 52% increase in turnover compared to 2012, as its UK sales climbed to £107.9m in 2013. The business was also recently named ‘Best Temporary Recruitment Agency’ at The Recruiter Awards for Excellence 2014.

The Poznan office has launched a recruitment drive to ensure demand for Transline’s services can be met. Popular roles include warehouse operatives, class 1 and 2 drivers and mobile phone technicians.

A Washington-based fitness business has invested in a new app following investment from the North East Business Support Fund (NEBSF).

Fitstream, which was set up by fitness entrepreneurs Kris Kennedy and Paul Cranston, is set for growth after launching a new app and as well as their next generation website – www.fitstream.com.

The app, which allows users to track and improve their fitness levels, works alongside their new multi-function ecommerce website to reach out to fitness enthusiasts both nationally and internationally.  

Since the app launched, it has already been downloaded by more than 1,400 people and the website is currently attracting more than 35,000 unique users each month – a figure the business hopes will increase further with planned marketing activity ahead.

The company was supported in developing its new app and website by the North East Business Support Fund (NEBSF), an ERDF initiative that provides 40 per cent funding - up to £1400 - towards a project worth up to £3500.  

Kris said: "The business was born out of a passion for health and fitness, and though it is a competitive market, we’ve developed a site and application that we believe is intuitive, user friendly and that can really help take the business forward.

"Between us, Paul and I have good technical skills, but we needed additional support with the design elements of the project and having access to funding to offset the cost was really helpful and is something we are sure will be hugely beneficial to us."

The company, which was set up in 2009, has been run as a side-line by Kris and Paul, who initially developed an affiliate site operating predominantly in the US market.  The pair then took the business a step further, honing in on their interest in fitness and developing e-commerce functionality to allow them to recommend and retail products.

The business applied for support from the NEBSF, which provided them with £1,200 towards the cost of the design of the site and app.

Lynne Burns, North East business support manager, said: "For businesses of all sizes, NEBSF can really help to take projects forward.  What might otherwise not be financially viable for a company can be made possible by accessing the fund and ultimately, the return can be significant.

She added: "We help businesses with a range of projects, from marketing and web design to financial or human resources planning.  The fund has already assisted more than 1,000 businesses.  It is incredibly easy to access support and there is funding still available for businesses looking to put a project in place."

For more information about the North East Business Support Fund, call 01670 813322, visit www.nbsl.org.uk of follow them on Twitter at @nbsl_info.

Up-and-coming entrepreneurs bursting with ideas are making the most of a golden opportunity to make their dreams a reality.

The Emporium’s low cost test-trading spaces are currently home to fledgling businesses Craftwithus, Tasty Treats, Gifts All Around and Workwear.

A string of enterprises have already graduated from The Emporium to establish themselves elsewhere in the town, including on Baker Street and Linthorpe Road, and the latest round of businesses are hoping to follow in their footsteps.

In less than three months in The Emporium, Craftwithus owner Gemma May has had to double the size of the area she occupies and bring in more products to keep up with customer demand.

She credits the prime location at the Linthorpe Road entrance to the Hillstreet Centre with helping her attract shoppers’ interest and develop her clientele.

She said: “Having the window to display our products is a great opportunity, and we can even do demos which always draws people in.“

Tasty Treats entrepreneur Kelly Griffin has found The Emporium the ideal launchpad for her business bringing back retro sweets alongside more modern creations like chocolate bar bouquets.

She said: “The Emporium is a great place to start a business.

“It makes financial sense because the rent is low but I still have ample space, and I get access to a wide range of customers I might not get to meet otherwise.“

Gifts All Around is The Emporium’s newest resident, offering a miniature treasure trove of gifts from soap and candles to bags and photo frames.

After creating her business in February, owner Simone Garbutt was keen to have a shop unit to trade from.

She said: “The Emporium has helped me get a unit which has low rent so I can test my business out.

“They also give you free support with anything you need. I’m really happy I’ve been given this chance.“

Keeping everyone from riggers to daddy’s little helper in hi-visibility jackets and workmen’s boots, Workwear completes the current Emporium line-up.

Owner Tariq Hussain is also thankful for the opportunity to test-trade in a great location for a fledgling business.

He said: “The Emporium is a great opportunity for a small business, with special rates on rent, prime town centre position, and help with selling.

“Workwear has been trading for three months and is already getting a good established name.“

Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, added: “The Emporium continues to show that with the right support and incentives, new businesses can flourish in Middlesbrough.“

Spaces are currently available for retailers looking to join The Emporium success story, with bags of back-up support, advice and expertise thrown in.

Successful applicants bag a range of benefits including op to six months’ rent-free retail space, access to individual professional or business development support and a branding and PR package.

For further information contact Project Support Officer Lisa Williams on 01642 729007 or email lisa_williams@middlesbrough.gov.uk 

The Prime Minister has praised two North West businesses for securing export deals worth nearly £24 million.

David Cameron announced new trade and investment deals worth over £200 million across the UK when he addressed business and Commonwealth leaders in Glasgow today (23 July 2014). The deals are expected to create or safeguard more than 500 UK jobs.

Warrington-based software company ICC Solutions has announced a £20 million contract to provide chip and pin test tools and certification services to the US. The move will create up to 50 UK jobs.

Rochdale-based Precision Technologies Group has also received export orders worth £3.85 million for one of China’s leading specialists in ice systems and industrial cooling technologies, and Taiwan’s premier air and refrigeration compressor specialists.

David Cameron said: “Part of our long-term economic plan 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.

“It follows on from London 2012, which was not just an amazing sporting event, but also a great opportunity to secure a lasting economic and sporting legacy for the whole UK.

“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.

“I am confident we can build on our experience in London and make Glasgow 2014 so much more than just an amazing sporting event.“

The Commonwealth Games Business Conference is the first of two events dedicated to promoting UK businesses during the high-profile sporting events.

The British Business House, run by UKTI, is a three-day conference dedicated to showcasing the ‘Best of British’ to business and political leaders. It will also provide a base for businesses, ministers and industry leaders to take part in roundtable discussions, sector-themed seminars hosted by Ministers and networking opportunities.

UKTI has already helped many UK companies take advantage of opportunities in the Commonwealth market, including vegetarian sweets firm Goody Good Stuff in Heysham.

The company joined UKTI’s Passport to Export which helped it to export abroad to Commonwealth countries including Malta, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada. The award-winning company now attributes 70 per cent of its business to exports.

A family firm is at the heart of a Teesside community – quite literally.

North East Nursing and Care Services is the first business to move into the £31m Redcar and Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart.

The employment agency, which provides nursing and care staff to healthcare providers across the region, has moved into a second floor office with stunning views of Saltburn’s coastline.

The move marks the next stage of an incredible journey for agency boss and committed Christian, Annie Fawcett, who supports various charities with the family firm’s profits.

“We are going from strength to strength at the Heart,“ said Annie.

“It’s a fantastic building, a real asset to the business community and the leisure facilities are great too.

“We’ve been established for four years now and it’s been an emotional journey but we have risen from the ashes with the support of all our fantastic clients.“

The former psychiatric nurse, with more than 20 years’ experience in the employment agency industry, set up her new venture after her previous business got into difficulties.

To get started she used a meagre compensation order against her former business partner who was jailed for two years after stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds from her.

Annie has forgiven the man and said the unfortunate episode inspired her “caring with compassion” motto and helped shape her into the businesswoman she is today.

In addition to employing her daughters, Claire Solberg and Katie Fawcett, Annie diverts a “sizable chunk” of the firm’s profits to support Christian charities - Compassion UK, Christians Against Poverty, A21, and Redcar Area Foodbanks.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council opened the £31m leisure, civic and 44-unit business centre, in April, as part of a £75m regeneration package for Redcar.

Annie’s firm moved in several weeks later and since then a number of other businesses have either moved in or signed up to the development.

Mark Hannon, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We are thrilled to welcome North East Nursing and Care Services to the Heart.

“Annie is clearly a remarkable woman and we wish her and her family continued success for the future.“

A disabled football fan known to lower league supporters around the country as Flipper has turned to the online crowd for support to help make a film of his life. 

Darlington supporter Paul Hodgson was diagnosed with meningitis in childhood but his illness and a tough upbringing have never stopped him getting behind his team.

Now, he is using crowdfunding platform GrowthFunders to help realise his long-standing goal of turning his story – already a book, called Flipper’s Side, co-authored with writer Mike Jarvie – into a film. 

Actor and director Sean Cronin, whose on-screen credits include playing villains in James Bond and Harry Potter films, as well as The Mummy, is already on board to direct the film. 

Bill Fellows, whose acting credits include Downton Abbey and Holby City, stars as Paul’s father in a concept trailer which has been made with the support of a team of colleagues to help investors visualise the film.

Growthfunders is the North of England’s first online equity crowdfunding platform, giving businesses the opportunity to access a wide range of investors. 

PIMM Productions, the company Paul has established and which has already shown one short film, An Unfortunate Women, at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is seeking investment of £692,000 to help make the film, which has a working title of “Acceptance”. 

It is hoped that this money will help to bring in a supportive lead actor to boost the kudos of the film.

Paul, who lives in Darlington and currently works for the Department of Work and Pensions, said: “Making a film of my life has been a long-standing aim of mine. 

“In the late 90s, I wrote my book and it was very well received, and now I have a great team working with me on Acceptance. 

“By using GrowthFunders, I hope to get the crowd involved, and I hope it won’t only be Darlington fans who invest. 

“I have made a lot of friends supporting the Quakers up and down the country and this opens involvement in the film up to not only these people but anybody, whether they like football or not, and it is a great opportunity to get this film made.“

Sean, who became interested in directing whilst acting, and then studied at the New York Film School, originally teamed up with PIMM Productions on their first film, An Unfortunate Woman.

He said: “Acceptance is a film which, to me, has the feel of something like My Left Foot, and I think that it will appeal to actors who would normally command fees many times what our overall budget will be.“

GrowthFunders has been launched to match ambitious entrepreneurs with great business ideas to a range of investors to create and grow exciting businesses.

The site allows entrepreneurs leading businesses with high growth potential to garner support and raise capital online from a wide range of investors, including angel networks and early stage venture capitalists (VCs).

For more information, or to register, visit www.growthfunders.com

Image source: Tim Green aka atoach

The first quarter of the year saw Halifax, West Yorkshire smash its own record for new company formations.

Over the three months, there were 183 new companies registered - more than any other first quarter on record and a 12% rise on the previous year.

The report also shows a 35% rise in company closures during the period, suggesting trading conditions have not yet returned to pre-recession levels.

Despite this, net company growth (the number of formations minus the number of closures) remained almost exactly level with 2013.

Managing director of Duport.co.uk, Peter Valaitis commented: "Our report shows a mixed bag of results for Halifax. Rising company formation suggests business confidence is on the rise, whilst an increase in closures suggests that trading conditions are still difficult in some sectors."

Duport Business Confidence Reports are generated and released by Duport Associates Ltd.

The data contained in these reports is assimilated and analysed by Duport using public record data from sources including Companies House, Office for National Statistics and Ordnance Survey.

Duport Associates Ltd is a leading UK company formation agent, established in 1997 and registering around 10,000 new companies each year through its Companies House approved software.

A start-up that is developing a new all-in-one device for pregnancy and fertility testing has received a £2.3 million early-stage funding boost.

York-based women’s health diagnostic firm Concepta received the investment from Finance Yorkshire’s Seedcorn Fund, Diagnostic Capital and Angel CoFund.

The company, founded by a group of former scientists at Unipath, is responsible for creating leading digital fertility and pregnancy tests such as Clearblue, as well as other women’s health diagnostics.

Concepta will now develop and market a diagnostic device that can accurately and simultaneously test for fertility and pregnancy, as well as monitor early stage pregnancy health.

The firm has also just announced several new appointments with former CEO of Axis-Shield Dr Ian Gilham joining as Chairman, and lead equity investor David Evans joining as a board director.

Funding was led by a consortium of clients at Diagnostic Capital, led by David,  with investment from the Angel CoFund and significant follow-on investment from Finance Yorkshire, who have supported the management team from inception.

Finance Yorkshire investment director Mark Wyatt said: “We have worked closely with the Concepta team for some time, and have been impressed with their combined expertise and knowledge of this sector. 

“This is a significant early stage fundraising, and I look forward to continuing to work with the company as it brings its exciting products to market.”

Tim Mills, investment director at Angel CoFund, said: “At the Angel CoFund we seek to support great and innovative British businesses, and Concepta certainly hits that note.

“We have been particularly impressed by the knowledge and experience of the Concepta team. The expertise Ian Gilham and David Evans bring to the table is invaluable and will be a real asset to Concepta.”

Alex Clarkson, CEP of Diagnostic Capital, said: “We are very pleased to have helped Concepta secure this £2.3m equity investment which can now combine with grants being applied for, to provide enough capital to see the plan through to full commercialisation."

Finance Yorkshire provides seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments, ranging from £15,000 to £2 million to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to meet their funding requirements for growth and development.

To date Finance Yorkshire has made 601 investments totalling more than £75 million.

Former members of the Armed Forces are being urged to tap into the experiences and expertise of a Royal Air Force helicopter specialist to pursue a path into self employment.

Joe Greener is now an East Durham Business Service advisor but before joining the organisation he was in the RAF and was deployed to locations across the world including Hong Kong, Iran, Cyprus and Sardinia.

During his 24 years in the RAF, he rose through the ranks from Aircraft Mechanic to Chief Technician and completed his service working as part of a specialist team responsible for the maintenance of the RAF Wessex and Sea King helicopter fleet.

And after spending 21 years running his own businesses which included tool hire, woodworking, a training school and a saw blade outlet, Joe is now being tasked with supporting other former Armed Forces personnel into self employment.

Joe, who joined East Durham Business Service in 2009, said: "When I left the RAF at the age of 40, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was offered jobs that did not interest me and I was also conscious that to get to the level of seniority I was used to, it would take me too long. That’s when I decided to look into self employment.

"After 21 successful years in business a competitor made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, and I sold up.

"I was at a point in my life when I could have decided to take it easy but that just wasn’t me so I began looking into my options. Then my wife found an advert for the role of business advisor with East Durham Business Service and with my background and experiences of both working in the Armed Forces and being self employed for 21 years, it seemed the perfect job."

Joe, 66, has been employed at Peterlee-based East Durham Business Service for five years now and meets dozens of budding entrepreneurs with around six being supported into self employment each month. He is now on a drive to encourage former members of the Armed Forces in the area to consider self employment and believes his own experiences can really help them.

Joe added: "I’ve been where they are and I know when you leave the RAF, Army or Navy, it can be a tough period of adjustment as you try to decide what’s best for you. I didn’t have a clue what I wanted and that’s when I almost stumbled into self employment. But it was one of the best things I’ve ever done and now I want other people who are faced with the same challenges I was to come and see me and I can give them the support they need to go it alone, both from a personal and organisational perspective."

Every year East Durham Business Service, which is headquartered at the Novus Centre on the North West Industrial Estate and also runs Novus 2 at Seaham, meets hundreds of people who are keen to look into self employment as a viable career.

In 2014 70 people completed the process and launched their own business and of them over 50 are still successfully trading.

Operations Director Denise Fielding said: "We know there are people out there who can and will successfully pursue a career in self employment. They just need a helping hand to do it and that’s where we come in. "We also know from some of the people we’ve spoken to that former members of the Armed Forces are ideal candidates and with Joe’s experiences and expertise, they can be mentored by someone who has been in their shoes and can offer them the advice and guidance they need to go it alone."

For more information on the support and facilities available through East Durham Business Service visit www.edbs.co.uk or call (0191) 5863366.

Bolton-based electronic point of sale (EPoS) software specialist, Nisyst, has appointed Daniel Ruddock to the post of project manager, as it gears up for further growth.

The company is planning to expand on the back of its continued success in the charities sector, thanks to its CHARiot EPoS solution with Gift Aid functionality.

Experienced in software solutions for the retail and distribution sectors, Mr Ruddock joins Nisyst from a prominent software house where he rose through the organisation during a 27-year career.

Originally a programmer and analyst, he became an account manager and then a project manager, co-ordinating a wide range of complex projects.

His role at Nisyst will see him working as a project lead for new clients in the charity sector. The main interface between the client and the delivery team, he will ensure that the end solution answers the brief, liaising closely with the client on software and hardware specification, installation, technical support and training.

Mr Ruddock said: “Nisyst is a dynamic company with a sector-leading product that addresses the needs of charity retail with excellent functionality and a very simple to operate user interface.

“This is a very exciting time as the company continues to grow rapidly and my previous experience will enable me to play an active role in helping the company capitalise on that opportunity.“

He will also have an operational role across the business, overseeing day-to-day support and implementation functions.

Bob Chunilal, managing director at Nisyst commented: “Daniel is a great addition to the team. His relevant experience will prove invaluable in not only supporting the business but driving it forward.“

One the North West’s leading independent barbers has chosen Liverpool ONE to launch its first shop in the city.

Barber Barber is a unique gentlemen’s only saloon specialising in all areas of men’s hairstyling, precision beard sculpting and shaving.

Priding itself on creating a true barbershop experience, the Liverpool ONE branch will open in College Lane and will also offer customers shoe-shining services and complementary refreshments.

Fronted by the world-renowned Irish barber Johnny the BaBa, the Liverpool store is only the second in the country and will open at the award winning retail and leisure destination at the end of the month.

Commenting on the new store, he said: ‘We’re excited to be bringing our craft to Liverpool. We feel a city as cool as this is very important in the expansion of our brand.’

Chris Bliss, Estate Director at Liverpool ONE, added: “Traditional barber shops have made a huge comeback in the past couple of years and their popularity has really grown with men across the country.

“We’re enormously excited to be welcoming Barber Barber to Liverpool ONE. Not only is it the first of its kind to be arriving in the city, the team is also one of the leading group of men’s grooming experts in the country.

“The company’s first branch has proved hugely popular and will undoubtedly see the same response here. It is well placed alongside some truly fantastic brands, such as Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar, Fred Perry and Dr Martens.“

We’re delighted to be welcoming Barber Barber and look forward to working closely with the team going forward.“

The announcement follows a surge of new arrivals at Liverpool ONE. These include premium audio technology specialists Bose, global toy retail giant Toys R Us, and a second Caffe Nero.

National restaurant group Bill’s will also open in the city centre this summer, launching its North West flagship restaurant at Thomas Steers Way near Chavasse Park this August.

Local independent brand Drome, alongside its sister company FootAsylum, has also announced that it will be upsizing from its current base to a new location based on Paradise Street. It is the second time the brands have upsized since opening in 2008.

Further stores which have relocated include French Connection, currently based on Lord Street, which has relocated to Paradise Street.  

New India-UK trade links have been forged by World Trade Centre Hull after a chance meeting in Bucharest. 

A chat between Hull delegate Philip Tighe and Mumbai-based businessman Vijay Kalantri at the World Trade Centers Association General Assembly in the Romanian capital has brought a rapid agreement on helping Humber firms find new opportunities to serve India’s growing economy.

Following their meeting in April, World Trade Centre Hull and Humber has signed a memorandum of understanding with the All India Association of Industries, whose president is Mr Kalantri, in recognition of the ‘immense possibilities for enhancing economic and commercial links between India and the UK’.

The AIAI started out in 1956 in Mumbai, India’s commercial capital, and represents more than 40,000 members, particularly in the SME sector.

Dominic Ward, a director of WTC Hull & Humber, who has signed the memorandum, plans to meet Mr Kalantri, who is also vice chairman of Mumbai WTC, in the UK later this month (July).

The memorandum signals a commitment by both regions to try to increase trade and to actively engage with each other.

Dominic Ward, a senior partner at Hull law firm Andrew Jackson said: "We are very keen for a group of delegates from India to come to our region in order to promote the new opportunities available to UK companies and for a reciprocal visit by Humber business leaders to Mumbai."

"There will certainly be plenty of scope over there. India’s growth rate is still close to five per cent and forecast to be 5.5 per cent in 2015 (Moody’s) even if Indians are disappointed about it slowing down.

"Their burgeoning middle class has a massive appetite for western products, and longstanding cultural and economic links, including India adopting our legal and administrative systems, puts the UK at an advantage when selling goods and services into this market."

Areas that India has identified as critical to sustain its rapid economic development include: finance, infrastructure, energy efficiency, vocational skills and education, and healthcare.

Image source: Images_of_Money

Embleys Estate Agents Limited has had to enter Administration to protect itself from a pending legal action from a former business associate.

The leading estate agency is located on Ilfracombe Gardens in Whitley Bay.

The administrators, Robson Scott Associates Limited, based in Gosforth and Darlington, have been working with the company’s management to ensure that the employees jobs are saved.

Upon entering administration on 14 July, a sale was completed to a new company set up by the previous management who are also keen to preserve the Embley’s brand.

The deal ensures that all jobs have been protected.

Eamonn Wall, managing director of Robson Scott, said: "It is always unfortunate when a company has to enter a formal insolvency process. However, working in conjunction with the Embleys management and their accountant, John Dudgeon from Blu Sky, North Shields, we are pleased that a deal has been concluded allowing an otherwise successful business a second chance whilst protecting jobs that would have been lost".

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The managing director of Lancashire-based online estate agency, tem-po.co.uk, has graduated from one of the country’s most prestigious business courses.

Lancaster University’s LEAD programme is designed to improve the leadership of SMEs from all markets.

The course focuses on bringing together a diverse network of like-minded manager-owners to explore real life business challenges, practice skills across a range of core disciplines and improve organisational growth and leadership skills.

Annette Jones, who was appointed as managing director at tem-po.co.uk in January 2008, completed the 10 month development programme with other business leaders who had been hand-picked to take part in the programme following a rigorous application process.

Annette said: “Graduating from LEAD has been a huge accomplishment for me and one that I am very proud of. Over the last year I have grown as a business owner and refined the necessary skills to allow me to view our organisation from a 360° perspective.

“The proof is certainly in the pudding and after less than three months on the course, I was able to use my learnings to appoint non-executive director, former BBC apprentice finalist Neil Clough, to the business. Over recent months he has been working closely with me to grow our market share across the North West.”

Throughout the course participants were required to take part in a series of master classes with influential business leaders such as Kirsty Henshaw from Kirsty’s Ice Cream, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones from The Black Farmer and mountaineer Chris Bonington, all of which gave presentations on leadership, setting and achieving goals and sustainable strategies.

“The master classes were simply inspirational and filled me with determination to succeed. We were also assigned a personal coach and I was fortunate enough to be paired up with Pauline Clare who is most famous for being the UK’s first female Chief Constable for the Lancashire Constabulary.”

The graduates were presented with their diplomas by Professor Ellie Hamilton, Associate Dean for Enterprise at Lancaster University.